Early uniforms [oh the embroidery...]
Whistles of metal and ivory
Heavy clothes for dog training - and different guillotines [used 1792 till 1977]
Public info posters...
Cultivons Notre Potager [let's cultivate our vegetable garden] a WW2 Poster akin to the British "Dig for Victory".
There was also a 1970s recruitment poster, seeking to attract more women into the force [I would have been too short to sign up!]
It was light, bright and very pleasant to look round, things were well laid out. But the glass and lighting made it hard to photograph things.
It has not always been easy for French Policemen. During revolutionary periods, they were often executed without trial.The Museum pays tribute to some amazing acts of bravery - and unexpected aspects of Police life. For instance, they had Police Dogs who not only helped intercept criminals [and in recent years, sniff out drugs] but also were trained to rescue people who fell into the Seine.
The motto of the Paris Police for 350 years has been netteté, clarté, sûreté, which means sharpness, clarity, safety
La Route Du The was a lovely shop, and his first holiday souvenir was some "Genghis Khan" which is a type of Russian Caravan Tea.Then we had lunch in the adjacent restaurant La Pie Noir, which serves Breton style cuisine. But that will get another mention later!
**This street is in the Latin Quarter, and Ernest Hemingway lived there a century ago, and wrote about it
Thanks for taking us around, the museum sounds fascinating. Daughter in law ran the Paris marathon about 12 years ago and apart from watching her at various places the only real touristy things we did were Notre Dame and Arc de Triumphe! We did find a fascinating kitchenware shop, a shop full of old sewing machines, a shop selling ribbons (Only ribbons!) and several, tiny public gardens full of flowers when we walked towards the Seine from our apartment.
ReplyDeleteThe little gardens are charming, The quirky little shops are such fun
DeleteI like your and Bobs approach. If there are long queues I won't join them, however acclaimed the attraction.
ReplyDeleteIf it is something really special, I try to prebook, so we can dodge the queues. But all the museums we visited we were able to go straight in
DeleteI don't find it eccentric at all, looking for interesting museums is the way to see other aspects of a city, especially if you have done the tourist trail before. The museum looks very interesting if gory at times. I look forward to reading more of your trip to Paris.
ReplyDeleteYes- there were some gory bits - I am not sure I would take Rosie to study the guillotine blades. But balanced out by other displays, including some humour too
DeleteMy husband loves quirky museums and he has Flemish ancestors, a long time ago he went to the Musee du Underhouten in Brussels which had underpants of famous and noteworthy people on display. Sadly it closed quite a while ago but there is now a Musee du Slip which is a collection of all underwear and we think it is still open. Not sure I would want to go but I would have loved to see the Police Museum. Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteThat will be on our list if we do Brussels again, then!! Thanks
DeleteIt makes sense to visit the lesser known attractions if you've already seen the more famous ones. :)
ReplyDeleteMore to see, more to learn
DeleteYou and Bob make such a delightful pair. There's so much to learn in a museum like the one you visited. Guillotines used until 1977--I had no idea. I love that in Paris you can pretty much stop at any cafe and have a delectable lunch. Looking forward to reading more about your trip and your pictures are always interesting regardless of the glass. (Susan From Across the Pond)
ReplyDeleteThanks SFATP. I was surprised by the guillotine dates too.
DeleteSometimes those quirky little places are the best! Sounds like you had a wonderful time.
ReplyDeleteHoliday of a lifetime!
DeleteA very good idea to go off the beaten track now and again, thanks for the description
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
It is more interesting
DeleteThat all sounds really interesting. When you first visit a new country, or even town it's nice to look out for all the famous landmarks and sights, but once you've 'been there, done that' it's nice to look out for the more unusual and the things off the beaten track. I think that's why I like to go back to a place after a few years.
ReplyDeleteWe will have to do the open-top bus ride around Paris again though ... Alan fell asleep two minutes into it the first time and only woke up when the tour was over!!
Oh Poor Alan! We've not done an open top bus trip
DeleteThere are so many amazingly different layers to Paris, and indeed to many big cities. It's good to discover little places that many people will never have even heard about. I remember hunting down the Marmottan museum and revelling in the Monet collection there.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds delightful
DeleteWhat an interesting museum. How chilling to see an actual guillotine!
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely to visit the less well known places in a city. We lived in Vienna for 3 years and discovered so many places that we had never seen on a couple of brief visits in the past.
Is that Genghis Khan tea anything like Lapsang Souchong, with a smoky flavour? If so, I want some!
Yes, smoky and fruity!
DeleteWhat a fascinating place!!! I love museums about social history or domestic history! Kx
ReplyDelete👍😊
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