la Colonne Médicis

joyce ycasas

At first glance, an oddly solitary Doric column standing beside circular building of the former commodity exchange, the Bourse de Commerce (which Jefferson once called the most splendid thing on earth; it’s currently under renovation). This column had a specific purpose for Catherine de Medici, the widow of Henri II, who had it built in 1575, connecting to her grand home (hotel particular), the Hôtel de Soissons. It was to be used by her personal astrologer, who succeeded Nostrodamus when the latter left Paris. It is the sole vestige of the Queen’s former grand home here. There are about 150 spiral steps leading to the top, whose four corners correspond to the cardinal compass points. How different it must have appeared amidst its 16th century surroundings. We only passed by this column.

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