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When Victor Hugo began writing his classic tale The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, his goal was to make his contemporaries more aware of the value of Gothic architecture. There has always been a debate as to whether or not Quasimodo was based on a real person. An article published in 2010 references the memoirs of a 19th-century sculptor working at Notre Dame. The memoir mentions a stone carver…

With over 70 churches in the city of Paris, it can be overwhelming to take in them all. The one that absolutely cannot be missed is Notre Dame Cathedral. Construction began on the towering edifice in 1136 and was mostly complete by 1260. During the French Revolution, Notre-Dame suffered extensive damage and desecration. With many of its religious art damaged or destroyed, it wasn’t until Victor…

When you think of Paris, the music of an accordion can be frequently heard wafting through the streets. Along the banks of the Seine or in the looming shadows of the Tour Eiffel, there is no mistaking it’s music.

Across from the Louvre is the Tower of St. Jacques.  This Gothic tower is all that remains of the 16th-century Church of Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie, “Saint James of the butchers” Built in the early 1500’s, the tower’s opulent ornamentation reflects the wealth of the church’s patron. The butchers of Les Halles Market. For more information check…

There is never enough time to fully explore the Louvre. Over 2.8 million visitors venture through it’s cavernous halls in a year. With over 380,000 objects, something is bound to be missed on your first visit. A mere 20′ away from the Mona Lisa is this painting of “Flora”. Paris Bordone was an Italian painter. His paintings of religious themes were created for some of the great churches of the…

There are quite a few interesting details on the Facades of The Louvre

Louis XIV was long associated with Apollo, the Greek God of the Sun. This chamber of The Sun King is richly appointed with gold embellishments. Charles le Brun was the painter to the king and charged with designing the decorations. The ceiling is adorned with a painting of Apollo riding his chariot across the sky. In addition to the references to Apollo, there are also 28 portrait tapestries of…

In traditional French Palace design, the King’s bedchamber was the main feature of the king’s apartments. During the Ancien Regime, the late Middle Ages until the French Revolution. Placed significant emphasis to the King’s bed. Instead of sitting on a throne, the king would lounge in his ornate bed.

Bronze Pair of Children Representing Cupid and Psyche Centaure chevauché par l’amour Hermes fastening his sandal