The Musée des Vampires is a small private museum (near the Mairie des Lilas) dedicated to vampires and the study of their place in folklore and modern culture. Located just on the outer edge of Paris, it can be a bit complicated to visit for non-French speakers, but it’s totally do-able and absolutely worth the [...]
Three things the French excel in are art, entertainment, and of course, wine. So anyone planning a visit to Paris, or to France in general, should be sure to visit three particular attractions. The Louvre is one of those “to-do” items that goes without saying. And instead of fearing crowds and waits, simply plan your [...]
This past weekend the exhibition halls at Paris’s Parc Floral turned into a pet lover’s play land when the 2011 Animal Expo rolled in with over 300 dogs, 700 cats, fish, birds, farm animals, reptiles and rodents. When I saw metro billboards displaying advertisements for the expo, I knew I had to go. A chance [...]
The Eiffel Tower is about to provide its visitors with a step into dizzying suspension. Soon visitors to the first level will look straight down the Eiffel Tower through a plate of glass instead of looking through the fence. The idea of the architect, Alain Moatti, is to give the impression of floating above Paris. [...]
“Des Jouets et des hommes” (Of Toys and Men), at the Grand Palais, presents a history of toys in the Western world and spotlights their importance in children’s education right from birth. The show runs through January 23. Boys had the neatest things to play with growing up. Coming from a family of girls, the [...]
The Hôtel Biron, built in 1728, has served as the Musée Rodin since 1919, and is situated on over 7 acres (3 hectacres) of gardens and sculptures. This grand entrance is a prelude to the amazing work of Rodin contained within these 18th Century walls. The museum features the work of Rodin’s muse, Camille Claudel, [...]
The first impression when entering the Opera Restaurant at the Palais Garnier is being in a grotto. I imagined growing mushrooms. My husband imagined the grotto in Gaston Leroux’s Phantom of the Opera. We were both right. Contrary to your normal grotto though, this one is full of light and color. The fantasy of the menu [...]
One of the highlights of September in Paris is the annual Journées du Patrimoine (heritage days) weekend, where access is given to a wide range of normally closed to the public locations. Popular opinion will tell you that the event can involve nightmare 2-hour queues to visit some places (the Palais de l’Elysée, or President’s [...]
In Bourg-la-Reine almost by accident, I spot a building that makes the detour seem worthwhile. As I pull out my camera and start taking pictures, a window opens behind me and out pops a head. “Do you know what that building is?” it asks. The head belongs to an ancient lady, perhaps as old as [...]
Although I am a historian of technology, my favorite bridge in Paris is modern, very modern: la passerelle de Solférino (the Solférino pedestrian bridge, recently renamed the Léopold Sédar Senghor bridge), which opened in 1999. This superb design by engineer-architect Marc Mimram (born in Paris in 1955) links the Jardin des Tuileries to the Musée [...]
