SPAIN 2022 Trip Report, DAY 17: PARIS: Jardin du Luxembourg, Église Saint-Sulpice, Église Saint-Germain des Pres, Petit Palais

 

 DAY 17, MAY 22, Sunday: 

SUMMARY: Paris Luxembourg gardens, Saint Sulspice Cathedral, St Germain, Petit Palais

NO TRAIN INTO PARIS, FREE BUS PROVIDED

We had come in after midnight the previous day. We got up after 8 am, and started our day.

From our airport hotel, IBIS, we walked to the RER stop to catch RER B into Paris but we were told it was not running. Instead they were running FREE buses up to the 1st stop St Denis. Basically they gave us a free ride into Paris zone.

When we were in the line for the free bus, staff lady misguided us that we need tickets, we wasted time and bought 2 ten euro RER tickets. But the bus was free and dropped us at St Denis. 

We bought ordinary tickets for Zone 1 there and boarded the train and got down at Luxembourg [after Gare du Nord and Chatelet]

Metro map below with relevant stations for our stay  circled

Our sights visited are marked in the map below [with  other highlights as well]. Petit Palais has just a small circle  west of Tuileries as it's not labeled in the map

Jardin du Luxembourg / Luxembourg Gardens

Situated on the border between Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter, the Luxembourg Gardens, inspired by the Boboli Gardens in Florence, were created upon the initiative of Queen Marie de Medici in 1612. The gardens, which cover 25 hectares of land, are split into French gardens and English gardens. 

Between the two, lies a geometric forest and a large pond. There is also an orchard with a variety of old and forgotten apples, an apiary for  learning about bee-keeping and greenhouses with a collection of breathtaking orchids and a rose garden.

 The garden has 106 statues spread throughout the park, the monumental Medici fountain, the Orangerie and the Pavillon Davioud. There are many activities and facilities for children such as puppets, rides and slides. Adults can play chess, tennis, and bridge or remote control boats. The cultural program is characterized by free photography exhibitions on the garden railings and by concerts in the bandstand.

FREE CONCERT

We had already been to the gardens on an earlier visit. We had Petit Palais as our main target of the day and chose the gardens as easy entry point into Paris vis metro.

We enjoyed a free concert

REMOTE BOATS IN THE POND

saw kids playing with boats.

Then we walked on

Église Saint-Sulpice

It is only slightly smaller than Notre-Dame and thus the second-largest church in the city. It is dedicated to Sulpitius the Pious. Construction of the present building, the second church on the site, began in 1646. 

Built in the 17th century, with foundations from the 12th century, the Eglise Saint-Sulpice is one of the biggest churches in Paris. Located in the heart of the 6th arrondissement, in the Saint-Germain-des-Près district, it is definitely worth a visit.

 Inside, admire the nave, the Chapelle de la Vierge with a statue of Jean-Baptiste Pigalle, the sacristy and its wood-panelling in a Louis XV style, mural paintings by Eugène Delacrois, and the large organ by Cavaillé-Coll. Another curiosity: the gnomon, (the part of a sundial which casts a shadow), with a strand of brass wire incrusted on it which represents the meridian line. The Eglise Saint-Sulpice is one of the sites in Paris where the 'Da Vinci Code' by Dan Brown, best seller in 2003, was filmed. 

After several months of renovation, the 3 paintings of Eugène Delacroix of the Chapelle des Saints-Anges are now accessible to the public.

Saint Peter was looking at us benignly .

His foot hase been polished by devotees rubbing for blessings. St Peter has been son's fav since childhood as he holds the Key to Pearly Gates. We happily did our part in polishing his foot

Outside, from Place Saint-Sulpice,we admired the beautiful facade with its two recognizable towers. 

we walked on admiring the shop windows... celebrity bob heads

nice architectural features...

Église Saint Grermain des Pres

The oldest part of the current church is the prominent western tower (partly restored and modified), which was built by Abbot Morard around the year 1000

Beautiful church with awesome stained glass and murals

SHOPS ON THE WAY

lovely water colors by the Seine

PETIT PALAIS

Reached The Petit Palais { English: Small Palace) after a scenic walk. It is an art museum in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, France.

Built for the 1900 Exposition Universelle ("universal exhibition"), it now houses the City of Paris Museum of Fine Arts (Musée des beaux-arts de la ville de Paris).

The general exhibition is FREE.

RELIGIOUS ARTEFACTS

Trsvel altar

IVORY

amazing carving

wood carving

Marble statues

PALATIAL FURNITURE/INTERIORS

MONET

This was the paid exhibition, we got there by mistake, no worries. The docent was sweet and we exited apologizing for our error

MORE GENERAL EXHIBITION

We came out after  very happy visit. It is an amazing museum, each exhibit top notch

we enjoyed the facade, 

RIDE BACK TO HOTEL

then walked to catch our RER B  

We walked 300 m to the metro station Champs-Élysées - Clemenceau, rode 5 stops/6 min to Châtelet , took RER B to St Denis. Again there was a free bus and we got back to our airport hotel.

So we had spent just 1 metro ticket each way for our whole day. Instead of 40 euros for the both of us, it was under 10 euros

IBIS PARIS CDG AIRPORT

Report continues

https://adventuretrav.blogspot.com/2022/07/spain-2022-trip-report-day-18-paris.html