THE PARIS BEEKEEPING SCHOOL

摘要

The Jardin du Luxembourg in the 6th arrondisement is the quintessential formal Parisian park, with its broad graveled paths, well-pruned trees, geometric flower beds, fountains, and almost one hundred 19th-century statues of France's queens, saints and important personages scattered throughout. What few guidebooks mention, however, is that tucked away in this historic park's southwest corner is the Rucher-Ecole or Beekeeping School. First opened in 1856, the school shut down a decade later when BaronHaussman's grand re-making of Paris eliminated many of the woods nearby. But in 1872, the present rustic brick building (renovated in 1991) opened and has been holding an annual beekeeping course ever since. The school's 20 Dadant wooden hives are located about 100 yards away in a grove of trees surrounded by a thick hedge. And, it turns out, for good reason. The black bees of Paris are rather feisty. Ignoring the sign warning against walking on the lawn near the hives (I wanted to get some close-up photos), even at 10 feet away a vigilant guard bee stung me. Others followed up, but I retreated swiftly!