Page 168 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Paris

166  P ARIS AREA B Y AREA

1 Institut du
Monde Arabe
1 Rue des Fossées St-Bernard,
Pl Mohammed V 75005. Map 13 C5.
Tel 01 40 51 38 38. q Jussieu,
Cardinal-Lemoine. Open Museum &
temp exhibs: 10am–6pm Mon–Fri,
10am–7pm Sat & Sun. Library: call for
opening hours. & 7 8 Lectures.
0 - ∑ imarabe.org
This cultural institute was
founded in 1980 by France and
20 Arab countries with the
intention of fostering cultural
links between the Arab world
and the West. It is housed in a
magnificent build ing designed
by Jean Nouvel (who was also
responsible for the Musée
du quai Branly, see pp194–5), mind the minaret of a mosque. From floors four to seven, there’s
combining modern materials The emphasis that is tradition ally a fascinating display of Islamic
with the spirit of traditional Arab placed on interior space in Arab works of art from the 9th to the
archi tecture. The white marble archi tecture has been used here 19th centuries, including
book tower, which can be seen to create an enclosed courtyard ceramics, sculpture, carpets
through the glass of the west reached by a narrow gap and astrolabes. There is also a
wall, spirals upwards bringing to splitting the building in two. library and media archive.
2 Musée de la Jardin Tino Rossi in honour of sent from abroad. Unfortunately,
Sculpture en the celebrated Corsican singer. during the Prussian siege of
Plein Air The garden has a display of Paris (1870–71), most of these
open-air sculpture known as
animals were slaughtered in
Quai St-Bernard, Square Tino Rossi the Musée de la Sculpture en order to feed the hungry
75005. Map 13 C5. q Gare Plein Air. Vandalism and other citizens (see p227).
d’Austerlitz, Sully-Morland. problems have unfortunately Today, the zoo specializes
necessitated the removal of in small mammals, insects,
Butting up to the left-hand some of the exhibits. birds, primates and reptiles.
corner of the Institut du It is a great favourite with
Monde Arabe, the Pont de children as it allows them
Sully links the Ile St Louis 3 Ménagerie to get quite close to the
with both banks of the Seine. 57 Rue Cuvier/Rue Buffon 75005. animals, and feeding times
Opened in 1877 and built of Map 17 C1. Tel 01 40 79 56 01. are especially popular. The
cast iron, the Pont de Sully is q Jussieu, Austerlitz. Open summer: lion house contains panthers
not an especially beautiful 9am–6pm daily (to 6:30pm Sun & from China and other attrac-
structure. Despite this, it is public hols); winter: 9am–5/5:30pm tions include a large monkey
well worth pausing for a daily. Last adm 30 min before closing. house, a waterfowl aviary, and
moment on the bridge for a & 0 - h = 8 for groups, by wild sheep and goats.
fabulous view of Notre-Dame appt. ∑ zoodujardindesplantes.fr
rising dramatically behind the
graceful Pont de la Tournelle. France’s oldest public zoo Child playing
Running along the river is situated in the pleasant at the zoo
from the Pont de Sully as far surroundings of the Jardin
as the Pont d’Austerlitz is the des Plantes. The Ménagerie
peaceful Quai St-Bernard. was set up during the
Not always so sedate, Quai Revolution to house the
St-Bernard was famous during survivors from the Royal
the 17th century as a spot for menagerie at Versailles –
nude bathing, until scandalized all four of them. The
public opinion made it illegal. state then rounded
The grassy slopes adjoining up animals from
the quai make a perfect spot circuses, and a
to enjoy a picnic. Opened in number of exotic
1975, they are known as the creatures were

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