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Paris New Itineraries For A Fresh View Part I
oing to Paris? Sooner or less traveled path. The one I
later you may. Once there, take with my friends when we
steer clear of the typical visit the French capital.
Parisian landmarks. Follow in the
footsteps of Phil, the Senior So, let's assume you are as eager
Editor of a well-known Paris as we are to learn something new
travel guide. Take a peek at about Paris, and let's take a
out-of-sight places few outsiders peek at just two of its
know. Amazement guaranteed. less-well-known jewels. The next
time you take the trip to Paris,
Every Paris travel guide seems to you'll be the one leading the
have something to add to the way!
already voluminous information
available on such well-known The Lutece Arena, a return into
spots as the Louvre and Orsay time
museums, Notre Dame Cathedral,
and the Eiffel Tower. Before Paris became Paris, the
city was the capital of the
Yet what about discovering the territory occupied by the
quaint neighborhoods of the 19th Parisii, the Gallic tribe after
century Paris? Or taking pictures which Paris will take its name in
of the inn built for the paupers the 4th century A.D. There is
by Nicholas Flamel in the 15th some controversy about the
century (yes, that's the same original Celtic name of the city,
Nicholas Flamel written about in but when the Romans invaded it in
Harry Potter)? 52 B.C. under Emperor Julius
Caesar, they called it Lutecia
In my reckoning, there's a truly (or Lutetia).
interesting way of discovering
Paris, and that's to take the In the 2nd century A.D., the
Romans built in its middle an decided Paris did not have the
amphitheater of about 25,000 funds necessary to excavate and
square feet, which could hold preserve the antique discovery,
about 16,000 spectators. During and the development project which
the next century, gladiator had dug out the ruins was
fights and other less palatable green-lighted.
games (e.g. offering early
Christians for lunch to beasts of Later on, in 1883, the site was
prey) were held for the benefit repurchased and rehabilitated
of the local Roman population. under the guidance of French
novelist Victor Hugo (author of
With the fall of the Roman 'Les Miserables'). A further
Empire, such games became much rehabilitation project began in
less popular, and as Christianity 1916 which unearthed the site
became the State religion, completely. Vicious attempts at
man-eating events ceased to be taking over the site and
held altogether. destroying it by unashamed,
greedy, low-life real-estate
The arena was demolished during developers were thwarted by the
the barbarian invasions of 280 local dwellers in 1980.
A.D., and the site later became a
cemetery. In the late 12th How do you get to see this
century, the ruins were buried beautiful place which, to this
under a large rampart built to day, still remains 'stealthy'?
defend Paris. They remained
forgotten until 1869 when they Orient yourself on a map, take
were unearthed to the greatest the subway to the 'Monge'
surprise of all historians. station, and walk to No. 47 Rue
Monge. Enter the hallway, walk
At the time, the City Council along the corridor and there you
are! Right on the sandy ground of since the French revolution, is
the arena where ghosts of actually a collection of
ferocious lions still roam in individual gardens -- each with a
search for a human prey! peculiar charm and specific
plants. It houses several old
A guaranteed, amazing leap in the structures, including the
past, just short of 2,000 years Botanical School and the Magny
ago! Mansion (built in 1650). The
Botanical Gardens are a huge site
The Botanical Gardens and their with a total surface area of
Alpine Garden about 2,600,000 square feet.
Now on to another amazing Each of the individual gardens is
curiosity which is sure to tickle unique and deserves your
the interest of our plant-loving attention for each one is home to
friends. specific species of flowers,
vegetables, trees, and medicinal
In 1640 A.D., under the reign of plants. On the Botanical School's
King Louis the 14th (the same plot alone some 4,500 plants are
king who presided over the grown. The Rose Garden (La
development of the Versailles Roseraie) counts some 170 species
Palace), the Royal Garden of of roses!
Medicinal Herbs opened its doors
'to the general public and Amongst these beauties, the
students'. The project had been Alpine Garden stands out. Between
green-lighted in 1626 by King the Otter Basin and the Cuvier
Louis the 13th. alley (Cuvier was a famous French
botanist), a 40,000 square foot
The Jardin des Plantes (Botanical parcel was delineated in 1931 for
Gardens), as it has been called the growing of a diversity of
mountain plant species. hustle-bustle of the city. You
will come out of your stroll
Today, the gardeners of the absolutely ravished, marveling at
Alpine Garden tend to the health the job the gardeners do to
of plants coming from places as maintain this privileged
diverse as the United States, environment in full bloom.
China, Japan, the Balkans,
Morocco, the Caucasian mountains, How do you access this temple of
Spain, and the Himalaya Mother Nature? Take the subway to
Mountains! A total of some 2,000 the 'Gare d'Austerlitz' station.
species to look after. Walk to the Austerlitz Bridge
(Pont d'Austerlitz) and you will
Among the hallmarks of the Alpine find yourself on a semi-circular
Garden is its 18th century plaza (Place Valhubert). The
Pistachio tree. The Botanical entrance to the Botanical Gardens
Gardens house several historical is here. It is open every day
trees: the oldest one was from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
directly imported from the
Eastern United States and planted And on Hemingway's words, I leave
here in 1636 (an acacia). Among you until Part II of this series
other ancient trees, you can also of "Paris: New Itineraries for a
admire a Lebanese cedar, which Fresh View".
was brought back to France in
1734. " If you are lucky enough to have
lived in Paris as a young man,
A visit to the Botanical Gardens then wherever you go for the rest
and its Alpine Gardens is a whole of your life it stays with you,
afternoon affair. Ten minutes for Paris is a moveable feast."
into the place and its quietness -- Ernest Hemingway
will make you oblivious of the
About the Author:
After many years spent in Paris, Phil Chavanne knows the city in and out. He helps you to prepare your trip to Paris with scores of informations and useful advices at http://www.Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News.com, a free guide on Paris and Paris Hotels.
Source: www.isnare.com
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