Rita Crane Photography: Paris Memories / Quai Des Grands Augustins in winter / La Promenade apres la pluie / La Seine
A powerful rainstorm was just clearing, and a few people were starting to come out to enjoy a walk along the quais. Silt had turned the swift flowing Seine muddy, but the air was fresh and invigorating.
This ancient quay was Paris’ very first. It was built by the Paris merchants on the orders of King Philippe le Bel to prevent continuous flooding that occurred; it was finished in 1389, after the end of King Philippe's reign. He was King of France from 1285 to 1314, and with his nobles, he initiated the transformation of France from a feudal country to a centralized state. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_IV_of_France
Later, the Quai des Grands Augustins was greatly enlarged by Napoleon. It owes its name to the monastery that once stood in this spot since the 14th century. The Augustinians were a medieval order, later reformed by Pope Pius V in the 16th century, their grounds stretched along the Quai to the rue de Nevers, another street that dates back to the 1200’s. The monastery was seized and demolished during the Revolution and today the spot is now occupied by elegant Parisian shops, hotels and apartments.
It is situated between the Pont Saint-Michel and the Pont Neuf.
For those who like history, here is a link in French: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quai_des_Grands-Augustins
Rita Crane Photography: Paris Memories / Quai Des Grands Augustins in winter / La Promenade apres la pluie / La Seine
A powerful rainstorm was just clearing, and a few people were starting to come out to enjoy a walk along the quais. Silt had turned the swift flowing Seine muddy, but the air was fresh and invigorating.
This ancient quay was Paris’ very first. It was built by the Paris merchants on the orders of King Philippe le Bel to prevent continuous flooding that occurred; it was finished in 1389, after the end of King Philippe's reign. He was King of France from 1285 to 1314, and with his nobles, he initiated the transformation of France from a feudal country to a centralized state. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_IV_of_France
Later, the Quai des Grands Augustins was greatly enlarged by Napoleon. It owes its name to the monastery that once stood in this spot since the 14th century. The Augustinians were a medieval order, later reformed by Pope Pius V in the 16th century, their grounds stretched along the Quai to the rue de Nevers, another street that dates back to the 1200’s. The monastery was seized and demolished during the Revolution and today the spot is now occupied by elegant Parisian shops, hotels and apartments.
It is situated between the Pont Saint-Michel and the Pont Neuf.
For those who like history, here is a link in French: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quai_des_Grands-Augustins