Gargouille on Saint Eustache
Wednesday, October 25, 2006 Posted by Eric
Saint Eustache, located les Halles (the "belly of Paris" as French writer Emile Zola once called this location) is one of the most beautiful churches in Paris, in my opinion (I'll show you more about it some day). A couple of days ago I went there at night and managed to take a photo of one of these Gargouilles (don't know what they're called in English), those little sculptures that stick out from the roof to drain the water from the rain. (PS: sorry to be late in posting but my connection went down last night).
October 25, 2006 9:45:00 AM GMT+02:00
Preum's !!!
I still have nothing special to say to today's post but I couldn't resist being the first comment of the day for the first time in my PDP-blogger's life !!
Welcome to you all !!!
October 25, 2006 9:55:00 AM GMT+02:00
The English word is Gargoyle.
Very beautiful indeed. I love St Eustache.
Have a good day in Paris, here in Sydney I am witnessing a beautiful sunset. Cheers!
October 25, 2006 9:59:00 AM GMT+02:00
St Eustache... Wonderful architecture indeed! It suddenly remembers me of Jean Guillou, this famous organ player who used to play there, with his so particular, contemporary and unusual style? A good memory. We where very fond of him by this time... Saint-Eustache seems to be associated for me to these sounds from another world!
October 25, 2006 10:08:00 AM GMT+02:00
Hi Eric,
This is a little extra information for you and your readers on gargoyles (from Northstar Gallery).
"The word "Gargoyle" shares a common root with the word "gargle"; which comes from "gargouille", a French word for "throat". A true gargoyle is a waterspout. The word “gargoyle” is also a derivative from the Latin word, “gurgulio”, which had a double meaning, “throat”, and the “gurgling” sound water makes as it passes through a gargoyle. A carved creature that does not serve the purpose of a drain pipe is frequently referred to as a "Grotesque". Legend has it that a fierce dragon named La Gargouille described as having a long, reptilian neck, a slender snout and membranous wings lived in a cave near the river Seine. The dragon caused much fear and destruction with its fiery breath, spouting water and the devouring of ships and men. Each year, the residents of Rouen would placate Gargouille with an offering of a victim, usually a criminal, though it was said the dragon preferred maidens. Around 600, the village was saved by St. Romanis, who promised to deal with the dragon if the townspeople agreed to be baptized and to build a church. Romanus subdued the dragon by making the sign of the cross and then led the now docile beast back to town on a leash made from his priest's robe. La Gargouille was then burned at the stake. It is said that his head and neck were so well tempered by the heat of his fiery breath, that they would not burn. These remnants were then mounted on the town wall and became the model for gargoyles for centuries to come."
More text and images can be found at:
http://northstargallery.com/
gargoyles/aboutgargoyles.htm
A very dramatic photo, which reminds me of my frantic attempt to take photos of the gargoyles at the top of Notre Dame before the next batch of tourists were herded through to take our place.
October 25, 2006 10:15:00 AM GMT+02:00
Jean Guillou… Oh yes. Never had the opportunity to listen to him "life", just through my family's "33 tours". Never had the opportunity neither to attend a concert in St Eustache, which this church is famous for.
I always find this church very interesting, at the crossroad of a gothical plan and typical French Renaissance decoration (of which your gargoyle is a very good example). It's really time to discover this church's wonderful details, just being cleaned, before it goes dirty again.
October 25, 2006 10:48:00 AM GMT+02:00
u got the details pretty nicely in this photo...and here's wiki page on gargoyle
October 25, 2006 11:07:00 AM GMT+02:00
Well, Gargouilles is a nice word, I mean the sound. Standing right under it to shoot has been the perfect choice. I like this night shot. As to blogger, you are right, it is down and there's nothing we can do.
October 25, 2006 11:43:00 AM GMT+02:00
L'eglise saint eustache, une des plus belles des eglises parisiennes (enfin quand les travaux seront finis ;o) )
Superbe ta photo de la gargouille, la lumiere est extra
October 25, 2006 11:59:00 AM GMT+02:00
This photo is great! I love the gold tone thus imparted to the sculpture. I can't wait to see the church now that it has been restored. Louis has done his homework and I am fascinated by the wealth of information. Eric, check out "Johnnysarc" today. You might enjoy my "temple" photo.
October 25, 2006 12:05:00 PM GMT+02:00
Try Lisa's wiki page link. It features the classic Michael Reeve's photo of a gargoyle overlooking Paris. I've seen this photo many times in many places.
October 25, 2006 12:07:00 PM GMT+02:00
Very lovely capture! Eric, do you use a tripod on your night shots?
-Kim
October 25, 2006 12:56:00 PM GMT+02:00
Thanks for the warmth in this photo, which I needed today here in cold Michigan. Last time I saw St Eustache was before restoration; I can't believe how clean it looks! Thanks also to Louis for the lesson on gargoyles and grotesques!
October 25, 2006 3:44:00 PM GMT+02:00
Louis la Vache has more on Saint-Eustache ici:
http://louislavache.blogspot.com/2006/06/lglise-de-saint-eustache.html
October 25, 2006 4:41:00 PM GMT+02:00
Saint Eustache is also one of my favorites, plus there is the bonus of Stohrer's etc. around the corner! Great photo. I don't respond often to your photos, but your site is one of my first checks every morning when I get to the office. Thank you!
October 25, 2006 5:12:00 PM GMT+02:00
It might astound you to realise that I'm old enough to have known Les Halles when it was a functioning wholesale market. In fact, I worked there as a porter for a short while before I was unmasked as an illegal foreign worker and sent packing. It really was a wonder, and the famous all-night restaurants were fantastic as well. I particularly remember "Le Clef de Sol" where the chef taught me the secret of great moules marinieres (a dash of sea water). I must admit, though, the traffic congestion was also fantastic. Like Covent Garden in London, Les Halles had to move. What it has become doesn't please me particularly -- Covent Garden has done a better transformation, I think, but then it always did have famous theatres as well as wonderful fruit & vegetables.
October 25, 2006 5:18:00 PM GMT+02:00
Thank you for the golden picture, Eric!
They are doing cleaning and restoraton on our city hall. Can't waitito take pictures of the newly-cleaned gargoyles!
(thru Jan, 28 Americans in Paris 1860-1900
metmuseum.org)
October 25, 2006 5:57:00 PM GMT+02:00
wow! Golden, really i saw a golden photo on your PDP;)
This is very very beautiful, Thanks...let me know also did u use a tripod? *curious*
zannnie
(singapourdailyphoto)
October 25, 2006 6:12:00 PM GMT+02:00
I spent a lot of time in April looking at Saint Eustache (it is directly across from where a certain Scottish friend of mine lives.) It was undergoing a renovation at the time. Has that been completed?
October 25, 2006 9:37:00 PM GMT+02:00
St. Eustache certainly is a lovely church. I'd not seen it prior to this year's visit, and it was a nice surprise for me. (Most of the churches in Paris are!) I took some fun photos of the huge pipe organ that turned out well. I agree with "El Ingles" that Les Halles is not the most inviting area now, though I did not see it in its previous life.
October 25, 2006 9:38:00 PM GMT+02:00
Great shot!
How did you manage the light?
It could have been a quiz: i didn't notice it was a Gargoyle...
I am totally incapable to tell which church i prefer in Paris.
October 25, 2006 10:23:00 PM GMT+02:00
Once FritzMunchner, who manages the blog GARGOYLES OF THE WORLD, left me a message. I think his blog is so original that it deserves a visit.
October 26, 2006 12:28:00 AM GMT+02:00
Eric: I wouldn't worry about the late posting... some of us are still not able to load your blog, ahem, ahem!! (it took 9 hours today - no, I didn't click for 9 hours continously, in case you were wondering)...
I have a friend who adores gargoyles. I used to bring one back every time I went to Paris but after a while, her living room started to look really weird (a lot of gargoyles of different sizes) so we agreed that I should stop bringing them back. A good thing, too, because they're heavy!!!
But this year, (funny how that works), somebody nice presented me with a beautiful picture of a gargoyle overlooking Paris... so I guess, I ended up bringing another gargoyle back after all. This one now overlooks my cubicle ... poor thing must be bored stiff.
October 26, 2006 12:28:00 AM GMT+02:00
Louis La Vache: I didn't know you were still blogging! Good to see you're still alive and well. :)
October 26, 2006 9:39:00 AM GMT+02:00
Hello Buzzgirl : external renovation is still going on but is far from being completed. Next Spring ?
November 12, 2006 10:12:00 AM GMT+01:00
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March 7, 2007 10:28:00 AM GMT+01:00
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October 13, 2009 11:54:00 AM GMT+02:00
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