Sunday 31 March 2013

The Basilica of Saint Denis

When our son was just four years old we were up at the Square Suzanne Buisson on Avenue Junot. He was getting cross about something so I tried to distract him by pointing out the statue of Saint Denis who stands in the park, a sad looking stone figure carrying his own head. The story goes, that Saint Denis was beheaded in Montmartre in 272AD and then carried his head 10kms north of Paris where he eventually died.

A grisly tale indeed, and one I instantly regretted trying to distract our son with. He became inconsolable, and wailed and sobbed and howled for over half an hour ..."But WHY did they cut off his head. WHY did no one save him. Is he REALLY dead?..." 

A shrine was built at the spot where Saint Denis finally died and this later became the site of the Abbey of Saint Denis. The Basilica of Saint Denis now stands here, a huge Cathedral that looks incongruous in the centre of what is now an otherwise unremarkable suburban town. Its' structural and decorative style is said to be one of the first true examples of Gothic architecture that became an inspiration for other churches built in Northern France and England.




There are some magnificent stain glass windows.




It was considerably colder inside the cathedral than outside, so to keep moving we went down to the crypt. 


Nearly every French king from the 10th to the 18th Century was buried here.


The stone details are beautiful


I love this lock detail on the door as you enter the side of the church to access the crypt.


Down in the crypt there are some stain glass windows. What is unusual and impressive is that you don't need to look up at them, they are there, in front of you, to enjoy with their rich colours and intricate details.



By this stage we were all so cold it was definitely time to get some sustenance, so we headed to a cafe on the square in front of the Basilica.


You can easily visit The Basilica of Saint Denis by taking the Metro line 13 and getting out at the station 'Basilique de St. Denis'. From the Metro station there are sign posts that direct you to the Cathedral.


Monday 25 March 2013

A lost Hyena

...
What do you think of me?
I have a rough coat like Africa.
I am craft with dark spots.
Like the bush tufted plains of Africa.
...
(Edwin Morgan 1990)

Every Monday, Magical Monday, I post a photo that is hopefully puzzling, fantastical or unexpected.

More photos from the Magical Mondays series can be found here.

Monday 18 March 2013

Magical Monday - A resting Swan

This swan was lying there, peacefully, with its' beak tucked under its wing, Chateau de Fontainebleau.


Every Monday, Magical Monday, I post a photo that is hopefully puzzling, fantastical or unexpected.

More photos from the Magical Mondays series can be found here.

Saturday 16 March 2013

Opulent Versailles

I love Paris stay-cations. There is so much to see in and around Paris, but if you live here the tendency is to get complacent and postpone the outing to another day. It usually requires vistors to properly get us going. We've had my parents staying and this has meant more site-seeing action in the past ten days than we usually manage in ten weeks. Our latest trip was to Versailles. It takes about an hour to get there by metro and RER from our place, door to door. We should really go more often.

The scale of the Chateau and gardens is totally over the top. The Chateau is HUGE, the stables are HUGE, the gardens are HUGE. No wonder there was a revolution, so much opulent extravagance, while the majority of the population were starving. 

Here is a view of the Palace from the gardens.


We didn't go into the Chateau but we did wonder around the gardens.

Apollo's ornamental lake.



Apollo and his horse drawn chariot.


Dauphin's Grove.




The Flora ornamental lake.



An avenue of trees running away from Apollo's ornamental lake.


Looking back up towards the Chateau.


Gold.


A maze by the Chateau, with a dusting of snow. Despite it being mid March, we of course also had snow!



For more information about visiting: Chateau de Versailles.

Thursday 14 March 2013

Spring Snow

So, as you will have all noticed, the weather has been rather weird for this time of year. Snow in Paris in the middle of March? I don't think so! Well actually...yes.

Here is the Sacré Coeur yesterday afternoon in its' full snowy glory.

The Lapin Agile was looking very picturesque.

I went up to the Place de Tertre at midnight last night and had the place to myself. TO MYSELF!


Take at look at the reflections in the windows. Snow with added snow.


A touch of colour.


The manège at the bottom of the stairs infront of the Sacré Coeur was out of action.


Stairs in rue Cortot, by the Musée de Montmartre.


Rue de l'Abreuvoir.


An Angel!


Today we went to the Jardin des Tuileries. The snow had mostly melted. As we zig-zagged our way through the puddles this amazing woman caught my eye. 

Well caught!

Monday 11 March 2013

Magical Monday - Alien Lamppost

This Alien Lamppost in the Jardin des Tuileries was definitely eyeballing me.


Every Monday, Magical Monday, I post a photo that is hopefully puzzling, fantastical or unexpected.

More photos from the Magical Mondays series can be found here.

Saturday 9 March 2013

Hazy Paris Skies

I never get tired of seeing the Eiffel Tower.

More BBONTHEBRINK Eiffel Tower photos can be seen here.

Monday 4 March 2013

Magical Monday - A Flame Carrier in the Tuileries

This woman has been reclining in the Jardin des Tuileries since 1964. The original statue, made of stone and sculpted by artist Aristide Maillol in 1923 can be found on the port of Vendres in the South of France, very near Perpignan. 

The other evening I saw her carrying a fiery flame.
Le Monument aux morts de Port-Vendres.

Every Monday, Magical Monday, I post a photo that is hopefully puzzling, fantastical or unexpected.

More photos from the Magical Mondays series can be found here.