Montmartre and the Sacré Cœur rise over Paris rooftops
One of the most famous districts in Paris is also one of the most recognizable: Montmartre with its Sacré-Cœur Basilica can be seen rising high above the Paris rooftops from across the city. The 130 meters (426 feet) high hill is famous not only for its remarkable church, but also for its bohemian past. The village within a city once was the home to artists such as Salvadar Dalí, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gogh. The picturesque Paris neighborhood still draws millions of visitors every year. In this article, we’ll highlight some of the top things to see on a daytrip to Montmartre! Read the entire story here…»
Today we are going to finish up our tour of a great Paris neighborhood – the Marais. This is the second of our two-part series on the fantastic neighborhood of the Marais in Paris. Make sure to watch the first part of our Video Tour of Le Marais in Paris.
Video Tour of Le Marais in Paris, Part 2
Rue des Rosiers
The Marais used to be an important center of Jewish Paris and is still today to a certain degree. You can see the unique Agoudas Hakehilos synagogue designed by Hector Guimard at 10 rue Pavee, just off of des Rosiers, which used to be the one of the main Jewish streets in Paris. While many of the traditional shops have been taken over by designer boutiques, there are still some shops selling Jewish specialties. You can pick up some tasty pastries at the various Jewish bakeries or grab a falafel at the famous l’As du Falafel (34 rue des Rosiers), home to the best falafel in the world!
Further down the street is Chez Marianne (2, Rue des Hospitalières-Saint-Gervais, on the corner at rue des Rosiers), a better option for a sit down meal. Here, patrons can make their own tasting menu of Eastern Mediterranean delicacies such as hummus, grilled eggplant and vine-leaf dolmas. The kitsch art adds to the charm of this restaurant. Read the entire story here…»
Today we are going to check out one of most historic (but also one of the coolest!) areas of Paris – the Marais. Refined 16th century mansions, peaceful gardens, Jewish delicatessens, ultra-trendy boutiques and the lively gay district show the great range of the Marais which has something for everyone!
Paris Neighborhood Video Tour: Le Marais – Part 1 (6:16)
History and Landmarks
The Marais, the French word for ‘marsh’, is located north of the Seine, sandwiched between Place de la Bastille, Place de la Republique and Les Halles. Its swamp lands were drained in the mid-1500s and the area was quickly bought up by aristocrats to build their elegant city mansions or hotels particuliers. The area was abandoned in the 18th century when the nobles started gravitating towards the west of the city. The Marais would have seen the wrecking ball if it hadn’t been for a campaign led by the Minister of Culture, Andre Malraux, in the 1960s to save the area’s heritage. Today the Marais is one of the loveliest and trendiest areas of Paris. Read the entire story here…»
Paris Neighborhood Video Tour: Bastille – Part 3 (5:44)
Shopping Scene
The area east of Place de la Bastille is known as the Faubourg Saint Antoine. Along rue de Faubourg Saint Antoine you are able to find some French chain fashion stores, but if you get off the main drag you can find all sorts of cool little boutiques scattered around the area.
And if you are headed north away from Bastille towards Place de la Republique don’t miss the cool concept store Merci, located at 111 boulevard Beaumarchais 75003, where you can find used books, designer and haute couture clothes and mega discounts – and all profits go to charity! Read the entire story here…»
Each spring, over 500,000 visitors flock to Paris’s Porte de Versailles convention center to enjoy the Foire de Paris—that is, the Paris Home Show. And yet, there is so much more to this gathering than just items for the home. 2,500 exhibitors arrive to show their goods, which include everything from furniture to tools to organic food to music to cars to gadgets to toys to housewares. The Foire de Paris, which has been held annually since 1904, is the perfect place to see what’s new in any number of fields.
A visit to the Foire de Paris is a treat for the entire family. This year’s show slogan is “Y’a d’la joie!” Roughly translated, it means “There is joy!” And truly, the show is all about making your world a pleasanter place to live in. The fair is broken into three exhibitions: Home and Environment, Well-Being and Leisure, and World of Cultures. Whether you are looking to organize or beautify your home, improve your health and recreation, or simply enjoy food, arts, clothing, and culture from around the world, the Foire de Paris offers you more options than you can imagine. Read the entire story here…»
This is the 2nd of our 3 part series on the neighborhood of Bastille in Paris. Check out Part 1 of our Video Tour of Bastille, and Part 3 of our Video Tour of Bastille. You can also watch them on our YouTube channel. In this video we are going to continue our stroll through the Bastille and present more of the opportunities that this wonderful neighborhood holds.
Paris Neighborhood Video Tour: Bastille – Part 2 (5:45)
Bercy (boulevard de Bercy 75012)
If you head a little south-east past Gare de Lyon you’ll reach the Bercy Stadium, a large sports complex and concert venue. Covered by steps and diagonal slabs of grass, this is a favorite hang out for many skateboarders. However, if you walk a little further to the east, you’ll come up to a nice park and a few more lesser-known places in Paris. Read the entire story here…»
In this video we are going to have a look at the area around La Bastille, which is located in the southeast of Paris, just beside the Marais. A former neighborhood outside the city just beyond the infamous Bastille prison, this area is more off-beat than its sophisticated neighbor – the Marais. With its real Parisian feel, the Bastille has all kinds of unique hidden treasures.
Paris Neighborhood Video Tour: Bastille – Part 1 (5:45)
La Bastille History and Landmarks
The Place de la Bastille is the area where The Bastille, a formidable fortress on the eastern gate of Paris, was built in the 1300s. From the early 1600s to 1789 it was used as a prison and, during that time, it held some well-known inmates:
The writer/philosopher Voltaire did two stints. He was locked up in 1717 and again in 1726. Also, the erotic writer, Marquis de Sade, was locked up for 5 years.
During the wee morning hours of July 14th 1789, it became the target of the large mob of early revolutionaries that stormed it, sparking the first French Revolution. Now, July 14th is known as Bastille Day in France as a memorial. After the revolution, the prison was dismantled and many of its study blocks went to the building of the Concorde Bridge. You can see the last vestiges of the prison in the little garden at the end of Boulevard Henri IV as well as in the metro station on the platform of line 5. Read the entire story here…»
For an off-the-beaten-path treat, take some time to discover the Canal Saint-Martin neighborhood on your next trip to Paris. This hidden gem may not be one of the most recognizable quarters of Paris, but it exudes a sense of elegant leisure that is oh-so French.
The center of this 10th arrondissement neighborhood is the canal, which was dug between the Seine and the river Ourcq under Napoleon’s orders in the early 19th century. At the time, there was a desperate need for fresh water, but today, the canal serves as a picturesque backdrop for Parisians and tourists enjoying a picnic lunch on its banks. Time seems to slow down as you sip your wine, watch the boats float by, and listen to the outdoor musicians serenade you. Read the entire story here…»
Paris is not only the most beautiful city to visit in the world, it is also unparalleled for romance and beauty. For Valentine’s Day this year, why not rediscover love through the age by taking a tour of the famous lovers in art and sculpture at the Louvre? You’re in for an unforgettable and romantic experience.
Most visitors to the Louvre take the time to admire the Venus de Milo, but you’ll want to look at her with new eyes on this trip. Venus—or her Greek counterpart, Aphrodite—was the immortal goddess of love and beauty. This graceful sculpture was carved around 100 BCE, and its unknown sculptor believed in appealing to Aphrodite for help with matters of the heart. Share a kiss with your sweetheart in front of this monument to love, and reap the rewards of Aphrodite’s favor.
Aphrodite was not the only god in charge of love in the ancient world. Her son, Cupid (also known as Eros) was the young man who shot love arrows at unsuspecting couples, making them fall helplessly in love with each other. Cupid also fell for a woman—the beautiful mortal Psyche, of whom his mother was jealous. The sculpture Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss by Antonio Canova depicts the moment when Cupid saves his beloved from an endless sleep caused by Venus. The elegant lines of this tender scene will move any art lover and anyone who has ever fallen in love. Read the entire story here…»
Paris Video Tour: The Latin Quarter – Part 3 (6:02)
Location
The Latin Quarter has its borders from the Seine River to the top of Mount St. Genevieve, a hill named for the city’s patron saint, and is an area full of liveliness that attracts both tourists and native Parisians.
The Luxemburg Garden
The Luxemburg garden is an oasis of green in the middle of Paris, perfect for strolling or sitting. Luxemburg Garden is the garden of the Luxemburg Palace, built in the early 17th century by the widow of King Henry IV. The palace is now home to the French Senate. The gardens have a lovely pond, a fountain and beautiful statues. The garden even has a taste of modern living, with free wifi! Read the entire story here…»
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Montmartre and the Sacré Cœur rise over Paris rooftops
