City of Names: Charles Dickens
“I cannot tell you what an immense impression Paris made upon me. It is the most extraordinary place in the world.” Charles Dickens, 1844. As a Brit, if you asked […]
Category Archives: Paris
Dark Spaces: Catacombes de Paris
The quintessential destination for someone looking to venture into the creepy depths of Paris is the Catacombes de Paris. A municipal ossuary that is probably the eeriest place I’ve ever […]
The Mystery of… The Oldest Tag in Paris
Paris is a city known for its art. No matter which guide book you choose to buy you’ll be advised to visit the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo or […]
Dark spaces: Champ de Mars Metro Station
So this isn’t a space that you can visit but it is a space that you can see. And it’s definitely dark. In 1913 the Champ de Mars metro station […]
The Mystery of… The Secret Secretary
There are only two churches in Paris that have adjoining graveyards and in one of them, there’s something that’s not quite right. In the 20th arrondissement sits a small but […]
City of Names: Isaac Newton
I’ve previously written this chain of posts about Shakespeare, George Gershwin and Josephine Baker so I thought it was time to mention one of the many scientific international names featured on the […]
The Mystery of… The Star-Spangled Grave
Where is the longest-flying star-spangled banner in Paris? It’s not hanging from the doors of the Embassy. It’s not on Place des Etats-Unis. Nor is it outside the American University […]
Dark Spaces: La Maison du Fontainier
In the 14th arrondissement is a normal-looking house. From the outside, you would never expect that it was one of Paris’ most important historical sites. For it is in fact […]
City of Names: George Gershwin
Another American great who boasts a Parisian street named in his honour is none other than Oscar-award-winning composer, George Gershwin. Born Jacob Gershwine in 1898 in Brooklyn, New York, he was of Russian […]
Hidden Treasures: Forgotten Forest
If there’s something the Parisians get absolutely right, it’s putting together a park. The Champ de Mars is a glorious example of a symmetrically designed leisure space where tourists, locals, buskers […]
andrew james writer 