Église Saint-Severin - l'horloge

<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90442945@N06/10651834715/" title="2012 Mar 28 Paris_209DSC_4564 by Genie Paris, on Flickr"><img alt="2012 Mar 28 Paris_209DSC_4564" height="800" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7312/10651834715_cd30fc50fa_c.jpg" width="530" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Église Saint-Severin</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Clock</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Just beneath the pipes of the Jean Ferrand organ (1748) </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">is the church clock which on this day was right on time.  </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In a church that dates back to the 13th century, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I would think that the clock has been updated </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">and reworked many times.  </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Do you think that the inner workings are digital?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">bon dimanche</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Église Saint-Séverin</span></span></i></div><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span></i><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">3, rue des Prêtres Saint-Séverin</span></span></i></div><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span></i><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">75005, Paris</span></span></i></div>

Église Saint-Severin - l'horloge

Église Saint-Severin The Clock Just beneath the pipes of the Jean Ferrand organ (1748)  is the church clock which on this day was right on t...

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Église Saint-Louis en l'Île

<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90442945@N06/9379465633/" title="2012 Mar 31 Paris_286DSC_5522 by Genie Paris, on Flickr"><img alt="2012 Mar 31 Paris_286DSC_5522" height="800" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5343/9379465633_fcb2cc4f5c_c.jpg" width="530" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Église Saint-Louis en l'Île</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Almost hidden in the narrow streets of Île Saint Louis</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">stands the lacy spire of Église Saint-Louis en l'Île, the only church on the island.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It was built from 1652 to 1765 in the Baroque style, </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">designed by architect François Le Vau. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> St-Louis' interior was essentially stripped during the Revolution </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">as were so many French churches, </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">but the odd outdoor iron clock, dating from 1741, survived. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">bon dimanche</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Église Saint-Louis en l'Île</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Rue Saint-Louis en l'Île</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Saint-Louis en l'Île</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>75004, Paris </em></span></div>

Église Saint-Louis en l'Île

Église Saint-Louis en l'Île Almost hidden in the narrow streets of Île Saint Louis stands the lacy spire of Église Saint-Louis en l'...

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Marché d'Aligre - XV

<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90442945@N06/8312352041/" title="Flickr for 2012 1227 by Genie Paris, on Flickr"><img alt="Flickr for 2012 1227" height="470" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8077/8312352041_d42f3454a4_c.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Marché d'Aligre</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The clock tower stands watch over the activities. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I have bought fruit, vegetables, cheese, pastries, old keys, linens, books, sheet music, and watercolors of Paris landmarks... all right here within a two block area.  Even if you do not buy a thing the market scene is a delight to observe.  No matter the weather, the markets are always busy.</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Be sure to stop in one of the cafés for a warm beverage and a pastry.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><br /><i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Marché d'Aligre</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Place d'Aligre</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">75012, Paris</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Métro Ledru Rolin</span></i>

Marché d'Aligre - XV

Marché d'Aligre The clock tower stands watch over the activities.  I have bought fruit, vegetables, cheese, pastries, old keys, linens, ...

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Cathedral of our Lady of Chartres - astrological clock

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWgG42FC_jWJAiXVbQsyYmoCYfVQKCrsTrFbjoXFnisxrPGwj3wghAbDj8f7TZBSzVsLBBruZg2qRo3devaxszPIYGHMBF8wkCbz5YAV3bAntNNibOErK-_CZBNPSc3i0yzrD3uA7ez4/s1600/2011+april+4+DSC_0059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWgG42FC_jWJAiXVbQsyYmoCYfVQKCrsTrFbjoXFnisxrPGwj3wghAbDj8f7TZBSzVsLBBruZg2qRo3devaxszPIYGHMBF8wkCbz5YAV3bAntNNibOErK-_CZBNPSc3i0yzrD3uA7ez4/s640/2011+april+4+DSC_0059.jpg" width="424px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The chancel screen of Chartres Cathedral displays an impressive astrological clock dating from the 16th century. It told not only the time but the day of the week, the month of the year, the time of sunrise and sunset, the phase of the moon and the current sign of the zodiac. Its inner works were partially destroyed in 1793.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With the thousands of stained glass windows one could almost miss this treasure</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">bon dimanche</div>

Cathedral of our Lady of Chartres - astrological clock

The chancel screen of Chartres Cathedral displays an impressive astrological clock dating from the 16th century. It told not only the time b...

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Le Défenseur du Temps -- l'automate

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjeqEAd8Ha5tn2znYmeKfRTSSkCf_MQCdJ4i7PJlmW_cFRaHq8XViR5Gn3jI4S35IO7OQSzKW3L87UYWJvZFtNHQYcIqMkVkRBmANT_ZiFrPhVJbNe6-S9Kz12ix5Tg1NkRMYnvGO1xk/s1600/IMG_0194tweaked.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506927243703964002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjeqEAd8Ha5tn2znYmeKfRTSSkCf_MQCdJ4i7PJlmW_cFRaHq8XViR5Gn3jI4S35IO7OQSzKW3L87UYWJvZFtNHQYcIqMkVkRBmANT_ZiFrPhVJbNe6-S9Kz12ix5Tg1NkRMYnvGO1xk/s640/IMG_0194tweaked.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><div>Okay, this is not exactly a secret place but when I ask people (Parisians and tourists) most have never heard of it. The first time I saw this horloge by <a href="http://www.jacques-monestier.com/"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Jacques Monestier</strong></span></a>, sculpteur d'automates, <a href="http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_D%C3%A9fenseur_du_temps"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Le Défenseur du Temps</strong></span> </a>was fully functional and just amazing.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>You can find the whole story in the <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_D%25C3%25A9fenseur_du_temps&ei=_HFsTMi0HIP68AbU8Y2vCw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=14&ved=0CFkQ7gEwDQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dle%2Bdefenseur%2Bdu%2Btemps%26hl%3Den%26prmd%3Divm"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>imbeded links</strong></span> </a>but here is the Genie Notes version: The clock was commissioned in 1975 and installed in 1979 in le Quartier de l'Horloge, so named for this work. At the striking of each hour the man with his sword and shield fights against a bird, a dragon, or a crab representing heaven, earth and sea. At the special hours of noon, 18h and 22h, the three attack him all together. There are accompanying sounds for the rumbling of earth, the blowing of the wind, and the breaking of waves. It is 4M (13 feet) high and weighs about 1 ton. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The original electronics were upgraded in 1995 but sadly there has been no funding for maintenance and the clock stopped on 1 juillet 2003. To have seen the clock striking an hour was fascinating, but the special hours were beyond description! Quel dommage.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teG9q9AbX_0"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Here</strong></span></a> is a video of 14h as he fights the bird.</div>

Le Défenseur du Temps -- l'automate

Okay, this is not exactly a secret place but when I ask people (Parisians and tourists) most have never heard of it. The first time I saw th...

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