L'ile Saint-Louis

I've always wanted to do a photo shoot of L'ile Saint-Louis. I actually did one with Laura a few years ago but it was autumn and not very good for taking pictures. Wednesday was much better. This is also where my favourite restaurant in Paris is located ... Testavin ... (yet another dinner at Testavin - Linda!!) which is located across from the most famous ice-cream parlour ... actually sorbet or 'Glace' ... in the world which is Berthillon. There are signs for Berthillon glace all over Paris but this is the actual store. A must for every visitor to Paris and certainly all my visitors.

The Île Saint-Louis is one of two natural islands in the Seine river running through Paris (the other natural island is Île de la Cité where Notre Dame is located. There actually is another called the Île aux Cygnes which is up river so nobody visits it but it is artificial). L'ile Saint-Louis island is named after King Louis IX of France ( ie: Saint Louis).

The island is connected to the rest of Paris by bridges to both banks of the river and by the Pont Saint Louis to the Île de la Cité which is the most popular route to the island and given its popularity is also the home of many a busker and beggar. 

If you can believe it, this island in very olden days was used for the grazing of market cattle and stocking wood. It was also one of France's first examples of urban planning being mapped and built from end to end during the 17th-century reigns of Henri IV and Louis XIII. A peaceful oasis of calm in the busy Paris centre, this island has only one narrow one-way street through its centre and another around its outside corridor. It also has no métro station which keeps it a little more sane than most other places in Paris. Although popular it is mostly residential and not appreciated by most tourists. But visit in the morning before it gets overrun with people. And walk around the outside street not just the popular inside street. The perimeter street is alway near empty and to me holds more beauty than the touristy street running through its centre.

I believe L'ile Saint-Louis represents Paris at its best ... colourful food shops and eating places, boutiques with impeccable taste although going down hill every time I visit, four gem-like hotels and one church are all united into this miniature world. The island is perfectly preserved in its 17'th century beauty and puts the rest of Paris to shame with its architectural unity.

The construction on the island was largely undertaken by the most prestigious architect of the day a fellow by the name of Louis Le Vau who wanted a balcony on every building ... did not succeed but came very close as you will see from some of the pictures. Everything was designed to fit the tastes of the prominent members of society who settled there and to this day it is THE spot to live in Paris and the most expensive ... a tiny apartment costs a few million Euros and anything of size starts at about 5 million Euros. There was one listed for 25 million Euros.

This is too long a blog so I'll end it shortly but my favourite spot on the island is the Hotel de Lauzon because it has this fish scale decoration on its water spouts and gilded wrong iron balconies. Lovely ....

Life is good ... enjoy

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