Pont Saint-Louis
The bridge connects the Ile Saint-Louis with the Ile de la Cit
é.
The first bridge of wood was constructed in 1627, but couldn't resist
the flow of the Seine. Replaced several times because of damage from
the ups and downs of the river, this pedestrian bridge is from 1970
and measures 67 meters long and 16 meters wide. --
insecula
Along with Hôtel Cluny, the Hôtel de Sens
(Bibliothéque
Forney) is one of the only civilian
architectural traces of the Middle Ages in Paris.
A true fortress, it was constructed between 1474 and 1519 for the
Archbishop of Sens (Burgundy).
Henry IV (Henri of Navarre) and his ex-wife, the famous Queen Margot, lived here in 1605.
Queen Margot lived an extravagant and eventful lifestyle of debauchery
despite the recommendations of the king who nicely advised her to not
mix her days and nights: “ne plus prendre la nuit pour le jour et le
jour pour la nuit."
She collected hair from her lovers to have wigs made and she started
the fashion of make up (hers was to hide a case of rosacea.
Inaugurated in 1886, the library is named after the
industrialist, Samuel-Aimé Forney whose gift to the City of Paris was
destined for the education of artists.
The designers, artists, bronziers, ébénistes came here to work and
borrow books and models.
This location at the heart of the Faubourg Saint-Antoine, artists
section of Paris, contributed to the success of the establishment.
The spaces for rent were highly demanded.
In principle, the transfer of the library to the l’Hôtel de Sens took
place in 1929, but it was not until 32 years later, 1961, that the
actual collection of works began its move to the libarary.
L’Hôtel de Sens is one of those rare examples of civilian medieval
architecture. It was constructed between 1475 and 1519 by order of
Tristan de Salazar, archbishop of Sens.
Tristan de Salazr was an important figure because the bishop of Paris
was within his jurisdiction.
The successors of Tristan did not live in the l’Hôtel very much. It
was also the home of the Queen Margot for a few months. She was the
first wife of Henri IV.
The cardinals cardinaux archevêques finally left in 1622. Until the
Revolution, the l’Hôtel was rented out to individuals.
Sold as a national "bien", it was mutilated during the 19th century by
its successive owners and faced life as an entreprise de roulage, a
wash house, a cannery, un coupeur de poils de lièvre
la confiturerie Saint James, un dépôt de verrerie....
In 1911, the City of Paris, bought the building which was a total
state of disrepair (l’état de délabrement était extrême). Restoration
began in 1929 and wasn't finished until 1961.
Hôtel de Sens
1, rue du Figuier 75004
Métro : Pont Marie - Saint-Paul
Telephone: 01 42 78 14 60
May 2008