September 28, 2017 (271/365)

“Le comptoir d'un café est le parlement du peuple.” ~ Honoré de Balzac

Strolling through the Palais Royal in the 1er Arrondissement is one of my favorite Paris pastimes. I love the sublime symmetry of the architecture and the rich history. The signage on some of the storefronts are historic monuments to past shop owners. Number 51 Galerie Montpensier was once the home of Parisian Watchmaker, Charles Oudin, who opened his shop in the Palais Royal in 1801. The mosaic tiles on the threshold read Charles Oudin Horloger de la Marine Française (Clockmaker to the French Navy). These days, Oudin's legacy lives on among the famous jewelry shops of the Place Vendôme. In 1865, number 51 became S.A. des Filatures et Tissages Jules Tournier et Fils, the historic artisans who created fabric for the royal family since 1630 and for the uniforms of Napoleon's army. Today, number 51 is home to Café Kitsuné, one of my favorite places to enjoy a cup of coffee.