Tucked into a side chapel of St. Eustache church in Paris, this statue by Raymond Mason commemorates “The Departure of the Fruits and Vegetables from the Heart of Paris, Feb. 28, 1969.” On that date, 45 years ago this week, Paris’ famous Les Halles closed and the wholesale food markets were moved outside the city.
Saint Eustache, one of the oldest churches in Paris, had a long history with the markets; the original church was built in the 13th century with money raised by a tax on the fish market. The present church dates to the 16th century and has been the scene of events as diverse as Louis XIV’s first communion and the funeral of Mozart’s mother.
As well as being an active parish church, it is also an active concert venue, taking advantage of both its incredible acoustics and an 8000-pipe organ, the largest in France. MORE
