Hotel Daumesnil Vincennes

Vincennes, FR

by dromosapien

"dromosapien"

Chateau de Vincennes
- a fortress that became a palace, later abandoned for Versailles and used as a porcelain factory (1740-56), a prison (closed 1784), a convent and a military compound (1808, established by Napoleon I, 1769-1821).

The Marquis de Sade (Donatien Alphonse François de Sade 1740-1814) was imprisoned 1778-1784 in chateau's Donjon (watch tower) and later in 1917 the Frisian courtesan and spy Mata Hari (Margaretha Geertruida Zelle, 1876-1917) was executed by firing squad in the Chateau de Vincennes .

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Donjon
-watch tower, the largest existing European tower from the Middle Ages.

constructed: 1337-73
height: 50 meters / 164 feet
builder: Charles V (1338-80)

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* Vincennes

population: 46,400

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"Sainte Chapelle"

-holy chapel of the Trinity

constructed: 1379-1552
architects: Raymond du Temple (c. 1360-1405) and Philibert Delorme (1514-70)
builders: Charles V (1338-80) & Charles VI (1380-1422)

"Hotel de Ville"

- city hall

constructed:1887-91
architect: Mathurin Eugene Calinaud (1843-1907)
enlarged: 1931-35
architects: Henri Quarez & Gustave Lapostolle

4 Years living in Paris...not

by dollfaced

"Vincennes vs. Paris"

When people visit me, they think I live in Paris. Actually, I live in a suburb very close to the South East side of Paris, called Vincennes. However, since it takes me less time to get to the centre of Paris than it does some Parisians, so I just tell people I live in Paris, to save confusion.

France is divided into regions, then departments. Vincennes (and Paris) are in Ile de France region, but are in different departments. Vincennes is in Val de Marne. It's such a small geographical difference, but in terms of bureaucracy (and we have a lot of that), there are differences.

But enough of the geography lesson. What makes Vincennes a great place to live in?

"Chateau de Vincennes"

Vincennes has two main claims to fame: the castle and the wood.

The castle was bult in medieval times, around 1300 I believe, and has been added to many times over the years, so that the front looks Medieval and the back like a mini Versailles. There's not a whole lot to see inside, but it's still a pleasure to walk past a pretty castle on your way to the Metro and eat a sandwich on the drawbridge.

Behind the castle is the massive Bois de Vincennes, one of the two major wooded parks outside Paris (the other is the Bois de Boulogne, but we Vincennois don't really care for that one). There are wide grassy fields, football pitches, baseball diamonds, tennis courts and cricket grounds. There are lakes and ponds, ice cream sellers and shady bike paths. It's a wonderful place to stroll or roller skate around. There's also one of France's biggest hippodromes for racing fans.

"Shopping, French style"

Vincennes has a great main street (rue du Midi), with all the food stores people in rainy English towns dream of: great bakers and patisseries, buchers being harangued by housewives over the price of a veal's foot, cheese shops, greengrocers, and the venerable institution that is the traiteur (like a deli, but with home-cooked meals you can take home, much nicer than a ready meal). Also the wine shops, chocolate shops and the most beautiful florists. Everything you need for a romantic picnic in the woods!

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by dromosapien

"dromosapien"

Tour du Bois

- entrance to the south side of the Chateau, facing the large woods or park that Paris absorbed from the town of Vincennes in 1929.

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"Pavillon des Armes"

- house of weapons

constructed: 1815-24
builder: Louis XVIII
current use: military history archive

"Pavillon Du Roi"

- king’s palace, a mirror image of the queen’s palace, which it faces

constructed: 1656-8
architect: Louis Le Vau (1612-1670)
builder: Louis XIV

"Arcade wall"

- the wall separated the royal residences from the rest of castle

constructed: 17th century
architect: Louis Le Vau (1612-1670)

"Tour du Village"

- village tower

The only wall tower of the nine, to maintain its original 40 meter / 131 foot height when the others were reduced to rampart level in 1805-20.
The towers were built to function as gates, defensive towers and residential structures.

constructed: 1373-80

"Tour du Village"

- wall and the dry moat of the north side of the Chateau, facing the town of Vincennes