Arrondissement N2

Place de la Bourse



Historically, stock trading activities have been located in several spots of the Parisian geography, including the rue Quincampoix, the rue Vivienne (near the Palais Royal), or the back of the Opera Garnier (the Paris opera house). In the early nineteenth century, the Paris Bourse's activities found a stable location at the Palais Brongniart, or Palais de la Bourse (the building is due to architect Alexandre-Theodore Brongniart).

French word “bourse” (wallet or stock exchange) comes from Flemish reach man Van der Bourse, who has decorated the front of his house with the sculpture of three wallets.

Source: Wikipedia


Madeleine



Started in 1764 during the reign of Louis XV, and designed by Constant d'Ivry using plans based on the St-Louis-des-Invalide Church, it was razed by a second architect to who favored a design modeled after the Panthéon. However this second design was not well accepted either, and all work ceased between 1790 and 1806.

Napoléon then decided that a Temple of Glory to his Grande Armee should be built, and Pierre-Alexandre Vignon was commissioned to draw up the plans. After razing the remaining efforts from 1790, building started on what was to be a Greek temple. The commemorative role of the edifice was lost when the Arc de Triomphe was completed in 1808, and again the focus of the structure became ambiguous.

The Madeleine is built in the Neo-Classical style. Inside, the church has a single nave with three domes over wide arched bays, lavishly gilded in a decor inspired as much by Roman baths as by Renaissance artists.

Today the Madeleine is affiliated with a Benedictine abbey, and masses and the most fashionable weddings in Paris are still celebrated here.

Metro: Madeleine

Source: Wikipedia, http://www.paris.org