I went to Paris on business, and mostly visited the University of Paris, and
bookstores on the left bank near the university. But Paris is a wonderful
city, full of excitement and surprises. Here are some of the scenes I found
during my few moments off.
Notre Dame de Paris
Our Lady of Paris Cathedral is guilt on the site of the former Temple of Jupiter, who hasn't complained yet about losing his temple. It is the major tourist site in Paris closest to the University, so of course I took plenty of pictures. The cathedral is impressive even from far away, commanding the view of the River Seine. As one approaches the front of the cathedral, one meets with a statue of the Holy [sic] Roman [sic] Emperor [sic] Carlus Magnus, better known in English (and French) as Charlemagne. Well, I don't really know how holy he was, but real Roman emperors never wore crowns.
The cathedral itself is covered with beautiful statues. These include notable scenes from the Bible and the history of Christianity, such as the Garden of Eden, and Mary with her son Jesus. The imagery is all over, and seems to swallow you as you go in. Some of it is beyond me. The edifice is imposing, even in these days of skyscrapers, and must have been even more so when it was built. Over one door is the last judgement, Jesus as judge, the departed rising from their graves, and their division between the saved and the damned. Other doors have other scenes. There are kings scattered among the angels and saints, but of course religious imagery dominates.
Holocaust Memorial
The holocaust memorial in Paris kind of sneeks up on you behind Notre Dame. It opens like a violent wound gaping in the center of beautiful Paris, or perhaps like a tomb, which it is, the tomb of an unknown victim of the Nazis. Images of violence and confinement surround the visitor. It is one of the most evocative pieces of art in a city famous for its art. Its stones speak.
Resistance Memorial
The people of France suffered under the Nazis, as did the people of most of Europe and much of North Africa and the Middle East. But the French resistance was heroic to the point of being legendary. They too have their own memorial, more prominent, on the Boulevard St. Michel. Its symbolism is also profound, and much more hopeful than that of the Holocaust Memorial: St. Michael the Archangel banishing the Devil from Heaven. Its tribute to the heroes of the local resistance of the Left Bank is beautiful and well phrased.
other stuff
The placement of the University of Paris in the middle of the left bank parallels the central place of intellectuals in French public life. There is no Oxford or Cambridge in France. Here are some brief shots I took of Paris 7 while I was there for a conference. This fountain is outside.
Churches and memorials are not all there is to artistic expression in Paris, of course. These sculptures were in a park:
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