Worn out from our Strasbourg trip, we decided to take it easy on Saturday, but then relented and went on another Paris Walks tour, this time to Les Halles, the former market district of Paris.
This had been the market area since the middle ages and then gradually stalls and later pavilions were built there for the wholesale trade. The pavilions, twelve in all in what became a sprawling market center, were torn down and replaced in the late 1960s with a modern, dreadful, glass monstrosity that covers a huge underground mall. That structure is destined for the wrecking ball in place of a park.
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| Forum des halles |
We wandered around this neighborhood and went to another covered shopping area, Passage du Grand Cerf.
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| Passage du Grand Cerf |
We saw the oldest Parisian patisserie, Stohrer's, and a famous restaurant known for its escargot. We also saw the vestiges of old Paris's street signs, iconic images.
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| Stohrer's bakery |
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| escargot restaurant |
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| bee hive street sign |
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| tree street sign |
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| St Leu-St. Gilles Church |
We saw a portion of a medieval wall that enclosed the city as well as a 15th century tower erected by John the Fearless (as opposed to John the Solie) to observe the movements of political opponents who sought to assassinate him.
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| portion of city wall |
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| John the Fearless's tower |
We finally would up at one of my favorite churches, St. Eustache, a beautiful 15th century gothic church built in the market area and dedicated to the various merchants there.
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| St Eustache church |
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| St Eustache interior |
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| St Eustache organ |
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| city council building |
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