Monthly Archives: May 2021

Alternative Places to See Art in Paris

There are literally hundreds of wonderful museums in Paris, however, art in Paris isn’t only about the studying the past. You can experience today’s art scene in Paris is by visiting some of the city’s more eclectic art venues. From former squats to art centres in repurposed historic buildings, here are some unique places to see art in Paris and perhaps discover the Picassos and Matisses of tomorrow.

Le Centquatre. Photo: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra / CC

Le Centquatre

Located in the working class 19^th district, this former municipal undertaker’s building dating to the 1870s, was restored and reopened as an art centre in 2008. The sprawling venue hosts art exhibits, concerts, film screenings, dance performances, lectures and community events. It is also home to three cafés, including the hidden Café Caché as well as a bookstore and charity shop.

La Halle Saint Pierre

Tucked away beneath Sacré-Coeur Basilica in Montmartre, this art space, occupying a former market hall, has been dedicated to “art brut”, or outsider art since 1995. In puts on several larger scale exhibits per year as well as smaller monthly shows featuring contemporary local artists. It has has an art-focused bookstore and lovely café where you can flip through your new book purchases or contemplate the art you’ve just viewed.

59 Rivoli (above and top photo). Facebook

59 Rivoli

A short walk from the most traditional of Paris’s art museums, the Louvre, is this quirky venue. One of the oldest squats in Paris, in 1999 a group of artists took over this abandoned Crédit Lyonnais Bank building. After years spent trying to evict them, the squatters won and the Marie de Paris (the Paris City Hall) bought the building and turned it into an official establishment in 2009. The unmissable building now has an art gallery on the street level, but the real fun is had roaming through the thirty plus art studios distributed over its six floors. Entrance is on a donation basis and the public can visit it from 1-8 pm from Tuesday to Sunday.

Le Générale Nord-Est / Facebook

La Générale Nord-Est

This association was first located within a defunct power plant in the 11^th arrondissement before moving to the 14th district. Another project endorsed by the the Marie de Paris, the association deems itself as a laboratory on artistic, political and social creation. The site has an active programme of exhibits as well as concerts, theatre shows and conferences, which are always open to anyone and with a “pay what you can” policy. See their website calendar for these events.

DOC! Photo: Franck Arnault / Facebook

DOC!

This art centre occupies a former technical high school in also in 19th district, near Place des Fetes. The spacious 3000-square meter complex includes 24 workshops, two temporary artist residences, five shared workshops for woodworking, metal-working, print-making, theatre and video post-production. These art forms and the artists in residents are showcased in the venues regularly changing exhibits.

Le Plateau Paris / Facebook

Le Plateau

Another art venue in the 19^th arrondissement, this exhibition space is Paris’s branch of the FRAC, a French governmental organisation that supports and promotes contemporary art. In addition to having regular exhibits, especially by younger artists, the centre has outreach and education projects and a curator in residence programme.

Art in Paris goes beyond indoor spaces as well. Learn more about street art in our blog on top street artists in Paris.

Sophie Mackintosh Named Writer in Residence 2021

The Paris School of Arts and Culture and the American University of Paris are pleased to announce that Sophie Mackintosh has been appointed to the third Paris Writer’s Residency. We look forward to welcoming her to the French capital in October to work with students at both our universities and to join our community of writers.

Sophie Mackintosh was born in South Wales in 1988, and is currently based in London. Her fiction, essays and poetry have been published by Granta, The White Review, The New York Times and The Stinging Fly, among others. Her debut novel The Water Cure was published by Hamish Hamilton in the UK in Spring 2018 and by Doubleday in the US in early 2019, and was long-listed for the Man Booker Prize. Her second novel Blue Ticket was published in Summer 2020 to critical acclaim.

During the month-long residency Mackintosh will be leading workshops at the Paris School of Arts and Culture and the American University of Paris, and to give a public reading at the Centre Culturel Irlandais.

Learn more about our Creative Writing Master’s Programme in Paris here.

Best Small Museums in Paris

Paris may be home to some of the most famous museums on the planet, but in addition to big names like the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay and the Centre Pompidou, the city has hundreds of wonderful smaller museums. Often located in former mansions or the residence of the famous person who once inhabited the space, these unique venues have much fewer visitors than the large museums and offer a more intimate setting in which to connect with art or history.

Jacquemart-Andre Museum / Facebook

Musée Jacquemart-André

There are a number of fabulous museums in Paris located within former mansions and this is one of the loveliest and it also has a spectacular art collection. Much of the mid-19th century development of new Paris was taking place in the west of the city and the area around new Park Monceau was becoming a highly coveted district for the wealthy Parisians. It is thus not surprising that banker Edouard André bought a plot of land here to build his flamboyant mansion. He and his future wife, Nelie Jacquemart, would dedicated the rest of their lives to filling its exquisite rooms with one of the world’s most important private art collections, including works by Botticelli, Tiepolo, Rembrandt, Fragonard and Canaletto. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum hosts excellent temporary exhibits and has a chic courtyard café.

Musée Nissim de Camondo

Also in the Parc Monceau area, this sumptuous house museum was originally built in 1911 for Count Moise Nissim de Camondo, an influential banker and art collector. He decorated his spectacular mansion, inspired by the Petit Trianon at Versailles, with an impressive collection of 18th-century artwork and decorative art objects. After you tour its opulent interiors, you can take a stroll through the Parc Monceau, one of the few Paris parks which survived the French Revolution.

Marmottan Monet Museum

It’s worth trekking out to the far corner of the 16th arrondissement to visit this museum dedicated to Monet. The elegant mid 19th-century mansion was bought in 1882 by the successful businessman Jules Marmottan, who was also a passionate art collector. His son Paul bequeathed the home and his art collections to the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 1932. This collection was then greatly augmented upon the death of Michel Monet, Claude Monet’s youngest son, who donated over a hundred of his father’s paintings to the museum. This total ensemble now forms the world’s largest collection of Monet’s works.

Musée de la Vie Romantique

This lovely museum is found within the former home of Dutch painter Ary Scheffer. Built in 1830, the house became a central meeting point for the key figures of the “romantic era”, the house itself being in the centre of the era’s most popular neighborhood called New Athens. It attracted the likes of Georges Sand, Chopin, Eugène Delacroix, Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres and Franz Liszt, who are represented in the art and objects on display in the charming museum. After your visit enjoy a coffee its alluring garden café.

Musée Carnavalet (and top photo) / Facebook

Musée Carnavalet

Another favourite museum located in former mansions in the Marais, the Musée Carnavalet, is reopening at the end of May 2021 after four years of extensive renovations. Home to the Museum of the History of Paris, it chronicles the city’s 2,000 years of history through artefacts, paintings, historic documents and decorative objects. Don’t miss the reconstruction of writer Marcel Proust’s bedroom and take a moment to enjoy its pretty courtyard garden.

Musée Cognacq-Jay / Facebook

Musée Cognacq-Jay

Tucked away in the heart of the Marais, this is another elegant house museum. Dating back to the 16th century, the elegant building hosts a notable collection of decorative art and paintings from the 18th century (which is free to visit), along with temporary exhibits (paid). It also has a lovely summertime café and gorgeous back garden.

There are many other wonderful small museums in Paris and we will be gathering former art-studio museums in an another upcoming article.

Creative Writing Lecturer Yelena Moskovich Publishes New Book

We are very pleased to share the news of the publication of the new book of Yelena Moskovich, author, playwright and lecturer in our Creative Writing Master’s Programme in Paris. Released on 18 May, 2021, A Door Behind a Door follows Yelena’s debut novel, The Natashas, which received much critical praise, and her second book, Virtuoso, which was longlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize.

“Moskovich mystifies with this vivid story of a pair of estranged siblings who immigrated to Milwaukee from the Soviet Union as children in 1991… The dynamic style and psychological depth make this an engaging mind bender.” – Publishers Weekly

A Door Behind a Door tells the story of Olga, an émigré from the former Soviet Union whose stable life in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is overturned after she receives a surprising phone call from a figure of her past. This sparks haunting childhood memories revolving around an unexplained murder, a supernatural stray dog, and the mystery over the disappearance of her brother. As Olga attempts to reconcile with these, she must also evade the underground Midwestern Russian mafia, in pursuit of a series of stabbings.

There are two upcoming opportunities to hear Yelena speak about A Door Behind a Door. On Wednesday, 26 May at 2 pm (Central Time, 10 PM Paris time) Yelena will be discussing her new book with author Kate Zambreno during a Boswell Books virtual event. More on the event and registration at this link. Yelena will also be the guest of the author event during our upcoming Postgraduate Festival. On Friday, 4 June at 6 pm (Paris time), Yelena will be in conversation with our Creative Writing students Emily Nicholson and Neda Popova. Register for this free event here and learn more about the festival on its website.

A Door Behind a Door is available directly from her publisher, Two Dollar Radio, at Shakespeare and Company bookstore in Paris or ask for it at your local independent bookstore.

Escapism: Paris Postgraduate Festival 2021 Programme

Students at the Paris School of Arts and Culture are excited to present this year’s edition of our postgraduate festival, taking place virtually from 1-5 June 2021.

This year the theme is Escapism and you can find a taster of what is planned below. You can also see the full programme on the festival website by clicking on the button below. Please note that all times are Paris local time (CEST) and are free to attend, although advance registration is required via the links below.

Further details about the programme on the festival website or stay up to date by following the festival’s social media accounts: Facebook / Instagram.

Paris Postgraduate Festival Programme: 1-5 June 2021

Drag and Escapism: Tuesday, 1 June at 6:30 pm

Does drag provide a way for artists to inhabit another persona and escape from outdated gender roles? Or is it an outward embodiment of a true self? We are delighted to present a discussion on escapism and drag with Charity Kase and Rosie Zinfandel as the kick off to this year’s festival.

Charity Kase is a London based artist and performer with a punk aesthetic and taste for nightmarish beauty. Charity first garner attention in 2017 when they completed a 365-day drag challenge, creating a new character look every day of the year. Rosie Zinfandel made headlines in 2019 by being crowned one of the three queens in the UK’s first ever drag queen pageant. This rousing conversation will be followed by a Q&A session with Charity and Rosie.

Register for the event here.

A Conversation with Artist Scout Roll: Wednesday, 2 June at 5:00 pm

Join us for a conversation with Scout Gibbons Roll. Scout is an American artist, painter and illustrator. For their work, they use crypto currency and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in order to create a unique value and identity for each artwork they produce. Our conversation will explore the ways in which an artist can escape through their work, as well as how art itself can escape its traditional confines through the transition into a digital form.

Register for the event here.

Film Screening and Director Q&A: Paris Stalingrad by Hind Meddeb: Thursday, 3 June at 8:00 pm

The festival is proudly partnering with Lost in Frenchlation, organisers of French film screenings with English subtitles, for the screening of Paris-Stalingrad, a documentary by Hind Meddeb. The film documents the plight of refugees camping in the Stalingrad district of Paris while waiting to regularise their situation. It offers powerful insight into modern day immigration and the hardships faced by those seeking to escape their circumstances and find refuge in Paris. In keeping with the festival’s theme of Escapism, the film provides multifaceted view into the human rights struggles that exist for disenfranchised peoples on a global scale. Learn more about the film and watch the trailer at this link.

Free tickets limited to the first 50 sign-ups. Register here.

A Conversation with Yelena Moskovich: Friday, 4 June at 6:00 pm

We are thrilled to host a conversation with Paris-based writer Yelena Moskovich. Yelena was born in Ukraine (former USSR) and immigrated to Wisconsin with her family as Jewish refugees in 1991. She studied theatre at Emerson College, Boston, and in France at the Lecoq School of Physical Theatre and Université Paris 8. She is the author of The Natashas and Virtuoso, which was longlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize.

This discussion will include a reading from her upcoming book A Door Behind a Door (to be released in the US on 18 May) and will touch upon personal forms of escapism and ways to keep creative during lockdown. It will be followed by a Q&A about life, writing, and literature. It isn’t necessary to have read Yelena’s books to participate, however, if you’re interested, they can be purchased directly from her publisher, at Shakespeare and Company in Paris or at your local independent bookstore.

Register for the event here.

The Menteur Launch: Saturday, 5 June at 7:00 pm

Come and discover what the students have been working on all year! The Menteur is a literary and arts magazine, founded in 2012, edited and produced annually by postgraduate students at the University of Kent’s Paris School of Arts and Culture.

This year’s edition, Art Rewired, features work that engages or challenges ideas/dichotomies of solitude and interconnectivity felt during the pandemic. How is a world pushing against social contact rewiring our definition of connection and collaboration? The virtual launch will reveal the magazine for the first time and include performances of some of the pieces in this year’s edition.

Register for the event here.

We are warmly inviting you to our online escape and look forward to welcoming you at the festival events.

Stay safe,
University of Kent Paris Festival Team

The Best Historic Art House Cinemas in Paris

Since the first ever public film screening in 1895, Parisians have been big cinéphiles, or film buffs. The city’s phenomenal film culture is definitely a top reason to study film in Paris. One of the best ways of experiencing this is by attending screenings at one of the Paris’s historic cinemas. The following movie theatres have both excellent screening agendas and fascinating histories.

Le Champo. Photo LPLT / CC

Le Champo

Opened in 1938, this is one of the leading movie theatres in the Latin Quarter, where many of the art house cinemas in Paris are located. Down the street from the Sorbonne, it’s popular with students of the University of Paris and was an important cinema for La Nouvelle Vague. In fact, François Truffaut deemed it his “headquarters” and by Claude Chabrol considered it as his “second university”. In the early 2000s, with worries that the cinema might close down, a group of cinema professionals, including Cédric Klapisch and Isabelle Huppert, succeeded in saving the cinema and getting it classified as a national monument.

Cinéma du Panthéon

Established in 1907, this is the oldest movie theatre in the city. In 1929 it was bought by Pierre Braunberger, the producer who is credited for discovering La Nouvelle Vague greats such as Jean-Luc Godard, Alain Resnais and Jean-Pierre Melville. As such, the cinema became a showcase for the French New Wave and was one of the first French cinemas to screen foreign films in their original language. In 2006 the theatre saw a modern touch with the addition of a stylish “salon” co-designed by actress Catherine Deneuve.

Studio 28. Photo: Tatvam / CC

Le Studio 28

Considered by Jean Cocteau as “the cinema of masterpieces, the masterpiece of cinemas”, this eclectic art house cinema is tucked away on a small street in Montmartre. It was inaugurated in 1928 with a screening of Abel Gance’s Napoléon and quickly became popular with the avant-garde artists and filmmakers of the time. It’s lobby even once included artwork by Dali, Joan Miro, Max Ernst, Man Ray, and Pierre Tanguy. In November 1930, Luis Bunuel and Salvador Dali’s film L’Age d’Or premiered at the theatre. The film, which aimed to question the Roman Catholic Church’s strict policies on sexuality, caused such an uproar that the film was banned within a week and the cinema was ransacked by right-wing rioters. The movie theatre managed to persist through those turbulent times and has carried on with its innovative programming. Even if you haven’t been to the cinema yet, you might have already since it as it was featured in Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s 2001 film Amélie.

Le Louxor

This beautiful Art Deco cinema has had many lives since opening in 1921. As you might guess by its name, it features an Egyptian inspired façade, with gilded mosaics, and it had a Pharaonic-sized screening at 1,195 seats, making it one of the largest in Paris at the time (it has since been reduced). Despite its façade and roof being classified as national monuments in the early 1970s, cinema-going was then beginning to wane in Paris. This led to the building being transformed into the biggest gay nightclub in the city before being abandoned for a decade. It was fortunately bought by the city of Paris in 2003, leading to its restoration and reopening in 2013. Before or after your film, grab a drink at its bar which has a terrace with lovely views of Montmartre.

Lucernaire

Although this multifunction theatre and cinema isn’t as old as some of the others on the list, it still holds its place in the Parisian art house scene. Opened in 1969, the Montparnasse venue is comprised of three theatres, three screening rooms, a bookshop, art gallery, restaurant and bar. Whether it’s the art on display or the films being screened, the establishment aims to foster new talents, creativity and interconnectivity between art forms. What’s more, it’s conveniently located down the street from our Paris School.

Studio Galande. Photo: LPLT / CC

Studio Galande

Another Latin Quarter film institution, this small theatre has occupied a cellar near Notre Dame since 1973. Although it has a diverse programme of art house films from all around the globe, it is best known for its twice-weekly screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Held every Friday and Saturday night at 10 pm, the Studio Galande is the only European movie theatre to still have regular screenings of Jim Sharman’s cult musical comedy. The lively screenings are accompanied by local costumed performers who lead the audience in sing-alongs and dancing.

Reflet Médicis

Originally a theatre for dramatic productions, since 1964 this Latin Quarter cinema has become one of Paris leading and most active independent film venues. In addition to an varied agenda of art house films of both past and present, the cinema hosts regular retrospectives, debates and conferences. Today it is now part of the Dulac Cinémas, a small group of art house cinemas striving to keep this tradition alive.

Interesting in immersing yourself in Film in Paris? Consider pursuing your knowledge during the one-year Film Master’s degree programme offer by our Paris School of Arts and Culture.

France to Reopen Museums, Cinemas and Theatres on 19 May 2021

After a six month closure, we are extremely pleased that cultural venues will be reopening in France as of 19 May 2021. All museums, art galleries, theatres and cinemas may reopen, under certain conditions. Here is a summary of the new protocols and how it relates to visitors.

Déconfinement Phase 2: 19 May Reopening Conditions

As of 19 May the nation-wide curfew in France will be pushed back to 9pm. Therefore, you will have more time to be able to visit cultural sites and take in movie screenings in person.

All sites can only reopen with a reinforced sanitary protocol. As a general rule, the reopening of sites does not depend on the size of the facility, however, it is capped at 800 people at one time inside and a 1,000 outside (for example, the interior of the Chateau de Versailles and the gardens). However, it also stipulates that there should 8 m2 per visitor until 9 June when the curfew goes up to 11 pm and the space will be 4 m2. Therefore, sites must factor this in when calculating the exact number of people inside the site at one time.

Other conditions include a one one circulation system (similar to what was enforced after last year’s lockdown), hand sanitiser available at the entrance and a preference to booking e-tickets in advance (as is already the case at the Louvre).

Gradual Reopening of Museums & Cultural Sites

Just because sites are allowed to reopen on 19 May, it doesn’t mean that all museums and monuments will be reopening on that exact date. For example, the doors of the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay the Centre Pompidou, the Musée de l’Orangerie and the Chateau de Versailles will be reopening on the 19th, but some sites are waiting until the weekend.

The Palais de Tokyo, Europe’s largest contemporary art centre, will be reopening on Saturday 22 May with an exhibit by performance artist Anne Imhof entitled Natures Mortes (Still Lives). Since the building is quite large, they will be respecting the maximum of 800 visitors at a time.

The highly anticipated opening of the Pinault Collection at the Bourse to Commerce will also take place on 22 May. After several years of extensive renovations, the former grain hall of the Paris central food market has been converted into a new venue of collection of contemporary art. For other venues, it’s advised to check their websites beforehand so you do not arrive to find the site closed.

Free Access for Students

Holders of a student card can obtain free entrance to most museums in Paris. For smaller museums you merely need to present your ID (student and national ID) upon entering or but for larger museums, like the Louvre, you need to book in advance a free student ticket in advance.

At time of publication, the Louvre ticket booking system was not yet activated, however, this is the link (select your date, then the ticket options will come up, you will need to proceed to the check out, but will not be charged for your ticket). The Orsay reservation system is working via this link. Select free of charge reservation, then select “add to cart”, then “I book”, skip the audioguide page by clicking then “I book”, then you’ll have the date and time option. For the Centre Pompidou, follow this link and select a free ticket for a youth or an art/conservatoire student.

Reflet Médicis / Facebook

Movie Theatres

The date of this new déconfinement stage falls on a Wednesday, the traditional day of the week when new films are released. As there has been a backlog of films to be released, there have have been some issues over which ones will come out first. However, film fans should have an exciting few weeks of releases. To help you decide which cinemas to go to in the city, check out our article on the Best Historic Art House Cinemas in Paris.

Enjoy this return to culture and stay safe!

Napoleon’s Paris, Eight Sites Linked to the Emperor

This year France will celebrate the bicentennial of the Emperor’s death, in exile on the Island of Saint Helena on 5 May 1821, with a range of exhibits and events. Although he is a controversial figure for more reasons than one, it is undeniable that Napoléon Bonaparte altered the course of French history and the country as a whole. Napoléon might have spent much of his 15 years in power trying to conquer Europe, however, he did leave his mark on the capital. This was often in the form of grand monuments to himself and his military victories, nevertheless, the city does owe a number of its greatest sites to the Emperor. Here is selection of initiatives and other sites connected to Napoléon in Paris.

L’Ecole Militaire. Photo: Jebulon / CC

L’Ecole Militaire

After initial studies at the military academy of Brienne, Bonaparte came to Paris in October 1784, at the age of 15, to continue his training at the Ecole Militaire. After a year, he left the academy as a second lieutenant in the La Fère artillery regiment. His military career continued to advance through the early years of the Revolution. His surpression of a royalist insurrection in 1795 shot Bonaparte to sudden fame and had him promoted to Commander of the Interior and of the Army of Italy. With his new position, he made the Ecole Militaire his headquarters.

L’Arc de Triomphe

The most famous site connected to Napoléon, and one of the most visited sites in Paris, is certainly this mammoth triumphal arch. After his victory at Austerlitz in 1806, the Emperor commissioned a number of commemorative projects to celebrate his military campaigns. A number of propositions were put forth for the largest of these monuments and, for a time, there were plans to construct a massive elephant fountain in the centre of Place de l’Etoile and at the end of the Champs Elysées. In the end, Napoleon’s love of the antiquities, especially Roman monuments and symbolism, won out. The 50-metre high archway, which was originally designed to commemorate those who fought and died in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, features sculptures by leading artists of the era. Only partially completed when the Emperor was ousted from power in 1814, the archway was finally completed in 1836, during the reign of King Louis-Philippe, just in time for Napoléon’s remains to pass beneath it when they were returned to France on 1840.

L’Arc du Carroussel

Despite its very central location, between the Louvre and the Tuileries Garden, this second archway built by Napoléon often gets overshadowed by its more famous bigger sister. Constructed between 1806 and 1808, it too commemorates the battle of Austerlitz and other Napoleonic military victories. It is adorned with pink marble columns, statues and commemorative friezes, although it’s the sculpture on the top that’s the most interesting. During Napoleon’s conquest of Italy, the Horses of Saint Mark’s Basilica, already spoils from the Venetian Republic’s attacks on Constantinople, were pillaged and placed atop the arch. After the fall of Napoleon, the French were forced to return the original and this copy was added in its place.

Colonne Vendôme

Another Roman-style monument, this gigantic column is modelled after Trajan’s column in Rome. Also commemorating the victory at Austerlitz, and placed in the prestigious Place Vendôme, the bronze column was made from the melted down canons captured from the Russians and Austrians defeated in the legendary battle. The base of the 44 metre-high structure are Napoleonic eagles, whereas traveling up it is the story of the battle, atop which is Napoléon, holding a miniature Victory in his hand. This is, however, a replacement of the original column which was toppled by Communards during the 1871 Commune de Paris revolt (more on this event in this article on the Commune).

Fontaine du Palmier

The largest of 15 fountains commissioned by Napoleon in 1806, it was designed to provide fresh drinking water to the city. However, in true Napoleonic style, it also honours his military victories. At the base of the fountain are four sphinxes, eluding to the Emperor’s Egyptian campaign, from where the water spurts into a round basin. Above these are laurel-laden eagles and an Egyptian style column rising in palms, which gives the fountain its name. It too is crowned by Victory, holding out more laurels and the names of various battles are listed around it. This fountain’s location is also significant, built on the former site of Le Grand Châtelet, a formidable fortress and symbol of L’Ancien Régime, destroyed just like La Bastille.

Église de la Madeleine. Photo: Jose Losada / Flickr

L’Eglise de La Madeleine

Although this is a Catholic church today, this Greek Temple-esque structure dominating Place de la Madeleine has had various inceptions. Prior to the French Revolution the building of a church dedicated to Mary Magdalene had begun on this site, a project abandoned during the turmoil and anti-religious times. The foundations and finished portico stood for over a decade before Napoléon decided in 1806 to convert the designs into a Temple to the Glory of the Great Army. Incomplete at the fall of the Emperor, the restitution of the Monarchy steered the building’s course back in the direction of a church. Nevertheless, in 1837 there was talk of turning the building into Paris first railway station, but Mary Magdalene prevailed in the end and the church was consecrated in her honour in 1842.

Place de la Bourse, Photo: mksfca / Flickr

Palais de la Bourse

Although it was decided to move the previous Stock Echanges prior to Napoléon’s reign, he gets the credit for bringing all of Paris’s stock trading under one roof. It’s known as the Palais Brongniart, in honour of its architect, Alexandre-Théodore Brongniart, who was tasked by Bonaparte to design a structure worthy of representing France’s commercial power. Similar in appearance to La Madeleine, the rectangular neoclassical building is also surrounded a colonnade. With the shift of trading online, the building is now rented out for congresses and other events.

Musée-de-l'Armée-Tombeau-de-Napoléon-Eglise-du-Dôme-_-630x405-_-©-OTCP-DR

Tomb of Napoléon, Musée de l’Armée Photo: OTCP/DR

Les Invalides

When Napoléon’s remains returned to France in 1840, it was decided that his final resting place should be the Saint-Louis Cathedral, the Military church of the Les Invalides complex. Built under Louis XIV and designed by Jules Hardouin Mansart from 1677, at 107 metres, the cathedral’s dome is the highest in France and considered by many to be its most beautiful. Gilded in gold on the outside, it is deep in its crypt where the Emperor’s tomb is found, made of red quartzite and sitting on a green granite base. A visit to the tomb is included on entrance tickets to the Musée de l’Armée at the Invalides.

You can further learn about Napoléon in the exhibit dedicated to him taking place at La Villette from 19 May to 19 September, 2021, or by visiting the castles of Malmaison and Fontainebleau, two popular residences of the Emperor.

Alternatively, delve deeper into the history of the city’s art, architecture and film by pursuing one of our Paris Master’s Programmes.