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Article: THE STONES OF PARIS
- Article from:
- The Independent (London, England)
- Article date:
- September 22, 2007
CopyrightCopyright 2007 The Independent - London. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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For centuries, the French have been using a particular local
stone to create the distinctive buildings of their capital. But
growing demand from around the world is threatening to exhaust the
quarries in question. John Lichfield reports
France's precious rock
They no longer know Paris who only Paris know. To see fine
buildings made from the warm, elusive, cream-grey stone of the
French capital, you once went to the Louvre, or to the Invalides or
to the Place de la Concorde. Now, to contemplate the glories of
"Paris stone", you can also visit Los Angeles or Las Vegas, Kuwait,
Knightsbridge or Marlow in Buckinghamshire.
The stone which illuminates the "city of light" is rolling around
the ...