Never mind the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower, every visitor to Paris should spend at least one day wandering in wonder through the Musée Carnavalet.
It is the museum of Paris itself.
Inside you'll be guided from the first muddy village on an island in the Seine through the entire history of the city. The art, the Revolution, literature, philosophy and culture of that jewel of cities. Through war and peace, kings and revolutionaries, through Napoleon and Hitler, Hugo and Sartre, the Carnavalet immerses you in the atmosphere and the people of Paris in all its glorious ages. Every hour spent in its marvellous halls will enrich your visit to Paris immeasurably.
I (being who I am) love to wander the Revolutionary rooms, but from there the tantalising time machine that is the Carnavalet leads you via Napoleon through Haussmann's reconstruction of almost the entire city to the Impressionists and fin de siècle Paris where, way out at the end of one particular wing (just past some very welcome toilets) you can find this beautiful Art Nouveau shop reconstructed in its entirety.
Go there. It will open your eyes and your mind and allow you to walk out into the streets of Paris with a new understanding of what you're seeing.
11 comments:
A shabby, but endearing, museum. A visit here should be preceded by one to the Musée National du Moyen Age, and followed by one to the Musée d'Orsay and/or Musée des Arts et Metiers. A perfect day ... or two.
You're right, Lucio, it's not the most glittering of palaces, but it is definitely endearing and the perfect twin of Arts et Métiers for a rainy couple of days.
Everyone knows the big shiny museums but for the feel of pre-Haussmann, Revolutionary-era Paris the Carnavalet is still my favourite.
One could live in Paris and never know it all. But I'd sure like to try.
Me too, Petrea! If only …
Me, too. That is just glorious! I looked at other images and videos on-line and love the lines and color. I have even more admiration for Fouquet for saving Mucha's work when he updated the store.
Is the big peacock a part of the window, or in front of it? Are the peacock's eyes clear or doe the light from the stained glass shine through the "eyes"?
Yay, Research Girl!
The peacocks are bronze and the light shines through the "eyes" from the stained glass behind.
The mosaic floor is pretty awesome, too.
Paris.
Sighs.
Want, Want, want.
That sounds like a marvelous place to visit -- and more Nouveauness! I love it!
I'm a museum sort of person -- Lucio's idea sounds perfect.
Me too, Kate.
Yay for Nouveauness, Ms.M.
Lucio is excellent company on such a jaunt.
Oh I so want to go. My youngest daughter will go to Paris next summer. I will stay at home (sigh).
Neetzy, that's what's known as getting your priorities wrong. When the time comes, lock her in the cellar and take her place.
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