Today, we set out to visit Sainte Chappelle and the Conciergerie in the Palais du Justice on Ile de la Cite, where Notre Dame is also located.
Sainte Chappelle.
The lower sanctuary, for royal servants.
The Upper Sanctuary - for Royalty. They even had their own private entrance.
Entrance to upper sanctuary with such beautiful stonework.
God creating Adam and Eve.
The temptation and fall of Adam and Eve.
Banished from the Garden of Eden.
Noah's Ark.
View of Chappelle from inside the Palais du Justice.
After a quick 'Croque Monsieur' to go, we went next door to the Conciergerie. It was given its name after the Concierge who watched over the palace when it was first built. During the French Revolution, it became a prison and housed people who were on trial, many of whom were sentenced to death by guillotine.
In the hall pictured above, there were four humongous fire places. Here's me in one of them. I think this hall was where the soldiers (Gens d'Armes) stayed while on guard.
Tim posing like the exit sign.
Le Cours de Femmes - Women's Courtyard - where women gathered outdoors while imprisoned.
A somewhat spooky reenacted still-life of Marie-Antionette awaiting her execution.
View of Conciergerie from bridge over Seine.
In the summer, Paris turns a stretch of its road along the Seine into a public 'beach'. It was a warm day and the beach was pretty packed, so we strolled along and enjoyed some complimentary juice and tea, courtesy of the city of Paris.
After the beach, we were making our way back to a Metro station, taking the leisurely route, and discovered Hotel de Ville. I think it might be their city hall.
And the Bazaar de Hotel de Ville - those red signs say "Sale"! French government only allows businesses to have sales at certain times throughout the year in order to regulate pricing.
And we found Le Centre Pompidou. This building's insides are all on its outsides. It was a bit controversial during its construction; people either loved or hated its gutsy architecture (pun intended).
Its a museum inside, but we didn't go in. Next time, maybe!
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