I have made
several posts about the Philippe-Auguste wall, built during the years
1190-1215, and also about the several places where you can still find some
remains (see here). The Philippe-Auguste wall was later followed by a Charles
V-wall, built during the years 1356-1383 … and of course by other later walls.
The Charles
V-wall was actually only constructed on the Right Bank, the Left Bank was still
left with the Philippe-Auguste wall. On the Right Bank, the two walls were
linked by additional walls, more or less following the Seine banks.
As I
indicated above, the Philippe-Auguste wall is still visible at many places in
Paris, whereas until recently I only knew about a visibility of the Charles
V-wall in the Carrousel du Louvre (see a previous post). But now there is
another part visible. Recent modifications of a little square in the 4th
arrondissement (Place du Père-Teilhard-de-Chardin) made the
wall visible, and before covering the place, an opening was made enabling a public view
of a little piece of the wall.
Maybe the rough indications of the two walls I made on the Google map would make it easier to understand what I tried to explain above.
The square (see previous post) has now lost the statue of Arthur Rimbaud, but I found it on the Seine banks during a recent walk (see here) - instead a walkway is now indicating where the wall is buried.
A late 16th
century engraving shows quite well what Paris once looked like with the two
walls. We can also (again) see the three uninhabited islands, Île Notre-Dame,
Île aux Vaches and Île Louviers.
The two
first ones were brought together in the beginning of the 17th century together and became Île Saint-Louis. It was as late as in the 1840’s that the
space which separated the little island, Île Louviers, from the mainland was
filled. So, we can remember that walking on the little square today, we would
some 180 years back have been on the Seine banks.
The City
has, kindly, made viewable a little part of the wall and visitors
can by some photos, illustrations and text learn what I have tried to explain above.
2 comments:
I finally understand about those walls and those little islands.
Thank you, Peter.
Intéressant, comme toujours !
Post a Comment