La Ruche

This beehive decorates a building on the corner Rue Pierre Lescot/Rue Rambuteau. The beehive is a commonly used symbol dating at least to Roman times. In medieval heraldry it was considered a symbol of industry. In modern times, it is used in Freemasonry. In masonic lectures is explained as symbol of industry and co-operation, and as cautioning against intellectual laziness.

Mansart

Francois Mansart (1598-1666) was a French architect, he introduced classicism into the French Baroque architecture. Since the 1620s he was highly recognized for his style and skills as an architect, but he was viewed as a stubborn and difficult perfectionist, tearing down his structures in order to start building them over again. I discovered this statue on the facade of the Louvre.

La Pyramide du Louvre #1

I don´t know how many times I already passed by the Louvre´s glass pyramid, designed by the Chinese American architect I.M. Pei, but I think I will never get tired of this sight.

Haussmannian Building

I love the buildings of the Haussmannian era! This one is located in Rue Saint-André des Arts.