World traveler Clown Tom Bolton
Adventure stories & photos
Tom’s travels to Paris, France – southern Europe
Paris: Montmartre, Sacré Coeur Basilica
Visited Paris numerous times over the years but all of these photos are from a trip in September 2024. A very popular spot in Pairs is the Sacré Coeur (Sacred Heart) Basilica in Montmartre. There are other churches at least as impressive but the appeal is that it is at the top of a hill with one of the best views over the capital city, immediately surrounded by greenery which is kind of rare in that part of the inner city. And a series of steps where one can just relax and people watch. And the mix is from around the world; tourists and local, street vendors and musicians, people taking selfies or putting locks on the fence to show their love – all creating a bit of a carnival atmosphere year round. There is even an old carousel for the kids on one of the lower levels of the main stairs.The street behind the basilica is used by fans of the traditional French car Citroen, parking their well-kept old-timers, mostly convertibles there.
Below the stairs to Sacre Coeur is an area with shops, cafes and many souvenir shops. Nearby is the Montmartre Cemetery.
Latin Quarter St. Germain: Garden des Plantes, Grand mosque, George Couvert building
We took a metro to near the Sorbonne University in the Saint Germain section of the Latin Quarter. Near the Jardin des Plantes or plant garden is the national museum but we didn’t have time to explore either while we were there. Nearby was the beautiful George Couvert building and impressive Grand Mosque of Paris, the cultural center of Paris’s many Muslims.
Paris; Gare de Lyon, Place de l’Hotel de Ville, Île de la Cité, Supreme Court
One of the major transport hubs is the Gare de Lyon or Lyon train station. It is a majestic building a bit east of the center. Farther west towards the center is the Hotel de Ville or city hall which still had a lot of signs advertising the recently held 2024 Paris Olympics. From the Hotel de Ville we went south to the Seine River which splits the city. Along the way I took photos of the interesting compagnons du devoir building and a fancy cafe where they had baskets of boiled eggs and a carafe of water (I think with a slice of lemon) on the tables. Here in the center is a large Island in the middle of the Seine called Île de la Cité roughly translated as the Island of Paris accessed by multiple bridges like the Pont d’ Arcole and Pont de Notre Dame where one sees many of the famous book vendor stalls and has access to the promenade below on the “right” bank (north) with its many cafes, many being run from docked boats; a great place to stroll, relax or just watch people go by. Across on the Island, the Supreme Court buidling dominates the northern boundary.
Paris; Place du Châtelet, Tour Saint-Jacques
West of Hôtel de Ville, north of the Pont de Notre Dame is the Place du Châtelet with the Fountain du Palmier in the center. Just to the West is the Théâter du Châtelet, to the east is the Théâter de la Ville Sarah Bernhardt and a restaurant –bar below that also carries Bernhard’s name. Just to the north is a Square with the Tour Saint–Jacques or St. Jack’s tower. Just north of here is a busy shopping district with many restaurants centered around the pedestrian street Rue Nicolas Flamel
Island of Paris; Palais de Justice, Prefecture de Police, Notre Dame Cathedral
The “Island of Paris” is home to many large government buildings including the Palais de Justice de Paris which is the seat of the French judiciary. It is flanked on one side by the Conciergerie which was formerly a royal palace and also prison and on the other side the Sainte Chapelle. In the perpendicular street Rue de Lutèce is the Préfecture de Police building. Across from the police is Jardin d’Edgar garden center. A green oasis in the midst of massive imposing architectural structures. Ironically, the foliage growing on the roof the of covered markets is as impressive as many of the plants inside. Farther east is the famous Cathedral of Notre Dame. In September of 2024 there was still a large construction site in front of it repairing the damage from the major fire of early 2019. We crossed the river south to the left bank going west along the Seine with good views of Notre Dame and the other buildings on the south side of the island. Numerous long sight-seeings boats cruised by here with the tourists taking in the views of the Cathedral from the water.
Paris; National Theater of Opera, Galeries Lafayette Hausmann
On the right bank about a kilometer north of the Seine is the opera house. It is an ornate historical building but also adorned with modern advertisements for posh brands. Next to the opera house is the Paris Hausmann location of the Galeries Lafayette department store chain. It has a high glass dome in the center and its architectural wonder is well worth a visit. On the roof one has great view over much of central Paris. There is a large sign “Je t’aime Paris” (I love Paris) where many of the visitors take their picture with part of the opera and notably the Eifel tower in the background.
Paris: Église de la Madeleine, Place de la Concorde, Champs de Élysees, Petite Palais, Grand Palais
Southwest from the Opera house is the Église de la Madeleine or Madeleine church. It’s basic form outside looks more like a government building like a court or museum. Inside it is ornate like many old churches. One could still visit although there ceremonies going on. A couple of wedding parties were gathered in front; mostly fabulously fashionably dressed. From the church one can see south to the Place de la Concorde and open area for public events flanked by noble hotels. The neighborhood along this stretch of real estate houses luxury stores and the famous Maxim’s restaurant.
Off of one corner of the Place de la Concorde, which still had seating and structures from the recent Olympic ceremonies, is the American embassy across from the (gardens) Jardins de Champs de Élysees. South of the garden is the Avenue des Champs de Élysees from which one sees the Place de Concorde immediately to the east and the Arc de Triomphe farther to the west. South of the avenue is the Petite Palais housing an art museum. Across the street is the Grand Palais, which is also a museum and exhibition hall. A good view is of the Grand Palais from the Pont de Alexandre III just to the south; a uniquely ornate bridge with many sculpted figures.
Paris; Invalides, Assemble-Nationale, Louvere, Musée d’Orsay, Palais Expositions de Beaux-Arts
Docked on the south of the Alexander bridge along the “left bank” of the Seine are a number of elaborate boat restaurants including one that is made to look like it is constructed out of Legos. One sees many grand buildings along the Seine including the National Assembly in the Palais Bourbon and the Palais Expositions de Beaux-Arts or exhibition palace of beautiful arts; an art school and exhibition place for the students. Farther along one sees the Museum d’Orsay. Across the Seine on the north side one sees the extensive building of the Musée de l’Orangerie and the extensive Louvre, Paris’s most famous museum. I had visited the Louvre before and we had no time to do so on this trip so we were not on the other side within the courtyard where most photos seemed to be taken including the modern glass pyramid structure surrounded by the classical architecture of the exhibition halls.
Paris: Gare de Saint Lazare, Eglise de la Sainte Trinité, Magasins du Printemps
Or last day in Paris we went to the Gare de Lazare which had a strange creation of clocks in front. We intended to head east to the Eglise de Sainte Trinité (church of the holy trinity). We detoured south in a pedestrian shopping street Rue Caumartin that had some unusual buildings at the end which turned out to belong to the Magasins du Printemps; another chain of upscale department stores. I don’t know if the interiors come close to the splendor of Galerie Lafayette shops but the architectural style from the outside looked equally impressive. Next door was also a Mango shop with impressive design. Close by was a neighborhood with many Chinese restaurants and shops and also the Theatre Mogador a musical hall where the French version of the Lion King was playing. We arrived at the Trinity church which seems to be very old and had a particularly nice park in front of it but the building itself was half covered with scaffolding for repairs. Across the street was a large restaurant named after the church
Paris restaurants, bars, cafes
A number of photos didn’t really fit to the description of the other sites around but randomly show the atmosphere of central Paris. Most of them being restaurants and cafes but also shops of various kinds.
So, those were just a few tales from my many travels over the last thirty and something years. I hope you've enjoyed another side of a traveling clown! If you want, write me an email or better yet, book my show or set a link to this website or just state me as the beneficiary of your will!
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