Are you ready for a little French history?! Well, you probably know Napoleon, a French politician who got into power in 1799 and became emperor in 1804, until his fall in 1815. You may not know his nephew Louis Napoleon Bonaparte who also led France a few years later, under the name of Napoleon the 3rd. He had a wife, Eugénie and a son, whose name was Eugène Napoleon. Eugénie, created a foundation in the name of her son in 1858, a few years after he was born. This foundation is located in the 12th arrondissement, and I discovered it only today, by pure coincidence ! It's a beautiful building.
I am ready Prof. for French History class. :-) It is sad that Napoléon Eugène died at 23 y/o at the hands of the Zulus in Africa.
ReplyDeleteI think this is kinda of cool though -- the asteroid moon "Petit-Prince" was named after the Prince Imperial in 1998, because it orbits an asteroid named after his mother "45 Eugenia". If she were alive today, I'm betting that she would like that.
I always learn new and interesting things at PDP.
This is really interesting architecture. All the windows appear to have crosses in them, making it look like a convent. Also, this looks like it is in the countryside, not in a big city. Eric, little by little, Paris is giving up her secrets to you, and to us lucky pdp'rs. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteLove the little French history and love the building in the middle of the city.
ReplyDeleteFoundation of what? Pardon my ignorance.
Amazing how Paris has space for such wide buildings. Love it.
I believe the Prince Imperial's death in South Africa was a major tragic-celebrity-news story of the time -- a little as if the present Prince of Wales had met a similar fate (God forbid). Details about the asteroid were new to me.
ReplyDeleteI spent a day in the 12th in December and totally missed this beautiful piece of architecture... I agree that it looks like it is sitting in the countryside... not the city.
ReplyDeleteBises,
G
A lovely building! I'm curious, Eric, and I couldn't find it on the website: the Foundation was created in 1858 but this building looks older. Do you know if the building was there before the foundation?
ReplyDeleteso interesting and a beautiful structure.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what the inside looks like?
@Petrea. No, not really. I could dfind very little information about this foundation, its history, etc. Wonder why?
ReplyDeleteThe plaque looks like it says Maison Fondee en 1856....so the building should be contemporary to the foundation. I am going to investigate it further! Thanks for another tidbit of treasure that strikes our fancy, Eric! 8^)
ReplyDeleteThe symmetry of this is remarkable. Possibly designed by one very uptight architect. I like symmetry - so it says a lot about me!! The 12th you say. Too many arrondisementes - too few days! But here again in September so will take them one departement at a time.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing another lovely picture and the history behind it, Eric!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy,
Christine Hueber
Très interesting, thanks for that Eric - wasn't aware of this building or its history. Will look into it given the opportunity; first task - find out where it is exactly - another Paris secret to discover..! :-S
ReplyDeletec'est vraiment intéressant, je ne savais pas de cette fondation :) merci pour cette petite leçon :) et le bâtiment est simplement magnifique!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting find, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWhile I love Paris, I do not speak French. After looking at the Foundation's site, I couldn't tell for certain what its purpose is. Help?
ReplyDeleteAh, here we go. I was wondering why there is a cross up on the roof.
ReplyDeletehttp://goo.gl/1OfO7
^ this shows the inside, as well.
This is quite fascinating.
ReplyDeleteThe building is much larger than would appear from your photo.
Behind the facade is a large courtyard garden containing a Chapel and behind that is another large garden, all enclosed by buildings which form a hexagonal shape in plan. When seen from above it reminded me of a sarcophagus.
The only problem with that idea is that the 'head' end, which we see in the photo, is a concave curve.
It transpires that the Architect , Hittorff, designed the plan of the building to resemble a necklace, the curved side being where the necklace went round the neck.
Why a necklace?
This goes back to the initial funding for the building. In 1853, the Municipal Board of Paris allocated 600,000 gold francs to purchase a necklace of diamonds for the Empress Eugenie, but the Empress refused the gift so that the money could be used instead to create "an establishment of free education for poor girls"
In addition, there is a fresco in the chapel choir which shows the Empress symbolically offering the necklace to the Virgin Mary.
Eric, you've unearthed another little secret treasure!
Thanks for the link with the info, Tomate. Good on Eugenie for giving up a trinket to better the lives of many. Its also cool that Paris still offers her best promoter, Eric, her hidden gems! Thanks for sharing this with us.
ReplyDelete@Lois "I always learn new and interesting things at PDP". I do too ;-))
ReplyDelete@Nancy "I believe the Prince Imperial's death in South Africa was a major tragic-celebrity-news story of the time". Yes it seems so, but to be honest, before yesterday I had never heard of him...
@Anonymous "After looking at the Foundation's site, I couldn't tell for certain what its purpose is. Help? Well apparently they help needy pupils and students (a 1000 every year they say). But I think they need a little marketing...
@Drummond "Eric, you've unearthed another little secret treasure!" Really by pure chance.
Thanks, Eric (and Lois, and Drummond too) for the excellent lesson in French history. And good for Eugénie for passing on the bling.
ReplyDeleteDear Eric,
ReplyDeleteI know it's just the nostalgie talking, but I was moved to go through my usual PDP dose, and to find this catholic elementary school, that was in two minutes from our apartment.
Hey Kinneret! That means you're no longer in Paris?!
ReplyDeleteNo, we're not in Paris any more. Tel Aviv is very different, but I guess it's the place I call home. But we'll be back for the summer, to tourist up the city and accumulate some more memories to hang on to.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, beautiful, building!
ReplyDeleteMaybe the foundation is not 'active' anymore... I could willingly go and take care of it! :D :D :D
Beautiful! I would love walking by this every day. It is a gorgeous building, and I love that the empress was so kind and thought of others instead of herself in the necklace idea. Beautiful thought.
ReplyDeleteNice old house,it looks like an old fort which can be used in wars
ReplyDelete