Ghosts aren’t exclusive to the wilds of Brittany or the castles of Scotland, Paris too has her spectres! For example, let’s talk about the mysterious “red man of the Tuileries”. The story starts with an extortionist, executed by Catherine de’ Medici, who lived near a tile (“tuile”) factory (the future site of the Tuileries). With the noose around his neck, the man swore he’d come back and get his revenge! Since then, the heads that wear the crown have seen him before losing theirs… Marie-Antoinette saw him when she was imprisoned in the Conciergerie. And he appeared to Napoleon on the eve of Waterloo. Louis XVIII encountered him several days before his death. His final appearance is said to be during the Commune uprising amongst the flames that engulfed the palace, at last avenged by the destruction of the Tuileries.

Lets now wander to the Left Bank, and the Luxembourg Gardens…

During the Golden Twenties, as a medicine student was revising on a bench, he was approached by an old man in 19^th century dress. The mystery man invited him to come listen to music at his place, on the rue de Vaugirard. He went there, had an exquisite evening, and left. Once in the street, he realised that he’d forgotten his lighter. Going back to the building, he has to wake up the concierge, who takes him for a madman:  “but sir, no one’s lived in that apartment for 20 years!” The student convinces the watchman, who opens the door:  the space contains nothing but a collection of dusty furniture. On the wall… a portrait of the old man from the park. Nevertheless, on the mantelpiece covered in dust, the student found his lighter…