Our Blog - Paris Olympics - Day 2

Day 2 walking took us by the Eiffel Tower with the Olympic rings mounted on the 2nd story. We couldn't get into the Champs des Mars due to it holding various events, so it was all blocked off.

Just around from our B&B was this building, that I don't remember ever seeing before. It is the headquarters of the BNP Paribas Asset Management group and the historical archives. The building dates back to 1878 and was the seat of the former Comptoir National d'Escompte de Paris (CNEP). There is a bit of history here, in fact. After the French Revolution, there was a general lack of confidence in paper assets (shares, bonds, bank deposits) and everyone wanted to convert these assets to gold or silver. Most private banks had been closed and withdrawals from savings accounts were limited. The Minister of Finance created the CNEP as a limited liability bank. It continued, expanded, then liquidated, then reorganized. After WWII, another merger along with nationalization, becoming the Banque national de Paris (BNP). The main (original) section of the building was built between 1878 and 1883.

Over the door is the Allegory of Prudence with mosaic medallions above that represent the 5 continents. The Comptoir was thus the first French bank to set up an international network. BNP Paribas continues this tradition today, with a presence in more than 80 countries. You will also be able to see the continent mosaic medallions in the last picture.

At the top, on the left is the Allegory of Finance, holding a general ledger. On the right is the Allegory of Commerce, holding a caduceus (traditional symbol of Hermes, what we think of as the symbol of medicine).

The bank has since moved out (from what I read) and it is being redesigned for other purposes, hence the BERGÈRE name at the top instead of BNP PARIBAS (which if you google, you can find pictures with the bank name).