The ParisSharing Blog

Archive for the ‘Things to do in Paris’ Category

1. Say it in countless languages, in front the “I love you” wall.  If you expect to be in Montmartre on Valentine’s, explore the village streets that exude their legendary romantic charm, and as you near the Place des Abbesses, don’t miss the small little square featuring a wall on which are engraved “I love you”  in hundreds of different languages.

Consider a 10 minute walk towards the center of Paris, and add to your Valentine’s walk a stop either at the playful Musée de l’Eroticism or the Musée de la Vie Romantique.  Nearby, ParisSharing offers you a stay at “La Bruyère“, a beautiful two-bedroom apartment tucked away from the street, with a view on a private courtyard, and a foothold on the charming Place Gustave Toudouze.

2. Say it secretly, at the Place Furstenberg. The lone five-branched lantern confers this discrete square in the heart of Saint Germain des Près with an intensely romantic atmosphere. The nostalgia is poignant for those who remember the scene from Edith Wharton’s novel “The Age of Innocence”, where the protagonist Newland Archer bid his final silent farewell to the Countess Ellen Olesnska.  Later made into a movie by Martin Scorsesse.

ParisSharing recommends  ”La Palette” for a Valentine’s stay just around the corner from Place Furstenberg, in Saint Germain des Prés.

3. Say it even on a rainy day. Chances are it may be raining on Valentine’s Day in Paris, so why not consider a stroll through a few of the interior passage-ways that will allow you to explore the 2nd arrondissement, with the Palais Royal as a final destination? On your way, you can treat her to a ravishing rubarb-rasberry tarte at the cozy Arbre à Cannelle, located in the Passage des Panoramas. From there you can make your way to the Galleries Colbert and Vivienne (shopping along the way), preparing for your final amorous declaration to be made beneath the arches of the Palais Royal, where such things have been spoken countless times since the 17th century.

For a stay nearby, we recommend the violet hues of our Saint-Jacques studio on the rue de Rivoli or our neat and centrally-located Montorgueil studio.

Wherever you should decide to say it on Valentine’s day, take advantage of our special 10% discount for a stay of at least four nights during the month of February for any booking made before  Feb. 10, 2013.

And get yourself in the mood with some photos from our Paris Je t’aime gallerie.

Paris has always had it’s winter wonder, with the often spectacular lights and decorations throughout the city. The most famous reoccurring attractions are the Christmas windows at the Gallaries Lafayette and Printemps stores, and of course the Eiffel Tower New Year light show.

This year a new big event will give you one more reason to book your trip in December and January.  It’s the largest temporary ice ring ever created in France, and not just anywhere! Beneath the exquisite iron lace and expansive veranda of the Grand Palais. The ephemeral ring will offer you 1800 sq meters of magique. This will be the first time in its illustrious history that the Grand Palais is transformed for such a purpose.

If your not a skater, there will also be plenty of space around the ring to simply admire the architecture and lighting, as well as the more talented skaters who will certainly be present. There will be a café and a restaurant installed during the event.

For more information,  in particular regarding the special events that will be organized during the period between December 13th and January 6, have a look a the dedicated website.

You can count on ParisSharing to give account of the experience!

In the mean time, book your ParisSharing apartment and start looking forward to an unforgettable Christmas and New Years’.

Contemporary Art Market at Bastille

It was Hemingway who first referred to Paris as a moveable feast. In another sense, life in Paris is also a repetition of moveable feasts in the form of reoccuring fairs, festivals, markets and other events. There is a hardly an official Paris calendar that can keep track of them all.

The Bastille district is particularly well-endowed, with its bi-weekly market on north side of the monument, and it’s annual events on the arsenal side. On roughly the same dates each year (end of October, beginning of November) the contemporary art market (Grand Marché d’Art Contemporain) is held along both sides the canal that feeds into the Seine.

The event is tremedously popular because it allows art enthusiasts to visit 500 exhibitors in one walk-through. Most of the exhibits are held by the artists themselves, and it is always more gratifying to buy art directly from the artist. There is art for just about every budget, and the constant flow of visitors from all horizons makes it less intimidating than the typical art gallery, not to mention more economical. There is no intermediary for in the art market, except for the market organisers, who sell entry tickets for 8€.

This year is the 37th edition, with the theme of “The Eternal Feminine”–an eternal theme in itself.

If you missed out this year, think ahead for 2012 and reserve your nearby accommodations on ParisSharing. Albeit on a much smaller scale (and with no entry fee), you can also experience the weekly Bastille art market each Saturday morning throughout the year.

See more information about the Bastille district.

Fall brings a new season of exhibitions to Paris museums.  Here is a list of the top five exhibits to see while visiting The City:

Grand Palais -  Of Toys and Men (September 14, 2011 – January 23, 2012)

Of Toys and Men is the history of toys in the western world and highlights the importance of toys in children’s education from birth.  The exhibit is possibly the largest toy exhibit ever featuring thousands of toys from Antiquity to modern day.

Centre Pompidou – Edvard Munch (September 21, 2011 – January 9, 2012)

The Centre Pompidou presents Edvard Munch, l’oeil moderne [Edvard Munch, the modern eye], a collection of eighty paintings, thirty drawings, fifty photographs and a film all shown for the first time in France.

Musee Maillol – Pompei (September 21, 2011 – February 12, 2012)

In 79AD, the city of Pompei was completely buried under lava and ash from the catastrophic eruption of the volcano Vesuvius.  However, the extremely well preserved ruins of Pompei rose from the ashes when they were discovered in the 1700’s.  The exhibit guides visitors through a typical Pompeian home, featuring over 200 artifacts including wall murals, vases and jewelry.

Musee du Louvre – La Cité Interdite – Forbidden City (September 26, 2011 – January 9, 2012)

The Louvre exhibit features 130 artifacts from China’s Forbidden City on loan from the ancient imperial palace museum.  Artifacts range from jade carvings, lacquerware, seals, porcelain and bronzes to personal items previously owned by Ming and Qing Dynasty emperors.

Les Arts Decoratifs – Goudemalion – Jean Paul Goude Retrospective (November 11, 2011 – March 18, 2012)

Les Arts Décoratifs welcomes this grand retrospective of Jean-Paul Goude, the French graphic designer, illustrator, photographer, director and art director. For over 40 years, Goude has been one of the advertising world’s leading “image makers”, who is best-known for his campaigns for such brands as Perrier, Citroën, Galeries Lafayette and Chanel.

Fall is one of the best times of the year to visit Paris, and it’s an excellent time to take advantage of some of ParisSharing’s wonderful apartments at special fall prices.

If you have visited Paris before and seen the main attractions – Notre Dame, Les Invalides, Louvre and other hotspots – you may be looking for other ways to enjoy this exciting and vibrant city.  Here are ideas for some of the more unusual things to do in Paris.

Guided Tour of L’Opéra Garnier

Be transported back to the luxury and opulence of the Second French Empire in the 19th century when you take a tour of the palatial L’Opéra Garnier. As you go around this sensational building prepare to be blown away by the sumptuousness of the interiors. At every turn, the surfaces are upholstered in velvet, decorated with gold leaf, or embellished with statues.

Highlights include the Grand Escalier (Main Staircase), the great chandelier in the auditorium, and the painted ceiling by Marc Chagall.

Perfume Making Workshop in Paris

One of the most delightful things to do in Paris is to make your own perfume during a special hands-on class! This enjoyable workshop introduces you to the perfume-maker’s skills and secrets. You will also find out about the origins of Eau de Cologne, which may surprise you. Its birthplace is actually Florence and not Paris or indeed Cologne!

Learn to smell and describe the ingredients of an Eau de Cologne and also gain an understanding of the constituents and characteristics belonging to different families of odours.

Horse and Carriage Tour

This is surely one of the most romantic things to do in Paris! Return to the pre-automobile era as you ride in an elegant carriage drawn by magnificent glossy horses. Enjoy the jangle of the harness and the envious stares of the onlookers. And there is need to worry about the weather – there is a covered top in case of rain and plenty of blankets to keep you warm in winter.

Montparnasse Tower

You may have been up the Eiffel tower, but did you know that the views from the soaring Montparnasse Tower (210-meters high) are even more spectacular? From the 56th or 59th floor of Montparnasse Tower, one of the tallest buildings in Paris, you can see for 40km (24 miles). Below you is the busy city with its famous landmarks – Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides, Sacré Coeur, Musée d’Orsay, the Arc de Triomphe and many more – laid out like a map. The Tower is open every day till late and there is a café on the 56^th floor, where, if the mood takes you, you can sip Champagne while gazing out at a Paris sunset.

Cooking Lesson and Wine and Cheese Tasting

Keen cooks and gourmets looking for things to do in Paris will just love this experience. In a hands-on master-class you can learn to make classic dishes and interact with people who share your passion for French food. You can also enjoy sampling the dishes you have cooked in class as well as tasting some delicious French cheese and wine.

About the author

Guest blogger Vik has been traveling around Europe since 1985, the tip he offers to first time visitors is to opt for skip the queue by booking your Versailles tours online.