La Samaritaine: work in progress

You may know of La Samaritaine, the large department store founded in 1869 by Ernest Cognacq and Marie-Louise Jaÿ located near the Pont Neuf... (I already posted twice about it). It's currently closed while it is being turned into a hotel, offices, stores, etc. Before it's done (2013), they installed a huge painted wall around it. On this wall you can read about the history of the store and see a few photos and ads from when La Samaritaine was the place to shop at. If you're not currently in Paris and have no way of learning about this Paris monument, well, you can always check Wikipedia!

Babies at La Samaritaine

La Samaritaine - a former Paris department store - is the site of an unusual exhibit of photographs by Thierry Bouët: Newborns. This is a photo of one of the 50 on display - a baby boy just 55 minutes old. Why? Well, as Christmas is coming, it's the way LVMH (the owner of La Samaritaine) and the Paris 1st Town Hall have found to celebrate the nativity. The exhibit will run until January 20, 2009 (see a wider angle here).
Don't forget if you are in town: a little PDP gathering will take place tonight (Tuesday 25) at General Lafayette (a restaurant located 52 rue Lafayette). If you want to joint just email me (eric at parisdailyphoto.com) so that I know approximately how many people will show up. Thank you.

Samaritaine won't reopen before a long time...

If you came to Paris, you probably know about La Samaritaine, and old department store located at Pont Neuf and named after an old water pump that was near the bridge. Well, this Paris Landmark was closed in 2005 and was suppose to reopen in 2013, after a large renovation. But two associations (L'association Société pour la progtection des paysages et de l'esthétique de la France (SPPEF) and SOS Paris) pressed charges, claiming that the project does not respect the aesthetic rules of Paris. I don't know how it's going to end, because the Paris town hall and the developer appealed of course, but one thing is sure, it won't reopen before 2017 at the earliest... In the meantime, it can still be photographed!

On high horses...

If you visited Paris, here is a scene that will probably remind you of something. It shows La Samaritaine in the background - a department store that was named after a water pump located right by the Pont Neuf - and the statue of King Henri the IVth (of France, not Henry the IVth of England), a king that all French pupils remember for he is said to have made sure that all French households would eat at least a chicken a week (there was no KFC at that time LOL). The Samaritaine is currently closed and is being turned into a hotel and shops, which is a shame because from the rooftop you could enjoy one of the most beautiful views in Paris.

Remains of the past

Did I take this photo in the 30's? No I was not born, thank you very much... I took it right before my departure. But it does look like it's from the old Paris times doesn't it? Well it's what's left of La Samaritaine (the back of it), probably a delivery zone or something and they haven't touched it yet (the Samaritaine is currently being turned into a hotel and a few other things and should reopen in 2015).  

Drinks at Kong

If you happen to be in Paris and look for a cool place (with a view) to have a drink, I suggest you pay a visit to Le Kong, a restaurant located on top of the Samaritaine (well, one of the old Samaritaine stores). Of course it's a little "trendy" (meaning expensive!), but the view is really worth it and you don't have to have dinner there, you can simply have drinks until 6 pm. And the good thing is that it's really not too crowded (meaning, you can take the table at the very end of the top room which offers the best view;-) FYI: The decor - which includes these big heads on the plastic chairs - is by Starck, bien sûr...).

La Samaritaine department store

Located on the right bank end of Le Pont Neuf, La Samaritaine used to be a famous department store in Paris. It was created in 1869 by Ernest Cognacq and his wife, Marie-Louise Jay and was only, at that time, "a little shop around the corner". It owes its name to a hydraulic pump installed near the Pont Neuf, which operated from 1609 to 1813. Last June (2005) it was shut because of serious securitysafety problems and it will not reopen before... 2011. In the meantime, you can still have dinner at the Kong, located on the last floor of the building- in a safe environment! Very trendy and very good.

The Samaritaine is a famous department store in Paris (near the Pont Neuf) originally created at the very begining of the 20th century by Ernest Cognacq and his wife Louise Jay (their name is still famous in Paris for everybody knows the Rue Cognacq-Jay where the first television studios were installed). As you can see from this 3D picture that can still be seen on the top floor of the store, it all started with a small shop arround the corner...

The name "La Samaritaine" comes from the name of a waterpump that was located by the bridge and were Parisians used to get water from until 1813.


On the top floor, you can have a drink on a very nice Terrace - a bit touristy, of course... - where you can see the typical roofs of Paris and a magnificent view on the river Seine. I went there last week-end for the first time in my life!! - I probably would have never gone there if it weren't for this blog!

Steack tartare

Like in a lot of countries the non meat movement is progressing in France too, but there is still a loooong way to go, as meat is part of most of the French's diet. And meat can make cool photos too ;-) Here is one of a steak tartare from le Kong, a trendy restaurant located on the top of the former Samaritaine (which is still closed by the way...)

Sun in the night

It's been a while since there has been a neon sign on top of the Samaritaine. Today, on my way back from Ile Saint Louis, I noticed there was something new up there and I could not help but taking a photo of course. Now... what does it say? "Sun in the night" ! What does it mean? Well it's not very important (although there is an actual meaning, click here to see it - in French only). The main thing to know is that it's actually a modern art piece, made by French artist Laurent Grasso which will last until October 21st, 2012.