What secret lies hidden in plain sight on Rue du Cherche-Midi? A rather curious bas-relief above a shop at number 19 holds the key. This isn’t just any street; Rue du Cherche-Midi stretches across the 6th and 15th arrondissements of Paris. It bridges the vibrant energy of Notre-Dame des Champs and the stately elegance of Necker. But back to our secret. The bas-relief, installed in 1874, depicts an astronomer meticulously measuring a sundial. He’s “searching for noon at fourteen o’clock,” a seemingly nonsensical task. This curious image echoes an old Italian proverb, reminding us that seeking the impossible is a fool’s errand. The proverb plays on a quirk of Italian timekeeping where the day started 30 minutes after sunset, making 2 p.m. an impossible time for midday. This playful jab at futility, immortalized in stone, adds a whimsical layer to the historical tapestry of Rue du Cherche-Midi. It serves as a reminder to embrace the unexpected charm hidden in the details as we wander through the heart of Paris.
Église Notre-Dame de l’Air
Beneath what appears to be a simple stone and wood structure lies a history interwoven with faith aviation and community.