17.9.08

Looking for caviar, goose liver… ?

Where the Madeleine Church (L’Eglise Sainte-Marie-Madeleine) now is standing was previously an old church (which was a synagogue until the 12th century). It was then already consecrated to Mary Magdalene. There were different projects during the 18th century to construct a new one, more appropriate to the distinguished surroundings (Place de la Concorde - see previous posts).

Below you can see what it could have looked like. Work had started when the Revolution arrived and then of course it was discussed whether to transform it to a library, a ballroom, a market place... In 1806 Napoleon decided to transform the future building to a “Temple to the Glory of the Great Army”. Finally, during the Restoration, it was again decided to make it a church, although later there were some discussions to possibly make it a railway station. The building was finally consecrated as a church in 1842.

The church is in a neo-classical style, very much in fashion during the 18th and early 19th century (see previous posts about Pantheon, National Assembly...). It’s today one of the most prestigious churches in Paris, used for masses, fashionable weddings and funerals and even more for very good concerts.
Around the place, you can find some of the most exclusive food shops in Paris. If you are a fan of caviar, goose liver... and what goes with it when it comes to drinking, this is a place to go. One of Paris’ best restaurants is here, there are some fashionable shops....

Leading to the place is also one of Paris’ many covered galleries (Galérie de la Madeleine). (See previous posts about similar galleries or passages*.) The place has also a nice "flower market".

There is also an exhibition hall (Pinacothèque), where until last weekend you could discover the famous Chinese Terracotta Army (which I have been lucky enough to see in real in Xi’an – here is the “proof”).
At last I believe I must once more (see previous post) advise a visit to one of the world’s most beautiful public places to “wash your hands”. It’s free of charge and you can find it on the right side of the church stairs. */
Galérie Colbert, Galérie Viro-Dodat, Galérie Vivienne, Passage des Deux Pavillons, Passage Hulot

Passage Jouffroy, Passage Prado, Passage des Panoramas
Passage Vendôme
Passage Brady
Passage Bourg l’Abbé, Passage du Grand Cerf

30 comments:

HZDP said...

Haha,first of all, Im luck to be the first,
I wish I could wash my hand at that holy place,
and I didnt know they have an exhibition about the terrecotta soldiers, are they still there in Paris?

Anonymous said...

Terracotta soldiers look beautiful. :-)
And now we know where to find the delicacies.

Thanks.

Thérèse said...

I am opting for the goose liver... with a few water lilies as table decoration!
Un très beau panaché de photos Peter.

Alain said...

J'ai découvert récemment le lavage de la Madeleine et en même temps un blog interessant sur Paris.

Olivier said...

Today un spécial luxe, que de belles enseignes qui font rêver. pour la vodka je suis partant, moins fan du caviar.

claude said...

Je te l'ai peut-être déjà dit mais le passage dans lequel j'allais aux cours de danse est le pssages des Panoramas. Je l'ai retrouvé gràace à ma petite Maman.
Je suis allée une fois chez Fauchon avec ma soeur. Mais moi, je n'ai rien acheté.
J'ai déjà goûté à du caviar au mariage d'une copine. Je n'ai pas trouvé cela exceptionnel, je préfère un bon foir gras de canard.
Très beau et trrès intéressant post, Peter !

hpy said...

Ca me rappelle un temps où je pouvais aller à pied à mon travail. *)(Bon, je peux aujourd'hui aussi, mais c'est trop près.) Le quartier a l'air d'avoir changé un peu, mais pas beaucoup.

Pour rentrer je passais plus souvent par la rue Cambon.

Anonymous said...

j'ai beaucoup aimé ta campagne à la ville précédente et celle-ci est aussi intéressante surtout la 1ère image. Par contre la grosse tache blanche sur la façade de la Madeleine tu exagères ;)

Olivier said...

pour la vodka, je préfère l'herbe de bison, je dis ça en passant.
En réponse a ton passage sur le débat avec mister hirsch, avant le débat je pensais avoir compris quelque chose au financement du RSA après le débat............bcp moins ;o)

EMNM said...

Madeleine Church it´s really amazing, enormous!!, i´ve been there in my last trip in Paris.
This church needs a reforms inside, it´s very dark

Vagabondage said...

Bonjour Peter,

I'm sorry, sorry "pour presque rien"

Tu remarqueras que mon anglais s'améliore..

En revanche, caviar et vodka (peu de chose également) j'ai un peu de mal à avaler...

C'est un quartier que je fréquentais pendant les fêtes de Noël... j'aimais faire quelques clichés des illuminations et magasins...

Ton post nous en restitue parfaitement l'atmosphère.

Bonne journée à toi.

Jo's-D-Eyes said...

ooooh yes Peter,
Great collage agai with lots of info (as usual) You soil me!
Neh I do not like goose liver, it too fat for me (expensive too)

that "Chinese terracotta army" exibition is named worldwide, lucky you! that you cold see them in Paris, en ehh what about that 'free entrance place" , where is that?Maybe we have been there...
(if answer, do so on my blog svp)

Peter, about your (right!) 'note or Question'..."why I didn't name the Fast-train-TGV".. well you are right about that, the blogpost would be more completed..but the reason why I did not do that is because; I couldn't make/find a good shot about the TGV,and I always try to show photo's... next time OK? Promised:)

Greetings from, Joann's D Eyes

Anonymous said...

I am not that fond of duck or goose liver but love chicken liver. The post is interesting. Trying to pick out things that my eyes skip over. I don't have that much time to spend on making such an elaborate collage every day. You must not sleep at night.

Anonymous said...

I like to go to Laduree in that neighborhood. I do love the Madeleine church.

lyliane six said...

Tu es allé voir les soldats de l'empereur? j'aurai aimé les voir, mais peut être un jour dans leur pays d'origine?
J'avais ramené 13 boîtes de caviar de Russie, mais je préfère les oeufs de saumon et quelque fois le foie gras.Ces magnifiques toilettes sont faites pour éliminer tout le champagne bu avec ces mets, surement!!!

Cutie said...

Paris is indeed a beautiful place. Been there once for a few days and I believe there are plenty of places I have not managed to visit. I only remembered very well that the crepe serve in Paris is excellent. Would love to try it once again. =) Your post brought my memories back.

Azer Mantessa said...

madeleine church is nice and historic but to convert it into a railway station is something to tout about.

principally, i disagree.

Mona said...

have you really seen the Chinese terracotta army? It is really a fascinating story behind that!

I had read about Renaissance and Restoration, but with your blog things become clearer! I had no idea that the buildings of Europe were an art in themselves!

Virginia said...

Peter,
How wonderful that you have seen the Qin army in person. We were fortunate to have an exhibit of a portion of them at our Birmingham Museum of Art in '93 I believe. It was fascinating. I was lucky enough to be able to volunteer at the museum for the exhibit.

Shionge said...

Cool, great to have a piece of 'China' in Paris. I have not tried caviar and goose liver, have you?

Anonymous said...

Peter, you should be a little more gracious and put less things to your one post :)
Seriously, again so interesting and well done, thank you!

lyliane six said...

Cette après midi je suis allée chez Fauchon et chez Hédiard, tu m'as donné l'idée, pour envoyer quelques douceurs au Portugal.

PeterParis said...

hzdp:
Thanks for being so quick! The Terracotta Army left last weekend. Fortunately it's still to be seen in Xi'an!

cuckoo:
Nice things to eat and drink can also be found elsewhere! :-)

therese:
... and a glass of Sauternes!

PeterParis said...

alain:
En effet, un blog intéressant!

olivier:
Le caviar me laisse aussi assez froid! On peux trouver d'autres oeufs de poisson, bien moins chers et, à mon avis, meilleurs en gout!

claude:
Je ne suis pas régulier chez Fauchon ou Hédiard non plus!

PeterParis said...

hpy:
... rue Cambon! Tu rentrais chez Chanel?

lasiate:
Désolé pour la tache! Je l'ai vue trop tard et c'était la seule photo avec la façade en entier!

olivier:
Aujourd'hui, jeudi, ils ont tout changé pour le RSA!

PeterParis said...

matritensis:
Maybe some neon lights? :-)

Once more, I'm still "angry" that you didn't contact me during Paris visit!

mathilde:
Que des photos? Pas d'achats? ... ou presque rien?

joann:
Goos or duck liver is quite fat and should be eaten in reasonable quantities! A third slice is too much!
I did not see the Army in Paris. Had already seen it in China (Xi'an)!
The toilet is just on the corner ... right side of the Madeleine steps!

PeterParis said...

abraham:
You could talk about sleeping? When do YOU sleep?

ruth:
Ladurée for some nice macarons?

lyliane:
Non, je ne les ai pas vus ici! Je l'es ai vu sur place ... et à une exposition à Düssledorf!
En effet, de si belles installions mériten du champagne!

PeterParis said...

cutie:
Thanks for your visit here! I see from your blog that you are a food fan! You should come back to Paris for something else than crepes!

azer:
When it was discussed, railway stations were prestigious buildings in the city centres! :-)

mona:
Yes, I have seen them, on the spot - and had the previlege to meet one of the discoverers!

PeterParis said...

virginia:
Nice! Some of the soldiers are now allowed to travel!

shionge:
Yes, I have tried! You should!

leena:
I know... I always do a bit too much! ( ... and would always like to add something more!) :-)

PeterParis said...

lyliane:
Tu as bien fait! Nos amis portugais le méritent!