A Part of Paris

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What's on in Paris

Below you will find a selection of cultural, musical and sports events taking place in Paris for the coming month. Each event has a link so that you could get more information about the events you are interested of. Also a selection of international trade fairs in Paris : Porte Maillot, Porte de Versailles, Paris-Nord Villepinte ...

You can read about all these events and a lot more on the website of Paris Tourist Board.

Paris Markets

›› All year round

Flowers Market and Bird Market of Ile de la Cité. Place Louis Lépine, 75004 Paris. Open every day from 8am to 7.30pm. Open on sunday from 9am to 7pm. Flowers Market of Place de la Madeleine. Place de la Madeleine, 75008 Paris. Open every day except monday. Les Bouquinistes. 240 book sellers of Paris present on the quais de Seine, about 500,000 books and a huge number of sketches, documents, stamps and postcards. Marché couvert Les Enfants Rouges. 39, rue de Bretagne, 75003 Paris. The oldest covered market of Paris, renovated in the late 90s and probably one of the oldest one in France.

Link: www.parisinfo.com

Paris Greeter

›› All year round

If you are about to visit Paris and want to try a new experience, a Paris Greeter will help you enjoy Paris as Parisians do. The Paris Greeters are local Parisians who volunteer their time to share with visitors the districts of Paris they know and love so well. They will introduce places and insights into Parisian life that are not always found in the published tourist guides.

Link: www.parisgreeter.org

Musee de Montmartre

›› All year around

Montmartre, the Sacre-Coeur basilica, the Place du Tertre and its famous artists...but have you thought about the history of this village? This charming spot, housed in one of the oldest residences in the area, is nestled among vineyards and gardens. Permanent collections include the exceptional artistic, political and religious story of Montmartre while temporary exhibits are focusing on major artists, legendary venues and its bohemain atmosphere. Open everyday except monday

Link: www.museedemontmartre.fr

4 Roues sous 1 parapluie

›› All year round

Venice has the gondola, New York has the taxi and now Paris… the 2CV! Allow yourself to be charmed by an authentic and intimate journey, through the heart of Paris, in the most enchanting of convertible cars! The Citroën 2CV car offers a gorgeous panoramic view. In a velvet atmosphere, sitting at the back of a “duck”, retro style and cosy, driven by a private courteous and knowledgeable chauffeur, you will (re)discover the wonders of Paris in a unique way!

Link: www.4roues-sous-1parapluie.com/index.php

Paradis Latin

›› All year round

The Paradis Latin is now the oldest of the leading French cabarets. The theatre, built by Gustave Eiffel, was first inaugurated in January 1889 and ... the auditorium features on the historic register of the City of Paris. The current show presented here is entitled “Paradis d’Amour”: 25 young dancers form a colourful ballet with sumptuous costumes made of satin, feathers and sequins. There are two packages to choose from: dinner and show with a choice of 3 menus or show only with a half-bottle of champagne, known as “Revue-Champagne”. And remember, if you have something to celebrate, why not do it at the Paradis Latin - atmosphere guaranteed!

Link: www.paradis-latin.com

Marie-Antoinette

›› 15 March to 30 June 2008.

Here’s a riddle for you: I am the youngest daughter of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria. I married the heir to the French throne in 1770. Some consider me a carefree, well-behaved young girl; others think I am an extravagant pleasure seeker. I am known to have inspired a lot of new ideas, especially in the world of art. Who am I? Marie Antoinette, of course!... The riddle is easy to solve, for the story of the young Austrian archduchess is an unforgettable one. Admiration, hate, jealousy and high drama all form part of her story, which has retained people’s interest down the ages. Marie-Antoinette is undoubtedly France’s most notorious queen. She was adulated on her arrival in Versailles, where her beauty, vivacity and intelligence were widely admired. Worried by her popularity, courtiers at Versailles attempted to limit her political influence. But the young queen was destined to make an impact. Marie-Antoinette soon became known as a patron of the arts. She brought about changes at Versailles in the realms of decorative arts, music and fashion. However, her extravagance came in for sharp criticism. The young queen was dismissed as “the Austrian” and considered a spendthrift, a schemer and a counter-revolutionary. The Grand Palais provides a fascinating insight into Marie Antoinette’s strong and complex personality through this exhibition of nearly 300 works from all over Europe: a rare opportunity, considering that the last tribute of this scale paid to this famous historical figure dates back to 1955.

Link: www.rmn.fr/galeriesnationalesdugrandpalais

Camile Claudel

›› 15 April to 13 July 2008

A true artistic genius, Camille Claudel was however better known for her passionate relationship with the sculptor Auguste Rodin than for her work. The originality and intensity of her sculptures have since won her universal recognition as an artist... The Musée Rodin is presenting a retrospective of Camille Claudel’s work with over 80 marble, terracotta, plaster, onyx and bronze sculptures as well as engravings and drawings. Camille Claudel was Rodin’s lover, student and acolyte. The celebrated sculptor was twenty years her senior. While she made no secret of Rodin’s influence on her work, it would seem that the opposite was also true, to the point that it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between their respective sculptures. The exhibition explores this intriguing connection as well as the work of Camille Claudel and her place in the artistic movement of the late 19th century. This fascinating retrospective of Camille Claudel’s masterpieces draws visitors into the surging creativity of her artistic work. A must-see.

Link: http://www.musee-rodin.fr/welcome.htm

Narrative Figuration

›› 16 April to 13 July 2008

Do you know what the « Figuration narrative » is ? For those who still look inquisitive, the « Figuration narrative » was an artistic movement led by Bearnard Rancillac, Hervé Télémaque or Eduardo Arroyo, who opposed in 1964 the avant-garde new realism of César, Nikki de Saint Phalle and Yves Klein... Right during the Pop Art reign, the French new realism counterpart in the Venise biennal, an exhibition hosted by the Musée d’Art Modern de la Ville de Paris attracted all the world’s attention : « Day-to-day mythologies ». Artists exhibited works centred on contemporay society images, among which comics, photography and other day-to-day life images. This 60’s event unique in the history of art is staged in the Grand Palais. This six sections exhibition (The Origins of Narrative Figuration (1960-1964), Day-to-day Mythologies (1964), Narrative Figuration and Comics, Painting Transformation, Narrative Figuration and Detective Novels, Narrative Figuration and Politics) shows more than 100 paintings, objects and films that give a testimony of the intense creativeness of this time. Don’t miss it !

Link: www.rmn.fr/Galeries-nationales-du-Grand