Winter blues have set in over Paris. But try to look on the bright side! The cold months bring their own visual charm to the City of Light. Have a look at the amazing photo essay at Secrets of Paris for a reminder of the the stark beauty of l’hiver.
Le Cimetière des Chiens is in Asnières-sur-Seine, a commune in the suburbs just to the northwest of Paris proper. Don’t despair, it’s really not very far; only a 25-minute métro ride (if that) from central Paris — plenty close for you to pay a quick visit during your Parisian vacation! While the cemetery is commonly [...]
“Le Peuple de Paris” running at the Musée Carnavaet until February 26, 2012. It is a sociological investigation into the lives of the working classes in Paris in the 19th century, looking particularly at how these people and their lifestyles, were portrayed by artists and the media at the time, and provides an intruiging and original [...]
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 [...]
I fell in love with this sphinx! Really stunning. I came across it by chance while walking in front of the Hotel de Salm, a former hotel particulier (a private house generally built by aristocrats before the 18th century, mostly) that is now the Musée de la Légion d’Honneur (a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802).
How many of you never got to see last year’s Monet exhibition at the Grand Palais? It was so popular that tickets sold out months in advance and the lines stretched for three-four hours – in winter – around the block. So it might be a good idea to buy advance tickets for what will [...]
Le Fanfaron is one of the favorite Parisian bars of my girl crush du jour, Lou Doillon (daughter of Jane Birkin). In a very caché backstreet off Ledru Rollin (near Bastille), my girlfriend and I found what seemed to be a bit of a local secret. Situated on a narrow residential street, Le Fanfaron is [...]
One of the things I’ve always liked about the Château d’Angers is that it’s so different from most of the other castles in the Loire Valley. As you can see from the pictures, instead of being an opulent palace like say Chenonceau or Chambord, it’s more of a fortress. According to the signage outside, the current structure [...]
Until the 18th century, thanks to its commercial and recreational value, the Seine and its banks were the place to be in Paris. At that time, the Seine was a place of partying and pleasure. Royal celebrations were organized along the Seine and citizens headed down to the banks to wash themselves and their clothes. [...]
For a relaxing afternoon in Paris, most people will head to the array of charming parks, either in the centre of the city, like Jardin du Luxembourg, or the larger ones, like Grand Bois, on the outskirts. However, I’d argue no park is as peaceful as the Grande Mosquée de Paris in the 5th arrondissement. Someone recommended I go [...]
