Place de la Concorde Week 1: The Fountains

I was on my way to the gym early Sunday morning a few weeks ago and for some reason I instinctively stopped myself and said I should go to the Place de la Concorde to shoot some photos. I felt as though I needed something to break up my ordinary routine and taking the time to truly explore one of my favorite places in Paris was just the perfect way to do that. Why I love the Place de la Concorde and why it still sends a shiver up my spine every time I go there, is the incredible beauty and wonder of the architecture against the sky and the way it is ideally situated so that you see the most magnificent monuments of the city including the Arc de Triomphe,the Champs Elysees, Pont Alexander bridge, the Grand Palais, the Assemblee Nationale, the Tuilleries, and the Eiffel Tower.

It was one of those strange weather days where the sky was gray and ominous one minute and the next it was sunny and clear as a bell. The minute by minute weather changes and the light changing so rapidly made for a dramatic series of photos that I am very excited to show you. I spent over two-hours exploring every angle possible and saw things I never noticed before.

Today it's photos of the magnificent fountains in the center. The two fountains were built during the reign of King Louis-Philippe (1830 to 1848) and designed by German born Jacques-Ignace Hitorff. The theme is rivers and seas and were influenced by the great fountains of Rome especially Piazza Navona. Each fountain has a stone basin with six figures tritons holding fish sprouting water.

The north fountain was devoted to the Rivers, with allegorical figures representing the Rhone and the Rhine, the arts of the harvesting of flowers and fruits, harvesting and grape growing; and the geniuses of river navigation, industry, and agriculture.

The south fountain, closer to the Seine, represented the seas, with figures representing the Atlantic and the Mediterranean; harvesting coral; harvesting fish; collecting shellfish; collecting pearls; and the geniuses of astronomy, navigation and commerce.

Place de la Concorde
Metro: Concorde 

 

Coming soon: Eye Prefer New York Tours

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte’s professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

Tours cost 195 euros for up to 3 people, and 65 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com

Comments

[Jean P in MN]

Beautiful pictures, Richard; the fountains look recently cleaned and gilded. Must visit them next trip to see up close. The history is very interesting. Thanks, enjoy the summer.

[John W.]

Wonderful. How long since I've really looked at those fountains? Thanks!

[Judy]

I’m not surprised you love this place .
Thanks for the pictures and will look forward to the rest

[Joseph]

Lovely photos and the historically driven text is most interesting.

[Lynn]

Lovely details!

[Paris Version à la Française]

You are right, there are the most beautiful fountains of Paris !
Pascale