Totally Frenched Out

From the blogger formerly known as Samdebretagne

Monday, May 23, 2011

C & I had dinner last Thursday night at a cute little Italian restaurant (thanks Groupon), and since it was a lovely night and there really wasn't any easy way for us to get back home via the metro, we decided to just start walking.

We strolled slowly through the Marais, past l'Hôtel de Ville and along the Seine. Which is where we came across this monstrosity:
The Conciergerie is one of my favorite buildings in Paris, and I was horrified to see it covered in advertising - and for Apple no less. Most of the time when they are redoing building facades here, they will put up scaffolding covered in a photo of the building, so you at least have an idea of what you're missing out on.

I understand that the French government is short on money for building renovations, but this is just atrocious. Not to mention that public buildings aren't supposed to show any external sign of religion or advertising - and you'd think that would be especially applicable in this case since the Concergerie is part of the Palais de Justice!!

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4 Comments:

Blogger Ann said...

Oh, man, that is atrocious indeed.

May 23, 2011 at 8:14 PM  
Blogger Nicole said...

Actually, the mairie de Paris owns all the public advertising space in Paris- there's a pretty interesting story about how the city paid for Velib via the advertising spaces. I think that the city has a long history of using and abusing its right to advertise...

May 24, 2011 at 8:42 AM  
Blogger Ksam said...

I understand that - but national monuments aren't public space, or at least they shouldn't be in my mind. Especially in this case given it's link to the Palais de Justice, and the fact that government buildings are supposed to be ad-free by the law.

May 24, 2011 at 8:47 AM  
Blogger Sara Louise said...

unbelievably tacky and disappointing.

May 26, 2011 at 1:57 PM  

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