No more Morris Columns

Paris axes its Morris columns in bid to clear city of clutter (Independent, January 2006)

Yet another iconic symbol of French life is under threat, although I did not realise that they were called “Morris Columns” (Colonne Morris)- those dark green circular advertising “kiosks” which adorn many Parisian streets and junctions. The Independent reports that of the remaining 700 or so, 200 are to be removed to tidy the urban landscape – they’ll be wanting to remove the Arc de Triomphe next as it is a traffic hazard!

I like the urban myth, which must have featured in some atmospheric Maigret-style film which maintains that inside the columns is access to a staircase into the underground labarynth of Paris – the reality is apparently more mundane – storage for streetcleaner tools.!

If you want to explore underground Paris you can always visit the “Sewer Museum”(Musée des Egouts de Paris) just opposite the Musée d’Orsay and the Pont d’Alma – open Saturday to Wednesday.

By Train TGV from London