No, it's not a manhole entrance (it's much smaller, about 4.7 inches - 12 cm), but just a metal piece embedded into the sidewalk of Paris that I found somewhere near the Boulevard Saint Germain... I looked up on the Web and found something very interesting. It turns out that there are 135 of these "medallions" throughout Paris and that they were installed by Dutch artist Jan Dibbets in 1994 in honor of François Arago, a French scientist who "discovered" the Paris Meridian. Quite logically all these medallions are installed along a line that represents this Meridian. I had never heard of this...
You learn something new every day! I guess this is our "new thing" today, Eric. I have never heard of it either. Very cool! And I love the shine and color of the medallion compared to the surrounding pavement. Nice shot.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting... I am starting to pack for my trip to Paris and Amsterdam. Can't wait!!! Sure beats Brisbane hands down.
ReplyDeleteCool!
ReplyDeleteAt one time I thought this was the "Rose Line" referred to in "The DaVinci Code". I love this meridian (psst, Eric, spellcheck) and the medallions. I also love Point Zero in front of Notre Dame.
ReplyDeleteThere is one in the Louvre!
ReplyDeleteInteresting! I saw one last year but never knew what it was. Will keep my eye out for them from now on - excellent Paris trivial.
ReplyDeleteWren, there are several in the Louvre, I believe.
ReplyDeletePretty interesting.
ReplyDeleteI love how noticing a small thing like that can teach you something big!
ReplyDeleteAhh, sweet memories!
ReplyDeleteI did walk this 'route'.
Well actualy, 1 and a half times.
In Holland someone wrote a book about it, with all the info on where to find all the plaques (is that the right word?) and great info about the surroundings.
If you are interested you can read about it here:
http://nikitadebeau.blogspot.com/2011/06/arago.html
There is a great book (in Dutch) wich describes history and places of the Paris Meridian:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bol.com/nl/p/nederlandse-boeken/de-meridiaan-van-parijs/1001004001839545/index.html
Your post led me on quite a Web hop, Eric, all the way to some castle down in southern France??? Much fiction .... but next time I'm in Paris, I'll know the facts about this little golden disc in the ground. Merci!
ReplyDeleteintresting Eric.. I blogged recently about the Stoplpersteine .. memoriestones for jeweish people who sufferd alot in germany ..
ReplyDeleteWow -- who knew? Will definitely be on the lookout for these next time I'm there.
ReplyDeleteHi Eric, I actually checked out some of the Arago medallions when I was in Paris because of Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code.
ReplyDeleteHello Eric,
ReplyDeleteThere is a very nice travelguide of an old French reporter for the dutch tv-news and later anchormen Philippe Freriks about this meridian. I walked the line three years ago from south to nord... Its a wonderful travel!
Hello Eric,
ReplyDeleteThere is a very nice travelguide of an old French reporter for the dutch tv-news and later anchormen Philippe Freriks about this meridian. I walked the line three years ago from south to nord... Its a wonderful travel!