UNESCO Part 1: Japanese Gardens

I went with my friend Rosemary Flannery, author of the upcoming book The Angels of Paris: Looking Up in the World's Most Beautiful City, to visit UNESCO headquarters yesterday. She had discovered there was a rare angel in the Japanese garden at the UNESCO complex. The angel miraculously survived the atomic bomb of Nagasaki, the only remains of a Catholic church. It was given as a gift to UNESCO in 1976 form the Japanese government for its 30th birthday.

The UNESCO complex was built in 1958 in the shape of a Y or three-pointed star by three international architects, Bernard Zehrfuss of France, Marcel Breuer of the U.S, and Pier Luigi Nervi of Italy. It measures 3,270 meters and stands 28.75 meters consisting of four buildings. Its simple, streamlined design brought Paris into the forefront of modern architecture after WWII.

Today I am featuring photos of the Garden of Peace or the Japanese garden designed by sculptor Isamu Noguchi. At the front of the garden is the Peace Fountain, a tall stone standing on a rectangular pond. The 1,700 square meter garden has cherry and plum trees, magnolias, lotuses and bamboo, a stream, a pond, a bridge and a stone cylinder shaped meditation pavilion. Eighty tons of sculptural rocks were selected by Noguchi and brought over from Japan.

Such a tranquil respite from the bustle of the surrounding city.

Forty-five minute tours are give of UNESCO in english. Email [email protected] to reserve.

UNESCO
7 Place Fontenoy, 7th arr.
Metro: Ecole Militaire
http://www.unesco.org/

The next two photos are of sculptures by Greek sculptor Takis

Water Rhythm by Jean Bazaine 

The Angel of Nagasaki

 

In addition to my Eye Prefer Paris Tours, we now offer Eye Prefer New York Tours, 3-hour walking tours of New Yorkís best neighborhoods including Soho, Meatpacking/West Village & Tribeca. Tours cost $195 for up to 3 people and $65 for each additional person.Come take a bit of the Big Apple on an Eye Prefer New York Tour!

Come experience my blog ìliveî with my Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I lead. 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. www.eyepreferparistours.com
 

 

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 Charlotteís 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.

Comments

[joseph]

Very beautiful. I will have to see it on my next trip to Paris.

[Adah]

Thank you I have been to Paris many times and never visited. Now I will. I always love reading your emails.

Thank you et merci

[Brian]

While this isn't on most first time visitor's Paris to do list, it is definitely worth working in the tour. Of particular note is a very approachable Tadao Ando structure; his trademark style is well evident. The sculpture garden is a place of great peace, and the tour itself (which discusses the mission and history of UNESCO is also quite interesting).

Tours in English are only offered on Wednesday afternoons, and this is not a last minute decision you can make. Try and write to the email address specified above 6 - 8 weeks in advance of your visit to make sure you don't get shut out. Tours in French are twice daily and hence more available.

[sherry]

These are very lovely photos- don't think
I ever visited this garden when I was in
Paris.

[richard]

thanks brian appreciate the extra info>

[ZSP]

Oh Richard, I've been waiting for a profile on UNESCO's art collection. My uncle is actually a librarian at UNESCO. I recall my lunches with him there with the Eiffel tower in close view, the stories he divulged to me, especially the absence of fish in the Jardin Japonais. Love from NY