The Bourse is a stock exchange located in the heart of Paris. The front of the building carries the motto, “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité” and like most important buildings in Paris it has a long history. It was founded by the King Louis XIV in 1725 to gather all which had to do with commerce. The Bourse did not always occupy its own building. It had once been held in a church (Notre Dame des Victoires) and also in the Louvre. Napoleon Bonaparte had the current building of the Bourse created. It is originally structured as Greek temple (with a rectangular shape and a rectilinear design throughout the building). However, it quickly became too small and two sections were added to the right and left of the original building giving it the appearance of a cross.

This neighborhood is also that of Journalism. The major journals have their headquarters at close proximity to the Bourse. A short walk from the Bourse we find the Mairie du 2ème Arrondissement [The City Hall of the 2nd Municipal District]. At the entrance of that building there is a stone carving of a ship representing the motto of Paris, “Il flotte et ne coule pas” [It floats and does not sink]. This motto refers to the fact that the Seine, a river, runs throughout Paris. Close to the City Hall we find the church Notre Dame des Victoires. The church was started under King Louis XIII to thank Notre Dame des Victoires. However, there were not enough funds to complete the project so it temporarily held the Bourse. Under Napoleon it becomes a church. It would then be dedicated to the heart of Virgin Mary and would become a great site for pilgrimage (a Basilica). Inside the church there are close to thirty-seven thousand ex-votos thanking the Virgin Mary. (-Serginio)

The church was built with a Roman Basilica style with a lot of windows that let in a lot of light.