Musee de Cluny

Started the day with coffee and a visit to the Lebanese food stall at the Bastille market. We're missing our Sunday lunches at Akaar's in Sydney Road so, while in Paris, we visit the Bastille market to get our fix of zaatar pizzas! The Lebanese pizza is not pizza as we know it - soft, thin bread smeared with thyme and olive oil or a fine meat mince and lemon juice, heated on a griddle-type hot plate and folded like a crepe. Mm, mm, mmm.

Wandered through the Marais and across to the Latin quartier to visit the Musee de Cluny. The musee is the national museum of the middle ages and is housed in the remnants of Gallo-roman baths thought to have been built in the 1st century and the Hotel de Cluny, a Parisian mansion built in the late 15th century.

The musee has on show items from medieval society from the 5th to the 15th centuries; tapestries, fabrics, embroideries, stained glass, sculptures, paintings and items from daily life - jewellery, belt buckles, hair pins - and the most amazingly intricate door locks and keys. There is one darkened room displaying the Lady and the Unicorn tapestries which are absolutely fabulous.

Between the musee and Boulevard Saint-Germain is a recreation of a medieval garden and on the other side of the musee Place Paul-Painleve, both of which reflect the collection of the musee in their layout - the unicorn's forest, the millefleurs flowerbed, the celestial garden, the meadow - and are designed to link the musee with the urban surrounds. Tres belle!

Meandered home following no particular path and noticed that work is commencing on installations for Nuit Blanche on Saturday night - an all night display of window installations in galleries, street performances, installations in parks, squares and on the facade of buildings. Tres exciting!