Page 93 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Paris

ILE DE LA CITE AND ILE ST L OUIS  91

Boleslas Biegas. The Society’s
library, founded in 1838,
preserves documents and
mementos relating to Polish
history and culture, develops
historical and literary studies,
and organizes cultural events.

t St-Louis-en-l’Ile
19 Rue St-Louis-en-l’Ile 75004.
Map 13 C4. Tel 01 46 34 11 60.
q Pont Marie. Open 9:30am–1pm,
2–7:30pm daily (to 7pm Sun & public
hols). Mass: 6:45pm Mon–Fri, 6:30pm
Sat, 11am Sun.
The interior of St-Louis-en-l’Ile
The construction of this church
Henri IV in Square du Vert-Galant began in 1664 from plans by y Hôtel de Lauzun
the royal architect Louis Le Vau, 17 Quai d’Anjou 75004. Map 13 C4.
e Square du Vert- who lived on the island. It was Tel 01 42 76 54 04. q Pont Marie.
completed and conse crated in
Galant 1726. Among its outstanding Closed to the public. ∑ paris.fr
exterior features are the 1741 This splendid mansion, also
Ile de la Cité 75001. Map 12 F3.
q Pont Neuf, Cité. iron clock at the entrance and known as Hôtel Pimodan, was
the pierced iron spire. built by Louis Le Vau in the
One of the magical spots of Paris, The interior, in the Baroque mid-1650s for Charles Gruyn
this square bears the nickname style, is richly decorated with des Bordes, an arms dealer.
of Henri IV. This amorous and gilding and marble. There is a It was sold in 1682 to the
colourful monarch did much to statue of St Louis holding a French military commander
beautify Paris in the early 17th crusader’s sword. A plaque in the Duc de Lauzun, who was a
century, and his popularity has north aisle bears the inscription favourite of Louis XIV. It later
lasted to this day. From here, “in grate ful memory of St Louis became a focus for Paris’s
there are splendid views of the in whose honour the City of St Bohemian literary and artistic
Louvre and the Right Bank of Louis, Missouri, USA is named”. life. It now belongs to the city
the river, where Henri was The church is also twinned with of Paris, and an establishment
assassinated in 1610. This is Carthage cathedral in Tunisia, dedicated to scientific research
also the point from which the where St Louis is buried. is housed here. For those lucky
Vedettes du Pont Neuf pleasure enough to see inside, it offers
boats depart (see pp74–5). an unsurpassed insight into
wealthy lifestyles in the
17th century. Charles Le Brun
r Société worked on the decoration
Historique et of its magnificent panelling
and painted ceilings before
Littéraire Polonaise moving on to Versailles.
6 Quai d’Orléans 75004. Map 13 C4. The poet Charles Baudelaire
Tel 01 55 42 83 83. q Pont Marie. (1821–67) lived on the third
Open 2:15–6pm Tue–Fri. & 8 floor and wrote most of his
call 01 55 42 83 85 to book. controversial masterpiece Les
∑ bibliotheque-polonaise- Fleurs du Mal in a room packed
paris-shlp.fr with antiques and bric-a-brac.
The celebrated French Romantic
The Polish Romantic poet Adam poet, traveller and critic,
Mickiewicz, who lived in Paris in Théophile Gautier (1811–72),
the 19th century, was a major had apartments here in 1848.
force in Polish cultural and Meetings of the Club des
political life, devoting his writing Haschischines (the Hashish-
to helping his countrymen who Eaters’ Club) took place here too.
were oppressed at home and Other famous residents were
abroad. The museum, founded the Austrian poet Rainer Maria
in 1903, has exhibition galleries Rilke, the English artist Walter
dedicated to not only Mickewicz Sickert and the German
but also Frédéric Chopin and A bust of Adam Mickiewicz composer Richard Wagner.

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