May 26, 2007

Place des Abbesses

Further referring to the Montmartre patchwork the other day, here are some more details about the Place des Abbesses, where the “I love you”-wall can be found. I think it is one of the most beautiful places in Paris. It has a lot of charm and is not invaded by more or less gifted ”tourist painters” and other commercial activities. It’s visited, but normally not included as a “must” in a normal Montmartre tourist tour.

Adjacent to the central place you have a small park (Square Jehan-Rictus) with the “I love you”-wall. On the place, surrounded by bars, you can find a carousel, a Wallace fountain and one of Paris’ nicest metro entrances. Crossing the street, you will find the church Saint-Jean-l’Evangeliste.

There is some more information below, between the photos.


The church, Saint-Jean-l’Evangeliste, is rather recent, inaugurated in 1904. The architect, Anatole de Baudot (1834-1915), wanted to create a simpler kind of church. The ironwork and the concrete used for the building is partly visible and the, for that époque, innovative design can be said to be related to the “modern-style”.

The modern-style” (Art Nouveau, Tiffany, Liberty, Modernismo…) is more clearly represented by the metro entrance, designed by one of its innovators, Hector Guimard (1867-1942). You can find several of his metro entrances in Paris, but this is clearly one of the more spectacular ones, with a glass roof. On the top picture, you can (on the lower part) discover how Hector has incorporated an M for metro in his design. (This entrance has actually been brought here from another metro station in order to have it saved.)

25 comments:

isa said...

Never noticed that M before! Very informative piece...The photos bring back many fun memories ;-)

hpy said...

Incroyable, je me suis levée tard ce matin et il n'y a qu'UN SEUL commentaire sur ton blog au moment où je commence le mien!

Je ne vais pas dire grand chose sur ce que tu as photographié et écrit, tous ceux qui vont suivre vont pouvoir le faire...

(Mais j'aime beaucoup, comme d'habitude.)

EMNM said...

very nice pictures, i like the metro picture

EMNM said...

look this photo of the SGAE in Madrid:

http://esmadridnomadrizfotos.blogspot.com/2007/02/balcn.html

there is a building in paris very similarly, but i don´t remember the name.
Do you know it?

Anonymous said...

I have been lost many times in Montmarte`s streets :), but it`s not so unusual. When I am in a new place, something happens in my brain and I see everything just as a mirror picture and I go always to the opposite direction, what I should go.
Your post has so much to look , that I must come back after lunch :)
Have a good weekend!

Peter said...

I replied to maritensis on her blog (which you should visit). There are a lot of art nouveau buildings in Paris. A lot was constructed for the World Fair in 1900. I will come back on this one day.

hogrelius said...

Härligt gröna bilder från den stora staden!Blir så sugen att promenera där,ställer du upp som guide?

Anonymous said...

These are all very nice photographs, Peter, and the text with them is good too.

I like your work today very much.

I just discovered a few minutes ago that the baby robins have left the nest. Or one is still there but two are out and on their own. I have photographed those.

Birds in their bath at
Brookville Daily Photo

Peter said...

hogrelius: Naturligtvis!

Hogrelius asked if I was ready to serve as a guide for him here in Paris. Naturally, I would be happy to do so, for whoever is coming. The thing is that I have a lot to learn. Walking around Paris makes me curious and I try to understand and appreiciate what I see. I will continue learning and prepare for your visits.

I have lived here for more than 30 years, but now at last I have some time to stroll around.

EMNM said...

Peter, you say: "I replied to matritensis on Her blog"

HER??? I´m a man :P I know, Matritensis is an ambiguous name, means madrilian in latin, and it´s so easy make a mistake hhehee

Don´t worry, you are not the first ;)

Peter said...

matritensis:

Thanks for correcting my error. I must more have women than men in my subconscious mind.

EMNM said...

hahahaa, last week a man (heterosexual of course) sent me a mail and he called me sweet!!

Chuckeroon said...

Well, Peter.......what can I say? It certainly brings back memories....perhaps I should phone Eurostar!

Ash said...

Lovely images!
Wonderful architecture and detail.

Mona said...

Peter. You have alwys so many wonderful pictures to offer. It is almost like site seeing here.Thank you very much for offeing us so much beauty to see!

Thank you so much for your very kind words at my blog!

lyliane six said...

Très belles photos, j'ai apprécié ce spectacle dans la réalité au début de l'année, car j'ai beaucoup marché dans les environs, mais c'est bien joli aussi au printemps. A lire tous les commentaires et le blog d'Hélène,je n'ai plus de temps pour écrire sur la Suède, mais ton pays attire moins que Paris (Pour les étrangers c'est la plus belle ville du monde!)Mais je ne suis pas très chauvine et j'ai aimé bien d'autres capitales que j'ai visitées.

lyliane six said...

Je suis aussi entrée dans cette église, car contrairement à Stéphanie, c'est les églises que je visite toujours.Ma fille avait la même spécialité que Stéphanie, a peine arrivée quelque part il fallait qu'elle aille aux toilettes pour visiter...

Kunterbunt said...

It looks wonderful, there is always so much streetlife in Paris. And I love those old art-déco- entrances.

Shionge said...

Been to Paris three times and still so many places to explore...thanks to you Pete :)

Kate said...

That metro is so spectacular. yes, many good memories!

di.di said...

very very nice pictures n info. thank u for sharing!

Patrick said...

If you like Guimard architecture and work, I encourage you to look at Castel Béranger (Paris 16). Everything has been designed by him (even the door's handles). Everything is "protected"

Peter said...

Thanks Patrick. I know it of course, but have not visited with may camera. Have the intention to go there one day - with my camera - but for the moment I'm hardly leaving the 17th (and 18th) arrondissement.

black feline said...

i must have missed this part of Paris...a very bohemian feel to it...hope to visit one day

Olivier said...

Bravo, superbe reportage sur cette sublime petite place parisienne. J'aime beaucoup l'architecture de l'eglise Saint-Jean-l’Evangeliste, elle differe beaucoup des eglises parisiennes, elle est vraiment impressionnante.