Salvador Dali Sundial on Rue Saint-Jacques in Paris
Located on the Rue Saint-Jacques that was on the pilgrimage route to Saint Jacques de Compostela, you will find a very unusual sundial, which was produced by the Spanish surrealist painter and artist Salvador Dali.
About the Salvador Dali Sundial
The Rue Saint-Jacques was on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain and went via numerous places in Paris including the Tour Saint Jacques, which the surrealist Spanish artist Salvador Dali was always interested in.
And although he lived in Paris for many years, Salvador Dali did have his roots in Spain, which is where he went back to in order to see his life out, yet according to some reports, the sundial located on a corner of a building on the Rue Saint-Jacques was inaugurated with a ceremony that he himself attended.
The Salvador Dali Sundial was made of concrete and installed in 1966, and this curious monument in Paris is signed by him along with the year of 1966, and the shape of the face is meant to represent the shape of a scallop or a Coquille Saint Jacques as they are called in French.
The blue eyes and the eyebrows are meant to represent the sun and the flames as reminder of the heat that the pilgrims endured on their long journey, however, some reports indicate that a part of the sculpture is more a representation of himself with his iconic moustache.
Also, according to some reports, it was produced for friends that owned the shop on the corner, rather than for the Way of Saint James, which you will hear mentioned on different occasions within the history of Paris.
But whatever theory or report you decide to go with, please do not rely on this as a true sundial in Paris, as it does not seem to work, and if the melting clocks that are used within the Salvador Dali paintings are any indication, then this is probably no wonder!
Visiting the Salavador Dali Sundial
Now as we mentioned, the Dali Sundial is located on the corner of a building on the Rue Saint-Jacques, which is at present a restaurant but this keeps changing.
It is located virtually opposite the Square Andre Lefevre that was named after a poet, in the 5th Arrondissement of Paris, and is on the side of the building that steps out from others on the same street.
When it comes to getting here via public transport in Paris, you will find that the nearest Metro Station is called the Cluny - La Sorbonne stop serving line 10, however, if you are travelling via train, the nearest RER train station is the Saint-Michel - Notre-Dame stop serving the RER B and C Lines, yet this is also a metro stop as well that serves line 4.
Alternatively, the bus lines 24, 47, 63, 86 and 87, along with the Noctilien Night Bus Service via lines N15 and N22 will also get you within walking distance of the Salvador Dali Sundial, and other tourist attractions that are located close by.
However, if you are interested in the works of this artist and want to see far more, then there is a museum in Paris dedicated to him called the Espace Dali, which is located in the 18th Arrondissement of Paris in the Montmartre area.
