Les journées européenes du Patrimoine

Or in English: European Cultural Heritage Days. These took place last weekend and I have no idea whether there were any celebrations or special events in Germany - here in France, however, it was a big deal, with the free Metro newspaper dedicating several pages on what to do all over the country. I stayed in Paris, but still used the opportunity to see some places I wouldn't have otherwise.

So on Saturday, I went for a free tour of the Hôtel de Ville, the mairie of Paris. Its interior design is very impressive and really not that far from Versailles - I doubt that the mairie of Munich has anything nearly as extravagant as this. In order to show citizens how their hard earned taxes are spent, there were several halls in which different groups of craftsmen working within the mairie explained their daily routines and showed some of their tools. I especially enjoyed the stand of the cleaning ladies which featured several brooms and toilet paper ;-).
The actual office of the mayor, although huge, was pretty modern and not nearly as pretty as the assembly hall.

You might argue that I've had my fair share of churches and cathedrals during the last month, but I still maintained my average of one church/week and visited the basilica of St Denis on Sunday. As St Denis is outside of zone 2 (which is what is covered by a normal Pass Navigo), I advise you to get off at Basilique St Denis (they don't check your ticket when you leave the metro), visit the church, then head south for a quick photo of the Stade de France and go back downtown from St Denis Porte de Paris, which is the last station within zone 2 on metro No. 13.
The basilique is well worth the trip (I especially enjoyed the colourful glass windows) and it's of course the burial place of most of France's kings and emperors. This, for example, is the tomb of Louis XVI. and Marie Antoinette:


More photos!