Châtelet-les-Halles is located in the centre of Paris – the 1st arrondissement, and it’s pronounced (pretty close to) shot-lay-lay-all.
It’s one of the oldest parts of Paris, the “halles” part referring to a covered market. In 1137 Louis XII decided to build an open-air market in a place outside of the old walls of Paris, called Champeaux – a former swamp. The wooden structure to cover it was put up about 50 years later, and the area has not stopped growing and changing since.
I could keep translating more of the history of Les Halles, which I got here, but I had intended this to be a mostly picture post, and so it will remain.
I go to Les Halles for shopping.
Most of the chain stores, and more modern stores are below ground, just above the metro.
You’ve also got your French lingerie stores
and your Belgian chocolate stores.
Above ground is just as crowded, and has more of the individual boutiques
as well as tons of restaurants and cafés.
I like to go to Les Halles to get my pastry items.
This is just one of the shops in the area, where you can get tools to make pâtisserie
fondant, pastry bags and tips, baking molds . . .
bright copper kettles
and warm little Le Creuset pots.
Les Halles is currently under massive renovation, from 2012-2016.
I’m confident that it’s going to result in a gorgeous place
with parks outside and a cheerfully lit mall within.
For now, it remains a bit gloomy, especially on a rainy fall day.
This past weekend, we went as a family.
It is so exciting and out of the ordinary to take the train.
We went to the fountain, where we had arranged to meet others.
How the kids love fountains
because they can chase the pigeons.
We were there because a group from our church meets every week in some part of Paris to hand out sandwiches to people who have no home.
We can’t always go because I teach on Saturdays, but Gabriel told us it was the favorite thing he’s ever done. And Juliet remembered a homeless mother who was with her daughter the last time we were there, and she wanted to bring a euro of her own so that she could give it to the girl.
So when we had a Saturday with no teaching, no conservatoire, how could we resist?
Our friends came, despite the pouring rain, with a shopping cart full of food.
We all got our sandwiches, and started searching for people to whom we could we hand them out.
As you go down the escalators to enter Les Halles, you are reassured that the shopping will continue despite the construction.
And if you’re eyes are open
you’ll see that the needs do too.
(In the spirit of full disclosure, I really didn’t want to go – especially when I saw the weather – but I knew it would be good and it was). 🙂
That looks like a place I would definitely go to.
Also, giving food to people who need it? So very awesome.
Alison recently posted…Wordless Wednesday: Capturing the Cool
I will tell you allthethings you need to know for your trip. 😉
Love Paris even on a cloudy day. So glad that you got out to do good even though you didn’t want to.
Andrea recently posted…Do You Hear What I Hear?
I know. I almost didn’t include that last part but then I thought – let me keep it real.
It does still look beautiful despite the clouds. And the day’s objective was beautiful, too.
Kim@Co-Pilot Mom recently posted…Thank You, Unknown Women
Yes. I’ll have to go back and take pictures when it’s all finished.
Paris is beautiful in any weather. And your pictures give such a sense of the place.
Jessica Smock recently posted…Battles With Prematurity and Myths of Perfection: A Review of Ready for Air
Thank you Jessica (for the visit and the compliment). 😀
Chatelet-Les-Halles was my metro station when I lived Rue de la Lune. I just had to skip down Rue Montorgueil to get there. There was hip-hop and rap in he lower level and I liked that…
We walked around the massive construction site two years ago as a family… I can’t wait to see the result!!
I wish we could have been with you giving sandwiches…. Our kids would have chased pigeons together and spoken franglais… Hahahah!!
Next time you come, we’ll go. 🙂
I think it’s cool that your son said it’s the best thing he’s ever done. Chasing pigeons by a fountain. That figures, you know? Something simple seemingly ordinary. I love that. Also, love seeing glimpses of where you hang out 🙂
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Thanks Sarah. Kids love chasing pigeons in any country. 🙂
How funny! I’m glad I could remind you of such good memories. If I remember correctly, it was her trip to send her off to college, right?
oh Jennie! I thought at first, pictures of France, Oooohhhh! then, farther down, I thought hey, I too used to take my sons on the train (Amtrak) to cities that were close, but not so far that the train ride would become tedious…and then! THEN! I read what your mission was! and Hurrah! because, my oldest son, who is now 24…did this very same thing. Through our church, a ministry called “Socks in the City” yeah, I know, kind of not what you want a ministry to portray when this name can conjure up other thoughts of a certain very popular t.v. show, but still. Catchy. And a ministry that did not have to be completely full of believers to keep moving forward. So, anyway, my son decided he would for a time, be the leader of this, and it was similar to the one you posted here—sandwiches/water bottles made by the high schoolers of our church, and then new/clean white socks given to the street people. It was so incredibly humbling to walk the streets of San Francisco, and see how incredibly thankful the people who were homeless or living on the streets, were for these items. It was a chance to minister not only to their physical needs, but they were often very open to hearing about the gospel in a clear, short form. My son was (is) just the right person to head this ministry up for a time, and he was shown so much through it. Your children may not show you for some time how much they are gathering from these types of ministry excursions, but they are….and you will see the fruit of it in the time God has for you to see it. (I too had a few times of not wanting to go…my knee injury was one of those times when I felt not only reticent mentally, but unable physically to do the walking required, but I was blessed when I went)
I love the idea of giving socks out too. I’m going to suggest that where we are too. It must feel so good to have clean dry socks.