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3 WALKS TO DO AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NIGHT IN PARIS (PATHS)

In winter the sun goes down early and we are more tempted to stay at home in peace. But did you know that it is pleasant to walk in winter in Paris at night and discover the illuminations of the capital?

Here are three ideas of ballads to do alone or accompanied at dusk in the City of Light!

1. Walking in Paris at dusk

Start your walk at the Place de la Concorde where you will also discover the Obelisk of Luxor with its Egyptian hieroglyphs.

Then go up to the Champs-Elysées to discover and enjoy the illuminations. You arrive then at the level of the Arc de Triomphe which dominates the avenue on the Place de l’Etoile.

Then head to the Effel Tower to admire its nocturnal illuminations.

GOOD TO KNOW: The Effel Tower sparkles for 5 minutes at the beginning of each hour until 1am.

Finally walk along the quays to the Town Hall with its neo-renaissance style in the 4th neighborhood where you will find entertainment on the forecourt on some days.

2. Take a cruise on the Seine at dusk

Winter is the perfect time to take a night cruise on the Seine and discover Paris differently.

It begins with the Effel Tower and continues towards the Notre-Dame cathedral to the Louvre and Orsay museums. An ideal moment to discover the great monuments of Paris by night.

For your Parisian cruise, choose Bateaux Parisiens, Bateaux mouches or the stars of Pont-Neuf or the “Croisière la Parisienne” by Canauxrama.

3. Quad riding in Paris at dusk

Also choose to discover Paris at night in Quad or 2 CV. An original way to discover the capital.

Quad is allowed from 16 years old. You will leave from the Place de la Bastille at 9:30 pm for an hour of ballad. Rates start from 60 euros per person.

For more information on night walks, visit www.parisinfos.com

Enjoying the Christmas holidays in Paris: the good plans !

Staying in Paris during Christmas holidays is a real entertainment. You will enjoy with your family or your children many attractions and shows organized. Here are some good plans to do during the Christmas holidays in Paris.

Christmas markets

You can discover several traditional Christmas markets in different parts of Paris: the Christmas market on the forecourt of the Notre-Dame cathedral from December 15 th to 24th with its regional gastronomy and its jewelry or the Invalides market from December 15 th to 31st in the Army Museum.

Discover also the Afro-Caribbean Market from December 16th to 17th in the 3rd district and the Vintage retro market (dresses, hair styling gadgets) at The Bellevilloise from December 16th to 17th with a 2-euro entrance in the twentieth neighborhood.

The skating rink of the Hôtel de Ville

You can access to the skating rink at the Hôtel de Ville freely for all with 6 euros the rent o skates and you have to wear gloves. It is open until 22 pm in the evening and the night on Fridays and Saturdays evening. Monitors are present to help you.

The Illuminations of the Champs-Elysées with Lilly Rose Deep

Do not miss the illuminations of the Champs Elysees with the inauguration of the avenue by Lilly Rose Deep, the daughter of Johnny Deep and Vanessa Paradis, on November 22 nd at 18h in collaboration with the mayor of Paris. These illuminations last until January 8 th, 2018.

The libraries of Paris celebrate Christmas:

Do not miss the free shows on the theme of Christmasl in the various libraries of Paris: the show and story for children « Le loup s’est égaré » at the library François Villon on December 16th or the show for children from 3 to 6 years old “Les Loups de Noel et autres histoires d’hiver” at the Benjamin Rabier library on December 20th.

You will also be able to discover and participate to a creative workshop around Christmas at the Marguerite Yourcenar media library on December 2nd.

The Festival at the Museum of Fairground Arts

From December 26 th to January 7th, you will enjoy a Festival which takes places at the museum of Fairgroun Arts . You will attend shows animated by jugglers, tightrope walkers and dancers …

The entry foran adult adults cost 14 euros and 5 euros for children from 4 to 11 years old and free for children under 4 years old.

To discover other addresses of good plans, go on the websitesite https://quefaire.paris.fr/noel
https://quefaire.paris.fr/noel

The best restaurants in Paris to celebrate the Christmas Day

When you think of The Christmas holidays, you think ofChristmas markets but also with tasting the best Parisian restaurants.

Here are some addresses of restaurants to test with your family or friends during Christmas.

A dinner aboard the flies boats to celebrate Christmas.

You can enjoy a meal for two on the 25th of December for 90 euros with appetizer, starter, main course, dessert and wine.

You can also enjoy a cruise aboard the Parisian boats of 2:30 the evening during the Eve of December the 24th between 145 and 220 euros depending on the service including an appetizer, a starter, a main course, cheese, a dessert, drinks and wine.

The restaurant La Maison Blanche

It is located on the rooftops of the Champs-Elysées with a view of the Effel Tower. You will taste for 135 euros a menu with oysters, foie gras with whiskey, guinea fowl and Christmas log.

Lunch formulas are between 50 and 60 euros.

The Opera restaurant

It is located within the Opera Garnier. You will enjoy a meal for 88 euros per person on December 24th. It is surrounded by a chic decor dating from the 19th century.

The restaurant also offers brunches and a valet parking.

The restaurant La Fermette Marbeuf

It is located near from the Champs-Elysees in the 8th neighborhood. this traditional restaurant with beautiful decor offers a tasting menu for 55 euros with chicken supreme or snail laminated among others.

The Cesar Palace to celebrate Christmas

This cabaret and Parisian restaurant is located in the 15th neighborhood and offers both shows and entertainments as well as formulas for lunch or dinner including a grilled cockerel or vacherin iced between 53 and 78 euros.

The Alcazar restaurant to celebrate Christmas

This chic restaurant is located in the sixth neighborhoodt in the district of Saint-Germain des Prés and offers a formula between 50 and 70 euros including scampi and cream morels and a vacherin iced. This restaurant can welcome 220 covers and is overhung by a glass roof of 12 meters.

To find more addresses, visit http://www.selectionrestaurant.com/brunch-de-noel-le-25-decembre-resto.php
http://www.selectionrestaurant.com/brunch-de-noel-le-25-decembre-resto.php

The origin of the names of monuments of Paris

When you are visiting Paris, you will visit some well-known monuments and places. But do you know what is behind some names of monuments in Paris?

Here are some Parisian monuments and their history.

The Conciergerie

The Conciergerie is a monument dating from the 13th century and which designates the former residence of the Kings of France and more particularly that of the Concierge of the Ancien Régime which represented the royal authority.
The place was later transformed into a prison in 1370 but the term “Concierge” remains and refers to the prison warden.

The Tuileries Garden

This garden is located on the same site as an old tile factory at the time of Catherine de Medicis. She built the Tuileries Palace destroyed in 1883 during the Paris Commune. Today, only the name “Jardin des Tuileries” remains.

The Sorbonne

This name comes from the founder of Sorbonne College “Robert de Sorbon”. This man decided to create in 1257 a college for the poor people. He then accesses to the King’s houses located on rue de la Sorbonne. This term was synonymous for a long time with “University of Paris” and a place of philosophical and political debates.

The Place des Vosges

This place is created by Henry IV and is named at the very beginning “Place Royale” then the “Place des Fédérés” and “Place d’Indivisibilité” in 1793. Napoleon wanted the departments to pay quickly their tax. It is the department of the Vosges that carried out this task; the place then becomes the “Place des Vosges”.

The Samaritaine

The Samaritaine originally meant a pump at the Pont Neuf which supplied the Louvre with water. A man named Ernest Cognacq buied a building not far from there that becomes the stores of the Samaritaine.

To discover more historical information about Parisian places, see the following page:
http://www.unjourdeplusaparis.com/paris-insolite/origine-noms-monuments-paris
http://www.unjourdeplusaparis.com/paris-insolite/origine-noms-monuments-paris

The parisian metro : the stories behind some of its famous stations

When you take the metro, it is not insignificant that some stations names call you. Do you know the story behind some names of metro stations? Here are some names of metro stations and their historical references.

The history of the metro station “Boulogne Jean Jaurès”

He was born in 1859. Jean Jaures began his career as a philosophy teacher, then became a journalist and founded “L’Humanité” before involving himself as a pacifist activist in several political causes. He was assassinated in 1914 in Paris. Currently two metro stations in Paris has his name.

The history of the metro station “Victor Hugo”

Victor Hugo was first a poet, a writer and a senator. He is the author of the famous novels “Les Miserables” and “Notre Dame de Paris” which have been adapted to the cinema and which today belong to the classics of French literature. At its burial in 1885, more than 2 million people were present!

The history of the metro station “Louise Michel”

Louise Michel is one of the two women to give her name to an underground station. Initially she was a school teacher, then she involved in political battles. She was also the friend of Victor Hugo. She died in 1905 and was buried in the cemetery of Levallois-Perret.

The history of the Montparnasse-Bienvenue metro station

Fulgence Montaparnasse was an Engineer and is at the origin of the creation of the Paris metro, of drinking water, of the funicular of Belleville and of the development of the Buttes Chaumont park. In 1881 he was the victim of a work accident and had an amputation of his left arm. The first metro line was inaugurated in 1900.

The history of the “Gare de l’Est” metro station

This station was built between 1847 and 1850 and it is the station of departure of many soldiers to the East during the first World War. Today the trains leads in particular to Strasbourg, the seat of the European Parliament, the symbol of peace.

To discover other stories of parisian metro names, go to the website metro.paris/fr

The Unusual evenings in Paris: discover Paris by night differently

Paris is full of theaters, cinemas and bars in different neighborhoods. But what are the unusual evenings to discover in Paris? Here are some addresses of good plans to do to visit Paris otherwise.

Unusual shows and evenings in Paris

Every Friday and Saturday night between 10pm and midnight, the Galande Studio proposes the adaptation of the movie Rocky Horror Picture Show wich was released in 1975. The show is inspired by the film (actors disguised as the characters etc) and spectators are invited to participate at the show. The studio is in the fifth neighborhood and the ticket costs 11 euros.

Spend an unusual evening at the Vampire Museum! This museum is full of information and objects about vampirism and Dracula. It proposes an evening in the museum with visiting conference and a meal for about 30 euros. The evening takes place between 8 pm and 1 am in the Paris suburb Les Lilas.

Enjoy magic shows and free concerts at a bar called Les Cariatides in the 2nd neigborhood between 6pm and 4am. The plate of tapas is at 10 euros and the happy hours at 6 euros between 18h and 21h. The programming is different every day.

The unusual bars in Paris

Enjoy an evening in an ice bar in a -7 degree temperature called the Ice Kube. Located in a hotel, you are provided with a down jacket, gloves to spend half an hour in this icy atmosphere in the 18th nieghborhood. The half hour costs 38 euros and includes 4 cocktails with a part of vodka. You will also listen to electro music. The bar is open between 7 pm and 1:30 am.

Enjoy bare-chested barmen in a bar called Le Latin Corner in the 5th nieghborhood, open between 4 pm and 2 am and enjoy an exceptional show if you take the “server sperm” cocktail.

Enjoy spending time in an unusual bar with mangas and video games. The hot and cold drinks are unlimited and the first hour costs 3 euros. Themed evenings take also place. This bar is open until 10pm.

The bar “Urgence Bar” in the sixth neighborhood offers a hospital atmosphere with syringes and medicines among others. The cocktail costs 8 euros every Tuesday and Wednesday evening between 9pm and 11pm and on the first Thursday of each month you will have gifts and surprises.

For more unusual outlet addresses, visit the website sortie-insolite.fr

© La Fourchette

The Père-Lachaise cemetery

The Père Lachaise cemetery is the most extensive and well known cemetery in Paris. There are buried famous celebrities and personalities. Here is a historical panorama of the Père- Lachaise cemetery and information on its access and prices.

History of the Père-Lachaise cemetery

This cemetery is the most visited in Paris. It is located in the 20th neighborhood of the capital and its name is from the priest confessor of King Louis XIV. It is an English park and it extends over 44 hectares and 70,000 concessions. It exists since 1804. That year the cemetery had only 13 graves and rose to 833 in 1812. You can find several styles in this park, from the Gothic to the Haussmannian style and the antique style. You can discover the burials of famous characters such as Jim Morrison, the writers Oscar Wilde and Honoré de Balzac and the singer Edith Piaf. You will be able to discover both these burials and the history of this cemetery and to walk in peace.

Opening hours and access to Père-Lachaise

The visit of Père-Lachaise is free. Guided tours are held on Saturdays and Sundays. It is open from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm Monday to Friday between November and mid-March, and from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm Saturday and from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm on Sundays and on public holidays. Between mid-March and October it is open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm from Monday to Friday, then from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm on Saturday during the same period and from 9 :00 am to 6 :00 pm on Sundays and public holidays such as the 15th of August or 14 th of July.

For more information on the Père-Lachaise cemetery, visit the Paris Tourist Office website.

Living Paris by Parisians

When you stay in Paris, you will visit museums and traditional places recommended for tourists. But do you know that there are places you should visit recommended by Parisians or to good plans to meet them? Here is how to live Paris by the Parisians.

Living Paris by meeting Parisians

Living Paris by eating at Parisians’home

The VizEat application and website (available on the Apple Store and Google Play) allows anyone to have a good plan to discover the culinary products of the capital. For example, it offers a cooking class or a market tour or a dinner at a parisian’s home to share a convivial moment typical of the capital. These good plans are for french and tourists.

The application is available in English, German, Spanish, Italian and Chinese and is also aimed to school, business or leisure groups.

Living in Paris by being hosted by a resident

You can also stay for free at the habitant thanks to the Tranpolinn application which operates by a system of points gain. It allows you to find a room, or accommodation for example among more than 4000 destinations or you can purpose your own room for a short stay. The person then informs her profile, her photo and exchange with the possible owners when she wishes to host to the habitant in a city or a specific country. Following his passage she can add a comment on the housing she occupied.

Living Paris by Parisians through the CIWY application

This application (CIWY: Can I welcome you) will allow you to discover the good addresses and good plans of the Parisians who wish to make you discover their daily life in the cultural and leisure fields. You will discover shops of districts which will reserve you a warm welcome and products of quality for example or even ideas of thematic outputs of the moment.

For more ideas of good plans, go to the website of the Tourist Office.

The unusual museums of Paris

When you are visiting Paris, you have to visit the museums of the capital. But do you know what are the unusual museums of Paris not to be missed? Here are a few unusual museum addresses.

The unusual museums in the North of Paris

The Museum of Phonograph and of Sound History

It is located in Pigalle. This museum exhibits th gramophones and phonographs that have been used to record film music such as « Inglorious Basterds or « Minuit à Paris ». The objects are collected and preserved for 25 years. A museum not to be missed!

The Grévin Museum

In the 9th neigborhood, you will discover a place where there are over 200 wax characters and celebrities such as Ryan Gosling or Jennifer and Mika from the show the Voice or Mozart.

The Chocolate Museum

In the 10th neigborhood, you will discover the history of chocolate by meeting chocolate makers, by tasting chocolate, having fun with your family, playing with children and watching life-size sculptures 3 meters high in chocolate !

The Caves of the Louvre

It opened recently to the public in the 1st neigborhood. The museum of wine and its history proposes a course with one or more wine tastings (15 euros for one tasting or 19 euros for 3 tastings) or an assembly workshop.

Unusual museums in the South of Paris

The Museum of Natural History

It is located in the 5thneighborhood at the station Gare d’Austerlitz. you will discover everything related to prehistory and evolution. Life-size animals such as giraffes show you in an incredible universe.

The Museum of fairground arts.

It is located in the 12th neighborhood. You will be able to come back to the atmosphere of the funfair of the 19th century with among others a restoration workshop of carnival.

The catacombs of Paris

In the 14th neighborhood at the Place Denfert-Rochereau, you will discover the catacombs of Paris on an area of 11,000 square meters and its many bones from Paris cemeteries in the endless labyrinths. The ambient temperature is 14 degrees and the visit is not recommended for people suffering from cardiac and respiratory problems.

For more ideas of visits, do not hesitate to consult the site.

The catacombs of Paris

Among the Paris most unmissable visits, choose the catacombs of Paris for its atmosphere and its extraordinary visit. Here is a panorama of the origins of the catacombs of Paris and a description of the visit.

The history of the catacombs of Paris

The origin of the catacombs dates back to the 18th century. The name “Catacombs” refers to an ossuary linked to the catacombs of Rome, a name linked to a cemetery which is not far from there.

In the catacombs, you can discover the bones of more than 6 million Parisians! In the 1800s, personalities like François 1st or Napoleon went down to visit these catacombs, a visit to do.

The catacombs opened to the public in the beginning of the 19th century and attracted a lot of people.

It is a veritable underground labyrinth of 20 meters deep underground in old quarries. A timeless visit that can cause chills.

The visit of the catacombs of Paris

The tour begins with the 130 steps down to the underground galleries. You can discover the the Arcueil Aqueduct, the crossing of the lower catacombs, the entrance to the ossuary and the “Samaritaine” fountain.

The visit lasts 45 minutes on a one-way course of 2 kilometers. Audio guides are available in English, Spanish and German for foreign tourists for 5 euros.

It is an ideal visit during Halloween day because of its slippery floor, low light, narrow spaces and its temperature (14 °).
The catacombs are open from 10 am to 8.30 pm from Tuesday to Sunday and are accessible from the Place Denfert-Rochereau in the 14th neigboorhood. Guided tours in groups are possible during the week.

Please note: this visit is not recommended for people with respiratory problems. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information on the visit, visit the website: catacombes.paris.fr