Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Sainte-Chapelle, Notre-Dame de Paris

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We took a Metro and then a bus to get to Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Well, we took two busses actually. The first one was going the wrong direction. This is a lovely area in Paris, very nice to walk and enjoy.

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When we got off our bus, we were across the street from the Église de Saint-Germain-des-Pres, the oldest church in Paris.

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We had the best hot chocolate we have ever tasted at Les Deux Magots, a restaurant frequented by artists and literary figures during its long history. People such as Verlaine, Rimbaud, Gide, Picasso, Léger, Hemingway, and Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir have made it a place to meet friends and talk. I really think, though, that they were going there to have the richest, thickest hot chocolate in the universe.

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Walking toward Sainte-Chapelle

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Sainte-Chapelle is surrounded by the Palais de Justice.

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After climbing a narrow, steep staircase, you are greeted with a creation of stained glass and light like you have never dreamed.

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The chapel was built in 1248 by Louis IX to house the crown of thorns and a fragment of Christ’s cross, which are now stored at Notre-Dame.

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There were carvings on the walls of the twelve apostles.

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We saw Notre-Dame as we walked around Île de la Cité.

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Jen had read about this “cozy, small, very old corner restaurant” and we found it. I had rum steak (rump steak), a thick filet of beef with a foie gras sauce and a potato tartine. Jen had coq au vin, stewed poultry in wine with orchiette pasta. There was more delicious bread and we finished with a tart pomme.

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Notre-Dame de Paris

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A classic Gothic cathedral whose construction started in 1163 and was finished 1334.

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We stayed for the Evensong service and found it moving, in spite of not understanding what was sung or said.

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The service lasted about an hour.

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After Notre-Dame, we walked back to Sainte-Chapelle.

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A string sextet played Vivaldi's Les Quatre Saisons. It was moving to hear music in this beautiful, darkened chapel.

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The windows were beautiful during our earlier visit, but when they turned off the interior lights and the light from the setting sun was shining through the windows, it was awe inspiring.

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© Russ Milam 2018