Window Wednesday

 

 

From one window to another:

A small café across from a bookshop on a 19th century covered passage.

 

Treeful Tuesday

Spring in bloom in the Latin Quarter.

 

Mirror Monday

 

 

A mirror in a café near the Louvre reflects its royal roots, an ancient palace turned into a museum.

 

***

 

This mirror is a tribute to Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, a.k.a. Molière, the 17th-century French funnyman who had King Louis XIV in stitches at the Palais du Louvre, just a short strut from his troupe’s base at the Comédie-Française. With his razor-sharp wit, Molière’s plays like Tartuffe and The Misanthrope skewered the pompous hypocrites and fawning courtiers buzzing around the Sun King’s court, leaving audiences roaring and, legend has it, the king himself slapping his royal knee. It seems Molière was a master at poking fun without ever turning his quill on Louis. The Comédie-Française was the perfect stage for Molière’s troupe to dazzle audiences, cementing his reputation as the king’s go-to entertainer, a comedic genius who could roast the elite while staying in royal favor.

The theater’s proximity to the Louvre made it easy for Molière to stage private shows at the palace when summoned. Historical records, like those of the court’s Menus Plaisirs (royal entertainment accounts), confirm Molière’s frequent performances at the Louvre’s grand halls or Versailles’ gardens, tailored to Louis’ tastes, while public shows stayed at the Comédie-Française for the broader audience.

Molière’s favor with Louis is well-documented: he was granted a royal pension and protection from critics, suggesting the king relished the playwright’s knack for exposing sycophants without crossing the line. The proximity of the Comédie-Française to the Louvre (still true today) made it a breeze for Molière to pop over and keep the Sun King chuckling, ensuring his troupe thrived under royal patronage. - BPJ

 

 

Sunday brunch

 

A café-restaurant prepares to open as the modern Bastille Opera looks on from behind.

 

Sit-down Saturday

 

Students from nearby Sorbonne University take in some sunshine.

 

Above: Le Panthéon

 

French toast Friday

 

Pain Perdu, the original French Toast, topped with house French vanilla ice cream and caramel-butter sauce, in the Latin Quarter at tea time.

 

TRAM Café and Librairie

47 rue de la Montagne-Ste-Geneviève 75005

 

 

Wedding Wednesday

 At Paris' oldest church bells ring and love is in the air.