Musee Carnavalet~Fabulous & Free

Today is Saturday September 18th.  Woody is bummed he won't be able to watch Ohio State football.
I haven't mentioned the weather; it's been absolutely beautiful, in the 70's. (We've only had one day of rain.)

Today we are going to the Marais and the Musee Carnavalet~the Paris history museum.  This museum is located in two mansions connected by a long gallery.  One mansion (Hotel Carnavalet) covers the period up to 1789; the other (Hotel le-Peletier) from the Revolution to the present.  In addition to history, the museums give an idea of the architecture, social life and culture of Paris.

On this first floor of the Carnavalet mansion you go through three rooms that are typical of a Renaissance dwelling.

The first 3 rooms had huge fireplaces.

And different designs in the leaded glass windows.

This miniature display is the Ile de la Cite.
  The large church, center left, is Saint Chapelle.

The artwork was most interesting because it showed scenes of Paris at earlier times.
This one was labelled, "The project of the Pont Neuf"

The "green" room  Louis XV.
This was an exquisite room. I particularly liked the color combination
and the beautiful mouldings on the walls.

"Look at the design on this floor", Woody said.

The "blue" room Louis XV.

The opposite side of the "blue" room.  I loved this room too!

"Marble DOES crack." Woody pointed out.

This is the Salon of Philosophers.

Voltaire.

 We then went through the long gallery which connects the one mansion to the other.  It was an Art Gallery.

Painting by Jean Bernaud~Judy had mentioned this artist.
Depicts Paris at the time of the Belle Epoque (late 19th century).

 We are now in the second mansion, Hotel Le Peletier.

The storming of the Bastille July 14, 1789

Dr. Joseph Guillontine

The display case was engraved "souvenirs of the family of King Louis XVI".
  

Replica of the Bastille

The chess set used by Louis XVI while in captivity.

A replica of Marie Antoinette's room. The furnishings

are original, taken from the room where the royal family was kept before being executed.

It included toys and games and really seemed quite comfortable.

  Rather eerie considering the consequences.

Marie Antionette

Napolean

 Painting of the Fountain of the Innocents.

Fountain of the Innocents today.

Such a beautiful desk.  Louis XV I believe.

The first bateaux mouche (sightseeing boat).

A room of merchants signs.

Do you think this is the "exterminator"?

"Le Chat Noir"

The beautiful garden at Musee Carnavalet.

This is one the prettiest gardens we've seen.

This is exactly how I felt after the tour.

The Hotel Soubois, it's actually the National Archives...it's on the "list" for next time.

rue Francois Bourgeois~one of the popular shopping streets in the Marais,

The Square du Temple.  A very large park.

We stopped and ate in a restaurant on the square...a very late lunch.

From here we were very close to our neighborhood...so it was back to rest our weary feet.

For dinner ~we opted for ice cream!