Tea at Trianon: Le Procope

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Le Procope

Napoleon's favorite bar.

Winding cobblestone streets and a back road lane transformed by a colourful mish mash of cozy tete a tete tables where lovers dine and and sip their wine near merchants selling their fruit- a very bubbly and happening place this short winding street. This is where by pure chance I stumbled upon the back way entrance to the very famous “ Le Procope”.

This happens to be the cafe where Napoleon used to hang out! At the very entrance there’s even his hat! The story has it that during his ‘poor’ days, Napoleon pawned his hat to be able to pay his bill.

This is more than a charming place- it’s filled with history. The whole place is decorated with memorabilia of the times and photos cover the walls. There is a lovely room upstairs where Napoleon and his political crowd gathered for discussions, good wine and great food. (Read entire post.)