Book combines loos and culture

A NEW book - Pisser à Paris - offers the chance to combine a trip to the loo with a culturally enriching experience.

In their new guide to places to pee in Paris (published by Editions du Palio), Nathalie Marx and Claude Lussac discarded the – convenient but dull - modern sanisettes (coin-operated cubicles) in favour of places with interest and heritage.

Out of 250 visited, they included 130 of the most enjoyable, rated for comfort and interest.

For a start they suggest using the toilets in one of the luxury hotels – for example those in Le Crillon, Place de la Concorde, which have an “Empire” style or the Lutetita’s in the 6th arrondissement, which are Art Déco.

Lovers of history might also like to check out the conveniences in the medieval Jean Sans Peur tower in Rue Etienne-Marcel (2nd) or at the monks’ cells at the Collège des Bernardins (5th), the authors suggest.

The one remaining 19th Century vespasienne street urinal in Boulevard Arago (8th) gets a mention as do traditional chalets d’aisance staffed by dames pipi on the Champs-Elysées or at the foot of Montmartre.

More unusual offerings include the Baccarat museum (16th), which has “erotic” loos, decorated by Philippe Starck or at Belushi’s bar in the 19th which has urinals in the shape of red lips. Using loos once frequented by Jean-Paul Sartre is the attraction at the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Rue d’Ulm.

“We wanted to break down the barrier that separates triviality and culture,” said Nathalie Marx. “Through toilets we can address cultural, political or artistic subjects. We have favoured places that have a soul.”

Photo: DR