Place Saint Georges

The area of Paris where we have already visited the Museum of the Romantics, Square d’Orléans and the Gustave Moreau Museum is for some reason called Nouvelle Athène (New Athens). There are several more places to visit and I have not finished; it is in easy walking distance from where I live. As usual I present some Paris Google illustrations to make it possible for you to find your way to these places, if you have not already visited them. (Batignolles is the area where I live.)

Today I will show you Place Saint Georges. It’s a nice place created in the beginning of the 19th century. In the middle you have a statue of a painter called Gavarni. He should be surrounded by water, but there are some works ongoing. Originally this was a fountain allowing horses to get some refreshment.

Gavarni was known for painting courtesans and the most striking building on the place, which I have illustrated a bit more in detail (top picture and second slide below), was actually built for a courtesan. She obviously was successful, as she rather soon moved to something even more fashionable on the Champs Elysées, became marchioness... Today the building seems to be basically occupied by very expensive offices (and there is space to let).

The other building, today with some green public space behind, was destroyed during one of the French revolutions in 1871 (Paris Commune), but immediately rebuilt. It was previously occupied by Adolphe Thiers, who actually was elected President of the Republic the same year as his house was torn down. Today it's a library depending on the "Institute" (The French Academy).

You can find the original photos on my other blog - "Peter - photos".

(I have still network problems, but I was lucky for a moment and managed to make this post.)