ile de la cite | A French Collection

The Grand Mosque of Paris

Courtyard between the street and the entrance to the café and hammam

The Grand Mosque of Paris

After years of visits to Paris and wanting to visit the Grande Mosquée de Paris (Grand Mosque of Paris), I was delighted to make my way there last summer. It was a particularly hot day and after wandering around the Jardin des Plantes (opposite the Grand Mosque) and exploring the large garden maze, I found it a refreshing place to escape the heat. Found in the 5th arrondissement, this significant landmark built in 1926 to honour Muslim soldiers from French colonies who fought in WWI, also served a vital role during World War II as a refuge for Jews, with its rector providing certificates of Muslim identity to help them escape Nazi persecution.

Designed in Moorish style, it features intricate tile work, a beautiful courtyard with sculpted arcades, and a 33 metre minaret, mostly all hidden behind its high walls. The Grand Mosque expands into prayer rooms, gardens, hammam, library, a North African restaurant and other facilities behind its tall walls.

The Oldest Public Clock in Paris: The Conciergerie Clock Tower

In the middle of the city of Paris, on the Île de la Cité, stands the Conciergerie. The Conciergerie, positioned on the very edge of the Seine River, and with its dramatic four towers, also houses the oldest public clock in Paris. The clock is housed, funnily enough, in the Clock Tower. If you'd like to read about the history of the Conciergerie click here for blog post Marie Antoinette’s Last Prison: A Guide to the Conciergerie, Paris.

The Clock Tower was built by King Jean II (Jean le Bon) between 1350 and 1353, on the corner of what is now the Quai de l'Horloge and the Boulevard du Palais. It rises 47 metres tall and was originally built as a lookout for the Royal Palace. Later In 1370, King Charles V commissioned a clock to be installed in the tower. The clock was designed by Henri de Vic and was the first public clock in Paris.

Arènes de Lutèce – Roman ruins in Paris

Arènes de Lutèce - Roman ruins in Paris

Have you visited the Roman ruins in Paris, Arènes de Lutèce? The Lutece Arena is listed as a historical monument and is tucked away in Square Capitan, a small garden in the iconic Latin Quarter. The Roman ruins are a reminder of the age-old history of the City of Paris. The story of Paris starts even before Roman settlement with the Parisii tribe. The Parisiis were a Celtic tribe that settled on the banks of the Seine in the 3rd century BC.

The Parisii settlement was strategically located at a crossing point of the Seine, which made it an important trade centre and easier to defend. However, not totally defensible, because it was in 52 BC that the invading Romans were able to overtake the settlement and claim the town as their own.

Pont au Change – The Old Money Lenders Bridge

The Pont au Change is a significant Parisian bridge as it links the Île de la Cité and the Right Bank (Rive Droite ) and is centrally located spanning across the Seine River.

Pont au Change - the Old Money Lenders Bridge

It borders the 4^th and 1^st arrondissements and connects Quai de la Mégiserie, Quai de l'Hôtel de Ville, Quai de l'Horloge and Quai de la Corse. With lots of major attractions and things to do nearby, you’ll probably find yourself using Pont au Change regularly as a means of crossing the Seine. Now a vehicle and pedestrian only bridge, the bridge was much more than this in time past. It has an interesting history, covering its construction, its name and also its use.

Carousels in Paris – A Complete Guide to Finding Merry-Go-Rounds in Paris

Paris Carousels - Your complete guide on where to find them

Carousels or merry-go-rounds, have always been a favourite of mine. In reality they are little more than an amusement ride that moves round and round in a circle but I think they are magical and I cannot resist them, especially the beautiful carousels in Paris. Once you start exploring Paris you'll find them dotted over the city and if you're like me, they'll draw you to them with their lights, music and happy children.

Have you noticed that many carousels turn in an anti-clockwise direction? Historically this is because they were designed for children to be able to wave with their right hand (closest to watching parents and minders) while holding on with their left. The French claim the invention saying they are derived from Louis the XIV’s jousting competitions.

Marche Saint-Ouen (les Puces), Paris – The Largest Antique Market in the World

Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen or Les Puces, Paris

Antiques and vintage your thing? Then you’ll love Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen, or Les Puces de Saint-Ouen. This huge market, which the Parisians simply call Les Puces is the collection of a numerous smaller markets made of many stallholders. If you hear the market referred to as les Puces de Clignancourt by the locals, that's because they are referring to the Métro stop and périphérique entrance/exit here. The first time I went I really only scratched the surface of what was available, but my subsequent visits have made up for that and I have spent many happy hours finding items for my French house.

BnF or Bibliothèque Nationale de France – Richelieu Library

BnF or Bibliothèque nationale de France (National Library of France)

“The very existence of libraries affords the best evidence that we may yet have hope for the future of man.”
― T.S. Eliot

National Library of Paris - Richelieu Library

The other month I was standing in awe in the oval reading room of the National Library of France - Richelieu Library, otherwise known to the locals as the BnF and the beauty of this building nearly brought tears to my eyes. I am not joking, the immense and kaleidoscopic oval reading room designed by academic architect Jean-Louis Pascal took my breath away!

Notre Dame Cathedral Bees Survive the Fire

Notre Dame Cathedral Bees Survive The Fire

Notre Dame Cathedral is just one of the famous buildings in Paris that have active beehives on their rooftop and as the fire raged through the Cathedral on 15 April 2019 the survival of the rooftop bees and their beehives was on many peoples' minds.

On Monday the 15th April, the day of the disastrous fire, I was gazing up at the scaffolding and taking photos only an hour before the fire broke out and the fate of the bees crossed my mind on hearing about the fire, having researched and published my article Paris' Rooftop Beehives in 2015 all about Paris' hidden beehives and their keepers.