Paris1972-Versailles2003

So still digging my old photos from my vault as I go along in my road warrior trips in my region. I stay in Paris, yes my eternal Paris. A city came to know first as the name my blog indicates 1972, felled in love in 1990 and never look back. Lucky enough to work in it and visit every month until the virus.

Let me tell you a nice story about a Hilton hotel of Paris.

After losing its last intramuros Parisian establishment ,today the Hotel du Collectionneur,(today close due to the virus) the famous Hilton group has only 3 establishments in the Paris region: in Orly, Roissy and in La Défense. In 2013, the chain bought the former Concorde Opéra, which after extensive renovations became the Hilton Paris Opéra in 2015.

It so happened have been to the old Hilton Champs Elysées which is now call the Hotel du Collectionneur that have not been… and was a guest at the old Concorde Opéra which is now the Hilton Paris Opéra which have not been. So therefore, been while the old names were there. I feel for my souvenirs in my blog, and the nice story for all, in addition to visit the newer hotels ,they deserve a post of their own. Therefore ,here it is.

The Hotel du Collectionneur (previus Hilton C-E)  is located at the bottom of the rue de Courcelles in the 8éme arrondissement of Paris. Close to Parc Monceau and avenue Hoche, 700 meters from the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysées. Going down rue de Courcelles, you cross Boulevard Haussmann, before crossing rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré. 300 meters further on you are in front of the Champs Elysées roundabout at the opposite end of which leads to Avenue Montaigne. This 5 star hotel is in a beautiful location, far from the bustle of the Champs Elysées but close enough to be able to enjoy its riches.

The new hotel du collectionneur official webpage is here: https://www.hotelducollectionneur.com/en

For info, below is my Dad walking ahead to the Hilton lol!!!

The former Concorde Opéra, renovated in early 2015, the Hilton Paris Opéra is a listed building with a hall with a ceiling height of 14 meters and adorned with mirrors, bronzes, crystal chandeliers and marble columns. This hotel enjoys a beautiful location in the heart of Paris, a stone’s throw from Gare Saint-Lazare, between the Opéra Garnier and the great department stores and not far from the Madeleine. The Hilton Paris Opéra hotel offers spacious, bright rooms and suites on 5 floors, with great refinement, decorated with light colors and paintings of Parisian scenes, providing a prestigious atmosphere. For eating and drinking it still has the Grand Salon for breakfasts, restaurant Terminus Café, and the Le Petit Bar, recently redecorated in a revisited art deco atmosphere.

Located in the 8éme arrondissement, the Concorde Opéra hotel was ideally located to enjoy the monuments of Paris. The Garnier opera house, the Madeleine Church, the Sacré-Cœur Basilica and the Royal Palais are just a few meters from them. Many nearby tourist attractions. You will find there not far from places of going outs and restaurants. Public transport is easy to access. Passage du Havre at about 137 meters, FNAC – Saint Lazare at 94 meters, Gare Saint Lazare at 90 meters, Opéra Garnier at 57 meters.

A bit of history I like on this one which not only visited for the wonderful architecture and history but held several business meetings there.

Initially the hotel was inaugurated in 1889 as the Grand Hôtel Terminus, to welcome British travelers arriving via Saint-Lazare train station to visit the Universal Exhibition, and belong to the Société du Louvre, then in 1972 it became the Concorde Saint-Lazare then the Concorde Opéra Paris. Purchased by the Hilton group at the end of 2013, it was renamed Hilton Paris Opéra in January 2015. This hotel, with its Haussmann-style exterior architecture, features an imposing entrance framed by pink granite columns. Dating from 1889, its Eiffel-style hall and Second Empire-style coffered ceiling are decorated with paintings and sculptures by artist Charles Joseph Lameire as well as mirrors, bronzes and crystal chandeliers. Thus, in the 1950s, it was named Snack Spot and was then one of the “trendy” establishments in Paris, frequented by many young people, notably from the nearby Lycée Chaptal high school. Among the clientele, future celebrities: Mario David, Martin Monestier and Alain Figaret. And especially two friends passionate about culture from the United States who came to drink milkshakes and who will become singers, Christian Blondieau and Jean-Philippe Smet, who have not yet taken their respective stage names: Long Chris and Johnny Hallyday !

Among the personalities who have resided at the Concorde Opéra Paris, was Georges Feydeau . In September 1909, after a violent argument with his wife, he left his marital home and, using the excuse of the embarrassment of moving, settled down for a few days in the hotel. He ended up staying there for more than ten years, at room 189. The walls of his room hosted works by artists who had become fashionable such as Van Gogh or Utrillo, and even Claude Monet had also made it his Parisian pied-à-terre when he lived in Giverny.

The official current Hilton Paris Hotel webpage is here: https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/parophi-hilton-paris-opera/

Ok cannot find picture of the old Concorde Paris hotel so will give you the front of gare St Lazare to the right off the picture is the hotel…..believe me please.

Therefore, I feel my story have been told and recorded in my blog. Hope you enjoy it too, and do come to my eternal Paris. Many more stories to share in over 30 years of relationship with Paris!

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!

Well here is one that escaped me , and one I walk by every day for almost 9 yrs! and shopped many times! Oh well wrote about the other one nearby but somehow left this one out of one post. I have mentioned in brief moments in other posts but not stand alone which it deserves.

I like to tell you a bit more on the grand magasin Au Printemps dept store of Paris and the world.

Au Printemps Paris perpetuates, over the seasons, its vision of essential luxury at low prices. Au Printemps is a department store that mainly focuses on fashion, luxury and beauty brands. The flagship store is located on Boulevard Haussmann in the 9éme arrondissement of Paris. In 2013, Au Printemps was bought by Disa, an investment fund with Qatari capital ,already with 25 stores. The flagship store and the one I passed by many many times was Au Printemps Haussmann ; open Mondays to Saturdays  11h to 20h, Sunday 11h to 19h . Metro Havre-Caumartin lines 3 and 9 closes bus line is the 43 on rue du Havre and 32/66 on bd Haussmann.

A bit of history I like

Au Printemps was created on May 11, 1865, by Jules Jaluzot and Jean-Alfred Duclos in the Chaussée-d’Antin neighborhood of the 9éme district. This location also benefits from the proximity of the Gare Saint-Lazare train station. Thus Au Printemps moved to the corner of rue du Havre and boulevard Haussmann. The first years of Au Printemps saw the store shine throughout France and then abroad. The Universal Exhibitions of 1867 and 1878 contributed to this recognition. In 1883, Au Printemps was the first public place fully equipped with an electric lighting system. On the mezzanine, the customer can also admire the electrical factory behind a glass wall.

In 1904 announced the construction of a second store which is the current Printemps Haussmann store better known as Printemps de la Femme (woman store),on the even numbered side of Boulevard Haussmann. The first stone was laid in May 1907 and the new store was inaugurated in April 1910. It is dominated by a dome which illuminates a large hall 42 meters high, and also includes a central staircase with four Art Nouveau-inspired revolutions. The ceilings are by painter Marcel-Pierre Ruty. The store on rue du Havre is raised two floors and topped by a panoramic terrace in 1963. Testimony to the splendor of Au Printemps in the years 1910-1920, the dome on the 6th floor of Printemps de la Femme, built in 1910 by the master glassmaker Brière recalls the masterful decor of the Au Printemps of  yesteryear.

The official Au Printemps on the bd Haussmann store: https://www.printempsfrance.com/magasins/paris-haussmann

In 1912, Au Printemps opened a store for the first time in the provinces, in Deauville. At the beginning of the 1930s, Au Printemps had three stores. Since 1921, a warehouse has been transformed into a sales area which in 1930 becomes Brummell, the store of the elegant man. In 1969, Au Printemps de Parly II at Les Chesnay-Rocquencourt(Yvelines 78) opened its doors and marked the beginning of Printemps’ involvement in a new form of distribution as shopping centers. The Parly II store is the one I came most as next door to Versailles: https://fr.westfield.com/parly2/store/PRINTEMPS/64507

In 1931, a new concept arrived from the United States: the single price for everyday consumer products. Au Printemps then opened a new company, Prisunic,(eventually closed in 2013, but I got to buy here too), which was responsible for selling inexpensive everyday products.

In 1977,new activities were developed or strengthened such as food (Disco), clothing (Armand Thiery still my fav store today) and mail order (La Redoute). In the 1980s, Au Printemps department stores opened up to the world, inviting their customers to various thematic and cultural exhibitions. The store opens branches as far as Japan (later sold) ,Istanbul, Jeddah, Dubai, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. François Pinault acquired the Au Printemps group in 1991, then merged his own group with Au Printemps, which then took the name of Pinault-Printemps, made up of brands such as Conforama (furniture/electronics), Prisunic (again closed in 2013), La Redoute, then in 1994, Fnac (now merge with another group Darty).Au Printemps therefore focused on five strong universes: Beauty, Lifestyle, Fashion, Accessories and Men. The Parisian store Brummell, specializing in men’s clothing, was renovated and became Le Printemps de l’Homme (Mens store) in September 1999. The 2000s saw an increase in activities, with the opening of the Au Printemps Design store at the Centre Georges-Pompidou. In May 2019, the Au Printemps group announces the opening of its first store abroad for 2021. It will be located in Doha, the capital of Qatar, the country of the group’s new owners since 2013.

This is the Groupe Printemps as of today with their brands: https://www.groupe-printemps.com/enseignes

And now I feel better credited in my blog. I always got an inspiration walking out of gare St Lazare and walking past it to cross Haussmann on my way to work! A sublime experience that will always remember, did for almost 9 years!! And of course, sneak in once in a while for some serious shopping, many times to take back to my boys a garment. However, with the family was more in the store at Parly II in Les Chesnay (now the town call Chesnay–Rocquencourt) as my boys went to school in the town which is across the street from Versailles where we lived.

Hope you enjoy the post as I did bringing back many nice family memories, always remembered. Enjoy while in Paris, the Au Printemps dept store.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!

This is another surprise, so much to see and tell you. I have passed by here several times as one of hq is on the Avenue de la Grande Armée near Porte Maillot in Paris. Yet do not recall writing about it in my blog… I finally found me a photo and remind me of this. Time to remedy and tell you all about this wonderful avenue of eternal Paris! Yes, worked on it, ate on it and walk, drove on it for several years. This is my take on the Avenue de la Grande Armée. Hope you enjoy the post as I did telling you.

Oh yes this is not THE avenue you thought but an equally impressive avenue that should be visited, walk on it. Hope you enjoy it

The Avenue de la Grande-Armée is the avenue that separates the 16éme and 17éme arrondissements or districts of Paris. It starts from place Charles-de-Gaulle or aka Place de l’Étoile, it arrives at Porte Maillot at the intersection of Avenue de Malakoff, boulevard Pereire and boulevard Gouvion-Saint-Cyr. Odd numbers are in the 16éme arrondissement , and even numbers are in the 17éme arrondissement. Its length is 775 meters and its width is 70 meters. It was so named by Napoleon III in honor of the Grande Armée, which carried out all the campaigns of the First Empire.

Leaving Paris, on the right side and even numbers, the avenue runs alongside the Ferdinandville district and the 17éme; the left side and the odd numbers are part of the 16éme and the former town of Passy. Avenue de la Grande-Armée is an extension of the Champs-Élysées beyond the Arc de Triomphe de l’Etoile.  After Porte Maillot, the straight line continues through Avenue Charles-de-Gaulle (formerly Avenue de Neuilly) then, crossing the Seine river by Pont de Neuilly, the prospect of more than 15 km continues towards La Défense and the Grande Arche.

Twice a year first around May 10 and then around August 1st, the Sun sets in the axis of Avenue de la Grande-Armée. For a person located on the Champs-Élysées, the solar disk is thus visible for a few minutes under the arch of the Arc de Triomphe. On May 10, 1994, a partial solar eclipse accompanied the phenomenon. Note that in the opposite direction seen from Porte Maillot, the Sun rises twice a year in the Arc de Triomphe, around February 7 and November 4! Amazing Paris!!!  The Etoile tunnel directly links the avenue des Champs-Élysées and the avenue de la Grande-Armée, passing under the Arc de Triomphe. Halfway between the Etoile and Porte Maillot, at number 36, is Place Yvon-et-Claire-Morandat, named after two resistance fighters given to this crossroads in 1987. On this square is the entrance to Argentine  metro line 1 station on the limits of   neighborhood  or quartier Chaillot 16éme arrondissement ,and neighborhood Ternes of the 17éme arrondissement.

A bit of history I like

The old major road which led from Paris to the west was the avenue des Ternes then called Chaussée de Neuilly, which went to the ford of Neuilly. As early as the Middle Ages and undoubtedly since the Gallic period, this made it possible to go from Paris to Saint-Germain, to Cherbourg and to Le Havre as it was the “roll-roll” route that gave the neighborhood its name, du Roule. The Avenue de la Grande-Armée is fairly recent because it was only created during the reign of king Louis XV. The Avenue de la Grande Armée, known as the Route de Neuilly, was therefore opened under Louis XVI with its current width of 70 meters from the start, continuing the grandiose perspective of the Tuileries garden to the previously name pl de l’Etoile. In 1854, Haussmann restructured Place de l’Etoile (now known officially as Charles-de-Gaulle) with its twelve avenues that radiate from it, the main ones being the Champs-Élysées and the Grande-Armée. The avenue was called successively, the route de Neuilly in 1730, route de Saint-Germain in 1820, Avenue de la Porte-Maillot in 1848, Avenue de Neuilly in 1860, then finally the Avenue de la Grande-Armée in 1864. Before being attached to Paris in 1863, it formed part of the national road N13 from Paris to Cherbourg. Today, there remains a short section of Paris of 100 meters which bears the name of Avenue de Neuilly beyond the Porte Maillot, its extension into Neuilly being henceforth called Avenue Charles-de-Gaulle.

In the directory of the year 1900, there are 34 addresses under the heading “automobile” only on this Avenue de la Grande Armée and more than 50 if one counts those of the close by districts, that is to say more than half of all the corresponding sections. Famous names like Peugeot, Renault, Dunlop, de Dion Bouton, Panhard-Levassor, Decauville and others now gone like Darracq, Clément-Bayard, Le Zèbre, the Parisian Cart Company and, for spare parts, Mestre and Blatgé. The first motor shows were held nearby, in the Salle Wagram , from 1894 until the Universal Exhibition of 1900, after which they will be held at the Grand Palais. The neighborhood has honored and kept the memory of these pioneers like in the center of the place Saint-Ferdinand sits the statue of Serpolet and in the Square Parodi adjoining the Porte Maillot, there is a fountain commemorating the arrival of Paris-Bordeaux- Paris of 1895, to the glory of Émile Levassor.

Interesting buildings that I like to tell you about:

At No 4: site of the former Le Napoléon cinema opened in 1934, closed in 1988. It specialized in Walt Disney cartoons. No 6: Roland Garros had opened in this spot in 1909 its brand Roland Garros automobiles – sports cars. At No 12: the French photographer Valentin Vaucamps, born in Maubeuge (nord 59) established the Lumina company there, specializing in cameras and which exploited the trichrome process which produced color photos. No 23 ,the socialite painter and engraver Jules-Ferdinand Jacquemart lived at this address from 1873 until his death. He was the son of art historian Albert Jacquemart. No 24: home of the military painter Édouard Detaille , whose great historical machines were very fashionable. The sculptor-statuary Jean Antonin Carlès , Grand Prix of the Universal Exhibition of 1889, also lived in this building, before having his workshop at 98, rue des Batignolles. From 1900 to 1907, this address was that of the exhibition store of the Industrial Company of Automobile Telephone-Car System Ader, a firm founded by Clément Ader, a pioneer of aviation in France. At No 26 in the early 1960s, sports car fans found the Matra Sports store here.  At No 27 the “Au Petit Matelot” stores, which still exist at this location since 1906 at the corner of rue d’Argentine where a plaque recalls that these stores founded in 1790 on the Quai d’Anjou ,Ile Saint-Louis of where they were expropriated in 1932. Balzac refers to them in his Little Dictionary of Signs in 1826. At No 42: former La Boîte à films cinema, ex Studio Obligado. Created in 1938, demolished in 1987, (I saw it before been demolished unfortunately) it mainly programmed films in Spanish for the servants of the neighborhood. At No 56 there is the Reformed Church de l’Étoile. At No 74, the former Maillot Palace cinema opened in 1916, then Maillot-Palace-Cinema from 1922 to 1980 , and also called Cinérama. At No 80 it hosted the café-restaurant La Terrasse where, on July 12, 1943, an attack took place against some forty Nazis soldiers who were having their breakfast. Bernard Courtault is convicted and then shot following the attack. At No 82 the Neuilly – Porte Maillot train station, on the old Petite Ceinture line. At No 83 the former Royal Maillot or Grand-Royal cinema opened in 1910, closed in 1969. At the north end of the avenue by the porte Maillot, you see the Palais de Congrés or convention center (many times here), here was from 1909 the Luna-Park amusement park, which itself replaced the Printania music-garden, inaugurated in 1904.

A bit on the perspective of walking around Paris from the Paris tourist office here : https://en.parisinfo.com/practical-paris/paris-maps-plans

And on getting around Paris from the Paris tourist office here: https://en.parisinfo.com/practical-paris/how-to-get-to-and-around-paris

As well as looking for similar wordings in my blog on walking and public transports, driving in Paris etc. Again, a marvelous avenue and beautiful architecture as well as the history as above and more. Again, well worth your time to walk it.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!

Here is another goodie from the vault and even personal. When I first came to France in 1990 to see my girlfriend and later wife (same year lol!) , she took me on a romantic ride on the Seine river with the Bateaux Parisiens cruise. It became our home on the Seine, took it several times more into married life and with the boys and parents.

My dear late wife Martine and dear late Mom Gladys on the BP!

Even if now too many trips and memories to last a lifetime, each time I go to my world head office nearby I stop by and see it, photos do not matter anymore but just see it and relieves wonderful times. Maybe next time should take more photos….

As for now let me tell you about this wonderful Paris landmark, the Bateaux Parisiens.

The Bateaux Parisiens is a service mark of Bateau-mouche , these boats existed in the 19C to designate boats that had only a utilitarian purpose, and were only used to transport goods and possibly passengers from one place to another on various rivers and canals ,not to be confused with the other officially ride name the bateaux mouches. The Bateaux Parisiens are located at the Port de la Bourdonnais, by the foot of the tour Eiffel in the 7éme arrondissement or district of Paris. You can get here when in the area best by foot as we do after parking or by metro lines 6 and 9 Trocadero or 6 Bir-Hakeim as well as RER C Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel or bus lines 92 closes stop Bosquet-Rapp , or line 82 stop tour Eiffel (my stop is champ de mars-Suffren ::) or line 42 at my stop Champ de Mars-Suffren short walk or tour Eiffel.

In 1956, the Bateaux Parisiens company was created in Paris and in 1987, the Sodexo company bought the Bateaux Parisiens. The fleet was made up of 8 sightseeing boats and 5 dining boats. Each boat dedicated to the promenade bears the name of a celebrity. The boats dedicated to catering cruises have other names.

Boarding is at the foot of the Eiffel Tower on the Quai de la Bourdonnais. During the cruise, it is possible to see the following monuments: the Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides, Assamblée Nationale, Orsay Museum, Institut de France, Notre-Dame Cathedral , Hôtel de Ville, Conciergerie, Louvre, Place de la Concorde, Grand Palais, Arc de Triomphe, and the Palais de Chaillot. The catering cruise also allows you to see the   Bibliothèque Nationale de France and the Statue of Liberty.

This is a wonderful family outing. Very welcoming and friendly team. The comments are done by audible telephones connected to each seat and are interesting and accessible from 8-10 years old. Songs and music about Paris, well chosen, decorate the cruise in a romantic and friendly atmosphere. The banks of the Seine are very beautiful, and admiring them from a boat is as original as it is pleasant. Even the Parisians are surprised to discover unknown facades of monuments they know well. To be redone in winter for another light and less leafy trees. The cruise lasts a good hour. There is a car park at the pier, count 5 euros for the duration of the cruise. If full, there is a bigger one at 25 Quai Branly-Tour Eiffel for 8.40 euros (museum) Remember to book and print your tickets in advance on the site, they serve as a skip-the-line for the entire first queue. Plan a little waiting before boarding anyway.

The official Bateaux Parisiens: http://www.bateauxparisiens.com/english.html

The owners Sodexo has a page on them here: https://www.prestige-sodexo.com/collection/bateaux-parisiens

The Paris tourist office on the Bateaux Parisiens in English: https://en.parisinfo.com/guided-tours/74292/Bateaux-Parisiens

You have a wonderful day in Paris taking a ride with the Bateaux Parisiens, there are others but this one is for the nostalgia,memories, good times ,family time always the BP!!! Hope you enjoy the post as I did writing it.

And remember, happy travels, good health, andn many cheers to all!!!

Oh yes again Sacré Coeur Basilica of Montmartre!! Quickly, I have written before ,but I could dedicated several volumes in a book on it; a must to see in Paris and a lot more than its religious meaning, the force and strenght of the people of Paris, France are in it. A better place to understand my belle France.

What can I say about Sacre Coeur, it is a very popular Basilica Church of Paris. I have written before so will just give some new text and new photos even if older from my vault .

Again, one of the must see and must stop on your way to Paris. The historical center of a wonderful district ,a city in its right call Montmartre.   The hill of martyrs as in English, no heroes of any sort, but those earlier Christians who gave it all for the faith. Here Saint Denis was beheaded by pagans lords, but He continue to preach all the way to Saint Denis where now is his Basilica de Saint Denis; it all begun at Montmartre. It was completed in 1910 and was consecrated in 1919. The Sacré-Cœur Basilica is 100 meters long and 50 meters wide surmounted by a dome 83 meters high. The 84 meters high campanile houses a bell weighing 18.5 tons with its 850 kg clapper. The construction of this Roman-Byzantine style basilica dedicated to the Sacred Heart was declared of public utility by the National Assembly of France in 1873. Its construction began in 1876 on the plans of architect Abadie largely inspired by the Church of St Front in Périgueux of which he was the restorer. The interior contains decorative treasures: marble sculptures, stained glass windows and mosaics. The hill of Montmartre is the highest point of Paris with its 130 meters in height. From the square of the basilica there is a beautiful panoramic view of Paris!!

A bit of history that I like

In 1870, the people of Paris were under siege after the defeat of Napoleon III against the Prussians and allies at Sedan. The Parisians were starving and even go so far as to kill the animals of the zoo for food. It follows the capitulation of Napoleon III and the bloody episode of the great commune of Paris. Catholics regard these terrible events as a punishment from God. The faithful then meet and organize huge faith processions, promising to erect a monument to the glory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Archbishop of Paris, Monsignor Guibert, sends a letter to the Minister of Cultes or worship asking him to support this project which would contribute to the divine protection of Paris. In order for the protection to be effective and visible to all, it was decided to build the monument on a hill. Monsignor Guibert would have had a divine vision when he visited the Butte Montmartre which gave him a sunny view of Paris. To decide on the choice of architect, a competition is organized under the chairmanship of Charles Garnier, the father architect of the Opéra. He chose Paul Abadie .The construction began in 1875.To carry out this expensive project, it was called for donations and it was the Parisians themselves who financed the Basilica by buying 1 to 3 stones, the prices of which varied between 120 and 500 francs. The Sacré-Coeur is a private monument, property of the Archdiocese of Paris, and not a building of the French State!!!

To access the Holy of Holies, you must first climb 237 steps but it is worth it: a breathtaking view of our Paris awaits you. Fortunately, since 1901 a cable car or funicular has provided easier access to the Holy Grail.  An anecdote: In April 1944 (WWII) 13 bombs exploded on the Sacré Coeur without causing any casualties, a miracle.

The huge gorgeous mosaic of the Choir represents “The Triumph of the Sacred Heart of Jesus”. With a total area of 475m2, it is one of the largest in the world. The Choir of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Montmartre and its Carrara marble altarpiece ,the Choir is closed by eleven Romanesque arcades, strangely extended upwards.

Hugely wonderful awesome ,gorgeous again need to see it. I have several times and always looking forward for more. Let me give some webpages to help you plan your visit from afar

The official webpage of the Sacré Coeur Basilica in English: http://www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com/english/

The Montmartre tourist office in English: http://www.montmartre-guide.com/en/montmartre_stories/the-basilica-of-the-sacre-coeur/

The Paris tourist office in English: https://en.parisinfo.com/paris-museum-monument/71192/Basilique-du-Sacre-Coeur-de-Montmartre

And the Paris Catholic Diocese on the Sacré Coeur Basilica in French: https://www.paris.catholique.fr/-sacre-coeur-de-montmartre-1371-.html

There you go folks, a work of art, a wonderful place to visit my beautiful capital of France, eternal Paris. It will be worth your time and effort, the Sacré Coeur Basilica was done by citizens for all of us. Hope you enjoy it

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!

Well here I am back at you with gorgeous beautiful awesome Paris. Of course in the Ïle de France region dept and city no 75 and in my belle France. And again, I must repeat, written on some of it before, but this is new text and photo even if older dated. I can sometime get carry away from the excitement of visitors/expats etc and just recount the main monuments or places to see in Paris. However, there are always little things that are overlook and I for one lover of architecture and history need to be back as it is huge with plenty to tell; take this post as an introduction to the Army Museum!

This is the case of a huge complex better known as the Invalides ,but I like even more the Army museum or Musée de l’Armée. And this one will like to tell you its history and what can be seein inside. Hope you enjoy it.

The Musée de l’Armée is located in the Hôtel National des Invalides in the 7éme arrondissement or district of Paris. The Musée de l’Armée is a history museum whose vocation is to present the history of conflicts through the prism of the military history of France. Access is now only via 129 rue de Grenelle as long as sanitary conditions require it. This museum is served by the Invalides metro lines 8 and 13, Varenne line 13 ,and La Tour-Maubourg line 8. Also RER C invalides, and Bus lines my favorites as there are others are lines  28, 82, 87, 92 and 93.

The museum was created in 1905 by the merger of the Artillery Museum and the Army Historical Museum, both of which were already located in the Hôtel des Invalides. At the time, the collections were then installed and divided into two sections: The Arms and Armor Section, which included the Joffre Gallery (fortifications and trenches), the Kléber room (oriental collections), the Massena room (infantry), the Richelieu room (luxury weapons), the Douay room (colonial infantry and armaments foreigners), the Murat room (cavalry), the Margueritte room (African cavalry, artillery and harness), the Gribeauval room (artillery), the Pétain gallery (Souvenirs of the Great War, flags taken from the Germans) and the Foch gallery (memories of the allied armies). And the Historical Section, which included the Turenne room or “flag room” (there were over 700 flags or banners); the Bugeaud room (Detailed collection: paintings, military costumes, weapons), the Louis XIV room (costumes and souvenirs from the former monarchy), the Napoleon room, the La Fayette room, the Aumale room (colonial campaigns), the Mac Mahon room (wars from 1825 to 1870), Chanzy room (1870 to 1914), medals room, Charlemagne room (collection of Greek and Roman uniforms and of the Gauls), Assas room, La Tour d’Auvergne room.

There has been a huge program of renovation that is known by the words ATHENA since 1994, the museum underwent various arrangements . Other museums too such as The historial Charles-de-Gaulle, the Museum of the Order of the Liberation has been completely rehabilitated a new permanent section within the museum, the Cabinets Unusual, devoted in a first part to military figurines and artillery models: one of the most important collections in the world and in another part to military musical instruments. The army museum occupies the east and west wings around the courtyard of the Invalides as well as a wing to the west of the Saint-Louis Church and the historial de Charles de Gaulle, an underground construction under the courtyard of values.

From the year 2000 an important renovation plan with the old weapons and armors department reopened in 2005, the Department of the two World Wars, between 2003 and 2006 and the modern department (from Louis XIV to Napoleon III) which opened its doors in 2010.   The Charles de Gaulle Historial, commissioned by the Charles de Gaulle Museum and Foundation, was inaugurated in February 2008. In 2015, the Museum of the Order of Liberation was totally rehabilitated and the museography completely redesigned. By 2015 opened a new permanent section within the museum, the unusual cabinets, consecrated in a first part to the military figurines including 5 000 small soldiers of cardbox, lead, tin and plastic models on a total of estimated 140 000: Artillery , which is one of the most important collections in the world, comprising 1 000 pieces from the 16C to the 19C and another part of the military musical instruments, selected from the 350 of the collection and the 30 deposited by the Museum of Music. In 2016, the Army museum launched a participatory financing operation with the aim of restoring ViZIER, the only naturalized horse of Napoleon I, who was exposed since 1904 in the modern department (from Louis XIV to Napoleon III). After a month of restoration,in 2015, the mounted horse has regained its original location in a new controlled atmosphere showcase to better preserve it.

The Musée de l’Armée or Army museum joined the Fondation Napoléon to renovate the tomb of Napoleon I in the Invalides, as well as those of his brothers buried near the Emperor, under the famous dome.  The famous sarcophagus of the Emperor, in red quartzite, is rather well preserved but this is not the case of the soils that support it. The stone, enamel and marble marquetry soils were damaged by time and the stone falls from the dome.

Currently the Army museum is set up as such: The museum extends on the east and west wings around the cour d’Honneur of the Invalides and on a wing to the west of the Church of St. Louis and the Historial de Gaulle, an underground construction under the cour de la Valeur (courtyard). What you can see today:

The ancient department, weapons and armors old 13C-17C, whose collection is the 3rd largest in the world, exhibited on 2 500 m2; the modern department, covering the period of Louis XIV to Napoleon III, period 1643 – 1870; the contemporary department, the two World Wars, period from 1871 to 1945; the Historial Charles-de-Gaulle, a multimedia space of 2 500 m2 which traces the life and work of Charles de Gaulle, mainly with audiovisual documents; the unusual cabinets, including a part on the old figurines and models of artillery pieces, and another part on the musical military instruments

Thematic departments:   The department of Paintings and Sculptures, Office of prints, drawings and photography. Research sites: The library, created in 1905 and restored in recent years; The photo library. The Dome Church of Saint Louis is under the responsibility of the museum, it houses the burial of Napoleon I, his two brothers, his son (the Aiglon), the Marshals Vauban and Turenne, and the most recent of the Marshals, Foch and Lyautey.

Two other museums are attached to the Army Museum: The Museum of miniature models, (musée des Plans–reliefs) consisting of models of fortified cities that trace 200 years of history and military strategies. It depends on the Ministry of Culture; and the Museum of the Order of Liberation, (musée de l’ordre de la Libération )created in 1967 and then renovated between 2012 and 2016, it is devoted to the order founded by de Gaulle in 1940 and to the Companions of the liberation. The collections are divided into three parts: free France, inner resistance and deportation.

Further renovations are in orders such as by 2024, the reception areas and temporary exhibitions will be reconfigured with the creation of places dedicated to the history of the site, as well as the news of French military engagements; while a new reserve building will be built in the suburbs. The second part will start in 2025 and will concern the creation of two new courses devoted to the history of colonization and decolonization from the 16C to the 1960s, as well as to the military history of the post-1945 period and to the Cold War until the period following the fall of the Iron Curtain.

So keep an eye for them, they will make for a whole new experience of visiting Paris and the Army museum! Some webpages to help you plan your trip are

The Official Army museum in English https://www.musee-armee.fr/en/english-version.html

The Paris tourist office on the Army museum in English: https://en.parisinfo.com/paris-museum-monument/71520/Musee-de-l-Armee-Invalides

And now there you go folks, ready for it as I am. Looking forward to revisit this wonderful place ,where I spent many of my time in Paris in and out and about it. Hope you enjoy the post on the Army Museum alone!

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!