It’s the last surviving cast iron building of Victor Baltard (1805-1874) of the 10 halles he built under the direction of Baron Haussmann, during the reign of Emperor Napoleon III.
Baltard was the creator of the huge marché, Les Halles, renown as “ Le Ventre de Paris”
As Emile Zola called his book 📕 But back to ze Cat 🐈⬛ Salon!
I took this overhead shot of the halle upstairs on the balcon
Twenty international judges reside & examine closely every cat for its intrinsic merits.
Every cat gets a silk ribbon to show off, no matter how squirmy they behave on stage. This was not a happy Bengal cat 😾 *Note cat owner’s matching leopard print shoes & bag 🐆
Most cats are sleepy and better behaved.
Like these multi-prize 🏆🏆🏆 winners.
A cat owner relaxing along side her laid-back cats in their container
A relatively rare tortoiseshell Maine Coon takes it easy, unperturbed by the hubbub. 700 cats of 42 different breeds, each more magnificent than the next.
A demonstration of how your cat should play
With a feather 🪶 dancer. There were many on offer.
Animal prints 🐆 are BIG in the cat home furnishing world
I’m partial to beautiful Bengal cats 🐈 which cost a small fortune.
More within my price range (10,99 €) is the Bengal 🐆 cup & saucer from H&M Home. I have been hunting for a year & hit it lucky 🍀 yesterday. I snagged the last cup 🤸♂️ Some man came in and bought a ton of cups. Fortunately he left one last teacup ☕️ + piles of saucers.
700 cats?! Mon Dieu!! Your posts are always fascinating - this one has history, literary, artistry, and feline tidbits. Well done! I have a question for you, Carol. I have purchased several subscriptions over the years of your whimsical Paris watercolors. Sadly, I don’t need any more. I’ve seen on other peoples’ blogs that you can make a donation, sometimes labeled as “Buy me a coffee.” Do you have such an option? (I may have asked you this before.). Thank you for another delightful newsletter! From Barbara - the one whose party you came to in the Marais where you fell in love with the crackers I’d purchased at Eataly, of all places, and where we posed awkwardly for a group photo. Xxoo 🥰
This would be such fun. But I think I would attend sans Lizzie, who would not be having a good time with all that competition! On the other hand, I probably would have brought home lots of things neither Lizzie nor I needed -- but liked!
First of all, I am crazy about your animal print cup and saucer!!! I love animal print and wear a lot of it. I grew up with cats. My son has two, one of which is a Bengal. they are fascinating thinking they must be in a jungle leaping from one high cabinet to another! What don't you get a little chat to keep you company?
Those cats were beautiful! I love cats but my furniture is still recovering from my last one..two chairs have been recovered and a couch to do now having been torn to shreds. My pet would not use scratching posts or boards and preferred destroying all in sight. I still loved him. They are so sweet when little.
A cat show in a beautiful building! Great way to spend a Paris day. And all things Bengal are so “you”! The guy with the suspenders looks like he belongs somewhere else though! Maybe the Ozarks?
What a nice Victorian building. I’m impressed there were so many cats together and mostly all well behaved. It is great having a pet, I just got a dog, it does change your daily lifestyle though 🙂🐶
Animal prints 🐆 are BIG in the cat home furnishing world 
Love ❤️ the shot of the International judge carefully examining the fancy cat 🐱
ReplyDeleteThe last shot is picture perfect !
ReplyDelete700 cats?! Mon Dieu!! Your posts are always fascinating - this one has history, literary, artistry, and feline tidbits. Well done! I have a question for you, Carol. I have purchased several subscriptions over the years of your whimsical Paris watercolors. Sadly, I don’t need any more. I’ve seen on other peoples’ blogs that you can make a donation, sometimes labeled as “Buy me a coffee.” Do you have such an option? (I may have asked you this before.). Thank you for another delightful newsletter! From Barbara - the one whose party you came to in the Marais where you fell in love with the crackers I’d purchased at Eataly, of all places, and where we posed awkwardly for a group photo. Xxoo 🥰
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU 🙏
DeleteI just added Buy Me Coffee ☕️ !!
I found it!! 🇫🇷🇫🇷
DeleteAhhh…Barbara of the mystery CRACKERS!!
ReplyDeleteHow could I forget ❤️
This would be such fun. But I think I would attend sans Lizzie, who would not be having a good time with all that competition! On the other hand, I probably would have brought home lots of things neither Lizzie nor I needed -- but liked!
ReplyDeleteStill very fun to visit Jeanie 🎉
DeleteFirst of all, I am crazy about your animal print cup and saucer!!! I love animal print and wear a lot of it. I grew up with cats. My son has two, one of which is a Bengal. they are fascinating thinking they must be in a jungle leaping from one high cabinet to another! What don't you get a little chat to keep you company?
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE to get a little Chat/cat ❤️🐈
DeleteThank you for being our eyes, ears and nose à Paris! MK
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of noses 👃 I left the Cat Salon smelling of cat hair…
DeleteBut continued onward to the Salon de Cultural Patrimoine - no one noticed a thing 🐈
Those cats were beautiful! I love cats but my furniture is still recovering from my last one..two chairs have been recovered and a couch to do now having been torn to shreds. My pet would not use scratching posts or boards and preferred destroying all in sight. I still loved him. They are so sweet when little.
ReplyDeleteThat’s the story of many cats. It’s a balancing act. Their endearing ways are hard to resist 🐈⬛ Training a cat is unheard of 🤔
DeleteWhat a fun outing, Carol. Thanks for the primer on Baltard. So interesting. Love your cup. You must ooze sex-appeal as you sip your tea!
ReplyDeleteI haven’t christened the new leopard 🐆 cup yet ☕️
DeleteMy green tea stains 😳
A cat show in a beautiful building! Great way to spend a Paris day. And all things Bengal are so “you”! The guy with the suspenders looks like he belongs somewhere else though! Maybe the Ozarks?
ReplyDeleteMaybe in a 3-ring circus?
DeleteOr a pub 🍺 full of cigar smoke…
That building looks fabulous as are the cats. Is there anything Paris doesn't have a salon for?
ReplyDeleteIt’s true Suki.
DeleteThere used to be wonderful Salons for tea 🫖 …but sadly no more
Thank you for such beautiful and interesting content. Your whimsical style is fun and uplifting and is such a treat to see. V.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice Victorian building. I’m impressed there were so many cats together and mostly all well behaved. It is great having a pet, I just got a dog, it does change your daily lifestyle though 🙂🐶
ReplyDeleteI LOVE ❤️ your little dog Kirra. Looks the sweetest
DeleteI have my own Salon du Chat😺 with all your cat 🐈⬛ watercolors! Mary
ReplyDelete