Paname: The Secret History of Paris

In part 2 let's find out how the statue was built and what we can find to remeber her by in Paris. Sound design from the talented Christopher Ferreira, find more of his original work  here . Follow me on  instagram  or go to my  website  for sources and pictures. Support the show on  Patreon or leave a review, it makes my day and helps people find the show. or you can...

In these episodes we are once again on the trail of a statue that is no longer here but for a very different reason to last time. The statue of Liberty, as you probably know, was a gift from the French to the Americans. In Paris there are actually 7 different small replicas of Madame Liberty and the one which used to be outside the Arts & Metiers museum, which was made from Bartholdi’s origina...

Marguerite Durand, Belle Epoch feminist, journalist, pioneer and animal lover. Famous for having a pet lion called 'Tigre,’ having once said "Feminism owes a lot to my blond hair" and for generally standing up to the patriarchy at a time when women were not even allowed to wear trousers. In this episode find out just how much feminism owes to her hair and more.  Music and mixing fro...

During the Nazi occupation Paris and France, saw the sad demise of many of their bronze statues. In this episode come with me to find out what happens to statues when they die and how to remember something that is no longer here.  Read Gary Young's article here hear about a curious statue of Lenin on 99pi here Music and mixing from the talented Christopher Ferreira, find more of his orig...

Part 2: find out what happened following the assassination of Marat and the Execution of Charlotte. Music and mixing from the talented Christopher Ferreira, find more of his original work  here . Follow me on  instagram  or go to my  website  for sources and pictures. Support the show on  Patreon or leave a review it makes my day and helps people find the show. Artwor...

If you are at all familiar with the French revolution you may have come across the painting by Jacques Louis David called ‘The Death of Marat', one of the most famous works of art concerning a revolutionary event. The painting itself depicts the moment of Marat’s assasination;  he lies in his bath, holding in his hand a letter, his chest pierced, bleeding, stabbed by Charlotte Corday just mom...

In this episode my attention has been captured by a gesture, a  finger - the pointing finger of the sculpture of Danton causing me to wonder why and where is he pointing or rather what is he pointing at?  So come with me as we go back to the time time to the revolution and examine the unlovely face and complicated story of George Jacques Danton; the man, the statue and the finger..... Music and mi...

To end our look at signs that gave their names (sort of) to streets let’s visit  two lovely streets and discover two fabulous stories; Rue des Canettes and Rue Dragon, or as we might say Ducks and Dragon(s) To support the show go to Patreon here Pictures and sources on my website or on Instagram Music and editing from Christopher Ferreira, see his work here , and listen and vote for his Webby nomi...

In this episode we will look at two shop signs. One that is still in place, and one recently removed. ‘Au Negre Joyeux’ and ‘Au Planteur.’ Do historical racist images deserve to be left in place or should they be taken down? And who is the man in the picture, could it be Zamor, the Paige and later ‘traitor’ of Madame Du Barry?   For pictures and sources check out my website or Instagram . Music an...

Shop signs in Paris go back to as long as there have been shops; they were colorful, creative and often full of word play. Particularly successful signs would sometimes even give streets their names and today some of the best named streets in Paris come from old shop signs. But back in the 17th century things got out of hand and the simple shop sign went from a way of distinguishing your business...

In this episode discover the story of Poor old Saint Julien and the much overlooked church that bears his name. Once a glorious place of learning it is now overshadowed by an ancient tree and Notre Dame Cathedral. All of this was sparked off by my discovery of Paris' oldest street sign. Find some pictures of said sign and all the rest on Instagram or on my website .   Support this show http://supp...

This episode has been inspired by the book ‘Rue des Salauds by Oscar Lambert.’  The premise of his book is that many of the streets of Paris the ‘rue’ have been named after important or famous people thought history even though some of them have rather dubious characters. On his front cover he writes ‘l’histoire leur a donner une rue… et portante’ history gave them a street… and yet’ We might say...

Believe it or not in Paris it is quite possible to become immortal. In fact there are 40 immortals here right at this very moment.  So come with me as we explore the cloak and dagger, or should say the cloak and sword world of the Academie Francaise and the mystery of the haunted chair. check out my website or Instagram for pictures & transcripts. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/p...

In this episode as we delve into the urban legend of the Immortal Clockmaker as well as exploring time and timepieces around Paris: from the many curious and often overlooked sundials with their incredible mottos to forgotten meridians, misunderstood meridians and of course clocks: old, beautiful defunct and even revolutionary.   For more info, transcripts music and all that stuff go to my website...

Who doesn’t like a good story about the mystical world of Alchemists? Certainly JK Rowling does, as did Victor Hugo, both of which make mention of Paris most famous Alchemist Nicolas Flamel.  But who was he? Did he really exist? And did he crack the secret that so many alchemists have been searching for – The Philosphers Stone - the key to eternal life and wealth?  And what is alchemy anyway? come...

In this mini-episode I look at some of the alternatives to the non-tradition of the horrible Love locks which parasite the bridges of Paris and have a look at few examples of love traditions from bygone days.   follow me on Instagram for photos relevant to each episode @panamepodcast or check out my website for transcripts and photos www.panamepodcast.com Support this show http://supporter.acast.c...

Growing up in London I was familiar with the story of Sweeney Todd the bloody barber of fleet street who would cut more than your hair before despatching you to his neighbour Mrs Lovatt to turn you into a pie. So imagine my surprise when, on moving to Paris I discover that they have claimed this story as their own. Sweeney Pierre maybe?  I decided to investigate and see who really, if anyone owns...

The obelisk, at over 22 meters high, made from rose Granit and weighing in at an estimated 227 tonnes sits proudly in the centre of the Place de la Concorde and at over 3,000 year old is Paris’ oldest monument. Come with me and lets find out about the fraught journey of the Obelisk from Louxor to Paris.   Follow me on Facebook or Instagram @panamepodcast You can also find transcripts, links to mus...

Paris has avoided destruction time and time again in her long history.  Saint Genevieve got down on her knees and, as if by miracle, Attila and his horde avoided Paris. Vikings came and went, siege, disease and urban planners all reeked havoc on Paris. Both World War I and II threated Paris with ruin. So it was surprising for me to learn that the Seine, the river that runs through Paris, fundament...

Come with me to the Saint Roch church and  have a look at some of the scars left on Paris. These particular ones date all the way back to the Revolution and can blamed a certain young Corsican and, in the words of historian Thomas Carlyle, a whiff of grapeshot.   Music by The Owl Find transcripts on my website Revolutionary calendar Further reading Andrew Roberts - Napoleon the Great. Support this...

There is a legend that tells of ' Le Petit Homme Rouge', the Little Red Man that haunted the Tuileries palace for over 300 years, between about 1570 when it was built to 1871 when it was burnt down by the Paris Commune. He appeared only to the inhabitants of the palace, in other words kings, queens and emperors and was, usually, a harbinger of doom or bad tidings. Come with me and find out more ab...

"God is forbidden by order of the King to perform any more miracles in the cemetery of Saint-Médard." Find out why in this episode. For pictures & transcripts go to panamepodcast.com music by The Owl Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/panamepodcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

La Cour des Miracles, so named because each night, as if by miracle, the blind would regain their sight, the deaf hear their names being called and the lame regain use of their limbs. In this episode come with me to the slum of 17th Century Paris precariously perched between the city proper and the outside world;  a hidden den of thieves, outlaws and prostitues made famous by Victor Hugo in his no...

In this episode we will be finding out about one of Frances' most famous serial killers, a storybook monster come to life: Henri Desiré Landru, otherwise known as the real Blue Beard. Like his fictive namesake he had a full beard, even though it was not blue, and a propensity for murder. Music from  The Owl Other clips include: Renaud , Charles Trent , Mr Verdoux See picture on my website Support...

When the French talk of The Revolution of 1789 they might want us to think ‘ Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité’ but most of us probably think of the Guillotine. Come with me as we find traces of her around Paris and discover how her status, stature and use changed over the 200 years that she was used as the means of execution in France.  Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/panamepodcast . Host...