Across the Seine from Notre Dame

This week we already visited some medieval sites, the Collège des Bernardins and the Hôtel Cluny. Within a very short distance, there are some more.

Just crossing the Seine from Notre Dame (of course also medieval, built 1163-1345), there is a small nice little park called Square René Viviani. (Actually, from there you have one of the best possible views of the cathedral.) This square actually used to be a Merovingian (5th – 7th century) cemetery and later there were some monastic buildings.

On the square can find what may be the oldest tree in Paris (1601-02?). The tree is tired and now supported by a concrete column. When I passed, it was slightly raining and the tree served as shelter for four gentlemen who had just finished their wine bottle.

There is a kind of platform which actually is built by remains from the 19th century renovation of Notre Dame. Part of a dwell from the 12th century is also to be seen.

The area is full of old houses, probably not medieval, but you have a clear feeling of being a few centuries back, when walking around in some of the streets.





Just behind this square, you can find what may be the oldest church in Paris, Saint Julien le Pauvre, built between 1170 and 1240 on the ruins of a 6th century church (destroyed by the Normans). It was originally closely connected to the Paris University. Today the church is used by the Melkites (Arab and Middle East Greek Catholics). The church has been modified during the centuries and is today much smaller than the original plans (you can see an old wall on the right front).



Another church, which may compete with Saint Julien le Pauvre to be the oldest one in Paris, is Saint Séverin. The construction of the current church (which again replaced another one destroyed by the Vikings) started probably already during the 11th century, but the church is basically late Gothic from the 15th century. The portal is 13th century (brought from another church.) Some ruins of and adjacent cloister and charnel-houses can still be seen.

As a last item on this short medieval tour we can see the chapel, which is all that rests of another college, le Collège de Beauvais. The college was for centuries one of the leading ones and had pupils like Jean Racine, Charles Perrault (Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood...), de Bougainville, Cyrano de Bergerac... The chapel which dates from 1375 is today a Rumanian orthodox church (not open for visits). The octagonal gothic spire is the only one of this type remaining in Paris.

Time again to wish you a nice weekend!