The city of Paris played host to two World's Fairs during this time. The first exposition in 1889 saw construction of the iconic Eiffel Tower.
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| Eiffel Tower, Paris |
The 1900 exposition gave us the Petit Palais and Grand Palais exhibition halls and the Gare d'Orsay railway station. The architectural style of the day was Beaux-Arts, characterized by formal design and elaborate ornamentation on a grand scale. The train station has since been converted into a museum, the Musée d'Orsay, housing the works of Van Gogh, Renoir and other great artists of the 19th century. Visitors to the museum can also enjoy a meal in the elaborate dining room with its trompe l'oeil ceiling and crystal chandeliers.
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| Musée d'Orsay on the Banks of the River Seine, Paris |
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| Musée d'Orsay Dining Room |
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| Dining Room Trompe l'Oeil Ceiling |
Charles Garnier is one of the architects associated with the belle époque period. He designed the sumptuous Paris opera house, the Palais Garnier, and also worked on the Monte Carlo Casino and Opera House.
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| The Palais Garnier, Paris Opera House |
The flagship store of French department store chain Galeries Lafayette first opened on Boulevard Haussmann in 1895. The building's Art Nouveau glass and steel dome is worth a peek even if you're not in the market for French designer goods.
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| Galeries Lafayette, Paris |
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| Art Nouveau Dome of Galeries Lafayette |
Pont Alexandre III, named for the Russian tsar, spans the Seine River with fanciful creatures such as cherubs, nymphs and winged horses. It's my favourite bridge in Paris.
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| Pont Alexandre III, Paris |
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| Nymphs on Pont Alexandre III |
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| Nymphs on Pont Alexandre III |
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| View of the Eiffel Tower from Pont Alexandre III |
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| View of the Grand Palais from Pont Alexandre III |
Many artists of the time frequented the bohemian neighbourhood of Montmartre (think Moulin Rouge, can-can girls and absinthe – the Green Fairy – a potent green liquor). Erik Satie composed the beautiful Gymnopédies and Pierre-Auguste Renoir painted Bal du Moulin de la Galette capturing an afternoon of drinking and dancing at a local restaurant.
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| Art Posters in Montmartre |
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| Le Moulin de la Galette, Montmartre |
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| Absinthe, the Artist's Muse |
Auguste Rodin was the great sculptor of the time and he's best known for The Thinker. His work is on display in the mansion and rose garden of the Musée Rodin.
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| The Thinker, Auguste Rodin |
Art Nouveau was all the rage with its fluid whiplash lines and curlicues. The style was incorporated into the ironwork of Metro station entrances by architect Hector Guimard.
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| Art Nouveau at Cité Metro Station Entrance |
The term "ritzy' was coined at the time for the lavish Ritz Hotel on Place Vendome.
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| Place Vendome and the Ritz Hotel |
The belle époque spirit was not contained to the French capital. It followed pleasure seekers to the French Riviera in the form of casinos and luxury hotels such as the Hotel Negresco in Nice and the Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo.
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| Hotel Negresco, Nice |
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| Hotel Negresco Entrance |
Along with the Hotel de Paris, the famous Place du Casino is home to two more icons of the age: the Monte Carlo Casino and the Café de Paris.
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| Monte Carlo Casino, Monaco |
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| Hotel de Paris Monaco |
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| Café de Paris, Monaco |
On nearby Cap Ferrat is the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, a pink mansion built by the Baroness Beatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild, and its nine different theme gardens.
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| Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, Cap Ferrat |
On April 2nd a new exhibit opens at Le Petit Palais called Paris 1900, The City of Entertainment which celebrates all things belle époque: paintings, objets d'arts, costumes, posters, photographs, films, furniture, jewelry and sculptures. The exhibit runs from until August 17th. I wish Paris was on my agenda this summer!
Related Posts:
Gardens of the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
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