The "Histoire de Paris" plaques (sometimes called ''Starck Oars'' because of their shape and their designer,
Philippe Starck) are information plaques scattered throughout the City of Paris in front of various Parisian monuments.
In 1992,
Jacques Chirac
Jacques René Chirac (, , ; 29 November 193226 September 2019) was a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. Chirac was previously Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988, as well as Ma ...
, then mayor of Paris, asked the
JC Decaux
Decaux Group (JCDecaux SA, ) is a multinational corporation based in Neuilly-sur-Seine, near Paris, France, known for its bus-stop advertising systems, billboards, public bicycle rental systems, and street furniture. It is the largest outdoor a ...
company to install the plaques.
[http://www.leparisien.fr/paris-75/les-pelles-starck-ont-fait-leur-temps-21-01-2009-381476.php Article by Sébastien Ramnoux in the newspaper "Le Parisien" of 21 January 2009.]
Starck designed 767 panels. They appear to be in the shape of an oar, but are actually meant to recall a ship's paddle, in honour of the Latin motto of the City of Paris, "
Fluctuat nec mergitur
The coat of arms of the city of Paris (French: ''Blason de Paris'') shows a silver sailing ship on waves of the sea in a red field, with a chief showing the Royal emblem of gold-on-blue fleur-de-lis. Originally introduced in the 14th century, its ...
" ("battered by the waves, but never capsized").
The town of Paris pays 1.2M euros each year to the company JC Decaux .
[
These panels should be replaced by interactive kiosks.][
The plaques are fondly regarded by most Parisians, as they highlight the cultural and political history of Paris. The Neolithic Period is the earliest era referred to, but there are 21st Century references, particularly to painters and writers.
The only translations of the plaques into English is via th]
Paris by Plaque
walking guide series, which translates the text and places it in historical context, explaining the references and providing photos.
Notes
External links
* https://plus.google.com/photos/102271478298892340726/albums/5606580537302351153?banner=pwa&gpsrc=pwrd1# : site with photos of the plaques
* (English) https://web.archive.org/web/20130814072222/http://www.parisbyplaque.net/ : the only English translation of the plaques, with historical context.
* http://borneshistoiredeparis.blogspot.fr/2016/05/normal-0-21-false-false-false.html
History of Paris
Geography of Paris
{{Paris-geo-stub