A few Sundays ago I went to see an exhibition in the 7th arr. and decided to stroll around the area near rue Vaneau and rue Babylone. The narrow streets lined mostly with stately Hausmannian style buildings were nearly deserted as if it were August instead of mid-April. As many years as I lived here and as much of Paris I have covered and uncovered, there are always new surprises for which I am grateful for.
I stumbled upon a gem of a public garden attached to the sterile looking Clinique Oudinot, which is part of Fondation Saint Jean de Dieux.
The garden was still in the winter to spring transition, so the trees and plants in bloom and those that were still bare created an interesting visual contrast. I felt as though I was in a private garden in a French country estate and I was the only guest. It had the typical elements of French gardens that always makes them so attractive- low box hedges, symmetry, a pond, metal garden chairs, tall strategically placed trees, and gravel pathways. Inside a round pavilion flanked by wild vines was a statue of Mary, so perhaps it was a chapel.
Down a path were two limestone columns supporting a beam with a hanging metal bucket and where a well was before was a mound of dirt planted with spring pink flowers.
I left the garden, happy that I found another small place of serenity in Paris.
2 Rue Rousselet, 75007
Metro: Vaneau
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Beautiful discovery, perfect for Spring.
Posted by: Jean | May 02, 2018 at 12:51 AM