Last weekend, the European Union celebrated the 36th annual Les Journées Européennes du Patrimoine ("European Heritage Days"). The event celebrates historic buildings, monuments and sites throughout Europe by giving the public free access to buildings that are normally inaccessible or normally require an entry fee.
The event originated in 1984 in France and has since spread to all 50 European countries that have adopted the European Cultural Convention. It is estimated that there are now 30 million visitors and 70,000 events each year.
According to the Council of Europe, "European Heritage Days can be considered an essential instrument for fostering a tangible experience of European culture and history in addition to raising the awareness of the public about the many values of our common heritage and the continuous need for its protection."
This year, Les Journées Européennes du Patrimoine occurred on September 21 and 22. On those days, we visited several locations in Paris, including the Banque de France.
The headquarters of the Banque de France is located in Paris not far from where we live. The bank is complex of buildings including both historic and modern buildings. The bank is normally not open to the public. The bank is well-guarded because it houses a gold depository and also has presses for printing Euro. However, the bank opened its doors on European Heritage Days and we toured the complex.
The tour included displays about the history of the French Franc and the Euro, counterfeiting and gold in the depository. Unfortunately, the vault was not open and no free samples were given to visitors.
The greatest treasure in the Banque de France is a room in one of the historic buildings, La Galerie dorée.
What makes the gallery so lovely are its gilded architecture and the original artwork still adorning the ceiling. Below are photos of each half of the gallery.
We learned about the gallery's history, including the fact that one of its owners was the legitimated son of King Louis XIV and his mistress Madame de Montespan. Lucky bastard!
The centerpiece of the fresco on the ceiling is mythological scene by François Perrier.
The painting depicts the Sun god Apollo, who represents Louis XIV, the Sun King.
During our tour of La Galerie dorée, we were serenaded by flute and bassoon.
We enjoyed our visit to the Banque de France and La Galerie dorée. It reminded us of the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.
P.S. During our tour, we spotted a painting of a familiar figure. Check it out.
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