patrimoine - samedi

The palais de l'elysée is the French equivalent of the U.S. White House.
Since 1873 it has been the official residence of the President of France.
But, unlike the U.S. White House, which is open to public tour year-round, the palais de l'elysée is open only one weekend per year, during "les journées du patrimoine", or patriotism days, usually mid-September. Check out http://www.journeesdupatrimoine.culture.fr/ for the latest schedule.

For lovers of gothic cathedrals, Cathédrale Saint-Denis is a must. This saint's sculpture can be found on almost every gothic cathedral (he's the one holding his own head). According to legend, in A.D. 262, Saint Denis was accused by the Catholic church and sentenced to death. First, it was death by burning at the stake, but the fire wouldn't touch him. Then, it was death by lions, but the lions wouldn't eat him. Finally, they decided to behead him. The beheading happened in Paris, on Montmartre hill. Legend says Saint Denis picked up his own head and walked with it 6,000 paces to the North before falling down. The place where he fell is where the church of Saint-Denis was built, his tomb became a shrine there. Clovis, King of the Franks was buried there in 511 A.D. Afterward, cathédrale Saint-Denis became the mausoleum for French monarchy with commissions to the best-known sculptors of the day. Especially impressive are Catherine de Médici's grave and Henri III's.

Loire & Dordogne, May 2004 w/parents