25.11.09

Sun dials

You can find a great number of sun dials in Paris, maybe 50 or 60. Here are a few.

Starting from the top left and following the sun on the below patchwork: One can be found on the northern slope of Montmartre (4, Place Dalida, from 1924), one in a courtyard beyond the Bastille (around 80, rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, from 1751) and one close to the St. Gervais St. Protais Church (rue des Barres, from the 17th century?). This church has by the way some more sun dials on its walls. The last one here is from the backyard of the Institute (where the French Academies are housed, Quai de Conti, from the 19th century?). This was the only one I got in sunshine and it was actually about 4.30 pm when I took the photo, so it seems to be fairly correct.

A rather surprising and recent one is the one you can also see on the top picture. It’s made by Salvador Dalí in 1966 for some friends who had a shop here those days. You can find it on 27 rue St. Jacques. The shape is a scallop, obviously referring to the name of the street; a scallop is called “Coquille Saint Jacques” in French.


Finally, the best sun dials might be some of the towers you find in Paris and some efforts have actually been made to transform the obelisk on Place de la Concorde to one. You can, with good eyes, find some lines and figures on the ground. I wrote about this in a previous post.

43 comments:

Virginia said...

Well I'll go first!!! I love the Dali sundial Peter. How on earth do you find all these wonderful things you show us each week? I do love the obelisk at Place de la Concorde as well. It's very photogenic especially when the wonderful ferris wheel is right behind it! Tour Montparnasse??? NON! I think not. I'll have to keep me eyes out for some sundials this next visit, although I fear we will not see much sun, but we will enjoy Paris just the same!! :)
V

Thérèse said...

Quelle superbe série.
Des cadrans solaires si différents les uns des autres. Un plaisir à découvrir.

Polly said...

More examples of the wonderful surprises to be found in Paris! Thanks for sharing these - you have an eye for interesting details.

Catherine said...

They certainly do seem ubiquitous... I don't recall seeing any here...great shots..

SusuPetal said...

Oh, these are marvelous -you're the treasure hunter of Paris, Peter!

hpy said...

It's time fro scallops - but they are still quite expensive.

alice said...

Tu es un vrai chercheur de trésors, Peter!

Cergie said...

Les cadrans solaires sont pratiques lorsque comme moi on ne porte jamais de montre... A condition d'avoir une journée ensoleillée bien entendu et de ne pas vouloir savoir l'heure la nuit.

J'ai trouvé moi aussi, d'une façon impromptue, le "bonhomme blanc" de Mesnager en Guyane, puis je l'ai cherché...
Je suis partie tu es parti, tu es rentré puis je suis rentrée ; tu vois je ne me suis donc pas aperçue que tu avais manqué au blog...

Adam said...

Interesting to note that there are so many in Paris and yet so few clocks! I guess these a re just more decorative, and a Dali clock wouldn't be very practical for telling the time!

Ruth said...

Wow - sometimes I think you must get tired of hearing that - but wow anyway. Another theme in an abundant city. I am thankful it will never end, for you will always be able to find something interesting for us to focus on.

That Dali was such a treasure.

Blind Fly Theater said...

When I first saw the top photo, I immediately thought Dali... I swear it was before I caught the signature (consciously, anyways). These are the things for which j'adore Peter's Paris... as Polly said, you have a sharp eye for interesting details (sharply intelligent!). I have much to indulge in catching up with here, and am relishing the prospect. Thank you, Peter, for your wonderful support over the past several weeks... I am grateful for your friendship.
David

lyliane six said...

Ce sont tes yeux qu'il y a sur le beau cadran solaire du haut? Tu cherches le soleil en ce moment?
J'espère que tout s'est bien passé avec ta maman, La mienne est depuis le 20 octobre hospitalisée, je pense qu'elle va sortir début décembre.
Mon blog me fait des bizarreries il mélange mes différents posts!!!
Bises à bientôt j'espère.

Cezar and Léia said...

That first one is my favourite!
Fabulous post!
Léia

from cali said...

I had the opposite thought of Adam: I've noticed more clocks than sun dials!

You do have a talent for finding treasures.

Shionge said...

Oh Wow!! I need to be more observant the next time I visit Paris, great job :D

Claudia said...

That Dali sun dial is fabulous! Must see it on my next trip there. What a fabulous find!

Olivier said...

magnifique cette collection de cadran solaire (ce qui me fait penser qu'il en existe un dans le vieil Evry et que j'ai pas encore fait de photo de lui, merci pour l'idée)

Starman said...

So you're back. I can't keep up with you anymore, you're always flitting about so. We almost made it to Paris for Christmas, but changed our minds at the last minute.

Anonymous said...

tres intiresno, merci

Unknown said...

Great collection, Peter! And I like the idea of the towers on this post!

Dominique- L said...

Is That you, Peter Pan's friend Ginja Rogers ! ;-)

J'ignorais que Paris possédait autant de cadrans solaires. Ils sont tous surprenants. J'aime beaucoup.

Vos explications sont fort bien pensées et vos clichés agréablement réalisés.

Merci Peter.

claude said...

Celui de Dali est beau. Je ne savais pas qu'il y avait un place Dalida à Montmartre. Quand j'étais jeune, beaucoup plus jeune, c'était ma chanteuse préférée, du temps de Bambino, for example. Après c'était moins bien.
Jolie série sur ces cadrans solairs.

Parisbreakfasts said...

Simply fabulous post!
Who knew?
You see so much Peter

Alain said...

Avec la tour Eiffel, ce serait pas mal, mais il faudrait mettre les heures assez loin !

amatamari© said...

Ah I love the sundials!
:-)
I like all but the first four are my favorite!
Wonderful idea, magnificent photos!

PeterParis said...

Virginia:
You know, there may be some sunshine even in winter, at least a few hours! :-)

Thérèse:
Il faut que je trouve les autres 50! :-)

Polly:
I do my best! :-)

PeterParis said...

Catherine:
However, you should have some sunshine over there! :-)

SusuPetal:
All depends what you call a treasure! :-)

hpy:
You don't go fishing yourself? :-)

PeterParis said...

Alice:
Je cherche, je cherche... ! :-)

Cergie:
En effet, nous sommes partis au même moment; j'aurai préféré ta destination! :-)

Adam:
Cheaper and easier to maintain a sun dial than a clock! :-)

PeterParis said...

Ruth:
There are still a few thousand streets, some hundred churches... I will keep going! :-)

SparkleMirror:
Thanks! So happy to see you back here again, dear friend! :-)

Lyliane:
A bientôt! :-)

PeterParis said...

Léia:
Yes, I agree, it's nice! :-)

From Cali:
I will have to start looking for the clocks then! :-)

Shionge:
Let me be your guide! :-)

PeterParis said...

Claudia:
Let me show you the way! :-)

Olivier:
C'est gratuit! :-)

Starman:
Too bad you changed your mind! Hope you are feeling much better now anyhow! :-)

PeterParis said...

Anonymous:
Merci! :-)

JM:
Yes, the easiest way to create a sun dial! :-)

PeterParis said...

Je suis...:
Merci et bienvenue ici! :-)

Claude:
Tu ne savais pas pour Dalida? !! :-)

ParisBreakfasts:
No you know! :-)

PeterParis said...

Alain:
:-))

Amatamari:
I agree, it's simple but very nice! :-)

Maya said...

I love sundials!

PeterParis said...

Maya:
I will look for some more then! :-)

GMG said...

Wow! This post would make Pietro quite happy...

PeterParis said...

GMG:
Pietro? I guess I should know him? :-)

GMG said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
GMG said...

You'll find Pietro and his sundials here!

PeterParis said...

GMG:
Thanks! Nice of you to come back and answer! :-)

Carole said...

Peter, tu m'étonneras toujours, il faut vraiment que je marche le nez en l'air ou quoi !! je n'avais jamais vu de cadrans solaire à Paris !!!
A bientôt pour d'autres découvertes et... Merci encore !

Catherine said...

Au hasard de mes tribulations sur ton blog, je tombe sur ce petit bijou du cadran solaire
Dali-anesque ! J'aurais aimé le découvrir...Je ne manquerai pas d'être attentive la prochaine fois que je passe dans ce quartier, mon cher découvreur d'oeuvres cachées.