Today was a rare and gorgeous day in late December. The sun was shining, hardly a cloud in the sky and the temperatures were mild. We took advantage of the lovely weather and went exploring. This time it was to one of the oldest parts of Paris - the Île de la Citè.
When you get out of the Metro at Citè there is a quaint outdoor market full of birds and pet supplies and plants. It looks like it has been there for a 100 years or so. And just to the side is this lovely water fountain, put there during the Haussmann years to provide fresh water to Paris. One of the many modernization efforts of the Napoleonic and Haussmann regimes.
There are two little parks - really triangular patches of green space but they date back to the 16th Century and Henri IV. In an effort to bring Paris out of the Middle Ages and create green spaces in the city, Henri built the Pont Neuf bridge and the small park underneath. It's official name is "Parc Vert Galant" and it has a long and colorful history! It is also the second most popular place for people to get engaged - it's quite lovely and romantic, despite the story behind the place!
The Place Dauphine is located at the Île de la Citè in the first arrondissement of Paris. Created by Henri IV in 1607, it was the second of his pet projects for public squares in Paris and was named for his son, Louis XIII who was born in 1601. The first public green space project he built was the Place Royale which is now known as the Place des Voges. The style of building is quite distinct, with red brick and white stone trim. You can still see this style of building around the oldest parts of Paris!
We searched for a terrace to bask in the sun but of course all of the nicotine addicted Parisians had claimed the chairs! We ended up at Châtelet where these two theaters book-end a lovely little square - the Theâtre de Ville and Theâtre Châtelet. There is a lovely cafe here, complete with moldings, painted ceilings and velvet drapes. It has been there since the late 1800s and is part of the history of the theatre in Paris. You have to check out Le Zimmer at Châtelet - either on the web or the next time you are in Paris. It is a step back in time and has great food and not too pricey!