Follow us on the run, discover the beautiful sites of Paris
Thanks to Kendra and Michael, Anne and Valentine, Craig, Andrew and Gina, Elizabeth and David (happy to see you again), James and Angela! If you too, you come to Paris, we will be very happy to run with you. Join us and discover Paris with authentic Parisians guides who always have tons of secrets to share with you:
With Laura, meeting Geneviève, Patroness of Paris and model of resistance
Laura – Notre-Dame 3:53 PM – Laura lives in Oklahoma where she is an active member of a group of runners, Runhers, who promotes a healthy and sports life, notably thanks to the running. Program of this afternoon: a discovery of the Paris Left bank. The University of “La Sorbonne”: Laura – University of “la Sorbonne” – “Rue Saint-Jacques” Discover a sight of Sorbonne and its history in this other article The “rue du Cardinal Lemoine”, where we met the house of the Irish writer James Joyce: Laura – “71 rue du Cardinal Lemoine” James Joyce wrote his novel “Ulysses” here. Not far, one of Ernest Hemingway’s houses (remember this article) The beautiful “Place de la Contrescarpe”: Laura – “Place de la Contrescarpe” The “Jardin des Plantes”, from where we can see the huge skeleton of a whale, behind the windows of the Gallery of Paleontology: Laura – Gallery of Paleontology and Compared Anatomy of the National Natural History Museum During our run, in the garden of Luxembourg, we crossed Geneviève, the Patroness of Paris: Laura – “Sainte Geneviève” (see also this article) Geneviève, daughter of a Frankish father and a Gallo-Roman mother, would have been a municipal member of the council of Paris. According to the tradition, Geneviève, in the year 451, would have prevented Attila and his Huns from invading Paris by encouraging its inhabitants to the resistance. Geneviève, model of courage and endurance for Laura who is successively going to run the Chicago marathon then the one of New York this fall. Go Laura! The route of the tour:
Parisian perspectives with Karine
Karine – Le Pont Neuf (the New bridge) 7:00 AM – Karine, runner from Quebec, chose to make a Paris Running Tour to prepare the half marathon of Montreal, very close, and also, of course, to take advantage of the sports visit to discover the charm of a Parisian circuit. What beautiful perspectives offered by the morning sun! Look at the photo above with the light beginning to enlighten the “Pont Neuf” (New Bridge), the oldest bridge of Paris (See this article). We left early on this Sunday. At the start of the running, it was still dark. The silhouette of the Eiffel Tower appears in the dawn… Karine – Alexandre III bridge … as the Louvre, while the morning comes: Karine – The Museum of the Louvre seen from the left bank Still running towards the rising sun, we reached the Latin Quarter to meet the Sorbonne University: Karine – “Rue Saint Jacques” – The University of the Sorbonne (and its observatory) The Sorbonne goes follows the “rue Saint Jacques”, former Roman way. The building which we see is the third version of the Sorbonne and dates of the 1880s. The Sorbonne University was established in the XIIIth century by Robert de Sorbon. It is in the heart of the Latin Quarter. Latin Quarter? Hispanic district? No, no! In the Middle Ages, the students already came from the whole world to study there (among them, Dante, Erasmus). To speak together, a single shared language: the Latin! The passers-by eventually called the district Latin Quarter. A little later, we cross the “Pont des Arts” (bridge of the Arts), considered as one of the most romantic of Paris (remember the Padlocks…) What amazing perspectives on this bridge! Karine – Pont des Arts – Click to enlarge this panorama On the North side, the Louvre and the entrance of the “Cour Carrée” (Squared Courtyard), on the South side, the Institute of France, on the West side, the Orsay museum and the “Grand Palais” far off and lastly on the East side, the Island of “La Cité”, which cuts the river Seine with the point formed by the “Square du Vert Galant”. Later by leaving the Louvre, we discover the perspective onto the Opera of Paris, the Garnier Opera. The architect Charles Garnier had refused to see trees along the Avenue of the Opera so that the perspective onto his Opera is not spoiled. Karine – “Avenue de l’Opéra” On our way back, we cross the “Place de la Concorde”, look at both photos below, perspective onto the North and perspective onto the South: Karine – “Place de la Concorde” The church of “La Madeleine” and the National Assembly seem to be reflected. This was intentional. In 1806, Napoleon the 1st adopted the project of creation of a new facade for the former Palace of Duchess Louise of Bourbon, become “Assemblée Nationale” (National Assembly). This new Colonnade (link in French) of the facade reminds by its columns the facade of the Madeleine which faces it. A new axis is given to the facade forming an angle to the original axis of the Bourbon palace and finally, columns are raised by the steps of an impressive staircase so that the Bridge of “La Concorde” does not mask the sight on the bottom of the colonnade. Paris, always in the search for the harmony! Merci Karine ! The route of the tour :
A touristic half-marathon with Eva and Christian
10:04 AM – Eva and Christian are fast marathon runners who live near Copenhagen (Denmark). They are also triathletes who have already participated in Iron Man Triathlons (swimming 3.8 km, bike 180 km, Running 42.195 kilometers or 26.2 miles). On this Friday morning, without any performance objectives, we chose to quietly visit Paris while running, however on a good distance to be able to admire as much places as possible. We finally ran 21 km, the distance of a half-marathon. Do you remember Lady Geneviève, the protector of Paris, whom we evoked recently during our Paris visit with Jennifer. You can see her to the left of the photo above, she looks to the east of Paris, the east where from came Attila and his Huns at the 5th century and Geneviève did not let them get into the City. Of the bridge of Sully, we went place of the Trocadéro, to join the Palais de Chaillot, palace built on the hill of the same name for the 1937 World fair. It is one of the best points of view on the Eiffel Tower. “To deserve the view”, we took a “small ascent” which leads to the (no so high) top of the hill… However with a small break to have a little bit different souvenir of the big tower: Back to the east, in full Latin Quarter, here is the Sorbonne, the famous and very old university of which the history begins in the 13th century. The chapel of the Sorbonne which we see on the photo below was created during the 17th century. Along the way, following the river, we wondered if it was possible to swim in the Seine. Yes! Of course! On the occasion of the Triathlon of Paris! Look at these videos: Your next triathlon in Paris, Eva and Christian? Next edition: July 2013… Merci Eva ! Merci Christian ! The route of the tour : If you too, you come to Paris, we will be very happy to run with you. Join us and discover Paris with authentic Parisians guides who always have tons of secrets to share with you:
By way of the bridge of “l’Archevêché” with Ellen
Ellen – Pont de l’Archevêché – Notre Dame 7:58 AM – Ellen, from Antwerp (Belgium), runs regularly very early in the morning. On Saturday, we ran a little later to take advantage of the light which offered us the sun of December. Our road led us on the bridge of “l’Archevêché” which is on the East point of the island of “La Cité”, behind Notre-Dame. As on the Pont des Arts, situated in front of the West point of the island, the padlocks prosper in abundance. Padlocks? Yes, indeed! Padlocks of love! As formerly on trees, the lovers register their both names on a padlock, hang on it to one of the most beautiful places of Paris and throw the key in the river Seine… This fashion would have begun in the 80s in Eastern Europe and appeared on the “Pont des Arts” in 2008 (see the photos of the “Pont des Arts” in this blog). Sometimes, all the padlocks disappear at one go without that we know why, the services of the city of Paris being not at all responsible for these disappearances. Thieves of metals? Padlocks quickly return however. Even the “bouquinistes” (secondhand booksellers along the Seine) adapted themselves and sell, besides the usual books, padlocks! A little earlier on our route, Montaigne: Rue des Ecoles – Montaigne In front of the university of “La Sorbonne”, is the statue of Montaigne, philosopher and writer of the Renaissance. Originally, it was a white marble statue, created in 1933 by Paul Landowski and offered to Paris in 1934. The stony sculpture was so manhandled by the students and vandalized that it was replaced in 1989 by a more resistant, bronze version. Its right foot would give luck. By touching it, the pronounced wish would come true. In marble, the foot, highly sought, was numerous times broken. In bronze, it resists but loses its patina and becomes golden! Merci Ellen ! The route of the tour :