Paris is a city full of culture and is home to some of the most recognisable tourist attractions in Europe – including the Eiffel Tower, the cathedral at Notre Dame and Arc du Triomphe. According to price comparison website travelsupermarket.com:  “whether you’re a romantic, a culture vulture, or a foodie, there’s loads to keep you busy in Paris.”

There is a wide variety of things to see and do within Paris, from sightseeing tours of the iconic city quarters to nights at the opera in the historic theatre district -  travelsupermarket.com offers this guide to things to see and do in Paris:

• Take a scenic sightseeing trip at night

There are many historical sights to take in during your visit to Paris. For those who want to explore, there are a wide variety of tours around the capital available, all within easy reach of many Paris hotels– from the artistic museum tours to the bizarre tours of the ancient sewer system beneath the city.

Paris is also known as the City of Light, and night tours are a fantastic opportunity to see Paris’s most famous monuments, such as the Eiffel Tower and the cathedral at Notre Dame, in stunningly beautiful illumination against the night sky.

• Explore the Louvre

The world famous Musee du Louvre is one of the world’s largest museums, and houses some of the most culturally significant works of art in the world. From ancient Egyptian artifacts to the iconic Venus de Milo statue to Da Vinci’s world famous Mona Lisa painting, there is a lot to explore in the Louvre.

• Take in a show

Paris is renowned for its Opera and Theatre districts, and there are opportunities to take in dinner and a show through a range of packages. From the Opera National de Paris to the Theatre des Champs-Elysees, there is a wide variety of shows and music events to satisfy a range of musical and cultural tastes.

• Go on a gastronomic journey

Speaking of tastes, Paris is home to a wide variety of dining options, giving you the chance to sample some authentic Parisian cuisine. Whether you’re looking to enjoy a coffee and croissant at a quaint little cafes or bistro or indulge in a meal at a Michelin-starred gourmet restaurant, you can really get a taste for Paris during your visit. There are a variety of food-based tours available to satisfy all appetites and palettes, so you’ll never be short of choice in this fine gastronomic capital.

Starting at 11PM, and lasting more that an hour, the Tower will offer a special show: an exceptional and one-of-a-kind lightshow that will disappear with the start of the New Year. After the last regular session, at 11:05PM, the Tower will repeat its light show at 11:30PM,followed by a totally new 20-minute creation using the technical possibilities offered by the new LED lighting to mark the symbolic countdown to 2010.
At midnight the lightshow, a popular highlight of Parisian nights, will provide a sparkling backdrop to the first minutes of the 2010.

Visible only from the Trocadero (Seine) side you can participate in the celebrations from the comfort of your computer by going to
http://31decembreaparis.com

Over the 2 days you can taste wines direct from the producer and attend numerous masterclasses to enhance your appreciaton of wine. Unusually there is also a selection of Italian wines available to try. Bordeaux Chateau such as Chateau Laroze (St Emilion) will be there as well as producers from Alsace, Burgundy, Champagne, Corsica, Loire and Rhône etc.

Carrousel du Louvre , 99 rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris – see www.grandtasting.com

Running until 31 January 2010  the exhibition retraces the life of the sex icon who was photographed and immortalised by the greats of film and still photography at a time when she came across as young, fresh, innocent and natural – especially after the post-war years of austerity.

The exhibition is divided into three sections and leads you through her life, (1)from her early days at home, through (2) the fun and excesses of the  life of St Tropez (83 Var, Provence) and the film star years and (3) since  the 70s she has been a passionate advocate for animal right issues.

In many ways she was responsible for the fame of St Tropez, which was previously a pretty but unknown small port on the Mediterranean. Today it is a magnet for rich, wealthy celebrities which becomes impossibly busy in high season – but in Spring and Autumn it is worth a visit, with great views across to Ste Maxime.

For more info see www.boulognebillancourt.fr (in French)
Find the best rates for Hotels in Boulogne-Billancourt

Musée des Années 30 (MA30)

28 avenue André Morizet

92100 Boulogne-Billancourt

From a spectator point of view it promises a good day out in the Medoc – as although you miss the momentary flash of 100+ professional cyclists zooming past, you get to see ech rider individually and can make a whole day of it with the race taking 2 hours or so to pass.

For more info see www.letour.fr

Paris plays host to Nuit Blanche with trails starting in the North of the City, with the artistic installations at the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. These works will cast new light on the Jean Jaurès Gymnasium, the Pailleron Swimming Pool and the CENTQUATRE artist hub. The courtyards located in the Marais and the Châtelet district will form the centre of the event. From Notre-Dame, a beautiful pedestrian trail will take you towards numerous places located between Luxembourg and the Quartier Latin on the left bank, normally closed to the public.

The three trails (Buttes-Chaumont, the centre of Paris and the Latin Quarter) are all connected throughout the night – e.g. metro lines 11 and 14 will run a frequent service all night – free between 2.00am and 5.30am.

For more info see www.paris.fr
Find the best rates for Hotels in Paris
Eurostar Tickets from UK to Paris

For four weeks the streets of Paris are transformed into a huge open-air performing arts space for the Summer Arts Festival . The event includes opera, jazz, theatre, classical music, circus, film and dance in avariety of venues which include m cinemas, the Latin Quarter and the Jardin des Tuileries.
For more info see www.quartierdete.com

Day 1

Cycling from London to Dover.

Board the ferry at Dover, arrive in Dieppe in the evening.

Day 2

Set off 10.00 am through the lovely French countryside.

Finish cycling early evening and stay overnight in a French country inn.

Day 3

Leave the hotel at 9.00 am.
Let’s go!

Finish cycling mid-late afternoon in Paris.

Day 4

Free morning with suggested options.

Transfer from hotel to Gare du Nord for Eurostar, arrive in St Pancras

Although it may be too late to register to take part in this 300km ride, you can watch and support them as they cycle through the English and French countryside – and it is easier to get to watch this  than the Tour de France,
For more info see: www.medecinsdumonde.org.uk

Situated within easy walking distance of the Eiffel Tower and the fabulous market in Rue Cler this area is always the highlight of a Paris visit.
Recommended Reading: Markets of Paris also: The Authentic Bistros of Paris

However, now I hear that during his recent short visit to France, President Obama chose the Fontaine de Mars as the venue for supper. Will it ever be the same again? Will prices now be hiked? Will the clientele be dominated by Americans??Will the menu retain its authenticity?

Restaurant la Fontaine de Mars
129, Rue Saint-Dominique 75007 PARIS  T: 01 47 05 46 44

Paris Tourist Office

See map

“The Segway PT (Personal Transporter) is unique! Each machine is a self-balancing electric transportation device. Teamed up with two computers, gyroscopes automatically respond to your body’s movements, «sensing» when it should speed up and slow down in order to keep you in balance while moving up to 12mph!
Only 5 minutes to master – Learning to use a segway is a magical experience and comes naturaly. It is the first time we get carried by a machine which seems to move by itself.

Currently on offer in the towns of Loches  (the royal housing, trave around the Bachelet park at the bottom of the majestic donjon and meander around the paved alleyways of the citadel. ), Amboise (from Amboise castle to the famous Clos Luce manor house, where Leonardo Da Vinci once lived …the heights of the city to the panoramic view of the Loire) and Tours ( the majestic cathedral, the royal castle and the old Wilson bridge.)-

For more info Tel: 02 47 30 95 35 (in France) see  www.freemove.fr

There are also Segway Tours in Paris – see  http://citysegwaytours.com

- official tourism site for Paris and the Ile de France (www.pidf.com)

“Yes, noisy, bustling Paris has its quiet corners, and this attractive book describes them in loving detail. Most of the places mentioned here are out of doors and open to the public. The places range from museum courtyards and royal gardens to 15th Century cloisters and tiny passageways to the back streets and lanes of the various neighborhoods. Some famous sites are here (Luxembourg Gardens) but so are unknown treasures such as the Irish Cultural Center, housed in a townhouse used by the Irish Catholic collegiate community since 1775, or Paris’ lesser-known islands. And few places are as quiet as the city’s evocative cemeteries.” -The Chicago Tribune

Even if you can’t get there in the near future, it represents an interesting read which will doubtless set you planning your next trip.

All his life, Picasso was inspired by the masterpieces of painting. The influence of the great masters like Titian, Goya, Renoir and Manet is revealed here in an outstanding exhibition that presents over 200 works from the most prestigious French, foreign, public and private collections. Picasso and the masters juxtaposes past and present, illustrates the major changes of direction and formal innovations that marked Picasso’s career, while proposing a dialogue between the artist and his predecessors. This new angle on Picasso’s achievements sheds a new light on the work of the founder of cubism.

The exhibition, which has been running since October 2008. is open on more conventional hours (except Tuesdays) before then.

For more info see www.rmn.fr/

In April 2008, 22 students from the Photographic department were welcomed each in one of the 22 participating cities. The participants ranged in age between 20 and 35 years old, as well as originating from 15 different countries. Each student was given an “emotional passport” to express their own talent and sense and to capture the daily life of France. Their only requirement: let the dreams and emotions of the people and places be the guide!

The venues include Aix-en-Provence, Amiens, Angers, Avignon, Bordeaux, Dijon, Grenoble, Le Havre, Lille, Marseille, Metz, Montpellier, Mulhouse, Nancy, Nantes, Nice, Nimes, Reims. Rennes, Rouen, Toulouse and Versailles.

For more info see www.franceemotion.com/

Dijon mustard is essentially a blend of brown and white mustard seeds mixed with wine vinegar. Purists argue that only wine vinegar made from good wine will do, and that cheaper wines produce poorer mustards. 

Generally if a mustard is called “a l’Ancienne” it is a wholegrain mustard as distinct from a smooth mustard which tends to affect the texture rather than the taste.

The other well-known French mustard is from Meaux (77 Seine et Marne, Ile de France) the same area as the Brie de Meaux cheese – unfortunately they do not go well together! Here Pommery produce a mustard with additional spices (secret recipe of course) as a wholegrain mustard in distinctive earthenware crocks with a cork stopper – always looks good on the table.

Maille still has a boutique shop in Dijon at 32, rue de la Liberté – and one in Paris at 6, place de la Madeleine
in the 8th arrondisement – close to those other foodie meccas of Fauchon and  Hediard.

For more info on Maille, its range of products and shops see http://www.maille.com

English mustard is ground mustard seed which is made into a paste often with just water, or sometimes beer or cider. It is much hotter than French mustard, and the best known example is Coleman’s in the bright yellow tin – Colemans is also owned by Unilever!

With lots of razzamataz, commercial sponsorship, scandal and sporting achievement, it is a spectacle well worth seeing – especially as it is free. However, the downside is that the Tour can cause major disruption with roads closed for hours, hordes of people and traffic – and all hotel rooms along the route booked.
In 2009 the tour starts in Monaco on 4 July 2009, travels down the Mediterranean coast into Spain to Barcelona – then up through Andorra to the Pyrenees. With a skip to Central France the route heads east through northern Burgundy to Alsace, south the the Alpes and then heads for Paris and the final stage which finishes on the Champs Elysees on 26 July 2009.
Sat 4 July Monaco
Sun 5 July Monaco > Brignoles
Mon 6 July Marseille > La Grande-Motte
Tue 7 July Montpellier
Wed 8 July Le Cap d’Agde > Perpignan
Thu 9 July Gérona > Barcelona (Spain)
Fri 10 July Barcelona > Andorra
Sat 11 July Andorra> Saint-Girons
Sun 12 July Saint-Gaudens > Tarbes
Mon 13 July rest day – Limoges
Tue 14 July Limoges > Issoudun
Wed 15 July Vatan > Saint-Fargeau
Thu 16 July Tonnerre > Vittel
Fri 17 July Vittel > Colmar
Sat 18 July Colmar > Besançon
Sun 19 July Pontarlier > Verbier
Mon 20 July rest day – Verbier
Tue 21 July Martigny > Bourg-Saint-Maurice
Wed 22 July Bourg-Saint-Maurice > Le Grand-Bornand
Thu 23 July Annecy > Annecy
Fri 24 July Bourgoin-Jallieu > Aubenas
Sat 25 July Montélimar > Mont Ventoux
Sun 26 July Montereau-Fault-Yonne > Paris Champs-Élysées

For more info on the Tour de France see www.letour.fr

There is always a great carnival atmosphere surrounding this prestigious race, which tends to attract many of the top names in the sport.

The best advice is to avoid Tours city centre for the day, unless you want to see the event – although the main routes and the A10 autoroute should not be unduly affected.

For more info see www.letour.fr/

The selection of Malbec is down to Fabrice Durou, the winemaker from Chateau de Gaudou in Cahors, a well-respected domaine at Vire-sur-Lot. So here is a man who knows his grapes and has made a “micro-cuvee. It all shows a rather different approach to the marketing gimmick which Australian producer McGuigan put on in London recently when they created a temporary vineyard in the heart of the City of London – a fun idea, admittedly, but ephemeral! (see www.ukwinesonline.co.uk)

For more about the Cahors wines of Chateau de Gaudou see www.chateaudegaudou.com

However, there are good things happening in Paris in mid-summer, as the website www.ete.paris.fr shows. There are the inevitable celebrations for the French National Day (Bastille Day) on 14 July – fireworks at the Trocadero and the Champ de Mars (by the Eiffel Tower).

Then there is the annual Paris Plages (beaches on the River Seine) voie Georges-Pompidou in the 4th arondissement, at the Bassin de la Villette near Stalingrad in the 19th et quai de la Gare, near the Bibliotheque Nationale in the 13th. Open from 21 July to 21 August they aim to create a seaside atmosphere with real sand and fun in the heart of the city.

There is also BMX racing and plenty of activities around the Canal d’Ourcq with boat rides along the canal for just €1 per person; pedalos, canoes, kayaks. Guided tours are also available following the route of the Canal which winds its way through the Paris suburbs, offering a different view of the city.

Free concerts in the Parisien parks, an ephemeral garden in the front of the Hotel de Ville, cinema, literature…….. not forgetting the final stage of the Tour de France finishing on the Champs Elysees on Sunday 27 July 2008

For more info see www.ete.paris.fr

You can now enjoy a one of these very French machines by hiring one for a day or half-day in St Omer (62 Pas-de-Calais, Nord Pas-de-Calais).

Les Belles Echappees also hire out Citroen 2CVs, tandems and trikes and offer a number of packages which can include route suggestions, restaurant and hotel combinations etc.

Les Belles Echappées invite you to a journey off the beaten track in search of simple pleasures connected with emotion and collective memory.

You can find a video showing the 2CVs in action on You Tube Les Belles Echappees translates as a good time or break!

Les Belles Echappees, Chemin des murs, Ferme de l’Abbaye – 62500 CLAIRMARAIS
Tél : 03.21.98.11.72

There are other options for raking to the road “a la francaise” – e.g. the 2CV tours of Paris with 4 roues sous un Parapluie (4 wheels under 1 umbrella); Or hire a classic Citroen TA in the Loire Valley with Quart de Tours (37 Indre-et-Loire, Centre)

Further south Joffreny Tours offer classic and modern British cars (and others) for touring the French countryside from their base near Chalus (87 Haut Vienne, Limousin) – although helpfully they have an office in the UK

Lots to do and see – Hire a classic standard MGB Roadster, a V8 MGB Roadster, a BMW Z3 Roadster or a Triumph Stag (soft-top or hard-top) and take off on a sightseeing tour of the Limousin, Charente and Dordogne, in west central France, with all of its historic towns and picturesque chateaux, and sample some of the fine food and wine along the way. This is beautiful touring country and there are very few cars on the road…

Lourdes (65 Hautes-Pyrenees, Midi-Pyrenees) is scheduled for 13-15 September 2008, celebrating the 150th Anniverasy of the Apparition of the Virgin, on which this otherwise unremarkable market town in the foothills of the Pyrenees has built its fame and prosperity. I assume His Holiness will fly from Paris to Lourdes – its a bit far by Popemobile!

Apparently Lourdes has the second highest number of hotels in France after Paris!

For more info the the Lourdes 2008 Jubilee celebrations see www.lourdes2008.com

It was probably never quite like that, although certainly there were studios with panoramic views but designed mainly to supply plenty of light.

In the 10th arrondisement, the artists of Belleville have an annual festival when they throw open their doors (portes ouvertes) to allow all and sundry the opportunity to view their creations – and hopefully purchase too!

More than 250 artists will be showing their work in over 170 locations – courtyards, gardens, streetside for 4 days from 16-19 May 2008 from 2pm – 9pm (rather reinforces the idea of artists leading a dissolute life!).

So there should be something there to please most art lovers – and a unique opportunity to see another side of Parisian life.

See our map of Paris for the location

See the website for Les Ateliers d’Artistes de Belleville

There are many ways of getting to Paris from London, but doing it by rowing boat is not the obvious one – but that’s what teams of rowers are doing starting on 2 May 2008 on the London 2 Paris Rowing Challenge. Leaving from Westminster Bridge in the centre of London at 11.00am and rowing down the Thames, then to Dover. From there they strike out diagonally towards Fecamp and Le Havre at the mouth of the Seine – in the process crossing the busiest stretch of water in the world – before heading into the calmer waters of the Seine to Rouen and on to Paris. But even on this stretch there are some big boats and less room to manoeuvre.

There are two teams of 10 rowers of all ages and both sexes, and they are going to tackle this fearsome ordeal which covers 420 miles and will probably take 6 days before arriving at the Pont d’Iena near the Eiffel Tower in central Paris sometime before 8th May 2008. One team is called Le FigaROW!

The most daunting part of the whole trip must be the lengthy English Channel crossing to Le Havre with the risks of heavy seas and merchant shipping. But Le Havre is only about half-way in terms of distance, a little deceptive as the Seine meanders in anything but a straight line after the Pont de Tancarville between Le Havre and Rouen. They will of course pass under 2 impressive bridges before reaching Paris – le Pont de Normandie which takes the A29 autoroute from the north to south banks of the Seine near its mouth; and the new vertical lift bridge – the Pont Gustave Flaubert in Rouen.

Clearly the Channel section will not offer much in the way of a spectator sport,but you may be able to catch sight of them on the Thames and Seine.

See London 2 Paris Rowing Challenge – but personally I think I’d go by Eurostar!

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20% off luxury Adagio Tour Eiffel Aparthotel in Paris – available before 19th May. Includes this bank holiday weekend! 25% off 2 week holidays in August – available between 16th and 30th August – CLICk FOR DETAILS

15% off 4 night breaks at the Latitudes Beach Hotel in stylish Trouville (14 Calvados, Normandie)- available until 13th May – CLICk FOR DETAILS

It all started in Paris with the Velib’ Scheme – an amalgam of Velo (cycle) and Liberte (free), which has been a tremendous success.

Vélib’ is a Self Service “bike hire” system available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Multi pick up and drop off location allows you to pick up your bike from one service point and drop off to another.

You need to subscribe, but for visitors there are 1-day and 7-day subscriptions and after the first 30 minutes you pay by the half-hour – e.g. a 90-minute hire will cost just €3 and you can pick up and drop off your bike at any of the hundreds of self-service stations across the city.

The Velib’ scheme has been based on a similar scheme VeloV in Lyon (69 Rhone, Rhone-Alpes) France’s second city. The combination of these eco-friendly and fitness focussed schemes is now spreading throughout France:-
VeloCite in Mulhouse (68 Haut-Rhin, Alsace) and Besancon (25 Doubs, Franche-Comté)
Vhello in Aix-en-Provence (13 Bouches-du-Rhone, Provence)
Le Velo in Marseille (13 Bouches-du-Rhone, Provence)
Velo in Toulouse (34 Haut Garonne, Midi-Pyrenees)
Nantes (44 Loire-Atlantique, Val de Loire)
Rouen (76 Seine Maritime, Normandy)
Bordeaux (33 Gironde, Aquitaine)
Velostan in Nancy (54 Meurthe et Moselle, Lorraine)
Velo+ in Orleans (45 Loiret, Centre)
Velomagg in Montpellier (34 Herault, Languedoc-Roussillon)

This is clearly a popular scheme, mainly aimed at local residents but may also offer a different way of seeing some of France’s major cities from a different perspective. However, I would recommend choosing a city with good cycle lanes and paths – you do get the impression that traffic in many of France’s cities is not very forgiving with errant cyclists – so do not try cycling around the rond-point of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris!!

Inevitably there are some urban myths developing – such as the fact that there are always plenty of bikes at the bottom of the Butte de Montmartre, but none at the top – for obvious reasons. And you can get caught out in busy locations if you cannot find an empty slot in which to return your bike!

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Information on domestic flights in France is not easy to come by, one reason being that Air France has such a dominant position in France and already have flights on most internal routes.
Plus the French market is not as competitive. The French Railway system between major cities is both fast and competitive, especially if starting from Paris.
I have only been able to uncover a couple of airlines which offer domestic flights in France:-
http://www.easyjet.com/ – Toulouse to Lyon, Paris, Nice to Paris; Lyon to Biarritz, Bordeaux; Biarritz to Paris

http://www.twinjet.net/
Toulouse (32 Haute-Garonne, Midi-Pyrenees) to Metz/Nancy, Mulhouse, Brest; Marseille to Metz/Nancy, Mulhouse; Paris - Perigueux, Cherbourg

http://www.airlinair.fr/ Brest,(29 Finistere, Brittany) Bordeaux (33 Gironde, Aquitaine), Agen (47 Lot-et-Garonne, Aquitaine), Lyon (69 Rhone, Rhone-Alpes), Poitiers (86 Vienne, Poitou-Charentes), Brive (19 Correze, Limousin) Beziers (34 Herault, Languedoc-Roussillon) etc

http://www.ryanair.com/ now also has links from Marseille (13 Bouches-du-Rhone, Provence) to Lille (59 Nord, Nord-Pas de Calais) and Brest (29 Finistere, Brittany)

You can try sites like http://www.expedia.fr/ but even a price comparison site like http://www.baisse-de-prix.com/voyages.php seems to offer little new – it looks like Air France have cornered the market with little opportunity for discounting.

For autumn 2009 the dates are as follows:-

29 Oct – 2 Nov 2009 – Lyon (69 Rhone, Rhone-Alpes) – Hall Tony Garnier

6 – 9 Nov 08 – Reims ( 51 Marne, Champagne) – Parc des Expositions

20-23 Nov 2009 – Lille (59 Nord, Nord-Pas-de-Calais) – Grand Palais

26 -30 Nov – Paris (75 Paris, Ile de France) – Porte de Versailles

For more info see www.vigneron-independant.com (in French) There is also a video on YouTube (also in French)

If you are visiting Lille, there is a good B&B on the tram route to the city centre – see Alix’s Garden

A car & minibus hire company in Port Vallières (37 Indre-et-Loire, Centre) just west of Tours on the Loire offers self-drive hire of the Citroen TA which could offer a great way to explore the vineyards and chateaux of Touraine (Touraine AC, Vouvray AC, Cheverny, Cour-Cheverny AC etc).

Quart de Tours, 184 Quai des Bateliers, Port Vallières, 37320 Fondettes

Other options for drving classic cars in France can be found at the  Chateau Hotel de la Barre near Le Mans (72 Sarthe, Val de Loire) :

Test drive your dream car across 200 km of scenic roads and reach full acceleration and performance during two laps on the legendary 24 hours Le Mans circuit. Or go straight to the track for any number of laps from 4 to 24! A Ferrari 430 or 599 GTB, a Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera 530, a Porsche 997 GT3)

Or for a more british experience see www.the-classic-route.com where you can hire a classic Morgan sports car from the British owners and tour the delightful roads of SouthWest France(32 Haute Garonne, Midi-Pyrenees).

And in Brittany (and  other locations including Paris and Amboise) you can hire and drive classic Citroen TAs with Vintage Roads

11-13 April 2008 its the Festival of Perennial (or Hardy) Plants (plantes vivaces).
La Fête des Plantes et des Fruits et Légumes (Festival of Plants,Fruits and Vegetables) takes place 26-28 September 2008. 21-22 June 2008 the domaine hosts a craft festival (Fete des Artisans) with over 40 artists and craftsmen showing their creations in the grounds of the domaine.

For more info see www.domsaintjeanbeauregard.com