Cerisiers du Japon

The Cerisiers du Japon (Japanese cherry blossoms) bloom all over Paris in the spring.

Spring truly came in April this year and showed its colors across from the Bibliothhéque Forney (Hôtel de Sens,) 1 rue du Figuier in the 4th arrondissement.

Library once a residence

Henry IV lived in the Hôtel de Sens (the current Bibliothèque Forney) in 1605 with his famous wife, the Queen Margot who lived an extravagant and wild life despite the recommendations of her husband. It is noted that he tried nicely to suggest that she not confuse her days and nights ("ne plus prendre la nuit pour le jour et le jour pour la nuit".

Queen Margot collected the hair of her lovers in order to have wigs made and is reputed to have begun the fashion of heavy makeup; which in her case to hide the redness either from broken veins or rosacea.

Margo had a giant fig tree cut down to make room for her carriage; thus the origin of this street's name to its honor.

The entry, turrets and the dunjon/dungeon/keep (main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress) are original. The rest of the Hôtel de Sens was either or reconstructed between 1936 and 1962.

History of Hôtel de Sens (from the historical marker in front)

The archbishop of Sens had his archdiocese in Paris and lived here in 1292. Another archbishop, Tristan de Salazar renovated the fortress in 1475 in a more flamboyant style; it was considered one of the most beautiful Parisian palaces of the époque.

The city of Paris constructed its own archdiocese so the archbishops of Sens no longer lived, rather rented it.

From 1689 to 1743, it became the headquarters for the message services (early post office), coaches and carriages from Lyon, Bourgogne (Burgundy) and Franche-Comté. Other rolling transportation companies came along, followed by a cannery, a jam and jelly factory, a glass making factory, etc.

The city of Paris repurchased the Hôtel de Sens in 1911 and restored it for the Forney library.

Look for the canon ball lodged in the exterior wall between the tower and the entrance with the date 28 juillet 1830.

Eugène Delacroix painted the July 28, 1830: Liberty Leading the People (located in the Louvre museum).

Insurrections are not foreign to Paris. This event took place on the 27, 28 and 29 of July 1830 due to oppression suffered by the opponents of Charles X, his extremist ministers.