Simple question probably, but what/where is purportedly the oldest building in Paris? Also, where would I find a block or two of some of the oldest intact buildings. I like to take 'superlative' pix (oldest, tallest, largest, et cetera) of cities, but can't find a definitive answer for Paris' oldest.

These would be perhaps the oldest houses....http://www.wfi.fr/metropole/1999/414/414oldie.html, but what about the oldest church? I think Basilica St-Denis is older than Notre Dame, and then there's Julien le Pauvre? Those are candidates, I don't have the exact dates handy...I guess you'd have Tour Montparnasse as the tallest building? I like your theme idea...

The oldest part of a church is in the St Germain.<BR>The oldest complete church I am told is<BR>St Julien le Pauvre which Alice mentioned, it has a cute little yard with benches to sit on.<BR>Great view of Notre Dame. The church is used by Greek Catholics now.<BR><BR>The oldest restaurant is said by some to be le Procope, said by others to be La Petite Chaise.<BR><BR>Place des Vosges is the oldest square.<BR><BR>Passage des Panoramas in the 2nd, the oldest arcade (covered shopping area.)<BR><BR>Pont Neuf is the oldest bridge.<BR><BR>the Catacombs were/are the largest repository of human remains in the world, a dubious honor I guess.

The area along the Seine in Bercy is the oldest inhabited part of Paris.<BR><BR>Isn't the tower (Henri IV?) inside the Sorbonne the oldest something?<BR><BR>The smallest street is Chat qui Peche and the smallest house (one room wide) is along the river on the left bank (don't know the address, it's in the 5/6/7 before the curve, next to a very modern facade). The highest natural point is the mont of Montmartre fame.

Les ar&egrave;nes de Lut&egrave;ce are Roman ruins right in Paris. And the Champs de Mars was a Roman road, wasn't it?<BR><BR>And I seem to recall in reading "A Corner of the Marais" that the oldest house in Paris was in that area - but memory could have failed me here.

Oldest building in Paris? Depends upon whom you ask. Some tourguides identify a building on Ille St Louis as the oldest house. Other sources say it's a tavern called Nicolas Flamel. Do a google search for more info.

Certainly the most distinctive and at least oldest looking house is the one on the corner of rue du Pont-Louis-Phillippe and rue Cloche-Perce in the Marais. It's a half timbered gabled house that is obviously from medieval times.

I think for main big building I've read it is the Conciergerie on the Ile de la Cite, although I might be remembering wrong. I also thought one of the oldest areas with some medieval buildings (in fact, where Abbelard hung out) was also on that island in the NE corner behind Notre Dame and Sq. Jean XXII (ie, rue des Chantres, rue des Ursins, that area). I took some photos of those buildings last summer, there are some kept up fairly well, at least.

Your replies will help greatly - now I have something to work with, thank you very much.<BR><BR>Before posting, I did run an advanced google search for 'oldest building in Paris' and about the only pertinent thing that came up was someone's gallery of pictures. They're pretty good if you want to take a look (18th picture from top/or 10th under Seine Boat Tour) is what they were told is the oldest building.<BR><BR>http://hotflamingdeath.com/france.htm

I also like your theme idea. any chance you could post them when you are back?<BR><BR>(what other themes for picture taking have you followed? it's fun, isn't it?)<BR><BR>HRH