January 28, 2008

Palais de Justice

We have already visited the Pont Neuf and Place Dauphine, which are on the extreme western end of Ile de la Cité. Just behind Place Dauphine you will find the Palais de Justice. (I guess that all these names need no translation.)

Ile de la Cité was the original centre of Paris and where you now find the Palais de Justice were previously situated the seat of the government during the Roman times, the Royal Palace during the medieval times and then later the “Parlement de Paris” (developed out of the previous council of the Kings), a prison and a Hall of Justice. From those times remain not so much; most of the present Palais has been built during the 17th and 18th century, but there are some nice remains including the Conciergerie (prison) with its old towers and the Sainte Chapelle (Royal church). I will come back to these in some following posts.

I have made a comparison between Ile de la Cité in 1552 and today (Google). The scale on the old map is perhaps not perfect, but it gives us an image of what the island looked like those days. Pont Neuf and Place Dauphine were created only some 50 years after this map.First some general views of the Palais - which today is the seat of local and national courts of justice including the highest court of appeal. It covers some 200 thousand sq.m. (50 acres), has 24 km (15 miles) of corridors, 7000 doors… It houses some 4000 magistrates and civil servants, not mentioning the thousands of more or less voluntary daily visitors.The clock you see in the top is from 1585 (it works) and it replaces what was the oldest public clock in Paris which was put there some 200 years before. You find it on the square tower called “Tour d’Horloge”, the Clock Tower, which was built as watch tower.Tomorrow, we will visit the fabulous Sainte Chapelle.

As usual, you can find some of these pictures on my photo blog.

34 comments:

Mona said...

Wow! That clock still works after all that time!!!

& with each one of your posts, It is amazing to realize how much beauty can one nation contain! & so much Art too!

Thank you for posting these wonderful wonderful pictures Peter.

France is Amazing. so are you!

SusuPetal said...

The walls of the houses are a joy for a photographer, and the reliefs, too. Just have to aim eyes way up!

Have a nice week, Peter!

Jessica said...

I agree with Mona that both you and France are amazing. I love the old map, so beautiful. I understand that it could be difficult to create a perfect map to scale of the whole world but of an area as small as Ile de la Cite? The clock is also amazing.

Olivier said...

l'ile saint louis, l'ile de la cite,pendant des années je les ai traverse a pied pour aller a l'ecole. Je trouvais cela long et j'etais presse. Maintenant j'avoue que j'adore venir m'y promener (surtout le matin) et puis il y a les glaces de Berthillon.
Je derape sur le theme de ton blog, le palais de justice qui est un immeuble magnifique. J'aime beaucoup, le matin quand le soleil se leve sur cette partie de Paris

lyliane six said...

Je ne sais pas pourquoi, mais la conciergerie est un de mes momuments préféré de Paris, peut être parce que c'est ce qui symbolise pour moi un vrai château avec ses tours. Je l'ai visité il y a bien longtemps et la Sainte chapelle aussi.Bonne visite.

alice said...

Dommage qu'il fasse un peu frais pour une petite boule de glace chez Bertillon...

hpy said...

Ca a déjà été dit, mais je vais le redire, tu pourrais remplacer le petit guide vert de Michelin. Surtout que tu as moins de ventre que lui.

alice said...

J'ai oublié: Beau bébé!

Cergie said...

Tu as l'air fasciné par le temps et les horloges.
"L'heure c'est l'heure, avant l'heure c'est pas l'heure, après l'heure c'est plus l'heure..."
On voit comme tu es busy depuis que tu es un new retired Swede in Paris
L'horloge du dessus pourrait s'animer, elle est si réaliste et a tant de relief
J'aime bien les toilettes dans le square juste derrière la cathédrale. De dehors. Je sais pas comment c'est dedans, je ne les ai jamais vues ouvertes

Cergie said...

Dis donc, très important : en plus tu as embauché Mattias pour te donner un coup de main, tu exagères. J'ai vu ça chez Lyliane....

Anonymous said...

I didn't realize the clock had been replaced, I thought it was from 200 years before. Good to know.

I love those towers of the Conciergerie.

And the Ste Chapelle tomorrow!! One of my very favorites. :D

Kate said...

The ages of everything in Paris fascinates me and other US citizens since we have very little to match that. The ancient Indian tribes of the Southwest, however, have left some wonderful historical artifacts. Back to Pho: the clock is fascinating AND beautiful. When in Paris in the '90's my husband and I wandered around the Palais de Justice and when one of the guards learned that my husband is an attorney he took us to one of the courtrooms where we watched several trials in progress. Even without knowing the language it was a treat! Have you posted photos about Saine Chapelle? It is a treasure and I'd love to see your rendition of it. A request, I guess, Peter. PS. I love your new profile photo!!

Annie said...

Pretty baby in the profile photo, one who was likely cuddled and treasured enough that he felt secure about heading off to explore.

I suppose most all tourists become a little familiar with the Isle de la Cite but it looks like one could spend a whole life there and still find something new to see.

The Swedish massage that is practiced in Hot Springs is very relaxing, what they call effleurage and petrissage.

Anonymous said...

Bonjour Peter, j'aime beaucoup les trois dernières photos. Comme Cergie, je reviens sur le thème du temps.
Je n'ai pas pris le temps la semaine passée de venir ici, je vais essayer de me rattraper cette semaine pour venir te faire des petits coucous. Mon heure n'a pas encore sonné...
Le temps et les horloges, tout un programme. Je reprends ici les vers de Baudelaire "l'Horloge". Pas très joyeux mais si beau, à déclamer au milieu de son salon, ça en jette toujours.

"LXXXV - L'Horloge


Horloge! dieu sinistre, effrayant, impassible,
Dont le doigt nous menace et nous dit: "Souviens-toi!
Les vibrantes Douleurs dans ton coeur plein d'effroi
Se planteront bientôt comme dans une cible;

Le Plaisir vaporeux fuira vers l'horizon
Ainsi qu'une sylphide au fond de la coulisse;
Chaque instant te dévore un morceau du délice
A chaque homme accordé pour toute sa saison.

Trois mille six cents fois par heure, la Seconde
Chuchote: Souviens-toi! - Rapide, avec sa voix
D'insecte, Maintenant dit: Je suis Autrefois,
Et j'ai pompé ta vie avec ma trompe immonde!

Remember! Souviens-toi! prodigue! Esto memor!
(Mon gosier de métal parle toutes les langues.)
Les minutes, mortel folâtre, sont des gangues
Qu'il ne faut pas lâcher sans en extraire l'or!

Souviens-toi que le Temps est un joueur avide
Qui gagne sans tricher, à tout coup! c'est la loi.
Le jour décroît; la nuit augmente; souviens-toi!
Le gouffre a toujours soif; la clepsydre se vide.

Tantôt sonnera l'heure où le divin Hasard,
Où l'auguste Vertu, ton épouse encor vierge,
Où le Repentir même (oh! la dernière auberge!),
Où tout te dira Meurs, vieux lâche! il est trop tard!"

Charles Baudelaire


Oui ce n'est vraiment pas marrant

Peter said...

mona:
India is amazing and so are you!

susupetal:
I agree about the eyse up, but sometimes it leads to false steps!

jessica:
Thanks! I think you make a lot of homage to France also on your blog!

Peter said...

olivier:
On n'est pas encore sur l'Ile St. Louis pour les glaces..., mais on y va doucement!

lyliane:
Il y longtemps... alors maintenant tu vas pouvoir revisiter (demain etc.)!


alice!
Oui, pour la glace on va attendre quelques jours!

Peter said...

hpy:
Michelin... il ne faut pas non plus ressembler à Bibendum!

cergie:
Les toilettes? Il faut que tu m'expliques mieux. Je le connais pas. (Sinon, je vais demander à ma fille; elle est experte ès toilettes.)

Tu as vu Mattias?

ruth:
Yes the clock is quite young, hardly 500 years! I hope your expectations for Sainte Chapelle are no too high!

Peter said...

kate:
Sainte Chapelle will follow!
I have so far only visited the corridors of Palais de Justice, but I hope to visit a bit more closely with the help of my daughter who at present is practising there as a lawyer trainee.

annie:
Yes, if nothing else, I believe that Notre Dame is part of the compulsory things to see.
The baby was only 1 year old and still all his illusions!

delphinium:
Vraiment heureux de te revoir ici et ailleurs!
Oui, le temps passe et la poésie que tu as choisi n'est pas très encourageante (mais belle)! Alors, on sourit un peu? Une coupe?

Vagabondage said...

Voilà la petite leçon de géographie, avec une superbe horloge, je ne vais pas te demander celle du quartier de l’horloge, tu vas me dire d’aller dans la liste N°… § …. Et alinéas …. 4ème page de gauche… et c’est là.. Bon, je te taquine, Un de mes défauts… Mais la vie n’est pas si triste… La Brière, à une dizaine de Kms du Croisic, je te recommande ce détour, entre les marais salants, les paludiers, les grands oiseaux nichant là, il y a des photos à faire. Tu peux trouver dans mes archives 2007/10. Un pays qui n’existe pas…..

Bonne soirée Peter à demain pour la Sainte Chapelle…

Anonymous said...

How old is old? I mean that clock is marvelous and working.

Peter said...

mathilde:
Non, je n'ai pas fait du post sur le quartier d'horloge, donc, ce n-est pas la peine de chercher. Malheureusement, j'ai l'impression que le quartier de l'horloge (et l'horloge) marche un peu moins bien que l'horloge que j'ai montré?
Tes images sur la Brière sont magnifiques et donnent envie d'y aller!

Peter said...

oldmanlincoln:
Almost 500 years for a clock is not bad, I think? The previous one had to be replaced already after 200 years.

Noushy Syah said...

Hi Peter,
Your avatar is so cute..is that one of your grandson?

It's amazing,they must have regular inspection of the clock for that age to keep going..

Good info for us and lovely pics as usual.

How was your w/end? Any deadlines? i bet none, aside from your daily task for posting one post per day rite? Life must be so relaxing for you now!

Noushy Syah said...

Peter;
This is for you,
http://noushy-award.blogspot.com/2008/01/best-friends.html

I enjoy reading your blog and thanks for leaving generous comment in my blog.

Thanks Peter.Have a lovely week yea.

Chuckeroon said...

...well, for me it's the gates.

Of course, you know "Bibendum" in Chelsea??

Peter said...

noushy:
Well, I guess the little baby is called Peter. ... and sincere thanks for the award! Your sites definitely deserve a number of awards!

chuckeroon:
Bibendum, Michelin house, expensive restaurant... No, never went there. You?

isa said...

I cannot look at PJ without thinking of Commissaire Maigret ;-)

And judging by your new avatar, you have not changed much!

krystyna said...

As usually I am bewitched!

Little Peter is very cute!

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