This is not the best photo you'll ever see of the beautiful Tour Saint-Jacques near Chatelet, but I couldn't resist taking a quick snap with the old cell-phone-cam when I walked by today. Up until just a few months ago, it was shrouded in scaffolding and tarps for most of the past couple of years as the city cleaned the tower, and now it positively glows in the afternoon sunlight. I promise to go back there with my Nikon one of these days and do it justice.
The Tour stands alone in a park, but it was once part of a church erected by the area butchers (who had a lot of money, as butchers tend to do!) The church became a casualty of the Revolution, demolished in 1797 but at least they left this gorgeous tower alone. Nicholas Flamel was reportedly buried under the floor, unless of course you believe the rumors that he DID create a philosopher's stone and still lives today. Flamel must be France's version of Elvis.
