The Da Vinci Tour Part 2
May 18th 2006 23:00
Bonjour tout le monde !
(Hello everyone)
Well, today’s post continues on from yesterday, highlighting more of the famous sites around Paris which feature in the Da Vinci Code. I’m sure many people around the world are sick of hearing about the book and the film (which got panned by many critics in Cannes and Australia.)
So, let’s get straight into the facts. There are seven other places in and around Paris which appear in the novel. These places have risen out of obscurity and have become spots for pilgrims and tourists.
Our first stop: the Ritz Hotel in Paris, where Robert Langdon received the infamous phone call, summoning him to the Louvre. The Ritz used to be a personal residence in the 18th century. In 1898, César Ritz opened the hotel which has 133 rooms and 42 luxurious suites. It’s incredibly opulent and extravagant.
After their meeting at the Louvre, Robert and Sophie drive through the Bois de Boulogne. The English translation is Boulogne Woods (Bois means woods, but I think it sounds much better in French). It is a beautiful wood found on the western edge of Paris. This park dates back to the 19th century and is still a great place to relax and unwind for Parisians. It is often called the “lungs of Paris” because of its close proximity to the city centre. Robert and Sophie missed out when they drove through, so don’t make the same mistake. One warning though: stay away from the park at night. It turns into a red light district when the sun goes down…
Another “must-see” for Da Vinci fans is the Church of Saint Sulpice. This is the place where Silas, the albino monk, (how can Paul Bettany be evil??!!) discovers a vital clue under the obelisk on the Rose Line. The Rose Line was initially the zero longitude line. Worth a look for fans of the novel. Its real name is the Paris Meridian.
Robert and Sophie flee from the French police by hailing a taxi. Unfortunately, in real life, hailing taxis is impossible. They sit in cab ranks around the city.
24 rue Haxo is the site of a 24 hour depository Zurich bank. Dan Brown has used his imagination and poetic license here. The street and number are both real, but unfortunately all you’ll find is a dilapidated old building.
A short drive out of Paris you will find Château Villette. In the novel, it is the home of a millionaire historian who is an expert on the Holy Grail. The barn’s loft where a dramatic scene unfolds, is apparently exactly like the novel. Parts of the movie were actually filmed here. It’s possible to book package deals to stay here or you can rent the entire estate out for a few nights for a tidy sum of money (if that’s your style.) For more information try www.frenchvacation.com/villette or the official site at www.chateau-de-villette.fr/
Chateau Villette (from www.frenchvacation.com/villette)
There is only one other site worth visiting and is the Gare Saint Lazare, where Sophie and Robert buy a train ticket to Lille. Unfortunately from this station, you can’t get to Lille. I’m sure this made quite a few Parisians laugh. (This detail has been corrected in the French version of the novel…)
And it is on this note that I now say with a heavy heart “Au Revoir” to gay Paris. Next week, we’ll be moving on and I get to share with you, some more exciting places to travel in France!!
See you Monday
À lundi
Melinda
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