A new description of Paris containing a particular account of all the churches, palaces, monasteries ... with all other remarkable matters in that great and famous city / translated out of French.

The Gate of St. Antoine.

This Gate stands on one side of the Bastille and leads to the Faux-bourg St. Antoine. It was built for Henry II. and dedicated to him as a Triumphal Arch. Some years since they have beautified this Gate considerably, in pulling down another old one near this place which caused con∣tinual Stops, and in adding to this two other new ones which make the passage much more easie, and give more room for Coaches and Carts to en∣ter. One may see by a small Inscription which is still preserved, that this Building was the Work of Metezeau, the worthy Father of him whom we have formerly mentioned, he was a man of extraordinary ability, as we may easily conclude from this Work, which in its kind is one of the finest things that can be seen. The famous Mon∣sieur Blondel who had the Care of Ordering all the new Works which have of late been raised at

Paris, did not think that any thing could be ad∣ded to its beauty, and was contented only to make a new passage on each side, that that in the mid∣dle might be the freer. The hansomest Front looks towards the Suburbs. It is in the manner of Ru∣stick Bossage, with a great Entablement or Cor∣nish of the Dorick Order which runs along all the Work, over which is an Attique. The Statue of the King stands above all, and two small Py∣ramids on each hand at the utmost edges. On the Attique these Inscriptions are ingraved

LUDOVICO MAGNO
PRAEFECTUS ET AEDILES ANN. R.S.H. MDCLXXII.
QUOD ORBEM AUXIT, ORNAVITU, LO∣CUPLETAVIT. P.C.

To LEWIS the Great.
The Praefect and Aediles in the year from the Redemption of the World, MDCLXXII.
In memory of his enlarging, adorning and enriching the City, Placed and Consecrated this.

But that which the Curious esteem more, are two pieces of Sculpture on each side the Arch of the first Work, and certain Figures of the man∣ner of Jean Gou••on representing Rivers and an∣cient

Deities. On that s••de next the Town they have made the same thing, imitating the Arch∣work in the middle of the Gate, which the Ar∣chitects have found to be so singular and hand∣som that this here hath given name to all the other Gates that have been built since. Between the three Arches under which we pass, they have placed in Bas-relief a Copy of that Medal which the Town caused to be stampt for the King, representing his Majesty with this Inscription:

LUDOVICUS MAGNUS FRANCORUM ET NAVARRAE REX. P. P. 1671.

Lewis the Great King of France and Navarre. They made it, 1671.

On the Reverse of the Medal, which is placed on the other side, is represented Virtue sitting, and leaning on a Shield on which are the Arms of the Town with this Motto

FELICITAS PUBLICA.

The Publick happiness.

And at the Bottom

LUTETIA.

PARIS.

Between the G••te and the Bastion it has been thought necessary to make a Rampe or Winding ascent forty eight foot large, to make the access to the Rampart more easie and convenient. At the entry, near the Door of a little neat Garden, is placed the following Inscription, looking two ways. On that side next the Faux-bourg,

LUDOVICUS MAGNUS,
PROMOTIS IMPERII FINIBUS ULTRA
RHENUM, ALPES, ET PYRENAEOS,
POMOERIUM HOC, MORE PRISCO, PRO∣PAGAVIT.
ANN. R. S. H. MDCLXX.

Lewis the Great, having enlarged the Bor∣ders of his Empire beyond the Rhine, the Alps, and the Pyreneans, has also enlarged this void space about the Walls of the Town, after the ancient manner; in the year from the Redemption of the World MDCLXX.

On that side next the Town you read these Words

LUDOVICUS MAGNUS
ET VINDICATAS CONJUGIS AUGUSTAE
DOTALES URBES
VALIDA MUNITIONE CINXIT,
ET HOC VALLUM CIVIUM DELICIIS DE∣STINARI JUSSIT.
ANN. R. S. H. MDCLXXI.

Lewis the Great has Fortified those Towns which he recovered in the Right of his Lady, And prepared this Rampart for the Delight of the Citizens, in the year from the Re∣demption of the World MDCLXXI.

The Rampart is planted with four Rows of Trees, which make a very pleasing Walk, and leads to St. Martins Gate. It is composed of one great Ally, and of two counter-Allies; that in the middle is threescore foot, and the other two between eighteen and twenty foot large. The Gate of St. Lewis which was lately new built, stands about the middle of this Rampart, on which Gate you may read this Inscription,

LUDOVICUS MAGNUS
AVO
DIVO LUDOVICO▪
ANN. R. S. H. MDCLXXIV.

Lewis the Great to his Ancestor St. Lewis. In the year from the Redemption of the World MDCLXXIV.

All these Works are of Monsieur Blondel's de∣signing, who also made the Inscriptions.

Without the Porte St. Antoine, as you enter into the Faux-Bourg, is made a great round E∣splanade, on which they have placed two great Statues sitting upon Trophies of Arms.

All the Faux-bourg St. Antoine consists of three great Streets only, namely the great Rüe Saint Antoine, which lies in the middle, the Rüe de Charonne, and the Rüe de Charenton. In

the middle Street, which is the fairest, is the new Hospital built for exposed Children. Many pious persons have contributed to this excellent Charity, among others, the Chancellor de Aligre's Lady, who hath there an Apartment. The Church and the publick buildings of the House are not yet quite finished.

The Abby of St. Ant••ine is farther on. This Abby gives name to all this Quarter. Many very remarkable Stories are told of the Foundation of this House, but in regard they do not sute with the Gust of this Age, I do not think it proper to in∣sert them here. This Abby began to be built about the year 1193. and was finished in the Reign of St. Lewis who was present and assisting at its Dedi∣cation, together with Queen Blanch of Castile his Mother. The Order of Cistertian Nuns was here placed by the solicitation of Odo de Suilly Bishop of Paris. The House is extreme nume∣rous and very well Governed. The Abbess is Madame Molé of Champlâ••reux, of one of the most Illustrious Families of the Long Robe, and Daughter of the late Monsieur the first President Molé, Keeper of the Seals of France. The Church hath in it nothing very considerable unless it be the Tombs of two Princesses, Daughters of Charles the sixth, lying on both sides of the great Altar.

As you go into the Street beyond this Abby, is the Manufactury of Looking-glasses, which were formerly brought from Venice. But Monsieur Colbert observing how great a Treasure this Trade had yearly drawn out of the Kingdom, established this Manufacture, which has had a very happy Success, as indeed all other matters have had which that great Minister hath undertaken. Here is a great number of Workmen, who are conti∣nually

employed, some in polishing the Glasses with Sand, others with Emery, and other in ma∣king the Bessil. They use no others at present at Paris. And these which they make here are as beautiful as those which formerly came from Venice, with infinite greater Charges. These Workmen are placed in long Galleries round a great square Court. Which Buildings have all the Conveniencies that are requisite, being raised on purpose for this Manufacture.