Gardens at Hotel Dieu

The only time I have been inside the Hotel Dieu, the oldest hospital in Paris, is when I was writhing in excruciating pain from a kidney stone attack and went to the ER. (Cick here to read about my experience). Besides the banal waiting room and the holding room, I don't remember much except for screaming at the top of my lungs for painkillers and moaning that I wish the stone would pass.

A new friend of mine told me there was a beautiful garden inside the hospital. Never one to pass up the opportunity to see an undiscovered garden in Paris, I went last week to check it out. I shuddered at the thought of returning to the scene of the pain but I let it pass.

I arrived with no sign of a kidney attack lurking and sauntered through the serene and lush garden with late August blooms and lots of foliage. I loved the classic swirled shrubs and the bright red and yellow flowers. The fountain, stairways, and archways had more of Venetian architecture but the garden style was pure French.

Hotel Dieu was founded by the Archbishop Saint Landry in 651 and remains the oldest operating hospital in Paris. Before 1908 , care was still given by Augustine sisters. It was destroyed by fires at numerous times and the current buildings are from 1877. The courtyard garden was installed in 1975. The hospital has 349 beds.

To enter the gardens go to the front entrance of the hospital in the square of Notre Dame on the Ile de Cité. Once you enter make a right down the corridor and then a left to the garden entrance. If you go, please let me know if you enjoy it.

 Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale

I am happy to announce the sale of prints of my Eye Prefer Paris Photos.  I am offering 17 of my most popular and iconic images for sale including my courtyards, doors, architectural details, statues, and monuments. They will make great gifts for all your Francophile friends, relatives, and colleagues but don't forget to buy some for yourself.

Click here to see photos and for full details including sizes, prices, and shipping. Here is a sample of some of the photos.

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.

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

[Pamela]

Richard

Completely agree on the professionalism, courtesy and speed of attention at the Hotel Dieu ER. On a visit to Paris several years ago I was taken there by ambulance after an allergic food reaction at a Paris restaurant. I don't remember it all as I was so sick but I do recall being taken straight through for immediate treatment. Afterwards when I opened my eyes in recovery, I realised I must have been under careful observation as a nurse immediately asked how I was feeling. They were very thorough and very kind.

Nevertheless, being so sick was a fairly traumatic experience so I didn't go back to the Hotel Dieu until last year when we were walking near Notre Dame and decided to explore the gardens. We were amazed by their beauty and tranquillity - just as your wonderful pictures show.

[Evelyn]

The garden is absolutely beautiful. It's always amazing to me how you find these little hidden spots. But...how can you post these photos and NOT tell us the story about the Blue Man? What's up with that statue??

[Michael]

Tres belle. Merci!

[Richard]

sorry Evelyn, I couldn't find any info about blue statue

[Kelly]

If only US hospitals looked like that!

[Jean(ne) P in MN]

What a lovely garden hidden in a hospital! So nice for patients to look out over if they can't go out and walk around. Please find out about the blue man.

[Cheryl]

I didn't know there was a garden there! It's lovely---will be on my list for the next trip (in March, I think!). Thanks!

[Meredith Mullins]

Great idea. I can't wait to visit. I particularly like your third photo. Great composition