Ann Jeanne in Paris

a Friend in Paris

17May

Saint Germain des Prés : a GRAND CLASSIC

Posted by: afriendinparis Categories: Paris Neighborhoods Tours
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Saint Germain des Prés

Café Le Flore

The “grand classic” private walking tour in Saint Germain des Prés with Ann Jeanne in Paris

On the left bank, Saint Germain des prés is renowned for its famous cafes, its narrow streets and antique shops.. After World War II, Saint Germain des Pres became synonymous of intellectual life, centered around bars and cafes.

Saint Germain des Prés reached its heyday in the 50s

Philosophers, writers, actors and musicians used to meet and stay in cafes, clubs… : Hemingway, Miller, Picasso, Jim Morrison, Sartre; Beauvoir… Literature, poetry, and Jazz perfumed all the lifestyle in the area.

Among this neighborhood’s regulars (random list) : Hemingway, Picasso, Miller, Sartre, Beauvoir, Ellington, Hampton, Miles Davis, Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Delacroix, Gertrude Stein, Boris Vian, Verlaine, Rimbaud, Mallarmé, Cocteau, Duras, Prévert, Johnny Depp, F F Coppola, Camus, James Joyce…

The leading figures of the time have now gone, but you still feel the special atmosphere of this quarter of Paris. In Saint Germain des Pres  : lots of restaurants, cinemas, antique shops, galeries… Though today, you’ll find haute-couture, and fashion shops too (Vuitton, Armani, Dior…)

Saint Germain des Prés : the Kingdom of iconic cafés : 

The most famous cafes of the area are : Le cafe de Flore, les Deux Magots, Le Bonaparte, La Palette, the café Procope (the oldest Paris’ café, actually a restaurant nowadays) the Brasserie Lipp…

Nice XVIII century buildings, cobblestone streets…And  the Saint Germain des Pres Church which is one of the oldest church of Paris.

Today, a very classic, elegant and trendy area.

My advice : 

  • No specific monuments except Saint Germain des Prés church, but in my opinion a great area to feel what Paris life is. Very liked by Parisians, and great cafés for cafés lovers. A neighborhood to stroll in. In Saint Germain des Prés, everything is a classic. And so much History.
  • Don’t miss “Le Flore” or its sister “Les 2 Magots” nearby the church, two classics. And if you’ve some time left, either carry on to the river Seine (northern Saint Germain des Prés), or to Saint Sulpice church (southern StGermain des Prés) and Pierre Hermé for a gorgeous pastry (nearby Saint Sulpice – Rue Bonaparte).

 

Some addresses :

  • Capture d’écran 2016-05-17 à 03.03.56Laduré (pastry very well know for its macarons) : pastry shop and tea room : rue Jacob (100 meters from Saint Germain church)
  • Pierre Hermé (pastry – maybe the best in France) : rue Bonaparte – Métro Saint Sulpice or Odeon (both line 4)
  • Gerard Mulot (pastry) : 76 rue de Seine (on your way to Saint Sulpice) www.gerard–mulot.com
  • Le Flore and Les 2 Magots (iconic Paris cafés)  : boulevard Saint Germain des Prés – Métro Saint Germain des prés (line 4)
  • L’Avant Comptoir : place de l’Odeon – Metro stop Odeon – for a snack, a crêpe or a gaufre. Métro Odéon (line 4)

profil-paris-avec-oiseaux

 

The Saint Germain des Prés private walking tour with Ann Jeanne in Paris. 

l1008109A private  tour in one of the most classic and elegant part of Paris. Saint Germain des Prés is synonymous with chic and Parisian culture. 

Along our way : 

One of oldest church in Paris, Hemingway‘s favorite restaurant, where Sartre used to live, one of the oldest church in Paris, a chocolate shop which opened more than 250 years ago, a strange art gallery which exhibits only one work of art at a time, the favorite café where Fine art students still use to meet, the café where Sartre and Beauvoir used to philosophize and write , you’ll taste among the best macarons in the city of light, and if you choose to, some beautiful cream puffs too from a shop specialized in this pastry. You’ll see (and visit if you’d like to) the studio where Delacroix used to live and paint, the oldest café in Paris, the exact place where the guillotine was first tried, you’ll walk in a charming cobblestone alleyway…etc 

A tour with Ann Jeanne in Paris is also a way to meet a Parisian and to know more about Paris culture and everyday life, and to experience Paris as a true Parisian. And I will answer your questions to help you to get the most of your stay in Paris (tips, informations…)

Half day or whole day private tour to experience Paris and Saint Germain des Prés as a true Parisian contact me

Henri Leroux - Saint Germain des Prés

The oldest café in Paris

felix_nadar_1820-1910_portraits_eugene_delacroix_restored

Eugène Delacroix used to live in Saint Germain des Prés

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13Aug

Jim Morrison

Posted by: afriendinparis Categories: People
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e - Jim-Morrison

Jim Morrison (1965 – 1971), was the legendary lead singer and songwriter of The Doors

Born on December 8, 1943, in Melbourne, Florida. He studied film at UCLA, where he met the members of what would become the Doors. In 1971, Morrison left the Doors to write poetry and moved to Paris where he died.

Jim Morrison’s Paris locations :

Le Bar Alexandre : Jim Morrison used to come to this bar. Bar Alexandre – 53 avenue Georges V 75008 – Metro Georges V (now a Louis Vuitton shop)

Hotel Georges V :The 11th of March 1971, Jim moved into the Georges V where Pamela Courson his « fiancée » were already staying. Georges V hotel : 31 avenue Georges V – Paris 8 – Metro Georges V – www.fourseasons.com

Basilique du Sacré Coeur  (Montmartre) : Jim Morrison liked this place.Sacré Coeur - Paris 18

Sacré Coeur : 35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre 75018 Paris – M : Abbesses

Café de Flore : One of Pamela Courson’s favorite cafés where the couple used to go sometimes. That where the last Jim Morrison interview was made.

Café de Flore  – 172 boulevard Saint Germain – Paris 6 – Métro Saint Germain

Les Deux Magots : Jim Morrison loves the Art Deco style of this café. He used to come here for dinner with the other members of The Doors. After Jim Morrison’s death, The Doors have kept on coming to this place.

Les 2 magotse6f193f1d2080eab7991e080db1dbd68

Les Deux Magots – Paris 6 (St Germain des Prés)

Les Deux Magots – 6 place St Germain des Prés – Paris 6 – Métro St Germain des Prés

L’Hôtel : In May 1971, Pamela and Jim came to spend a few days in this hotel, at the 2d floor. Jim Morrison asked for the same room as the one where Oscar Wilde died. One day, Jim Morrison, drunk, fell from the room on a car parked just below and luckily wasn’t injured. Hôtel des Beaux Arts – 13 rue des Beaux Arts – Paris 6 – Métro Saint Germain des Prés.  http://www.l-hotel.com 

La Palette : One of Jim Morrison’s favorite bar . He liked the old paintings decorating the walls. In this bar used to come Paul Cezanne, Pablo Picasso and Ernest Hemingway as well. This bar is a very nice and quaint place, but often crowded.

La palette

La Palette – Paris 6 (St Germain des Prés)

It is popular for its terrace that overlooks the street Jacques Callot. The restaurant’s façade and the interior of one of its salon are registered as historic monuments. It is traditionally a gathering place for Fine Arts students, gallery owners and artists. Nowadays, it is a place where Harrison Ford or Julia Roberts sometimes come. La Palette – 43 rue de Seine – Paris 6 – http://www.cafelapaletteparis.com/

Quai d’Anjou (on the north bank of the Saint Louis Island) : Jim Morrison likes to walk along the Seine, or rest on the Quai d’Anjou, to watch the boats and the people walking on the Pont Marie. He enjoys visiting the Hôtel de Lauzun, where Charles Beaudelaire, one of his favourite poets, used to come. Currently, this Hôtel, owned by the City, can’t be visited. Hôtel de Lauzun – 17 Quai d’Anjou – Paris 4 – Métro Sully MorlandQuai d'AnjouCapture d’écran 2015-08-11 à 00.30.28

17 rue Beautreillis (flat) : between st Paul street in the Marais and Bastille. Where Jim and Pamela have lived for a while at the 3d floor (French 3d floor – American 4th floor) . It’s where Jim Morrison wrote ‘Observations of America while on trial for Obscenity ». It’s the appartment where Jim Morrison supposedly died in 1971 at the age of 27, according to official reports. It says that he and his girl friend had been going the night before to the movies and returned home. In the middle of the night, Morrison awoke and took a bath, where his girl firend found him dead. The death certificate indicates a heart failure. The building is a Hausmannian-style apartment facade

17 rue Beautreillis

17 rue Beautrellis – Paris 4

Le Beautreillis (restaurant) : a restaurant, nearby their apartment, where Jim used to come to eat with Pamela, his fiancée. Now it’s a restaurant called « Le Dindon en Laisse » – 16 rue Beautreillis – Paris 4 – Métro Sully Morland/Bastille

Vins des Pyrénées : a wine shop, close to where Jim Morrison used to live. He liked particularly white wine Bordeaux. It’s now a restaurant called the same name. Vin des Pyrénées – 25 rue Beautreillis – Paris 4 – Metro Sully Morland/Bastille

Rue saint Antoine : Where Jim Morrison liked to buy food. Rue Saint Antoine – Paris 4 – Metro St Paul/Bastille

Place des Vosges : One of Jim’s favorite places in Paris. It’s close to his flat, right in the center of the city. He comes there to write poetry, to rest on a bank. That’s where he wrote « Wilderness » and « La nuit Americaine ». Place des Vosges – 14 place des Vosges – Paris 4 – Chemin Vert

Place des Vosges

Place des Vosges – Paris 4

Père Lachaise cimetery (south-east of Paris – Where Jim Morrison’s grave is located).  Jim Morrison spent half a day on Père Lachaise, less than a week before he died and saw the graves of Oscar Wolde, Edith Piaf, Balzac and Chopin. He was with a friend and told him that he would like to be buried in this cemetery. His funeral took place on the July the 7th 1971. The funeral was disgraceful : About 10 persons only where there. 10 minutes long. No priest was present, no prayer was said. No speech. Just a few final words by Agnès Varda. Everybody left in a hurry and never returned.  A white statue has been put not before 1981, stolen in 1988.

Two cameras (video) now, are constantly watching the grave 24 hours a day. Jim Morrison’s grave is one of the top tourist destination : the 4th most visited Paris location (after the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and Beaubourg Center)

Père Lachaise
cimetery – Rue du Repos – 75020 Paris – Metro: Philippe Auguste (better than Metro Père Lachaise) – Opened Monday-Friday form 7.30am – 6pm, on Saturdays : 8.30 – 6pm Sunday : 9am – 6 pm

x - Plan Père Lachaise - Capture d’écran 2015-08-10 à 23.39.22

 

My advice : 

  • Follow Pierre Bayle street up right next to Le Celtic bar. It leads to the walls of Père Lachaise. You turn left into Rue du Repos until you see a smal gate on your right. You get into the cemetery ghrough this gate and follow the way on your right.
  • Ji’m’s grave is in the 6th division, second line.
  • A lot of visitors, guided tours, tourists. So for a quiet time, you should be there very early.Jim Morrison quote Capture d’écran 2015-08-11 à 00.00.22

 

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