After seeing Notre Dame, we spent the rest of our first day visiting several sites around Paris. This is the La Concergierie, former palace and prison of Paris, part of the Palais de Justice. This is where Mary Antoinette and many other famous french people were held before execution during the french revolution.
... thought the stone carved stairs were pretty cool looking, even if it wasn't open for visitors to climb.
...some of the elaborate iron and gold guilded gates around the city.
Later we visited the gothic chapel Sainte-Chapelle. It is known for its expansive and intricate stained glass windows that cover the entire walls. It also houses many famous Catholic relics including the crown of thorns.
... these are parts of the lower chapel with more intricate painting and architectural details than windows.
... the upper chapel with heavily jeweled and guilded gold statues and ornamentation beneath dozens of high rising windows with delicate stone framework which portray stories from the scriptures and the life of Christ. Amazingly enough, nearly two-thirds of the windows are originals, many of the others getting destroyed during the french revolution.
A magnificent large rose window on one end of the upper chapel.
... some various French government buildings that I thought were pretty.
The French Pantheon in neoclassical style ... sorry, but it just doesn't quite live up to the Italian original, haha.
...it is currently a burial place for dozens of famous french people throughout the last few centuries. There is a tall dome in the center of the greek cross plan design.
... the view across from the Pantheon.
We went and saw the Musee National du Moyen Age, or the Cluny Museum, but unfortunately I didn't get any pictures... Later in the day we went and saw the Jardin du Luxembourg. It was nice and expansive, but it feels like a common theme in French gardens in having large green grass lawns that are roped off. ... feels like a waste to me. Plus, I bet the gardens would have been a little prettier in the spring or summer instead of late October.
... this part of the garden was pretty even in the fall though.
... lots of modern art installations throughout the city... Dad chilling with the funky patterned giant.
Lastly, we ended the day by stopping at Church of Saint-Severin, also near our hotel. Much of the interior has been destroyed or stolen over the ages, leaving only a few of the originals. For instance, only some of the windows are ancient stained glass while others a modern installations.
...it also houses some rather unusual twisting columns at the end of the nave that mimic palm trees.
...one of the new modern windows.
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