Paris, a city of welcome, influences, and cultural crossroads, also has a little-known facet: its British heritage. Since the 19th century, the City of Light has attracted students, writers, diplomats, and communities from the United Kingdom, leaving behind a collection of places marked by their presence.
From the majestic Anglican church of St. George to the historic flower market renamed in honorof Elizabeth II, not to mention the many English-language shops and bookstores, the English heritage in Paris weaves a rich and vibrant cultural tapestry.
Whether you're a history buff, a lover of English literature, or simply looking for a typical London pub, this British influence on the streets of Paris has some wonderful surprises in store. Follow the guide!
Located a stone's throw fromthe Arc de Triomphe,the Anglican Church of St. George in Paris was founded in 1824, and the parish moved into its current building in 1978, after the previous building was demolished. In this modern building, the church is located on the ground floor and hosts services in English and French, and even a monthly Malagasy mass.
Not far from there, near the Champs-Élysées, The Scots Kirk is an English-speaking Presbyterian church founded in 1858. The church was very popular duringthe 1889World's Fair, due to the presence of many Presbyterian Protestants who converged on Paris to attend the event.
After World War II, the aging church was destroyed and then rebuilt. In 1957, the first stone of the future church was laid by Queen Elizabeth II, and the new church was inaugurated in 1959. However, due to construction defects, the church was rebuilt again and integrated into a modern building. It reopened in 2002 in its current form.
This flower market, located onthe Île de la Cité, was renamed the Queen Elizabeth II Flower Market after the sovereign's visit to Paris. It is a popular market consisting of Art Nouveau metal pavilions built around 1900. Inside and along the promenade, this market, which is open to the public, offers a wide variety of plants and flowers.
The avenue, a wide thoroughfare laid out during the Second Empire, was renamed Avenue Victoria in 1855 in honor of Queen Victoria's visit to Paris. Approximately 500 meters long and connecting Rue de Rivoli tothe Hôtel de Ville, the avenue has a regular layout, typical of Haussmannian Paris, with its elegant facades, mansions, and shops.
Located above Boulevard des Capucines, Place Edouard VII is named in honor of British King Edward VII. In the center of the square stands an equestrian statue of the monarch, installed in 1911. The square is surrounded by theaters and luxurious Haussmann-style buildings, including the magnificent Théâtre Edouard VII.
To get your hands on all kinds of English-language books, there's nothing like visiting the various Anglo-Saxon bookstores in the capital: Shakespeare & Company in the 5th arrondissement, the most iconic, which has a small coffee shop, Smith & Son on Rue de Rivoli, or The Abbey Bookshop, in the heart of the 5th arrondissement.
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