Square Nadar

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Д. А.

Level 10 Local Expert

There are two green, quiet spots near the Sacre Coeur. One is Nadar Square almost in front of the basilica, the other is Marcel Blestein-Blanchet Square exactly behind the basilica.   In the case of Nadar Square, you don't even have to go inside to take advantage of its benefits. It's easy to find the square: turn your back to the facade of the basilica and walk to the right. 1) Wallace's drinking fountain - even if it is not in the square itself, but it is better to navigate by it. The fountain is located exactly behind the statue of Chevalier de la Barre: do not be lazy, take water with you: while you wander through the hilly Montmartre, you will want to drink more than once or twice. 2) Actually, the Chevalier de la Barre, the monument inside the square, looks like D'Artagnan at the time of his appearance in Paris, but in fact he is a very young guy with a very tragic fate. In general, it is necessary to tell about him separately. The very fact that the last person executed on charges of blasphemy stands right next to the church says a lot about Paris (the first monument to de la Barre actually stood right next to the basilica). 3) This park is an official "dog playground", where locals walk their dogs of all sizes and breeds. And to watch the dogs playing and running around - anti-stress and separate visual therapy after the fuss near the Sacre Coeur. It is better to go inside the park only for the owners, but you can watch the dog games from behind the fence. It's very peaceful and childishly exciting. And it immerses you a little in Parisian authenticity, because dogs are mostly brought here by Parisians. 4) There is a green dovecote in the corner opposite the statue. A dovecote in Paris is rare enough, and it's also not just a dovecote, but a "contraceptive" one, un pigeonnier contraceptif. There are a lot of pigeons in the city, it's noticeable and not very useful. Paris has a policy of controlling pigeons, not exterminating them, and such pigeon houses are a humane alternative to shooting or poisoning. These are bird houses that are intentionally made as ideal nesting sites.: There is proper food, water, and plenty of space. Employees of pigeon coops regularly collect eggs and replace them with dummy ones, which allows them to somehow control the number of pigeons. 5) Behind this park is a very romantic view of the Eiffel Tower (which is not visible from the observation deck near the Sacre Coeur). When there are no leaves on the trees, you will see the tower on the way to the fountain. In summer, go to the fountain and see for yourself. It's especially beautiful at sunset, but I recommend that you don't wander around Montmartre after dark. --------- The square is named after the "Titian of photography", the French photographer Nadar. He was the first person in the world to take a photo from the air, taking off in a hot air balloon over Paris. He photographed many celebrities, drew cartoons, and was the first to use artificial light for photography. And in general, he was a very extravagant dreamer of his time. He had a separate romance with aeronautics: he even designed for himself a balloon with a basket the size of a two-story house, where there was everything necessary for life, including a kitchen. And he went up with his wife to fly on this hulk until they were swept away towards Germany, where the device crashed. In short, Munchausen is from photography: he would have appreciated such a quiet and picturesque place above the whole of Paris. I don't know what it's like in the square for the locals (for sure, there are rats and dogs barking all over the neighborhood). As a tourist destination, it seems to be an ordinary square, if you don't know all its stories and possibilities.

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Square Nadar

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