Fantastic Sightings in Paris (and where to find them)

Despite its buzzing urban centre, Paris is a place full of ancient traditions, folk tales, and magic.

It hosts the house of none other but famous alchemist Nicolas Flamel. Settling nearby the Cemetery of the Innocents in a street that now bears his name, Flamel lived comfortably with his wife Pernelle as a scribe and bookkeeper in the 14^th century. You can also pay a visit to his last place of residence at 51, rue de Montmorency, reported to be one of the oldest buildings in the city. If strange rumours about Flamel’s wealth had already circulated during his lifetime and after his death, legendary accounts began in 1612 with the publication of Exposition of the Hieroglyphical Figures, posthumously attributed to him. 

The editor’s introduction related Flamel’s deciphering of mystical recipes and his subsequent discovery of the philosopher’s stone, which turned metal into gold and made you immortal thanks to a potion called the Elixir of Life. The figure of Flamel has enjoyed ongoing popularity in fiction, from The Hunchback of Notre-Dame to the Harry Potter series.

Stay on the Right Bank, go down rue de Rivoli and turn right at the intersection of the Palais Royal. You have reached what was one of the most fashionable places of Paris. But if you keep your eyes wide open, you’ll notice two fountains on the André Malraux square. 

Up one of them, features the river nymph by Mathurin Moreau (1822 – 1912). In ancient mythology, naiads are female water sprites of rivers, springs and brooks. Understandably, this fairy-like creature carries a branch of reed and is crowned with the same plant. Water deities are not traditionally portrayed with wings, but another version of a seated naiad by the decorative sculptor sold at auction shows her surprised by a dragonfly. Did the two beasts merge into one?

Now cross the Seine, go back upstream and enjoy the fairylike view of the Conciergerie Palace. Another square, initially built during the Second Empire, unfolds its secrets to the stroller that knows where to look. 

The gigantic Saint Michael fountain celebrates the victory of the Archangel over Evil. Inaugurated in 1860, this architectural project was widely criticised for its lack of coherence, profusion of diverse styles and details. In the central nave are the two protagonists of the story, Michael slaying Satan. Note the difference in the depiction of wings to mark the distinction between the heavenly and the hellish realms. If you turn round the left of the statue, you’ll notice that the swinish nature of the Demon has been enhanced through the presence of the serpent’s tail. Two chimeraes, or winged fire-breathing monsters composed of a lion’s head, ram’s horns, and reptilian tails frame the overall composition. These embody the deceptive, raw forces of nature.