WALKING THE CITY
By Contributing Editor Charles Poisay, Architect
PARIS IS A city that is best
discovered on foot, strolling along streets and boulevards, into courtyards and
alleyways, through parks and gardens. There is not ONE but many Parises, each
different, marvelous and astonishing.
Along the North-South meridian line that crosses Paris the artist Jan Dibbets has created a pedestrian trail punctuated by bronze medallions encrusted in the pavement in homage to Arago. Metric, precisely drawn and methodical, this route serves as a guide to the disoriented visitor.
For my part I prefer the small streets, alleyways and meandering lanes which escape from such regularity; shortcuts and sidepaths…
I love to come upon the magnificent tree-lined alleys of the Jardin des Plantes after having wandered around the Alpine track or through the rock garden…
But let us return to Montparnasse, where if we turn along a narrow path in the cemetery, we suddenly discover, entranced, Brancusi’s “The Kiss."
Photos by Charles Poisay.
Charles Poisay lives in Paris where
he has established his architectural practice GaP Studio. He has contributed texts
to several books and a number of international publications.
