Place des Vosges

Place des Vosges - as I write this, Sue calls from the next room, "my favourite place in Paris".

And I have to agree, but for me, it's one of the many. Why does Paris with its many wonderful sights make it a place to return?

Place des Vosges over the centuries has transformed from the home of the rich, to slums and later returned to its former glory. The scene of duels - the home of scholars, places of solitude to 60's pop idols, Place des Vosges  oozes with past history. I mentioned that the Doors lead singer, Jim Morrison was buried at Pere Lachaise - Place des Vosges was one of the places he went to unwind. Des Vosges was the home of Cardinal Richelieu and Victor Hugo.

Within the centre of the square is a statue of a proud horse with a rider's arm outstretched, the other holding a draped robe. The statue of Louis XIII is actually the second to be erected there, the first commissioned by Cardinal Richelieu was melted down during the revolution. The current statue was erected in 1825.

Coming off Rue de Rivoli in the Marais, you walk up a side street and there in front of you is this grand  four level building with and arched entrance to Place des Vosges. All of a sudden, the noises of Paris are replaced by a peacefulness. Birds, children and the filtered sunshine through the manicured trees command you to forget the pressures of the city.

From Rue de la Rivoli, we discovered Place des Vosges from this lane way.

Love the lamps.

After walking through the entrance, you escape the sounds of Paris to find a family community of  mothers  with children, kids coming home from school and the elderly feeding birds. That's what I remember of Place des Vosges.

Walk the the perimeter of Place des Vosges and experience the many arcade shops.

Some still need a little TLC though.

Don't you just love the avenue of manicured trees, especially in the mid summer.

King Louis XIII

Ashley and Sue at Place des Vosges.

On our 2009 visit, we were joined by our oldest son's girlfriend, Ashley. She just happened to be in Paris at the same time. How good is it too share the sights that you have experienced before with someone else. She was staying at a backpackers prior to us arriving but stayed with us in our apartment on our last nights in Paris. I had my bike on this trip and I remember one night, rather than letting her walk back alone, I sat her on the top bar of the bike and "dunk" her back. No lights, no helmets - how brave, but all Parisians do it that way.