The Guillotine was used in several different areas of Paris from the Louvre to Place de la Concorde, Hotel de Ville and also at the Prison de la Grand Roquette. The prison is no longer there but if you pay attention you can still see where the guillotine was installed. When you are standing on the corner of rue de la Roquette and rue de la Croix-Faubin (Metro Voltaire or Philippe-Auguste) very discreetly set into the tarmac are four large flag stones that were the foundations for the Guillotine. The original site was at the Hotel de Ville but in 1832 was moved to this site. This site was 5 kms from the prison. the condemned would be marched from the prison to the guillotine. this site used to be known as the’abbaye de cinq pieres’ as originally there were 5 flagstones set into the ground to bear the weight. A total of 69 people were executed on this spot. When the prison was destroyed in 1900 the guillotine was moved to the ‘Prison de la Santé’ where it was last used on Roger Bontems and Claude Buffet on 28th November 1972.

Google Maps (Click on link)

In Paris you can hail a cab only when the “Taxi” light on top is illuminated. At peak hours it is advised to order a cab by phone (see my link page where you will find the telephone numbers for the big Parisian taxi firms). Meters start at 2-3 euros, a little more if you call in advance. drivers are not required to carry more than three passengersat a time, and you can be charged more for baggage, a fourth passenger or an animal or even for a station pick-up. A receipt (Reçu) is provided on request. Not all taxi companies except credit cards (G7 do except, again see my “links” page). Please remember that personal cheques are not accepted. When you manage to find a taxi always get in before giving the driver your destination, this is because a taxi is obliged to take you anywhere you want but often they lower their window and ask where you are going this gives them time to decide if they want to or not. Once you are in the taxi it is harder to refuse. If you have a problem with a taxi, you will find a number on their rear passenger windows remember the number and go to your nearest police station and file a complaint.

The “One Two Two Club”  rue de Provence 75008 (Metro St Lazare or Havre Caumartin) was one of the most prestigious and popular brothels in Paris. The “One Two Two” pronounced in English,was a a very well known brothel, used by many famous people including Cary Grant and Randolph Churchill, Winston Churchill’s son.

Opened in 1933 by Marcel and Fabienne Jamet (daughter of one of the most powerful Police Inspectors of Paris!). During the Second World War this establishment was the meeting place for the German officers of the famous Wehrmacht and many of the girls working at the club, would help the resistance by giving them precious information that they over heard when the officers were drinking together or taking a shower. The brothel was closed in 1949 just before France changed the law concerning brothels, and in 1950 shut them all.

Some interesting facts

The “One Two Two” used to be open from 1400hrs to 0500hrs. The “One Two Two” only  shut one day a year, Christmas day. The girls had one day off a week, If they were ill without permission, they were fined 200 francs, and on the second time, they would be sacked. There was forty members of staff, from security, to hairdressers, beauty therapists and dry cleaning workers, chefs and bar staff.

In the ”One Two Two” there were 20 bedrooms, 10 living rooms, and 12 shower rooms. There were 60 prostitutes working at any one time, 200 appointments a day up to 300 visitors a day and over 150 bottles of champagne consumed a day.

Below you will see a photo of the famous “One Two Two club” notice the two sets of doors, the double doors was the main entrance and the single door to the left was the discreet exit. There were white wooden shutters on every window that remained closed all day and night.  

Google Map (Please click here)

When you arrive at the Square Lamartine, you will notice a huge limestone block with four copper taps, all you need now is a glass. In the 18th century, the water was renowned for it’s healing qualities due to the water’s high iron content, people came from miles around to drink the precious water.

I took my children there today, we were very surprised by the amount of people filling up their huge plastic containers  first thing on a Sunday morning. But when you think about it, and  compare the price people spend on mineral water over a year, it’s quite an economy!.

Google Maps Link

When you arrive at the building don’t be shy, walk into the hall and keep walking towards the rear of the building until you see the biggest painting ever done by Pablo Picasso. The painting is called “The Fall Of Icarus” and was painted on 40 wooden panels which is now presented on a 10 x 8 meter wall.

The rumour has it that when the painting was almost finished, an over-head passage-way was built right next to his work of art. When Pablo came back from a trip abroad, and wanted to finish his painting he was terribly shocked by the passage-way and refused to finish the painting luckily for  us he did complete the painting (As he had already signed a contract) but refused to sign his work.

Google Map (Please click here)

The smallest street in Paris is called ‘Rue du Chat-qui-Pêche‘ (The Fishing Cat!) which is 29 metres long and 2.50 metres wide. It was opened to the public in 1540 and was originally called ‘Rue des Etuves’ and then shortly after renamed ‘Rue du Renard’. In 1832 it received it’s new name and was shut to the public by two huge cast iron doors that have since been removed.

The road can be found at n°9 quai St Michel 75005 (Metro Saint Michel) and finishes at 12 rue de la Huchette 75005. If you walk from up the road from the quai you will find yourself in a small road (rue de la Huchette) which is full of small Greek restaurants that specialise in kebabs, here you can buy a kebab served with french fries and fresh salad and a soda for € 5.50. If you fancy eating here, firstly walk from one end to the other and check out the one you like best first!. 

Google Map link 

When you are outside the Madeleine on the right hand side corner, you will notice a sign showing public toilets follow the steps down and you will walk in to the most amazing place you have ever seen!. I have worked for the last 12 years, 5 minutes from there, and never even knew that it existed.

Re-decorated at the end of the 20th century by the famous Porcher company, it is beautifully decorated with fantastic period tiles and wooden paneling all the way round with a shoe polishing chair in the middle of the room. Each toilet cubicle has it’s on sink, mirror and a lovely cast-iron clothes hook.  Guide Me In Paris recommends this place as a ‘peeing point of interest!’. Be careful the toilets are open from 09.30 to 11.30 and 12.30 to 18.45.                                                                    

Google Map (Please click on link)

The Paris region (Île-de-France) is France’s foremost centre of economic activity. With €478.7 billion (US$595.3 billion), it produced more than a quarter of the gross domestic product (GDP) of France in 2005. With La Defense, the largest purpose built business district in Europe, it hosts the head offices of almost half of the major French companies, as well as the headquarters of ten of the world’s 100 largest companies.Paris also hosts many international organizations such as UNESCO, the OECD, the ICC, or the informal Paris Club. It is regarded as one of the 4 major global cities.

Paris’ strategic location at a crossroads between land and river trade routes in lands of abundant agriculture had made it one of France’s principal cities by the 10th century, rich with Royal palaces and demurs, wealthy Abbeys and a cathedral; by the 12th century Paris had become one of Europe’s foremost centres of learning and the arts. Today, Paris is an influential centre in politics, fashion, business, arts and science. The city serves as an important hub of intercontinental transportation and is home to some of the most prominent universities, sport events, opera companies and museums, making it an attraction for over 30 million foreign visitors per year. Paris is in my opinion the most beautiful city in the world, this is why ‘Guide me in Paris’ will show you why!.