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Another building, another photo?? Travelers to Paris wander the streets with their cameras at the ready, taking photographs of the magnificent buildings and structures that envelope them. It's hard not to become mesmerised by the sheer beauty in front of you.

A friend of mine once said to me "the more one travels to Paris, the more you realise how little you know!". But I take a more positive line, that the more you travel to Paris, the more you know! Over the many times I have spent in Paris and France I've not only seen the buildings (and photographed them), but I've learnt the stories that make up the richness of this city. So when I walk through a district of Paris I don't just see the buildings, I see the people and their stories. I want to share with you one significant location which I can find just 50m from my own apartment - this image is never photographed, but its story is sad and moving - I pass this spot regularly, and it never goes unnoticed.

Here was killed on the barricades Rene Vinchon, Keeper of the Peace, 22 August 1944.

Between the 19 and 22 August 1944 young Parisians were desperately trying to protect their city from the retreating Nazis who were threatening to destroy their city, their heritage. All through the Latin Quarter in Paris you can see these plaques on street corners - remembering these young men who were often only boys. This plaque has under it a brass ring - in this ring you are welcome to leave a bouquet of flowers in rememberance. If you are in Paris over the next few weeks remember young Rene at 27 rue St Jacques.

Over the next few weeks I will share other sights of Paris which tell human stories such as this. If you are not already subscribed to this blog and would like to read more stories on France just click on "Email subscription" on this message (which you can also cancel at any time!).