Francophiles and Paris buffs will find something new and fascinating in this timeless guidebook, filed with sites, passageways, hotels, shops, and more What if—walking around Paris—instead of seeing only the Paris of 2017, you glimpsed Paris in Revolutionary times? Or Paris when it was home to 80,000 horses; or Paris lit by gaslight; or medieval Paris? What if—walking down a block in Paris—you recognized the signs, mosaics, pieces of hardware, and architectural details as relics of many centuries that have stories to tell of past eras? This is what Curiosities of Paris reveals. Each of the book’s 800 photos of unique locations and architectural oddities—as well as utilitarian objects whose functions have long been obscured with the passage of time—discloses a previously unnoticed city. Even those who know Paris well might never have registered the thousands of details on every street that testify to the enduring presence of the past: the solar cannon at Invalides, street signs with the word “saint” and all fleur-de-lys removed; the unique features of Parisian street lighting. You’ll never look at an elm tree the same way again. And, with Curiosities of Paris as your guide, you’ll feel very in-the-know as you walk down the Champs-Élysées past all the auto dealerships. Organized by subject—including fountains and wells; centuries-old shop signs; vestiges of wars and ancient Egypt; hotels of legend; remarkable trees; sundials and meridians; equestrian Paris; romantic ruins; unusual tombs, stairways, and passageways; religious relics; mosaics; public barometers and thermometers; and hundreds more urban elements and anachronisms—the book also includes three themed walks (along the city’s ancient walls, in the steps of Quasimodo, and through the French Revolution), as well as an index of street names. This absorbing compendium is an essential addition to the library of the armchair traveler and flâneur alike.

Curiosities of Paris: An idiosyncratic guide to overlooked delights... hidden in plain sight

Lesbros, Dominique

Reference

Little Bookroom

This fun book is a perfect stocking stuffer, the perfect book to take to Paris to use for a scavenger hunt, and perfect for the armchair traveler who loves trivia. There are more than 400 multiple-choice questions, by arrondissement, ranging from obscure lore to facts about well-known buildings, streets, and statues with fascinating and often humorous histories. Here’s a sample: What color are all the illuminated signs on the Champs-ƒlys?es? A) Blue B) Green C) White C: They are required to be white. Advertisers and merchants must conform to the decision of uniformity taken in the interest of aesthetics. Even McDonald’s had to swap its yellow M for a white one, making it the only exception in the world. Only pharmacies are allowed to break the rule. In 1836 the ƒglise Saint-Cosme was demolished to make room on the boulevard Saint-Michel. The construction unearthed remains from an old cemetery adjoining the church. What was peculiar about it? A) It was an animal cemetery B) It was a cemetery for clergy C) It was a cemetery for hunchbacks C: The church and its cemetery were located between the rue Racine and the rue des ƒcoles, on the current site of the Gibert bookstore. Using the shape of the remains (most of the exhumed spinal columns were curved and presented malformations), it was deduced that it was a cemetery for hunchbacks.

Paris Quiz: How Well Do You Know Paris?

History

Europe

Auteuil, Passy, les Batignolles, Montmartre, la Chapelle, la Villette, Belleville, Ménilmontant, Charonne, Bercy, Grenelle, Vaugirard... Le nom de ces quartiers parisiens exhale un parfum de village champêtre qui fait écho à un passé pas si lointain. Avant l'annexion de 1860 qui les a rattachés à Paris, il s'agissait de communes indépendantes avec leur identité propre. À l'origine, ces villages étaient des bourgs ruraux que le relief, la géologie et l'histoire ont modelé différemment. Ceux perchés sur une colline furent souvent élus comme lieux de villégiature ; ceux posés au bord d'un cours d'eau colonisés par des industries ; ceux plantés sur d'anciennes carrières se caractérisent aujourd'hui par leurs parcs et leurs maisonnettes... L'histoire s'est chargée de bousculer les plans cadastraux. La Révolution eut pour conséquence le démembrement de grands domaines féodaux (châteaux de Bercy et de Charonne, abbaye de Montmartre, parc de la Muette à Passy) et une autre révolution, industrielle celle-là, fit pousser des usines sur des terres jadis maraîchères. Qu'en reste-t-il ? Des ruelles étroites et sinueuses, des bâtisses de faubourg, des cours colonisées par des artisans, d'anciennes mairies, des perrons surélevés, des jardins de curé, des numéros de rues égarés, des bornes de guingois... Ce guide propose 16 balades dans ces quartiers pittoresques, toutes accompagnées d'un plan et illustrées de photographies actuelles et anciennes.

Promenades dans les villages de Paris

Travel

PARIGRAMME

Curiosités de Paris - inventaire insolite des trésors minuscules

Paris - Immeubles insolites !

Get ready to see the glittering city on the Seine in an entirely new light: the author of this volume points the way to Paris’ hidden treasures—bee-hives on the roof of the Garnier opera house, enigmatic cemeteries, a vineyard in the heart of Montmartre, the Jewish quarter Marais and the film locations from the hit movie The Fabulous Destiny of Amélie Poulain. Hotel recommendations, a selection of charming cafés and bistros, walking tours and other travel tips make this city guide a valuable travel compendium.

Paris: Discovering the City of Light

Ulrich, Kurt

C J Bucher Verlag Gmbh

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