Paname

Growing up in London I was familiar with the story of Sweeney Todd the bloody barber of fleet street who would cut more than your hair before despatching you to his neighbour Mrs Lovatt to turn you into a pie. So imagine my surprise when, on moving to Paris I discover that they have claimed this story as their own. Sweeney Pierre maybe?  I decided to investigate and see who really, if anyone owns this story and if I can find out if there is any truth in it. see pictures on my website: panamepodcast.comor follow me on instagram @panamepodcastSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/panamepodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The obelisk, at over 22 meters high, made from rose Granit and weighing in at an estimated 227 tonnes sits proudly in the centre of the Place de la Concorde and at over 3,000 year old is Paris’ oldest monument. Come with me and lets find out about the fraught journey of the Obelisk from Louxor to Paris. Follow me on Facebook or Instagram @panamepodcast You can also find transcripts, links to music and more on my websiteSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/panamepodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paris has avoided destruction time and time again in her long history.  Saint Genevieve got down on her knees and, as if by miracle, Attila and his horde avoided Paris. Vikings came and went, siege, disease and urban planners all reeked havoc on Paris. Both World War I and II threated Paris with ruin. So it was surprising for me to learn that the Seine, the river that runs through Paris, fundamental to the cities identity, nearly caused its downfall in 1910 when it flooded.For pictures, transcripts go to my website: panamepodcast.comMusic: The Owl, Dance NostalgiqueFurther reading: 'Paris Under Water' by Jeffrey H. Jacksonfollow me on Instagram to see pictures  @panamepodcastemail: panamepodcast@gmail.comSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/panamepodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Come with me to the Saint Roch church and  have a look at some of the scars left on Paris. These particular ones date all the way back to the Revolution and can blamed a certain young Corsican and, in the words of historian Thomas Carlyle, a whiff of grapeshot.  Music by The OwlFind transcripts on my website Revolutionary calendarFurther reading Andrew Roberts - Napoleon the Great.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/panamepodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There is a legend that tells of 'Le Petit Homme Rouge', the Little Red Man that haunted the Tuileries palace for over 300 years, between about 1570 when it was built to 1871 when it was burnt down by the Paris Commune. He appeared only to the inhabitants of the palace, in other words kings, queens and emperors and was, usually, a harbinger of doom or bad tidings. Come with me and find out more about this curious urban legend. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/panamepodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"God is forbidden by order of the King to perform any more miracles in the cemetery of Saint-Médard." Find out why in this episode.For pictures & transcripts go to panamepodcast.com music by The OwlSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/panamepodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

La Cour des Miracles, so named because each night, as if by miracle, the blind would regain their sight, the deaf hear their names being called and the lame regain use of their limbs. In this episode come with me to the slum of 17th Century Paris precariously perched between the city proper and the outside world;  a hidden den of thieves, outlaws and prostitues made famous by Victor Hugo in his novel 'Notre Dame de Paris.'Music by The OwlSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/panamepodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we will be finding out about one of Frances' most famous serial killers, a storybook monster come to life: Henri Desiré Landru, otherwise known as the real Blue Beard. Like his fictive namesake he had a full beard, even though it was not blue, and a propensity for murder.Music from The OwlOther clips include: Renaud, Charles Trent, Mr VerdouxSee picture on my websiteSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/panamepodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When the French talk of The Revolution of 1789 they might want us to think ‘Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité’ but most of us probably think of the Guillotine. Come with me as we find traces of her around Paris and discover how her status, stature and use changed over the 200 years that she was used as the means of execution in France. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/panamepodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following on from the last episode we discover how sometimes the Paris Morgue did indeed help to catch a villein but not as you might expect. The Gouffé affair also known as the 'Bloody trunk' or 'malle sanglante' in French, was a media sensation in 19th Century Paris. The body of Augustin Gouffé was discovered stuffed into a wooden trunk but thanks to the pioneering work in forensics of Dr Lacassange and the unusual move of displaying the trunk at the Paris Morgue the criminals were found and brought to justice. Music from 'The Owl' http://www.youtube.com/c/theowlmusicSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/panamepodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Between 1864 and 1907, behind the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Parisians in their thousands would go to visit the public morgue and see the unclaimed dead displayed behind a huge window. Find out more about this most macabre of activities and the beautiful 'drown Mona Lisa' also know as 'l'inconnue de la Seine' and how she became the most kissed person in the world. Music 'The Owl' http://www.youtube.com/c/theowlmusic Further reading: 'Spectacular Realities' Vanessa R. SchwartzSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/panamepodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Alphones Bertillon, the French Sherlock Holmes. He revolutionised police work and his legacy lives on this very day and yet his stubbornness nearly resulted in the loss of one of the Louvre's most precious works of art. Music by The Owl: http://www.youtube.com/c/theowlmusic and Poddington Bear.Logo design by the fabulous Double Merrick: https://doublemerrick.myshopify.comSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/panamepodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let's take a walk through Paris' most famous cemetery and discover how, even centuries after their death, the tragic love story of Abelard and Heloise changed the fortunes of this cemetery, making it the number one place to be buried.Music from 'The Owl' find more of her work here: https://www.youtube.com/c/theowlmusic Logo designed by the talented Double Merrick; find more of his work here: https://doublemerrick.myshopify.comSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/panamepodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we will discover what elephants, giraffes and ancient Egyptian mummies have to do with Bastille and where the prison went. Intro music 'La Danse Nostalgique' by The Owl, find more of her work here: https://oldowl.bandcamp.com/ Art work from Double Merrick, find his fabulous prints here: https://doublemerrick.myshopify.comSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/panamepodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we will discover the story of 'Paname' and how if Paris made the fortune and reputation of Gustave Eiffel Paname destroyed it. Intro Music ‘La Danse Nostalgique’ by The Owl. http://www.youtube.com/c/theowlmusic - my Youtube channelSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/panamepodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.