Ann Jeanne in Paris

a Friend in Paris

1Aug

The “other” Latin Quarter

Posted by: afriendinparis Categories: Non classé Paris Neighborhoods Tours
8 Comments
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THE SOUTH EAST OF THE LATIN QUARTER : the Latin Quarter OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

…where Parisians love to go, where visitors rarely go…30072017-P7300164-3

If you like wandering off the beaten track and explore quaint neighborhoods, you’ll probably enjoy this neighborhood that has a very special place in my heart and you will see what visitors in Paris often miss.  

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Hadley and Ernest Hemingway in 1922 – It’s where they both used to live and go shopping –

The South East of the Latin Quarter that many travel websites and travel guides don’t mention. Though : 17th century facades, one of the most favourite market of the Left bank Parisians, high quality food and shops, remains of the Roman time, amazing doors…and among Hemingway’s most favorite Paris’neighborhoods. We’ll walk his favorite streets, and will see his home and the cafe he used to enjoy the most in this area

In the Snows of Kilimanjaro (E. Hemingway), Harry, the character wrote regarding this South East part of the Latin Quarter : “…There never was another part of Paris that he loved like that, the sprawling trees, the old white plastered houses painted brown below, the long treen of the autobus in that round square, the sudden drop down the hill of the rue Cardinal Lemoine to the River …”

This Latin Quarter :  often missed by visitors, though a great history and a very Parisian charm30072017-P7300180-4

It’s an area preserved, with a feel of the old times with its narrow paved streets, its markets, its old fountain and many more special places. And it has a special place in my heart, a place that I would enjoy to share with you : this neighborhood is the neighborhood/village where my grandmother was living and used to go shopping from the 30s to the 80s, where my mother has been raised and where my parents got married.30072017-P7300162-4

Location :

Located on the left bank of the river Seine, it’s the South-East part of the Latin Quarter, a part largely untouched by the Haussman huge renovation. Between the Pantheon and the Boulevard Port Royal. The South half part of the red zone on the map belowparis-5th-latin-quarter

One of the oldest part of Paris : 

This neighborhood has an amazing history and it’s also one of the oldest part of Paris. It was first built during the Roman time about 2000 years ago and the area still conserves Roman ruins. During the Middle Age, it was a very lively village. This part of Paris was annexed to Paris in 1724.  Nowadays it’s one of the most beloved part of ParisDSC_2036

30072017-P7300162-1Paths dating back to Roman time (paths from about 2000 years ago) walk the streets with old painted signs reminder of past times, and building facades dating back to the 17th centuryDSC_2111

Previously a Medieval Market street : During the Private tour I’ll designed for you, we’ll browse a market street (Mouffetard street) whose origin is probably 1350AD, possibly earlier, a wonderful market street with quality food places (vegetables, fruits, cheese, pastries, wine cellars, fresh breads and much more).30072017-P7300161-6

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This was among Hemingway’s most favorite districts when he was living in Paris

We’ll stroll the pretty side streets with 17th century facades, old doors, an old fountain, 5 century old church, restaurants with outdoor tables, and sometimes musicians playing in the street. We’ll stop for coffee at a classic old and peaceful square… (Why not where Hemingway’ cafe was ?)…And we will see some of Hemingway‘s favorite haunts including the place where he has been living several years with Adley.

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  • A break at the Lutetia Arenas , one of the most important remains of Lutetia (Paris was known then as Lutetia) from Gallo-Roman time. These arenas restored are dating back to the 1st century AD and were a Roman amphitheater. The exact place were gladiators were fighting with lions about 2000 years ago. And in the 20th century it was one of  my mother and uncle’s favorite ‘s playgrounds ! Nowadays, it’s still a favorite playground for neighborhood kids. A visit in the Lutetia Arena can be included in the private tour0_4200_84_2716_two_Pantheon_Woodson_009Arènes_de_Lutèce,_Paris_15_August_2013_007
  • A visit to a 13th Cistercian building : The College des Bernardins (click on the link for more detail about this building). A visit of The College des Bernardins can be included in our private tour22032017-IMG_6189
  • a visit to a 17th century royal garden : Le  Jardin des Plantes (click on the link for more detail about this building), which is the first French botanical garden, and a visit of the tropical greenhouses located in this garden . This garden was one of the place where my grand mother loved to take me when I was a child. A walk in the Jardin des Plantes and a visit of the Greenhouses can be included in your private tour. OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
  • A visit and a mint tea at the gorgeous white Grande Mosquée de paris with it’s impressive minaret
  • a visit to the rooftop of the Institut du Monde Arabe to enjoy a breathtaking view over the City Island (center of Paris where Notre Dame is located) can be included in your private tour

Please be aware that the Latin Quarter and Saint Germain des Prés are distinct neighborhoods ! Please, be aware that many English websites, even the most renown websites and reviewers, make a confusion between the Latin Quarter and Saint Germain des Prés; Saint Germain des Prés is a wonderful neighborhood (probably among my favorite neighborhoods, the neighborhood where I’d love to live if my current neighborhood didn’t exist… and if I had much more money too !) but Saint Germain des Prés is not the Latin Quarter. 2 different neighborhoods, 2 different atmospheres and feels. and 2 very different histories…

(MORE PHOTOS OF THE SOUTH-EAST OF THE LATIN QUARTER AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE )

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A few words about Ann Jeanne Private walks

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Share my Paris, the Paris I love. I welcome you, I accompany you and we walk at your pace. Half a day or a whole day with a native including a break in a very Parisian cafe. It’s a cross cultural experience in Paris and a way to see Paris in a Parisian perspective.

Ann Jeanne in Paris’ private tours are designed for one or two persons for a friendly and personal experience of Paris. I was born and raised in Paris. And Paris is city where I live.

More details about Ann Jeanne Paris tours Don’t hesitate to contact me

And  : Some details about the booking and pricing :

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More photos of the South-East part of the Latin Quarter

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1Jul

DALIDA, a French icon

Posted by: afriendinparis Categories: Movies-Videos-Books Non classé People
3 Comments
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07ba53b055c4d55b28e23b21b1435DALIDA , A DIVA and A FASHION ICON (1933 – 1987)

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Dalida was a famous singer from the 60s to the 80s and an icon. Still now. Her success was huge and Dalida has had and still has great great fans in France (and also abroad). One of the main squares in Montmartre has been named after her.  For many, Dalida is a myth, a legend, a diva. She received more than 70 gold records. She sold more than 170 million albums worldwide. However her private life has often been tragic. 

Quote

“I know what my life is. My husband it’s my public. The songs are my children”

MAJOR EXHIBITION at GALLIERA : April 27 to August 13 2017

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Galliera Palace devotes a major exhibition to Dalida to mark the 30th anniversary of her death. Her wardrobe is exposed at the Palais from  April 27 to August 13  2017. Dalida loved fashion from Christain Dior, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Lacroix, Azzaro and many more. She was sophisticated, glamourous. 17062017-P6170247-2

Palais Galliera 10 avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie – Paris 16 – from April to August 13th 2017. For more details about the Palais Galliera, please read my article too : Galliera, fashion and elegance

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MY VIDEO OF DALIDA EXHIBITION AT GALLIERA : Please watch this video of the exhibition in Galliera (a video by Ann Jeanne in Paris) :

A FILM : “DALIDA” (released in January 2017)

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In 2017, Lisa Azuelos, (daughter of famous French singer, Marie Laforêt), directed the film Dalida, starring Riccardo Scamarcio, Vincent Perez, Niels Schneider, Jean-Paul Rouve, Patrick Timsit and Sveva Alviti who portrayed Dalida.

The trailer : 

Below, a video about the film

DALIDA IN MONTMARTRE (PARIS)

Dalida has been living for 25 years in Montmartre, 11 bis rue d’Orchampt – from 1962 to 1987.She bought a townhouse in the 1900 style in Montmartre at the beginning of the 80s, nearby the Sacré Coeur. It has always be a quiet refuge for Dalida for the rest of her life.

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One of the main squares in Montmartre has been named after her  “Place Dalida” with a bronze statue of her bust (sculptor Alain Alsan)

Place Dalida pancarte

Place Dalida avec statue

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Dalida in Montmartre, nearby her home

Dalida rests near her home in the upper part of the cemetery of Montmartre with the trees she loved.

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A few WORDS about DALIDA’s STORY 

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EGYPT

Dalida was born Yolanda Gigliotti on the 17th of January 1933 in Cairo suburbs in a bourgeois emigrant family. Her italian grand- parents had emigrated to Egypt in the beginning of the 20th century.

She had 2 brothers, Orlando (her elder brother) and Bruno and she grew up in a musical environment : her father was  first violonist for the Cairo Opera. Dalida’s mother tongue was Italian. But she learned Egyptian Arabic and French in Cairo. She had a happy childhood, though serious eye problems affected her from an early age and had to undergo several operations.Dalida1954

She was destined by her family for a career as a secretary, but Dalida dreamed of becoming and actress. She was fascinated by Hollywood world . In 1951 she secretly entered a local beauty contest. In 1954, Yolanda entered another beauty contest, “Miss Egypt contest” and she was crowned Miss Egypt at the age of 19. Then, she started working as a model, then as an actress in Cairo. Then she began to dream of launching a career in Paris.

PARIS :

Mort de Lucien en 1970

With Lucien Morisse, her first husband

In 1954, she started a new life in Paris where she became Dalida. She started taking singing lessons with a music teacher and after a few months her teacher sent her off to audition for a cabaret on the Champs Elysées where she worked during several months.

She then was invited by the owner of Olympia (one of the most famous Parisian music-Hall) onto a show. Her performance impressed two influential men in the French record industry, Lucien Morisse and Eddy Barclay. Lucien Morisse became Dalida ‘s manager, then her husband (A difficult relationship : Lucien Morisse was married but finally divorced . They got married in Paris in 1961).

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Dalida and Lucien Morisse, her first husband and her manager

BAMBINO’s YEARS

Her second single, “Bambino” really launched Dalida to fame. Bambino was played practically non-stop on one of the most renown French radio (Europe 1) and reached the top of the French charts. She then performed at the Olympia beside Charles Aznavour.  In 1957, she received her first gold disc. Bambino had sold over 300 000 copies

Her second very successful hit was “Gondolier” (in 1957). She then started a great tour. In 1959, she went on another tour in Italy. Her fame soon spread throughout the rest of Europe. In 1961, she performed for an entire month at the prestigious Olympia music-hall attracting over 2000 music fans each night. She then carried out with a tour which took her to Hong Kong and Vietnam (where she was already a huge star)

Her  younger brother, Bruno (known as Orlando) became her manager. And her cousin Rosy became her secretary.

Dalida and Luigi tenco

Dalida and Luigi Tenco

LUIGI TENCO

In 1966, she was introduced to a young talented songwriter. They fell passionately in love. They soon got married. Dalida decided that Luigi should appear with her on stage in Italy during a song contest and that they would each perform their own version of the song “Ciao Amore Ciao”. Dalida was already a huge star in Italy while Luigi Tenco was not known yet. Neither Dalida nor Luigi were awarded a prize. Luigi Tenco then retired to his hotel room and committed suicide in his room. Dalida was devastated at Luigi’s death and a few months later she  attempted to end her life.

Below : Dalida singing with Luigi Tenco in 1967 at San Remo (Italy)

AFTER LUIGI

In the late 60’s, after Luigi Tenco’s death, Dalida reinvented herself : she started to read a lot : philosophy, psychology and started to practice yoga and meditation. She often went to India then went into analysis. But she also carried on singing and went on a serie of concerts in France, in Italy, then all over the world

In 1970, her huge hit was “Darla dirladada”. Then with the song “Avec le temps”,  she totally changed her repertoire with very meaningful poetic lyrics. She performed at the Olympia for 3 weeks where she was greeted very successfully

In September 1970, her former husband, Lucien Morisse committed suicide. 48b1b05dcc2564c689832f2ada0b9669

Duet with ALAIN DELON

In 1972, she recorded “Paroles Paroles” with her old friend Alain Delon It reached the top of the French charts and was n°1 in Japan.

Alain Delon et Dalida enregistrant la chanson 'Paroles, Paroles' en 1973 . (Photo by Jean-Pierre BONNOTTE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Alain Delon et Dalida recording the song  ‘Paroles, Paroles’ en 1973 . (Photo by Jean-Pierre BONNOTTE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

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Dalida and Alain Delon, rue d’Orchampt where Dalida used to live

HER LOVE STORY WITH RICHARD CHANFRAY

Dalida avec son compagnon Richard Anfray (dit le comte de Saint-Germain) à Saint-Tropez en 1978.

Dallied and Richard Chanfray

Her encounter with Richard Chanfray in 1972  (who wanted to be known as the Count of Saint Germain) changed her life.  And she appeared to be a glamourous star. It has been her longest love story (9 years) 

MF - dalida-1èmaxresdefaultIn 1973, she sang “Il venait d’avoir 18 ans”.  This song reached immediately the top of the charts in 9 countries. 3.5 million copies sold in Germany.My favorite song of Dalida is definitely, without any doubt : “Il venait d’avoir 18 ans”

In 1974 : “Gigi L’Amoroso” which became among the most famous hit of Dalida, n°1 in 12 countries. Then she went on tours in Japan,  Quebec, then Germany . In 1975, she was awarded the prestigious Prix de l’Académie du Disque français”. Then another huge success “J’attendrai”. She was performing very frequently on French TV and she returned several times to Egypt.

She recorded  the traditional Egyptian song Salma Ya Salama which was released in France and the Middle East. She recorded this song in 7 languages.  It was a phenomenal success.

diapositiva_169.jpgThe 80’s

She recorded “Generation 78”, a medley very influenced by the 70’s disco wave. She has been adapting her musical style to the latest trends. In 1979, She recorded “Monday Tuesday”Dalida-ses-plus-grands-succes

 

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Dalida performing at the “Palais des Sports” (Paris)

Dalida transformed her appearance. She danced sourrounded by dancers. In 1980, he performed a spectacular Broadway-style show in Paris at the Palais des Sports with Lester Wilson as her choreographer, (L. Wilson was the choreographer of John Travolta in Saturday night fever)r.   She sold out at the Palais des Sports for 18 gigantic shows with 30 musicians and 12 dancers. She was the first woman to perform in front of 5000 people in Paris. She then went on a national tour which lasted 10 months.

DALIDA "ASLAN PHOTOGRAPHE" FRANCE RETRO "DALIDA SEUL" "SCENE ATTITUDE" "CHANTANT ATTITUDE" "IMAGE NUMERISEE" "PLATEAU T.V."

Dalida at the Palais des Sports in 1980

In 1981 she split from Richard Chanfray.

On her premiere at the Olympia where she performed in 1981, she received a diamond disc for having sold over 80 million albums over her career.  Dalida et François Mitterrand en 1975 - SipaBelow : “Monday, tuesday”, a great hit

She then set off on another world tour for 12 months. When back to France, she recorded “Mourir sur scène”. Her popularity was as great as ever. In 1983, two years after they split up, she learnt that the former lover Richard Chanfray had committed suicide. Devastated … In 1984, she set off on tour again, The following years, she was force to interrupt her career to undergo 2 major eye operations. In 1986, She play a leading role in the film “Le Sixième jour” (director : Youssef Chahine)Le-sixieme-jour---AfficheIn 1987, she decided to put an end to her life and let a message :  “Forgive me life has become unbearable for me…”Wallpaper 30 ans déjà

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More informations about Dalida

SONGS (Some of her most famous songs) :

  • Bambino (1956)MF - 2e3079aed6f789f2afcb87f47ce0a331
  • Gondolier (1957)
  • Come prima (1958)
  • CiaoAmore Ciao (1967)
  • Darla dirladada (1970)
  • Avec le temps (1971)
  • Pour ne pas vivre seule (1972)
  • Parle plus bas (1972)
  • Paroles, Paroles (1973)
  • Je suis malade (1973)
  • Il venait d’avoir 18 ans (1974)
  • Gigi l’amoroso (1974)
  • J’attendrai (1976)
  • Besame Mucho (1976)
  • Salma Ya Salama (1977)
  • Génération 78 (1978)
  • Laissez-moi danser (1979)
  • Monday,Tuesday (1979)
  • Comme disait Mistinguett (1979)
  • Gigi in Paradisco (1980)
  • Mourir sur scène (1983)

 

 

 

 

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Experience Paris,with Ann Jeanne in Paris 

Paris through the eyes of a native

Get a real connection with Paris
“Ann Jeanne in Paris” tours are different from  traditional guided tours. They are private walking tours with you only,or you and the person you choose.  No lectures : it’s an encounter, a meeting, a cross-cultural experience. The tours are friendly, welcoming and we walk at your pace. I give you all my attention, I accompany you, I discuss with you and share my Paris with you.

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18Jun

Palais Galliera, fashion and elegance

Posted by: afriendinparis Categories: Places
3 Comments
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17062017-P6170216-1Palais Galliera, a fashion museumCarte Paris repérage

The Galliera palace is also known as the City of Paris fashion museum (Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris). It is a museum dedicated to fashion and its history

Please take a short visit around Galliera before entering the building !

A 36 secondes VIDEO

It is located on the right bank of the river Seine,  in the 16th arrondissement of Paris just across the street from the Palais de Tokyo and not faraway from the Eiffel Tower

The Duchess de Galliera

Some History : The Palais galliera was built in the 19th century.

In 1876, the Duchesse de Galliera inherited her late husband’s fortune, including a large parcel of land in the 16th arrondissement one of the nicest neighbourhoods in Paris. She gave the land to the city of Paris in 1879 and built a museum at her expense to hold her  works of arts. It was then used by the city of Paris for temporary exhibitions. 17062017-P6170248-2

 

17062017-P6170247-2Since 1977, the museum has been devoted to fashion It is often referred to,  as the Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris (City of Paris fashion Museum)

A Fashion Museum :17062017-IMG_8476

The Palais Galliera  now houses the Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris. The collections are among the richest in the world and reflect the fashion trends and habits of France from the 18th century to the present day (100 000 pieces of clothing and accessories). It only presents temporary exhibitions. Exhibitions are generally held 2-3 times a year and last 4-6 months on average. There is no permanent exhibition as many of the items are fragile and cannot be exposed to light for long periods of time. Between every exhibition, the museum is closed to the public.

By 2019, opening of  “The Gabrielle Chanel rooms”

Chanel in 1936 by cecil Beaton in the Ritz

Chanel in 1936 by cecil Beaton in the Ritz

In 2019, with the support of Chanel, Palais Galliera will open a permanent gallery making it France’s first permanent fashion museum. Chanel will finance the construction of the new space, which will be called “The Gabrielle Chanel rooms” (Salles Gabrielle Chanel).  Il will be located in the basement floor of the Palais Galliera and will be open all year round. The Gabrielle Chanel rooms will also have a bookshop. The ground floor will continue to display temporary exhibitions.

The building : Neo-Classical style 17062017-P6170217-2

The design was inspired by a palace that the Duchess Galliera owned in Genoa. The façade is made of Cut stones in the Italian Renaissance style.

The Eiffel Tower seen from Galliera

The Eiffel Tower seen from Galliera

The Garden :

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The square Galliera

The Square Galliera is located behind the Museum. It was created in the 19th century. The entrance is on Avenue Président Wilson opposite the Palais de Tokyo. The fountain in front of the museum dates from 1916

The Current exhibition (from April 27th to August 13th 2017) :  “Dalida, une garde-robe de la ville à la scène”

Although you might not know her,  Dalida was a huge star in France in the 70s and 80s A singer who passed into legend. The exhibition takes a look at her wardrobe, and costumes that she wore during her career. This is the subject of a large donation to the Palais Galliera by her brother.

(An article about “Dalida, une garde-robe de la ville à la scène” will be soon published. Work in Progress)

Practical informations :

  • Palais Galliera website :  www.palaisgalliera.paris.fr/en
  • Address : 10 rue Pierre 1er de Serbie Paris 16 – Metro : Iena or Alma Marceau (line 9) or Boissière (line 6)
  • Opening times : Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 6pm  –   (closed on Monday and Public holidays)
  • Late openings on Thursdays and Fridays until 9 pm

My suggestions

  • Choose to visit preferably a morning
  • Book your ticket on line before your visit
  • If coming on a Wednesday or a Saturday morning, combine your visit with the President Wilson open market and  the Esplanade du Trocadéro (Eiffel Tower) and a drink at a nice cafe (lots of nice cafes in the area). Here is how you could organise your morning :
    1. Place du Trocadéro : enjoy a look at the Eiffel Tower and get the opportunity to take a few pictures on an early morning. – Metro Trocadero (line 6)
    2.  Galliera Museum around 10.30 am
    3. Take a cafe at the “Le Grand Corona” 3 place de l’Alma – Paris 16 (or at another cafe among all the nice cafes in the neighborhood.
    4. President Wilson open market (after your visit to Galliera Palace) and with a short visit at the Esplanade du Trocadero to have a look at the Eiffel Tower and maybe to take some nice pictures on an early morning.   before your visit, have a look and take some photos of the Eiffel Tower from the Esplanade du Trocadero (Metro Trocadero)

Other informations : 

President Wilson market : 17062017-P6170273-8

  • President Wilson market :
  • An open market with high quality products in a wonderful setting
  • Opening days and time : Wednesday 7am-14pm and Saturday 7am to 15pm
  • Address : Avenue du Président Wilson – Paris 16 – between Debrousse street and Iena square – Metro Stop : Iena (line 9)

Experience Paris,with Ann Jeanne in Paris, native Parisian :
“Ann Jeanne in Paris” tours is very different from  traditional guided tours. My walking tours are private walking tours with you only,or you and the person you choose.  No lectures : it’s an encounter, a meeting, a cross-cultural experience. The tours are friendly, welcoming and we walk at your pace. I give you all my attention, I accompany you, I discuss with you and share my Paris with you.

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Bienvenue à Paris – Welcome to Paris !

Some more photos :

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The Eiffel Tower seen from Galliera

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24Mar

Le Louvre

Posted by: afriendinparis Categories: Places Tours
3 Comments
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Le Louvre : a wonderful building, once a fortress, then a royal residence and now a museum, with an impressive art collection 

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Mona-Lisa-Leonardo-da-Vinci-Louvre-Paris-1Coming to Paris without visiting Le Louvre ?

Before designing  « A soft discovering of Le Louvre” tour,  I’ve been trying to think of how I would feel as a visitor to Paris spending a short time in Paris…

I would love to see this great Museum but I would choose maybe to leave Paris without visiting Le Louvre…

  • So many places to see and to visit and  only a few days in Paris… and Le Louvre is such a huge building, often crowded, with miles and miles of Galleries and numerous rooms and artworks…
  • How would I manage to spend a few hours only in Le louvre and  see these famous masterpieces without walking miles and miles , without getting lost  and without feeling totally exhausted and frustrated at the end of visit,
  • Thus, I would probably go instead to Orsay Museum and  postpone the visit of Le Louvre until my next visit to Paris… …And I would probably feel frustrated when leaving Paris…

This is why I designed this tour for you : 

a “Soft discovering of Le Louvre” 

Video : Here are the highlights along the tour :

 no stress, no waiting line, without getting lost and including the greatest masterpieces

I accompany you (only you) , give you all my attention and walk at your pace
Hope it will answer your wishes

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Le Louvre in a few key figures

  • The museum most visited in the all world : 15 000 visitors per day, 50 visitors per minute (!) and 20 000 visitors watch the Joconda per day 
  • More than 9 miles of corridors
  • More than 2000 officers operating in Le Louvre
  • An area of more that 49 acres and an area of more than 750 000 square feet opened to the public

  • Winged Victory of Samothrace 190 BC

    Art works from 6th c BC to 19th c

  • 403 rooms
  • More than 8 million visitors
  • More than 10 000 steps
  • 410 windows
  • 3000 locks
  • 48 firefighters
  • More than 37 000 pieces of art on permanent exhibit and more than 460 000 pieces in total.
  • If you’d watch every artwork displayed during 10 seconds each, you’d have to spend 3 days and 2 nights to see them all
  • 3 entrances to the 3 parts of Le Louvre (Richelieu, Sully and Denon) under the Pyramide
  • Open everyday (except on Tuesdays), open till 9:45 pm Wed & Fridays, all other days 9-6 pm; admission 15€
  • Eight departments: Eastern Antiquities, Egyptian Antiquities, Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities, Islamic Art, Sculptures, Decorative Arts, Paintings, and Prints and Drawings.

In this article, you’ll see that Le Louvre is not only a Museum but it’s also a wonderful building with a complex and rich History. So many reason which makes it worth a visit ! Before being a Museum, the building was first a fortress then it was rebuilt several times to become a Royal Palace.

Some History

One color for each historic step

Plan Louvre au fur et à mesure de l'Histoire

First, a Fortress : The building was first erected as a fortress in 1192 by King Philippe Auguste to protect the city from Barbarian attacks. It was a thick cylindrical dungeon surrounded by towered walls. During the “Soft discovering of Le Louvre”, we’ll see the remains of this fortress

Then a Royal Palace : In the 14th century, the fortress ceased to be used for defensive purposes. It was enlarged and embellished by Charles V (king of France 1364-1380) and became a royal palaceLouvre-Charles-V

Then a Renaissance Palace : At the beginning of the 16th century, the palace enlarged by Charles V was razed and François 1st King of France (1494-1547)) ordered the construction of a new Renaissance structure of the same size. louvre-francois1er

Construction of a little Castle (= The Tuileries) nearby Le Louvre : In  1547, Catherine de Medicis (wife of Henri IV, Kiing of France) ordered the construction of a little castle nearby the west of Le Louvre, called the Tuileries.  Then Henri IV, decided to create a grandiose royal residence by joining the Louvre and the Palais des Tuileries by a series of buildings. Among these buildings : the Grande Galerie built along the Seine.The Tuileries Palace connected by the Grande Galerie to the Renaissance Louvre on Merian's 1615 map of Paris

Construction of the “Pavillon de l’Horloge” (“clock Pavillon”) : In the 17th century, in 1624, Louis XIII and his minister Richelieu added the Pavillon de l’Horloge

Le Louvre at the 19th century with the Tuileries Palace in the foreground

Under Louis XIV and his minister Colbert : The Cour Carrée, a great sure court was constructed and the Royal apartments were sumptuously decorated (= the Apollon Gallery ). After Colbert’s death, the court moved to Versailles and the French Kings lost interest in Le Louvre

After the revolution of 1789 : Napoleon I started the construction of a wing along the rue de Rivoli. Napoleon I, later kings and Napoleon III lived in the Tuileries and the Louvre was used for offices and as a museum.

In 1793, Le Louvre became a museum. It was the first state museum. It opened to the public with an
exhibit of more than 500 painting and decorative arts. Many of this art works had been confiscated from the royal family and French nobility.

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From the mid-19th century onward : i Napoleon III finished the construction of the Aile Richelieu along the rue de  Rivoli.

A new perspective : Arc du Carrouse l-Tuileries gardens, Place de la Concorde-  Champs Elysées – Arc de Thriomphe. During the uprising of the Paris Commune in 1871, the Palais des Tuileries was burned. This opened the perspective we enjoy now.

In the late 80s  : a glass pyramid in the central courtyard is built (Chinese-American architect Ieoh Ming Pei) which serves as the museum’s main entrance.

In 1993, the Richelieu wing (=the building along the rue de Rivoli) which formerly housed the Ministry of Finance opened to the public

Soft discovering of Le Louvre” : Along our way 

and of course, we’ll see the Gioconda and the Winged Victory too  !

The Venus de Milo – 100 BC

The Great Sphynx of Tanis 2600 BC

 

The Consecration of the Emperor Napoleon and the Coronation of Empress Joséphine

Liberty leading the People ( by Eugène Delacroix – 1830

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The seated scribe 2600 – 2350 BC

Some tips : 

  • When you visit Paris, Le Louvre is a must-see, but most of the time there is a lot of people. Choose rather to go in the morning or at a night opening time (Wednesdays or Fridays)
  • Purchase your tickets in advance. It will save time. But you’ll still have to wait sometime because of the security check.
  • Pickpockets : I‘ve never had this bad experience at Le Louvre, but it may be a place where it’s more likely to happen can happen, whether inside the Louvre or outside in the courtyard. Keep you bag closed, and ignore people asking you for a donation or a signature for a petition.

 

Practical details : 

  • Website : www.louvre.fr
  • Opening time : Le Louvre is open everyday (except Tuesdays) from 9am to 6 pm. Night opening until 9.45pm on Wednesdays and Fr
    idays)
  • Getting to Le Louvre :
    • Metro stop : Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre
    • Batobus 

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22022017-IMG_4688A”Soft discovering of Le Louvre” and around

with Ann Jeanne in Paris

If you’re coming to Paris for a few days stay , don’t miss Le Louvre. Experience a L1008109-1“Soft discovering of Le Louvre” with a Parisian,  Ann Jeanne  of “Ann Jeanne in Paris” :  

 no stress, no waiting line, without getting lost ,  I accompany you (only you) , give you all my attention and walk at your pace

  • Spend a few hours in Le Louvre and enjoy the highlights of this huge and great museum with Ann Jeanne in Paris

You will see :

the Venus de Milo,

Mona Lisa (la Gioconda), the Winged Victory,

The Coronation of Napoleon,  The Wedding Feast at Cana, The Great Sphinx of Tanis, 

The Scribe, the Marly horses, the Apollon Gallery, the Medieval Louvre, the Odalisque, Liberty leading the People

The raft of the Medusa, the Caryatides room, the Oath of the Horatii, Mademoiselle Caroline Rivière, 

…

Experience Paris,with Ann Jeanne in Paris, native Parisian :
“Ann Jeanne in Paris” is very different from a tour operator. My private walking tours have nothing to see with a traditional guided tour. Only you, or you and the person with you.

It’s much more a meeting, a cross cultural experience. Because I was born raised and have been studying and then working in Paris, because it’s my hometown, I’d be delighted to show you my Paris, and make you experience Paris through my eyes.

I’ll welcome you, I’ll give you all my attention, will give you tips to make the most of your stay in Paris. I’ll walk at you pace and can personalize the tour according to your wishes and preferences.

Some more photos

Because Le Louvre is not only a museum but a wonderful building :

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Apollon Gallery

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When you visit the Louvre, you can see the remains of the Medieval Louvre : 

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More Art Works : 

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…and the Mona Lisa, with so many people around… And it can be even more people than on the photo. During my “soft discovering of Le Louvre tour”. I take you there at the best time and take the best way to get to the Mona Lisa when there is only a very few people !!

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Tags:
11Mar

Marie Curie, the most famous female scientist of all time

Posted by: afriendinparis Categories: People
4 Comments
Marie Skłodowska-Curie © CreativeCommons

Marie Skłodowska-Curie © CreativeCommons

Marie Skłodowska-Curie © CreativeCommons

The most famous female scientist of all time

Marie Curie was a French-Polish physicist, chemist: pioneer in radioactivity.

She spent most of her live in France.

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Albert Einstein

“Not only did she do outstanding work in her lifetime, and not only did she help humanity greatly by her work, but she invested all her work with the highest moral quality. All of this she accomplished with great strength, objectivity, and judgment. It is very rare to find all of these qualities in one individual.” ALBERT EINSTEIN Theoretical Physicist 

Marie Curie : a pioneer 

  • She has been the first woman in France who obtained a doctoratemarie_curie
  • She had been the first woman to be awarded a Nobel Prize
  • She was  the first woman  professor at the University of Paris-Sorbonne.
  • She was the first person ever, to be awarded two Nobel Prizes in two fields  : awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics 1903 and the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1911.
  • She is the only person who has ever won Nobel Prizes in both physics and chemistry.
  • Finally in 1995, she was the first woman who entered the Pantheon in recognition of her scientific work and merits.

Marie Curie, aged 16.

French citizen, but she never lost her sense of Polish identity

She was born Maria Sktodowska-Curie (1867-1934) in Warsaw, Poland, where she lived until she was 22.

She excelled at school, was a top student in her secondary school, but couldn’t attend the men-only University of Warsaw. She instead continued her education in Warsaw’”floating university’, a set of underground informal classes held in secret.

Later, she was naturalized French . While a French citizen, she never lost her sense of Polish identity. She taught her daughters the Polish language and took them on visits to Poland. She named the first chemical element that she discovered “Polonium” after her native country.

Marie Curie’s birthplace and museum :http://himetop.wikidot.com/marie-curie-s-birthplace-and-museum

In 1891, at the age of 24, she made her way to Paris quote - Nothing in life

Both Curie and her sister Bronislawa were  interested in scientific research and dreamed of going abroad to earn an official degree,

In 1891, at the age of 24, she finally made her way to Paris followed her older sister, Bronislawa to study in Paris. She enrolled at the Sorbonne.  The course was, of course, taught in French, which Marie had to reach top speed in very quickly.

She had only a little money and  this was a time of some hardship for the young scientist. She didn’t have much to eat and during Winters, she had to study in her unheated apartment, chilled to the bone.

She completed her master’s degree in physics in 1893 at the Sorbonne. She finished as top student in her master’s physics degree course.  Then she earned another degree in mathematics the following year in 1894, aged 27.

 

Pierre and Marie Curie : She married Pierre Curie, her colleague in the field of 

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After her degrees in Physics and Mathematics, she received a commission to do a study on different types of steel and their magnetic properties. She needed a lab to work in and a colleague introduced her to French physicist Pierre Curie. A romance developed between the brilliant pair and they became a scientific dynamic duo. They married on July 26 1895

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Statue of Pierre and Marie Curie, located in Marie Curie’s garden, nearby the laboratory where she has been working after Pierre Curie’s death

They worked together and discovered two new chemical elements: radium and polonium

“My husband and I were so closely united by our affection and our common work that we passed nearly all of our time together.”

The Curies worked together investigating radioactivity. They were completely devoted to one another.

In 1898, the Curies announced the discovery of a new chemical element: the Polonium. They NAMED THE ELEMENT POLONIUM AFTER Marie4S NATIVE COUNTRY OF Poland. At the end of the year, they announced the discovery of another, the Radium. In 1902, the Curies announced that they had produced a decigram of pure radium.

They were jointly awarded Nobel Prize in Physics for research on radiation in 1903. They shared the prize with Henri Becquerel, the original discovery of radioactivity.

Pierre and Marie Curie in their laboratoryThen, they developed an international reputation for their scientific efforts and they used their prize money to continue their research.

Pierre Curie’s death : 

Pierre Curie’s life was cut short in 1906 when he was knocked down and killed by a carriage.

Despite her tremendous grief, Marie took over his teaching post, becoming the first woman to teach at the Sorbonne. She continued the work that they had begun together.

Nude Barre quote

 

Marie Curie’s work : 

L0001758 Portrait of Marie Curie and her daughters, 1908 Credit: Wellcome Library, London. Wellcome Images images@wellcome.ac.uk http://wellcomeimages.org Portrait of Marie Curie, and her two daughters, Eve and Irene, in 1908 Madame Curie Curie, Eve Published: 1939 Copyrighted work available under Creative Commons Attribution only licence CC BY 4.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Portrait of Marie Curie and her daughters, 1908 – Credit: Wellcome Library, London.

Marie Curie’s research was crucial in the development of x-rays in surgery.

During the WWI, Curie helped to equip ambulances with x)ray equipment, She herself drove the ambulances to the front lines.

The use of the X-Rays during the war saved the lives of many wounded men.

Despite her success Marie continued to face great opposition for male scientists in France, and she never received significant financial benefits from her work.

On the photo : Portrait of Marie Curie and her daughters, Irene and Eve, 1908 – Credit: Wellcome Library,

 

A lasting contribution to the world

  • She and her husband created a theory of radioactivity (a term made by her and Pierre)Discovery of radium - Not an Exact Science Show
  • She found different ways for separating radioactive isotopes and discovered two new elements, radium and polonium. She named the first new chemical element that she discovered in 1898, “Polonium” after her home country, Poland.
  • She carried out the first research into the treatment of tumors with radiation. She paved the way for nuclear physics and cancer therapy.
  • Under her own direction, the studies were first used into the treatment of cancers. These treatments used the radioactive isotopes.  
  • She was a mentor for many women who pursued a scientific career particularly in France.

Marie Curie travelled to the United States :18022017-IMG_4505

“She not only conquered great secrets of science but the hearts of the people the world over.”NEW YORK TIMES, JULY 5, 1934

She travelled to the United states twice, in 1921 and in 1929 to raise funds to buy radium and to establish a radium research institute in Warsaw.

In May 1921, Marie Curie, accompanied by her two daughters Irène and Eve, to the United Sates where she was received in triumph. For 6 weeks, she gave lectures,n visited universities and colleges for women… On the 20th of May, the President G. Harding officially gave Marie Curie one gram of radium. The price of this precious radioactive material : 100 000 dollars… ( it had been collected by a national fundraising campaign). The gram of radium was used for the research at the Curie Laboratory and to treat patients at the curie Foundation. On the photo : Marie Curie with the American President, Mr Harding at the head of the procession descending the stairs of the  White House after the ceremony on 20 May 1921. 

Below : a leaden mahogany given to Marie Curie by the American President in May 1921 with the replicas to the 10 tubes that contained the gram of radium. 

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The box containing the gram of Radium given by the American President

Marie Curie, aged 59,  was invited at the 1927 Solvay Conference : a meeting of the world’s greatest minds in Chemistry and Physics Marie was one of the small number of elite scientists invited to one of the most famous scientific conferences of all-time – the 1927 Solvay Conference on Electrons and Photons. Marie Curie, aged 59, at the 1927 Solvay Conference on Electrons and Photons.

On the photo : marie-curie-solvay-conference

  • In the front row are Max Planck, Marie Curie, Hendrik Lorentz and Albert Einstein.
  • In the row behind are Martin Knudsen, Lawrence Bragg, Hendrik Kramers, Paul Dirac and Arthur Compton. All except Knudsen and Kramers are Nobel Prize winners. 

 

Marie Curie’s death:

By the late 1920s her health was beginning to deteriorate. She died aged 66, on 4 july 1934 of aplastic anemia, a blood disease that is often caused by too much exposure to radiation. It is likely that the radioactivity she had been exposed to during her career caused the disease. On the photo : Marie Curie watching her garden from her laboratory (Rue Pierre et Marie Curie)MuseeCurie-jMarie-Curie-balcon-01

Pierre and  Marie Curie’s daughters

Irène Joliot Curie

 The Curies’ eldest daughter Irene was herself a scientist and winner of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1935. She shared the honour with her husband Frederic Joliot for their work on their synthesis of new radioactive elements.

The two Nobel Laureates Marie Curie and her daughter Irène Joliot-Curie in the laboratory – 1925.

Eve Curie-Labouisse

Eve Curie-Labouisse (1904-2007) is the youngest daughter of Pierre and Marie Curie. She was the only one in her family who did not choose a scientific career. She chose literary and artistic studies. After her mother’s death in 1834, she wrote a biography of Marie Curie, titled “Madame Curie.” It has been translated in 35 languages and became a worldwide bestseller. In 1954, she married an American diplomat who later became Executive Director of UNICED.  Eve Curie-Labouisse died in 2007 in New York at 102 years old. The Curie Museum in Paris was renovated in 2012 thanks to her legacy.

A “Nobel prized” family : 5 Nobel Prizes

Marie Curie‘s husband, Pierre Curie, her daughter Irène Joliot-Curie and her son-in-law, Frédéric Joliot-Curie, also won the Nobel Prize.

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Marie Curie’s addresses in Paris

Where she lived:09032017-IMG_5814

 

 

 

The Curie institute, which are important medical research centres. It’s where Pierre and

Marie Curie have been working. In 1914, Marie Curie became the Director of the laboratory of physics and chemistry located in the Radium’s Institute.

 

Institut Curie - 10 rue Vauquelin - Paris 5

Institut Curie – 10 rue Vauquelin – Paris 5

Marie Curie’s laboratory 15027433_1769175463351215_2336640108945817826_n

 

Numerous posthumous honors:

18022017-IMG_4560The Pantheon : The couple originally were buried in the Paris suburb of Sceaux (department 92) In 1995 their remains were moved in interred in the Pantheon in Paris alongside France’s greatest citizens (Victor Hugo, Voltaire, Rousseau…) Marie Curie was the first woman interred there based on her own merits.

The Pantheon: is a building in the Latin quarter in Paris which was originally built as a church.

“To the fatherland’s great men, in gratitude.” Prior to April 21, 1995, the famous inscription on the Pantheon’s ornamental front really had to be taken literally. Indeed, the crypt, where some of the nation’s most distinguished personalities lay buried, did not include a single woman, that is to say a woman honoured on her own merits.

Hospital de la Salpétrière : a memorial in Saint Louis courtyard – Boulevard de l’Hôpital – Paris 13

ECPI – Pierre and Marie Curie’s laboratory memorial tablet : A bronze memorial tablet on an external wall of the École supérieure de physique et de chimie industrielles – L’Ecole de Physique et Chimie – 10, rue Vauquelin, Paris 509032017-IMG_5826 in Paris (along Rue Pierre Brossolette – Paris 5) marks the exact spot of the laboratory where Pierre Curie and Marie Curie discovered Radium and worked together from 1898 to 1902. The tablet was discovered in 1933.  EPCI :

Pierre et Marie Curie Museum (open since 1992) and the Radium institute:

09032017-IMG_5861Marie Curie decided to establish a scientific institution worthy of Pierre’s memory. Helped by her scientist friends, she persuaded the French government and the private Pasteur Foundation to fund a Radium institute. Marie would head a radioactivity laboratory, and an eminent physician would lead its medical research laboratory.

A statue of them both, the laboratory where Marie Curie has been working can be visited and the garden Marie Curie has planted.

It’s located in the ground floor of the Curie House of the Radium’s intitute built in 1914. The building sheltered the Curie laboratory devoted to the study of the radioactivity and directed by Marie Curie until her death in 1934 –

http://himetop.wikidot.com/curie-museum

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Inside the Curie Museum – Rue Pierre et Marie Curie – Paris 5

A metro stop called Pierre et Marie Curie : on the Line 7 of the Paris’ Metro but located in the suburb of Paris

UMPC : Pierre et Marie Curie University –  4 place Jussieu Paris 5 https://www.sorbonne.fr/etablissement/les-universites/universite-pierre-et-marie-curie-sciences-et-medecine-upmc-paris-6/

Institut Curie – 26, rue d’Ulm – Paris 5

Institut Curie - 10 rue Vauquelin - Paris 5

Institut Curie – 10 rue Vauquelin – Paris 5

It’s one of the leading medical biological and biophysical research centres in the world. It’s a private non-profit foundation for research into cancer. The institute runs the Hospital Claudius Régaud, a cancer treatment hospital.

It was born from the will of a woman, Marie Curie and the importance of a cause, the fight against cancer. It has been created in 1909. Its main mission are the research , the diagnosis and the treatment of cancer.

http://www.institut-curie.org/?_ga=1.31192636.2095294535.1478114292

 

Today, several educational and research institutions and medical centers bear the Curie name, including the Institute Curie and the Pierre and Marie Curie University both in Paris

 

Square Marie Curie: a green space in Paris 13

Movies:

 2016 – Maria Sklodowska-Curie: French and Polish-language film directed by France’s Marie Noëlle.. A film shot in Paris, Brussels, Munich and Lodz, Krakow and Leba in Poland. It’s an intimate portrait of Marie Curie : « … a tale of her sorrows and joys, moments of triumph and defeat not only in the academic sphere but above all in her private and family life…. the so-far-unknown side of the protagonist.  Trailer: https://youtu.be/xEtesjGtchk

1997 – Les Palmes de M. Schutz. A French film about Pierre and Marie Curie. It was adapted from a play of the same name. In the film, Marie Curie was played by Isabelle Huppert https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/154828/Les-Palmes-de-M-Schutz/overview

1943 – The black-and-white classic Madame Curie starring Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon. Trailer : https://youtu.be/PrURyPLBV44

A number of television documentaries have been made, including the BBC’s 2013 documentary The Genius of Marie Curie: The Woman Who Lit Up the World.

 

Books : A number of biographies are devoted to her.

In 1938 her daughter, Eve Curie, published Madame Curie.

In 1987 Françoise Giroud wrote Marie Curie: A Life.

In 2005 Barbara Goldsmith wrote Obsessive Genius: The Inner World of Marie Curie

In 2011 Lauren Redniss published Radioactive: Marie and Pierre Curie, a Tale of Love and Fallout

 

Pratical details :

Pierre et Marie Curie Museum18022017-IMG_4484

HORAIRES D’OUVERTURE / OPENING TIMES

Open from wednesday to saturday, from 1:00 to 5:00 pm.

CLOSURE DAYS :

–  Closed during public holidays : April 17th, May 1st, May 8th, May 25th, July 14th, November 1st, November 11th.

– Closed in August

–   Closed during Christmas Holidays : from December, 24th, 2017 to January, 9th, 2018.

Accès/Directions

L’entrée du Musée Curie se situe au E 1, rue Pierre et Marie Curie, dans le 5e arrondissement de Paris.

RER B : Luxembourg.

Métro : Place Monge (ligne 7) ou Cardinal Lemoine (ligne 10).

Bus : 21, 27, 38, 47, 82, 84, 85 et 89.

Parking : 18/19, rue Soufflot.

> Plan d’accès/How to find us

 

 

PANTHEON :18022017-IMG_4565-2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Experience Paris, with Ann Jeanne in Paris, native Parisian :

  • Sharel1008109 the Paris of a native and feel like a Parisian 
  • Discover Paris off the beaten path and  get a real feel of an authentic Paris
  • See Paris in another perspective and know more about Paris and Parisians FEEL WELCOME !
  •  
  • I’d be delighted to welcome you and share  “my” Paris with you. 
  • The tours are private tours (with you only or you and the person you choose).The tours are friendly, and relaxed and I give you all my attention,  
  • For more details :   “Ann Jeanne in Paris” tours,  //Booking and Pricing

 

 

Tags:
10Dec

Magical winter in Paris (videos at the bottom of the article)

Posted by: afriendinparis Categories: Non classé Useful Informations
4 Comments
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At the Printemps department store

PARIS IN THE WINTER (December-February)

I love Paris in the winter, when it drizzles… (Cole Porter)

Paris is lovely in Winter, sometimes chilly, but it’s a festive season with something magical.

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Many reasons to visit Paris in the Winter : 

  • More availability of flights and lodging, with lower prices. smaller crowds and shorter lines !
  • Winter light is gorgeous
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At the Galeries Lafayette department store

  • Weather in December :  The end of December can be cold in Paris but temperatures are rarely excessively low, in average between 3°C (37 ° F) and 8°C (46°F)  . Temperature can be under 0°C ( 32°F) but rarely. 

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  • What to wear in winter in Paris ? : It’s better to be dress for the cold : a winter coat, a scarf and gloves. An umbrella might be useful

Enjoy  winter in Paris :

There is always something going on in the city of light. You’ll discover a different side to Paris

  • Visiting museums and exhibitions : Paris has plenty of them. For instance : 
    • Jacquemart André Museum To know more about Jacquemart André MuseumP1090861
    • The Centre Pompidou : the modern art museum also known as Beaubourg. And it’s worth visiting it for the views from the terrace.28dcb9355e40fdc0b78507705664e157
    • Here are some of the exhibitions in 2016-2017 :bazille
  • Icons of modern art (= the Chtchoukine collection) : The Russian collector Chtchoukine’s paintings transform the Fondation Louis Vuitton into a cathedral of modern art. Until Monday February 20 2017 – du 22/10/2016 au 20/02/2017 – 8 Avenue du Mahatma Gandhi – 75116, Paris
  • “Painting the impossible” (Peindre l’impossible) : Hodler, Monet, Munch come together for the first time at Musée Marmottan-Monet,  portraying the feelings evoked by nature.
  • Frederic Bazille (1841 – 1870), “The Youth of Impressionism” (“La jeunesse de l’impressionnisme”) at the musée d’Orsay du 15/11/2016 au 05/03/2017 – www.musee-orsay.fr/en/events/exhibitions –  open from 9.30am to 6pm daily, except Mondays.    To know more about the Musée d’Orsay 

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  • Enjoying a cultural visit in peace and quiet. Many museums and galleries open late at night at least once a week.                For instance : 

Orsay museum late night on Thursdays until 9.45pm – Musée Jacquemart André Late-night opening on Mondays until 8.30 p.m. during exhibitions. –  Le Louvre  Wednesday, Friday until 9:45 p.m. – Le Centre Pompidou wednesday to monday until 9pm – Musée Marmottan Monet Thursday until 9 p.m. –  Musée Galliera : Late openings on Thursdays until 9 pm. …etc)

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Orsay Museum

  • Visiting churches and cathedrals or attending a concert
    • A concert : at the Sainte Chapelle, at Saint Julien le Pauvre church, at Saint louis en l’Ile church…

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      Saint Louis en l’ïle church

    • A mass : for instance :  Notre Dame de Paris, La Madeleine or  the Basilique du Sacré Coeur de Montmartre organize religious services on 24 and 25 December

Cafés :

Many cafés in Paris and the perfect moment to soak up the Parisian atmosphere

  • Reading in a traditional Parisian café
  • Sitting outside at a cafe and drinking wine (they put out the massive heat lamps). No matter the weather, many Parisians sip their café crème on an outside terrace.

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    Archives street in Le Marais neighborhood

  • Tea rooms and pastries
    • Pastries Pierre Hermé     To know more about Pierre HerméPierre Hermé Macarons
      • La « galette des rois : (flaky marzipan cakes) in January for the Epiphany. Just gorgeous. Don’t miss it if you visit Paris at Winter time. A must. To know more about the “Galette des Rois”

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          The Galette des Rois
      • A hot chocolate at Angelina, one of Paris’famous tea salons.      To know more about Angelina tea room

Ice-skating :

A number of venues are specially open around the city for the Christmas period.

(no outdoor rink below the Hotel de Ville this year (2017)

  • A spectacular indoor rink under the iron and glass vault of the Grand Palais, (December 14 until January 4). Everyday from the 14th of December 2016 to the 2d of January 2017. You can try it out at night from 8pm to 2am on some days. A light show and a DJ make this moment joyful. The Grand Palais is a wonderful building next to the Champs Elysées

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    The rink in the Grand Palais

  • The rink in the Eiffel Tower : at the 1st floor (57 meters above the ground) – with a great view over the city

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    The rink in the Eiffel Tower

  • The rink at the Trocadero : A 200 m2 skating rink next to the Eiffel Tower. On the 1st floor of the Eiffel Tower, skates are free for visitors. You can rent the … for 5 euros.

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    The ice rink at the Trocadero

Enjoy the Christmas decorations :

Wherever you are in Paris, there are lots of Christmas decorations.

  • Enjoy an evening stroll around the lit streets : Christmas illuminations are all around town. Fairy lights, glittering snowflakes and garlands. Here are some places with great Christmas lights : Place Vendôme, Champs Elysées, Avenue Montaigne (nearby the Champs Elysée), Faubourg Saint Honoré street, Saint Germain des Prés…Just to name a few
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The Galeries Lafayette (on the right)

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Rue de la Paix nearby la Place Vendome

  • Stroll down the Champs Elysées. With Christmas illuminations in the trees, wooden chalets; Dazzling display of lights on the trees that line the long boulevard. Champs-Elysées Christmas illuminations in the trees, Stroll through the winter wonderland strip of lights and decorated storefronts along the Champs Elysées.pb260033-1
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The Champs Elysée at night

Christmas window displays :

Enjoying decorations with artworks and gorgeous light worlds.

  • Parisian department stores : Christmas and winter-holiday lights and imaginative scenes.
    • Window scenes at Galeries Lafayette or Le Printemps. It’s common to see children crowded around the windows with their parents. Christmas window displays
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      A window at the Galeries Lafayette

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      A window of Le Printemps department store

       

       

       

       

       

Enjoy the beautiful Art Deco dome at the Galeries Lafayette department store with its Christmas tree (different every year. This year it’s white, last year it was golden)

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The Dome of the Galeries Lafayette

 The Christmas markets :

The Christmas Market are up in several Paris neighborhoods

  • Notre Dame Christmas market : It takes place on square Viviani near Notre Dame. A real atmosphere more intimate than the market on the Champs Elysée, with gourmet products, handmade crafts…and animations like singers too. From 12 December  to 23 December 2016– 10am-7pm – Square René Viviani – Paris 1
  • The market “Village de Noël” at the Champs Elysées. Christmas market in wooden chalets s 200 market stands with French gastronomie and crafts. From 11 November 2016 to 2 January 2017  10am-6pm
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    The Christmas market at the Champs Elysées

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  • Saint Germain des pres Christmas market :: many merchants and animations – From 13 November 2016 to 8 January 2017  – 10am-7pm  Eglise Saint-Germain-des-Prés de Paris – Metro Saint germain des Prés – Paris 6
  • And others such as the Montmartre Christmas Market, the Trocadero Christmas market, Montparnasse Christmas market (nearby the Montparnasse tower – 50 stalls – 10th to 31st of December)
    …etc
  • Unfortunately : no more Christmas market around Saint Sulpice church.. I’ve just checked out tonight…
  • Link to the list of the Christmas Markets by the Paris tourist office : http://en.parisinfo.com/discovering-paris/major-events/christmas-in-paris/christmas-markets-in-paris/christmas-markets-in-paris

Carousels and Ferris Wheel  :

Merry-go-rounds are set up in almost every arrondissement. They are part of the charming atmosphere of Paris especially at Christmas time. Or take a whirl around the nearby Ferris wheel at Place de la Concorde for a bird’s-eye view of the festivities. . To enjoy a panoramic view of the city

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Hot chestnuts

  • They are sold in the street : an old Paris tradition. And you may hear ” Chauds les marrons chauds ! , Chaud les marrons chauds !!” (= ‘Hot chestnuts, hot !)060021_la_marchande_de_marrons_chauds_du_jardin_du_luxembourg

Spectacles

For instance : 42nd Street at Theatre du Chatelet  : a broadway show. It’s in English The inside of the theatre is amazing with an old decor and a Parisian charm.

Shopping

Winter is a season to shop :

  • Winter sales, (= soldes).
    • 2370405-dates-des-soldes-2017-les-dates-des-soldes-d-ete-et-d-hiver-par-departement Twice a year, everything in Paris goeson sale. The winter soldes are in Mid-January. In Winter it always starts the second Wednesday of January and finishes at the mid February. So this year (2017) it will start the 6th of January and will end on the 16th of February. 
    • Prices drop more drastically as the days pass on (but so does the selection…).  If you want to shop, this is the time to come to Paris.
  • Le Marais : Vintage shops in the Marais.
  • And many other areas… Actually, almost everywhere is a nice place to go shopping !!

Get a panorama of the city : 

For instance : 

  • At the top of Montmartre hill : No matter what the weather’s like, you’ll get a panorama of the city from the top of Montmartre
  • At the top of the Centre Pompidou (= Beaubourg ) : you’ll get a great view over Paris from the top terrace

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And why not a tour with Ann Jeanne in Paris ? !!

Because Paris is about its building and its history, but it’s not all about its building and it’s history…. 

Share the Paris of a native, to experience Paris as a true Parisian, See Paris through the eyes of a native to get a real authentic experience of the city of light. I’ll give you tips, advice to live you stay at its best, I’ll show you places you may not have discovered otherwise, I show you and share with you “my Paris”, I tell you about Paris way of life, Paris’ etiquette, the Paris of the Parisian.

Learn more about Ann Jeanne in Paris private walking tours 

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I was born and raised in Paris, I have been studying in a secondary school in Montparnasse then at La Sorbonne University (in the Latin quarter), working in Paris, I’ve been living (and still am) with my family in Paris, as a child, as a daughter and a grand daughter, as a teenager as a student, as a wife, as a mother. I have raised my son, met my friends and spent time with them.  I have been to clubs, to cafés, to museums and exhibitions, gone to parties, admired the architecture, been to lots of places, walked the streets for miles and days (!) photographed numerous places, spent ages in cafés (I am a cafe lover, a must for a Parisian !)

And it’s a real pleasure to meet you and share my love for Paris with you.

My goal : make you feel very welcome and happy in Paris

My motto could be :

Don’t visit Paris , 

but breath it ! live it !

as a true Parisian

Contact me                                                                              Ann Jeanne in Paris Private walking tours

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Rond Point des Champs Elysée Metro stop

Some  tips? : I’ll tell you where to go to get the best crêpes, where  the first street of Paris (Lutèce) ever was built, where is the older tree, I show you some of the most elegant streets of Paris, where you can find beautiful scarfs, where you’ll find the best pastries, I’ll help you choose some cheeses, I’ll show you some of the Midnight in Paris spots, I’ll tell you where to go for the best classical concert, I’ll show you some of my favourite places in Paris… and so many more…. if you wish so !!

My advice, my opinion for you stay in December:

The Champs Elysée Christmas market is not the most “elegant” and atmospheric Christmas market. Hope you won’t mind my saying this… I mean this is not where you’ll feel the most chic and stylish atmosphere. In my opinion, walking up and down the Champs Elysées at Christmas time is worth it for the lights and illuminations, but I’d prefer going somewhere else to enjoy a Christmas market in Paris. Maybe Saint Germain des Prés or Notre Dame. And I know perfectly well that I’m not the only Parisian to feel the same…

I would avoid going to a proper restaurant at Christmas eve or at New Year Eve… So crowded and so much overpriced… Just awful… and incredibly expensive almost everywhere…

Lots, lots lots of Parisian people go to the Champs Elysées at midnight for the New Year Eve.  You may enjoy it if you feel like being with lots of people. But not at all if you feel like experiencing something more intimate !!

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A window display at the Galeries Lafayette

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Marriott hotel at the Champs Elysée

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Video : A Christmas night at the Champs Elysée

 VIDEO : A Christmas window display at Le Printemps department store

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21Oct

Paris night cruise

Posted by: afriendinparis Categories: Non classé Useful Informations
2 Comments
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pa160025-1A Paris night cruise

A cruise on the Seine by day or by night  is a great way to discover Paris

But  a cruise at night is particularly charming. Probably a must-do during your stay in Paris.

The monuments are illuminated along the Seine. A way to see Paris differently.

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  • There are several companies that provide similar tours along the river Seine
  • Most of the cruises start nearby the Eiffel Tower  (though the Vedettes du Pont Neuf start from the Cité Island not far from Notre Dame). They generally  start and end at the same point

I generally choose either the Vedettes du Pont Neuf or the Batobus,

which in my opinion, are the most easy and simple ways to discover Paris along the Seine.


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The Vedettes du Pont Neuf :

I often choose the Vedettes du Pont Neuf :

  • because it is almost the only company who starts from the center of Paris.
  • the boats are not too big and the cruise is not too long.

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    Vedettes du Pont Neuf’s itinerary

  • The boats pass along many beautiful monuments of Paris such as  Le Louvre, the Cathedral of Notre dame, the Eiffel Tower, Alexandre III bridge, the Pont Neuf, The Musée d’orsay, …and more.  Without any stop.
  • The cruise is commented.

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The Batobus :

  • They are hop-on/hop-off boats 
  • They make a circuit with separate stops near major tourist destinations.
  • Though it’s not intended for a sighteseeing cruise, but in my opinion it’s similar to it.Good points :
  • You can choose your point of departure : Saint germain des prés, Notre Dame, Jardin des plantes, Hôtel de Ville,  Louvre,
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    Batobus ‘ itinerary

    Champs Elysées, Eiffel Tower or Musée d’orsayYou can leave at each stop whever you want `

  • You leave the Batobus then take it again later during the same day (if you’ve booked a one day ticket) (Unlimited transportation for an entire day).
  • Bad point : The tour lasts longer (than the Vedette du Pont Neuf tour)  as it stops several times and the itinerary is longer than the Vedettes du Pont Neuf’s itinerary . So, if you want to do the entire tour, it will take about 2 hours, instead of 1 hour with the Vedettes du Pont Neuf.

Note that there are not a lot of commentaries, but there is still some.

Experience a Paris night cruise watching my video !  

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Alexandre III Bridge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Experience Paris, with Ann Jeanne in Paris, native Parisian :

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Ann Jeanne at Montsouris neighborhood

You’d like visit Paris, but you don’t feel having a tour with a group ?

You ‘d like to feel welcome in Paris, whether you’re coming alone or not

You’d like to get a real feel of an authentic Paris, the Paris of the Parisians and get full of tips from a native ?

You’d like to see Paris in another perspective and to know more about Paris and Parisians’s life and culture ?

FEEL WELCOME !

  • I’d be delighted to welcome you and share “my” Paris with you. And Paris will be “your” city too 
  • The tours are private (with you only or you and the person you choose), at your pace and customized according to your wishes and interests
  • For more details : “Ann Jeanne in Paris” tours, Booking and Pricing
    All the tours can be customized
    Feel free to contact me

Practical details 

  • Vedettes du Pont Neuf :   vedettesdupontneuf.com
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A Vedette du Pont Neuf

  • Departure : about every ½ hour
  • from 10.30am to around 10pm (check the departures schedule on their website as they are different according to the period of the year)
  • The tickets can be booked on line, but generally it’s easy to buy the ticket at the counter. They are available for a year
  • The price : 14 euros

Address :Vedettes du Pont Neuf – Square du Vert Galant – 75001 Paris – France

Tel: +33 (0) 1 46 33 98 38     E -mail: info@vedettesdupontneuf.com

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The Vedettes du Pont Neuf’s departure

 

Price :

  • 17 euros for One day
  • 19 euros for 2 following days

My request  : Have you taken a Seine cruise during a trip to Paris ? If so, please tell my about your Seine river cruise experience. Let me know what company you chose and  your feedback . Thank you !

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Le Louvre

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Notre Dame

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20Oct

Angelina tea house and its iconic Hot Chocolate

Posted by: afriendinparis Categories: Non classé
4 Comments
Angelina's hot chocolate called "L'Africain"

Angelina's hot chocolate called "L'Africain"Angelina and its hot chocolate

Angelina’s hot chocolate : what’s special about it ?

Angelina serve a renowned hot chocolate,  meant to be one of the best in Paris. It  is the “Chocolat chaud à l’ancienne”, an old fashioned hot chocolate called « L’Africain ». A sumptuous  thick creamy hot chocolate, made with quality raw ingredients, and served with fresh whipped cream

You will be served a cup and saucer along with a pitcher of steamy, hot chocolate thick and creamy. You almost need a spoon to consume it. Fresh whipped cream is served on the side along with a glass and a carafe d’eau.  Please, watch the video below : 

Angelina, Rivoli street

Angelina, Rivoli street

About Angelina :

The first Angelina tea room opened in Paris, is located  in the arcades of the Rue de Rivoli  (Rivoli street) in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, at a walking distance from Le Musée du Louvre, la place Vendôme and la Place de la Concorde. It’s  a very renowned  place so there is often a queue in front of the door.

 

There are several Angelina tearooms and boutique in Paris (For more details : see at the bottom of this page)

 

Best known for its signature dessert, le Mont Blanc (a meringue and light whipped cream covered in Ribbons of chestnut cream) and its chocolat chaud à l’ancienne, l’Africain, )

Pastries and light lunches

Angelina tearooms serve pastries,  breakfasts and light lunches too (salads, quiches…) 

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The “Forêt Noire”

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From the left to the right : Paris-New York, Saint Honoré and Castiglione

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Beets and crumble at Angelina Versailles

A rich history

When you dine at angelina, you don’t only  experience pastries and drinks , but a rich History

A bit of history :

Angelina was founded in 1903 by Antoine Rumpelmayer, an Austrian confectioner. The Rumpelmeyer family emmigrated from Austria-Hungry to settle in Nice, in the south of France in the late 1800s. They decided to open their own teahouse in Nice. It was a success and they followed with teahouse in Monte Carlo and Antibes. Such a salon du thé was rare at the time. Most of its clientele were aristocrats who lived in Paris but visited the French Riviera occasionally on vacation.

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Soon, the Rumpelmayer family decided to relocate to the City of Lights. And in 1903, they opened the now-famous Parisian landmark Angelina, with a Belle Epoue style decor. The interior design was by French architect Édouard-Jean Niermans (1859-1928). Originally, this teahouse on rue de Rivoli opened as Rumpelmeyer tea house. However in 1930, owner Antoine Rumpelmeyer changed the name to that of his daugter-in-law, Angelina.

This historic tea shop has become a Parisian icon. Since 1903, the style decor has been kept exactly the same as it was before, refined and elegant, with mosaic floors, lots of mirrors, marble-topped tables, lovely French style chairs and armchairs, and soft lighting. 

And the Hot Chocolate has been a classic since the beginning !

 

 

 

 

Chic server uniforms : Stylish servers’uniforms were created by couture designer Alixis Mabille , who has worked with design names like Dior, John Galliano and Hedi Slimane.

Sebastien Bauer : Born in 1978 in Alsace, he joined the legendary Angelina as Head Pastry Chef. Sébastien Bauer was born in Alsace which gives him the perfect background to supervise the marvelous confectioneries created at Angelina.

 

Sébastien Bauer, Pastry chef at Angelina – In 2011 at Strasbourg – Photo @J. Binz

Coco Chanel : For years,Coco Chanel was a daily customer just for the hot chocolate. She lived in Hôtel Ritz Paris, at Place Vendôme in the 1st arrondissement. Everyday, she entered the glass doors of Angelina and she was regularly seated at table 10Coco Chanel in 1960

Chanel in 1936 by cecil Beaton in the Ritz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audrey   Hepburn : It was one of her favourite places when she was staying in Paris.Animated-GIFs-Audrey-Hepburn-Funny-Face-1

 

 

 

 

 

RECIPE    

(Hot Chocolate according to Angelina’s style)

L'Africain

L’Africain

The hot chocolate “L’Africain” has been a classic since the beginning.

550 g whole milk
150 g dark chocolate than 70%
200 g whipped cream

Cut the vanilla pod lengthwise, remove the seeds.

Boil the milk with the vanilla and let steep, covered a few minutes, remove the pod.

Add the dark chocolate 70% using a whisk.

Depending on your taste you can cook or not.

More you cook, the more hot chocolate is thick and velvety.

Serve in the container of your choice with whipped cream on the side. 

Experience Paris, with Ann Jeanne in Paris, native Parisian :

Anne à Montsouris - Format original-2637

Ann Jeanne at Montsouris neighborhood

  • You’d like visit Paris, but you don’t feel having a tour with a group ?
  • You ‘d like to feel welcome in Paris, whether you’re coming alone or not
  • You’d like to get a real feel of an authentic Paris, the Paris of the Parisians and get full of tips from a native ?
  • You’d like to see Paris in another perspective and to know more about Paris and Parisians’s life and culture ?

FEEL WELCOME !

  • I’d be delighted to welcome you and share “my” Paris with you. And Paris will be “your” city too 🙂
  • The tours are private (with you only or you and the person you choose), at your pace and customized according to your wishes and interests
  • For more details : “Ann Jeanne in Paris” tours, Booking and Pricing
    All the tours can be customized
    Feel free to contact me

Practical informationsAngelina

Angelina, Rue de Rivoli : First Angelina opened in Paris – 226 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France – Mon – Friday 07:30–19:00 – Sat Sun 08:30–19:30    –     +33 1 42 60 82 00

A lovely pastry counter near the entrance 

Watch the video (made by Angelina cie) below and visit Angelina rue de Rivoli      –     Web site : angelina-paris.fr

Additional Locations : Nine other locations  throughout Paris (tearooms and shops)

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Angelina at Versailles

  • Rue du Bac : Address: 108 rue du Bac, 75007 Nearest transport: Metro : Rue du Bac (line 12) – Open every day – 01 42 22 63 08

 

  • Palace of Versailles : Pavillon d’Orléans – 1st Floor at Pavillon d’Orléans  – 78000 Versailles – 01 39 20 08 32 – Closed on Mondays

 

  • Musée du Louvre – Aile Richelieu, Café Richelieu  – 75001 Paris – 01 49 27 93 31

 

  • Musée du Luxembourg – 19, rue de Vaugirard  – 75006 Paris  – 01 46 34 31 19

 

  • Galeries Lafayette – 40 boulevard Haussmann – 75009 Paris – 01 42 82 82 93

 

 

My advice : 

Another great Hot chocolate : 

Taste the hot chocolate at Le Cafe de Flore too : very similar to Angelina’s hot chocolate

Le Flore is an iconic cafe in Saint Germain neighborhood. And the welcoming is generally excellent.

At Le Flore, you can have a gorgeous Millefeuille by Hugo et Victor. It’s probably my favorite Millefeuille with the one of “Le Nôtre” pastry shops

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Angelina’s Millefeuille

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Angelina’s shop at Versailles

 

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3Oct

The “Jardin des Plantes”, the French King’s garden

Posted by: afriendinparis Categories: Places
2 Comments
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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAWhat is the “Jardin des Plantes” ?… The “King’s garden”

The Jardin des Plantes is an old Paris “Institution”, though not all Parisians visit this place often, this “Garden’ (which is much more than a garden ! ) is in all Parisians’ minds. Founded more than 400 years ago :  in 1636.

No Paris without its Eiffel Tower, no Paris without its Jardin des Plantes !

For Parisians, no especially the need to go to the place, the main thing is that the garden stays there in their city ! The visitors are mostly the students of the University nearby (The University of Jussieu), who hang out in the garden, have a break between two courses, the very young children of in the middle of the week with their nurse or grandparents when no school, which means on wednesdays afternoon, or after school (generally after 4.30 pm). During the weekend, families come to stroll  around or to visit the Gallery de l’Evolution most appreciated by children. OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

My “history”  : this was one of the places where my grand mother used to take me when I was a young child. Mainly because it was located in her favorite neighborhood, the neighborhood she knew the most and where she had been living since the 30s.  Also the garden where she used to take my mother and her brother too when they were children ! So, this garden and the area are deeply linked to my grand mother…

Back to what’s the Jardin des Plantes !

geographic-situation-of-the-jardin-des-plantesIt’s the main botanical garden in France. It’s situated in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, on the left bank of the river Seine and covers 24 hectares (= about : 235 000 square meters). It’s an ideal spot to stroll around. It doesn’t belong to the city. It’s run by the French state. It’s a place which inspired the Douanier Rousseau’s jungle paintings. Centenary trees like this Leban cedar were planted by Bernard de Jussieu in 1734.

About 4500 plants are arranged by family on a one hectare (10 000 M2) plot and labelled. 3 hectares are devoted to horticultural displays of decorative plants. The Jardin des Plantes exchanges seeds to maintain biotic diversity.

 

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A lot to see, visit and discover : 

There is a double alley of trees that run the length of the park, gardens, the Natural-history museum, remarkable trees, a maze, 4 greenhouses, exhibits, beautiful historic buildings, a small zoo (menagerie), play areas, a restaurant and refreshment areas. Here are some more details about all these places : 

  • The alpin garden : created in 1938. It displays 2000 mountain plants from all over the world (Corsica, Alps, Himalaya…) The high altitude plants are grouped by soil type and orientation of the sun.OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
  • Iris, peonies and roses gardens, The Rose garden created in 1990 has hundreds of species of orses and rose trees.
  • Museum National d’histoire Naturelle : with the Grande Galerie de l’évolution and 4 other departments (paleontology, palaeo-botany devoted to plant fossils, Mineralogy and entomology with some of the oldest fossilized insects on earth).
  • The Botanical gardens established in 1626. 45000 species which are labelled and regrouped by families. It includes  a natural history museum and a botanical school which trains botanists.  
  • The Greenhouses : 2 elegant greenhouses, Art Deco style buildings . Built after the architect went to study the heated greenhouses in London’s Kew gardens. On his return he designed the largest two steam-heated greenhouses of metal and glass in the world at that time. Both of these buildings were finished in 1834 and 1836.  The  greenhouses  are devoted to plants from the French territory of New Caledonia, Madagascar, New Zealand, plants from Tropical climates including coffee bush, cactus from the southwestern USA and so on.OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

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Differents galleries :

  • The Grande Galerie de l’Evolution : It’s a monumental 19th century glass-domed building standing at the end of the garden. Opened in 1889 just a few months after the inauguration of the Eiffel Tower.  It was first called Gallery of Zoology . Thousands of naturalised animals, one of the largest in the world that seem to come to life with lighting effects, sounds and musical sequences. It’s part of the National Museum of Natural History and is very popular among both children and adults. During the last 20 years, more than 13 million visitors came there to discover the collection of naturalised animals 
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A tour of the Jardin des Plantes’ neighborhood, (including the Garden) can be organized for you, customized, according to your wishes. The Jardin des Plantes neighborhood is one of the oldest part of Paris, with an authentic feel of a neighborhood (open air market, narrow cobblestones streets, Houses dating from the Middle Age…).

For more details : Contact me or annjeanne@afriendinparis.com 

  • A Paleontology museum
  • Mineralogy et Geology Galleries with exceptional examples of minerals, météorites and precious stones  and a collection of giant crystals…
  • A zoo was founded in 1795, by Bernardin de Saint_Pierre from animals of the royal menagerie at Versailles

A bit of History :

Louis XIII

Louis XIII, king of France, founder of the Jardin des Plantes

Founded in 1626, and originally known as the Jardin du Roi (the King’s garden). Become a medicinal herb garden in 1635 by Guy de La Brosse , Louis XIII’s physician. In 1640, it opened to the public. In 1693, Dc Guy-Crescent Fagon ran the gardens, surrounded himself with a team of brilliant botanists (Joseph Pitton de Tournefort, Antoine de Jussieu, Antoine Laurent de Jussieu and his son Adrien-Henri. …). In 1739, the Comte de Buffon, a famous naturalist became the curator and expanded the gardens adding a maze (the Labyrinth) which remains today. Buffon, a famous naturalist. In 1792 the Royal Menagerie (zoo) was moved to the gardens from Versailles.

The greenhouses : Built in 1834 – 1836, they are an early example of French glass and metal architecture.

Notes : Louis XIII (1601 – 1643) ,King of France, Henri IV and Marie de Medicis ‘s son

 

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Useful informations: image-plan-du-jardin-des-plantes

Address : 2, rue Buffon (Censier Daubenton or Monge Metro stops) – Paris 5, or Place Valhubert (Gare d’Austerlitz metro stop), or 57 rue Cuvier – Paris 5

Metro: Gare d’Austerlitz, Jussieu or Place Monge- line 5 and 10

Buses : lines 57, 91, 89

Website : http://www.jardindesplantes.net/, email : webedito@mnhn.fr

Opening hours : 7.30am-8pm Apr-Oct, 8am-5.30pm Nov-Mar – Greenhouses are closed on tuesdays

Admission free, except the galleries and the Green houses

The tickets to visit the Grandes Serres : 7 euros

Experience Paris, with Ann Jeanne in Paris, native Parisian : 

  • You’d like visit Paris, but you don’t feel having a tour with a group ?
  • You ‘d like to feel welcome in Paris, whether you’re coming alone or not
  • You’d like to  get a real feel of an authentic Paris, the Paris of the Parisians and get full of tips from a native ?
  • You’d like to see Paris in another perspective and to know more about Paris and Parisians’s life and culture ?

Anne à Montsouris - Format original-2637FEEL WELCOME !

  • I’d be delighted to welcome you and share “my” Paris with you. And Paris will be “your” city too 🙂
  • The tours are private (with you only or you and the person you choose), at your pace and customized according to your wishes and interests
  • For more details : “Ann Jeanne in Paris” tours,  Booking and Pricing
  • All the tours can be customized

 

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Tags:
24Aug

Who’s that man ? (Dior)

Posted by: afriendinparis Categories: People
4 Comments
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Christian Dior (1905-1957) was a French fashion designer.MFIMG_1038

Early life :

Christian Dior was born in Granville, a seaside town on the coast of Normandy. His father, Maurice Dior,  was the owner of a highly successful fertilizer manufacturer. When Christian dior was about five years old, the family moved to Paris, but, still returned to Granville for summer holidays.

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His family had hoped he would become a diplomat, but Dior was passionate about art. However, submitted to pressure from his father, he enrolled at the Ecole des Sciences Politiques. At the same time, he used to sell his fashion  sketches for about 10 cents each…

In 1928, Dior opened a small art gallery with money he received from his father.  Dior’s gallery handled the works of such artists as Matisse, Dali, Braque, Picasso, Cocteau and Max Jacob. But 3 years later, after the death of his mother and elder brother and a financial disaster in the family’s business during the Great Depression, the gallery had to be closed.

 

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Yes Christian Dior looks like Alfred Hitchcok !

GF - Avec Mr Dior - IMG_1015Early work in Fashion :

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Dior began to sell his fashion sketches and in 1935, landed a job illustrating the magazine Figaro illustré. In 1937, he was hired as a design assistant by Paris couturier Piguet who gave him the opportunity to design 3 Piguet collections. Whilst at Piguet, Dior worked alongside Pierre Balmain. Christian Dior left Piguet when he was called up for military service. In 1942, he left the army and joined the fashion house of Lucien Lelong.

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First collection : the “New Look” style.

His first collection (1947)

After the WWII, in 1946, Dior wished to start under his own name. His first collection called “Corolle” (= the botanical term corolla or circlet of flower petals in English)  was presented in 1947.  It featured narrow-waisted tightly fitted bodices and full pleated skirts. This became known as the “New Look” style. 

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IMG_1534“You can wear black at any time. Tony can wear it at any age. You may wear it for almost any occasion. “A little black frock” is essential to a woman’s wardrobe.” Christian Dior

He was the master at creating shapes and silhouettes. He was then the most successful fashion designer in the world. He launched at the same time his first perfume “Miss Dior”. 

“I have designed flower women” (Christian Dior)

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Christian Dior2

The New Look revolutionized women’s dresses and reestablished Paris as the centre of the fashion world after WWII.His designs have been worn by film stars and Royalty alike.   From 1955 until 1960, Yves Saint Laurent worked for Dior in Paris. GF - 1950 Dior L'officiel 4

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In 1957 Dior House represented half of the French exportation of fashion. 

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Death : 

“Finally, everything that has been part of my life, whether I wanted it to or not, has expressed itself in my dresses” – Christian Dior

He died in Italy in 1957, of a heart attack at the age of 52. he was buried in Cimetière de Callian in Var (France.).

The Christian Dior’s house is now owned by Groupe Arnault. There are more than 160 Dior shops in the world.

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“Les Rhumbs” : Christian Dior childhood home (it’s now Christian Dior Museum)

les rhumbsIt’s a Belle Epoque style 19th century villa standing on the cliff and over looking the sea. It’s located in Granville, Normandy, not far from Mont Saint Michel. It is the only French Museum dedicated to a couturier. It presents Haute couture garments on 3 floors. The garden is still arranged as an English landscape park as it was by Madeleine Dior, Christian Dior’s mother. 

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Christian Dior’s parents bought this villa in 1905. Christian Dior was particularly fond of this place. he wrote in his autobiography “Christian Dior and I” : “I have most tender and amaze memories… of my childhood home. I would even say that my life and my stile owe almost everything to its site and architecture.”

In 1932, shortly after Christian Dior’s mother Madeleine had died, the father got ruined by the crisis and the property had to be sold. The villa was purchased by the town of Granville and the garden was open to the public from 1938. In 1997, the villa became the “Christian Dior Museum”The villa was purchased by the town of Granville and the garden was open to the public from 1938. In 1997, the villa became the “Christian Dior Museum”

Christian Dior perfumes : 

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IMG_1542Some of his most famous perfumes : 

  • 1947 : Miss Dior
  • 1966 : first Eau de Toilette for men, Eau Sauvage
  • 1985 : Poison which becomes a worldwide best-seller
  • 1988 : Fahrenheit
  • 1991 : Dune
  • 1999 : J’adorePF - Pub - IMG_1032

Practical information :

Christian Dior – 30 avenue Montaigne – Paris 8 (near the Champs Elysées) : A historical spot for fashion, which saw the birth of the New Look”. Dior presented its ready-to-wear collections for men and women there, as was as perfume and accessories. Babu Dior can be found just nex door. Opening times : Monday-Saturday 10am – 7pm  – La Maison Dior : www.dior.com/couture/fr_fr/la-maison-dior/dior-en-histoires/30-avenue-montaigne   – More about the “Maison Dior” : www.dior.com

Christian Dior Museum – Granville (Normandy – France)IMG_1546GranvilleIMG_1051

  • Opening time : from Thursday 5 May to Sunday 25 September 2016 
  • Every day from 10:00 to 18:30
    Ticket office closes at 18:00.
  • The shop inside the museum : selection of books related to fashion and Christian Dior, catalogue-books of the pas exhibitions, postcards, posters, historical fragrances and Dior gifts.
  • A tea room : in the heart of Christian childhood’s garden, overlooking the sea, opened during July and August from 12 to 6.30 pm. free access independent of the museum’s entrance.
  • Address : Villa “Les Rhumbs”, 1 rue d’Estouteville – 50400 GRANVILLE Tél : 02 33 61 48 21 – 
  • Website :  musee-dior-granville.com   

Some books about Christian Dior :

Song : The English singer-songwriter Morrissey released a song titled “Christian Dior” as an B-side to his 2006 single “In the future when All’s well”PF - IMG_1008

The Cinema and Christian Dior : 

“Dior and I” (documentary 2015) : Dior and I brings the viewer inside the storied world of the Christian Dior fashion house with a privileged, behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Raf Simons’ first haute couture collection as its new artistic director

Official trailer : 

Some actresses who wore Dior dresses :

Marlene Dietrich : “No Dior, no Dietrich”

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Marlène Dietrich, Brigitte Bardot, Sophia Loren, Marilyn Monroe, Ava Gardner, Olivia de Haviland, Sharon Stone, Monica Bellucci, Elisabeth Taylor, Rita Hayworth…  Now : Cotillard, Charlize Theron, Natalie Portman

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Let Paris become “your Paris”, the time of your stay !

Visit Paris, with Ann Jeanne in Paris, native Parisian : 

  • You’d like to feel like a local and having a tour in a Paris neighborhood, but you don’t feel having a tour with a group ?
  • You’d like to discover Paris off the beaten path and get a real feel of an authentic Paris ?
  • You’d like to see Paris in another perspective and to know more about Paris and Parisians?

Anne à Montsouris - Format original-2637WELCOME !

  • I’d be delighted to welcome you and share with you “my” Paris. And Paris will be “your” city too 🙂
  • The tours are private (with you only or you and the person you choose), at your pace. 
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20Jun

Le Bon Marché : chic and elegance

Posted by: afriendinparis Categories: Places
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IMG_9589“Le Bon Marché” (= “The good deal”) is a department store located on the Left bank in the 7th arrondissement of Paris.

 

Actually, a huge luxury department store. Very upscale. Very pleasant to wander through. Grand and elegant. High-end products… with the matching prices. 

Fashion, beauty, a food hall…, several restaurants, cafes and tearooms, VIP services (Personal stylists, valet parking)…

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Aristide and Marguerite Boucicaut

A little History : It’s the  oldest Paris department store.  It was  founded by Aristide Boucicaut, in 1852. It sells a wide range of high-end goods and has a food department called “La grande Epicerie”. It was enlarged in 1872 with help from the firm of Gustave Eiffel, creator of the Eiffel Tower (for part of its internal structure made of cast iron).

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Andrée Putman

The central escalators were designed by Andrée Putman (1925-1973 – French interior and product designer – (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrée_Putman). It has an Art deco glass ceiling and a beautiful balustrade.

Le Bon Marché is divided into 2 parts : a building with fashion, beauty…etc and La Grande Epicerie (the food and all what’s linked to the home)

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Scarves in Le Bon Marché

Fashion, beauty…etc

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Le Bon Marché

  • Ground Floor :
    • Small boutiques selling the most prestigious brands : LV, Dior, Chanel…
    • Fashion accessories : scarves, jewelry, hats, bags, gloves, watches…
    • Beauty department : make-up, perfumes, 
  • Lower ground-floor : the Men’s department
  • 1st floor
    • fashion department (an excellent selection of well known designer labels : Lanvin, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Roger Vivier, Claude Pierlot, Christian Dior, …)
    • an impressive lingerie department with the very best brands
  • 2nd floor :
    • fashionBeauty department
    • furniture department
  • 3rd floor :
    • Children’s department  : fashion, books, toys
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La Grande Epicerie

La Grande Epicerie (= Le Bon Marché’s food hall) : A visual experience.

At the ground floor of La Grande Epicerie of Le Bon Marché : the freshest ingredients from the very best brands, a cave which is a must-see, a beautiful pastry counter, an amazing cheese counter, products from around the world : italian goods, American goods…, Lavender mustard, chestnuts in honey, more than 100 types of chocolate..

At the 1st floor : kitchen section, tableware, furniture collections…

 

 

Video : discover La Grande Epicerie

The restaurants and cafés of Le Bon Marché :

La Table : The new restaurant at the 1st floor of La Grande Epicerie (see below) – French cuisine – Du lundi au samedi, de 10h30 à 19h30. www.lebonmarche.com/media/pdf/carte_la-table_01-2015.pdf

Le Balthazar : 1st floor Mon-Sat 10.30am to 8pm

Sunless Howard : coffee shop – Mon-Sat 10am à 7pm

Rose Bakery tea room : a tea room – stay or take-away – 2nd floor – 10.30am to 6.30pm – 

Primo Piano : for a light lunch or a drink and/or a pastry. 2nd floor mon-frieday 10am to 7pm

Le Comptoir : light lunch Mon-friday 12am to 3pm

And 3 other places to have a meal…

IMG_6757Practical details : 

Address : 24, rue de Sèvres – Paris 7  www.lebonmarche.com 8.30am-9pm Mon-Sat

Metro stop : Sèvres Babylone – Line 10

Opening hours : 10am-8pm Mon-Tues-Wed-Sat // 10am-9pm Thurs-Fri

La Grande Epicerie (Le Bon Marché’s foodhall : www.lagrandeepicerie.fr, 8.30am-9pm Mon-Sat)

Reading : Emile Zola : “Au Bonheur des Dames” : the 11th novel in the Rougon-Macquart series : a novel about changes in society during the Second Empire and about the birth of modern retailing

 

 

My advice :

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  • Definitely, my favorite Paris department store
  • In my opinion, the most user-friendly, much less crowded compare to Les galeries Lafayette or Le Printemps. The atmosphere is much more relaxed. A luxurious experience. A nice and efficient service; the staff is very helpful. The products are displayed in a much more tasteful manner. And it’s in a very nice neighborhood (nearby Saint Germain des Prés) and right next to a metro station (Sèvres Babylone)
  • Worth the visit. Definitly the department store where I would go for shopping or browsing if  visiting Paris. A very pleasant experience even if you just look around and do not buy anything.Though, I would still go to Les Galeries Lafayette for its beautiful Art Nouveau architecture and to Le Printemps for its terrace and its view over Paris. 
  • Don’t forget to bring your passport in order to have tax-free/duty-free shopping.
  • Don’t miss the food hall. Street entrance. Amazing. 

 

Anne à Montsouris - Format original-2637YOUR Private walk, with Ann Jeanne in Paris, native Parisian

  • You’d like to feel like a local and having a tour in a Paris neighborhood, but you don’t feel having a tour with a group ?
  • You’d like to discover Paris off the beaten path ?
    You’d like to see Paris in another perspective and to know more about Paris lifestyle

WELCOME !

CONTACT me for a private walking tour and EXPERIENCE PARIS as a local

  • You only, or you and the person you choose.
  • Duration of the tour : from 2 hours. It includes a coffee in an authentic cafe
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For more details : The tours – Booking and Pricing

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29May

Bread Festival in Paris

Posted by: afriendinparis Categories: Places
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Baguettes

In Paris, on the square in front of Notre Dame

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Bread Festival in front of Notre Dame – Paris

The Festival is held everywhere in France, each year since 1996, across France. In Paris, it’s held on the square in front of Notre Dame. 

It happens in May, around Saint Honoré’s day (patron Saint of the bakers). This year, : from the 21st to the 30th of May and the Alsatian were the guests of honor for this edition. 

 

Why this Festival ?

It celebrates the expertise of artisan bakers.  It allows visitors to go and meet the bakers, learn all about their job and the products they make. And the Festival wants to remind that not all bread sellers can call themselves “boulangers” (=bakers)

Which shop in France, can be called “Boulangerie” ?

  • A “boulangerie” must select its flour, knead its own dough and bake its loaves on premises to claim the title “Boulangerie”.
  • The other shops who sell bread : 
    • The « Point chaud » : baguette chains that serves frozen baguettes that reheated on site
    • The “Dépot de pain” : a premise that receives bread, whether fresh of reheated, from a bakeshop.

 

Festival’s activities

The Festival welcomes visitors with many activities based on conviviality and sharing (and fun). 

  • Bakers demonstrate the making of the baguette, the croissants and other breads and pastries. 
  • Tastings…You can buy what you’ve seen go in the oven. The opportunity for visitors to sample freshly baked and other wonderful pastries. 
  • Workshops
  • Grand Prize of the Parisian baguette (The “grand prix de la baguette de tradition fançaise de la ville de Paris”)
  • A competition to determine the best croissant in the Ile de France.

 

Some facts about French bread :

  • The origin of the Baguette : One is not perfectly sure about its origin. The french have been making long thin bread since the mid 18th century and before that, long and wide loaves were made since Louis XIV. But we know for sure that the baguette became widespead in Paris in the 1920s.DSC_8999
  • Boulangers : Paris has over 1000 bakeries and cake shops. There are 32000 bakeries in France.
  • The average Frenchman eats a half a baguette a day.
  • 10 million baguettes are sold in France every year.
  • In 1993, the bread decree, regulates the appellation and making of the baguette de tradition française » : a short kneading process, long fermentation, and the use of flour without additives.
  • A lot of different varieties of bread is available. : baguette, couronne (ring shaped), the flute (same shape but thinner than a baguette), the batard (half-length), the ficelle (long thin loaf), pain complet (wholemeal bread), pain de seigle (rye bread), pain au levain (sourdough bread), brioche (sweet bread)

The “Grand Prix for the  baguette de tradition française»

  • It is awarded for the best baguette in Paris since 1994.
  • According to five criteria : aspect, baking, crumb, smell and taste. 
  • Rules for the contest stipulate that a baguette weigh 250- 300 grams and not contain more than 18 grams of salt per 1 kilo of flour.
  • The award gives the winner the privilege of supplying the Elysée Palace with bread for a whole year.Gagnants de la meilleure baguette
  • The prize 2016 for the best traditional  Baguette in Paris was awarded on the 27th of May. The bakers Michael Reudelet and Florian Charles from the Boulangerie La Parisienne, 48 rue Madame – Paris 6 are the winners.
  • ——————–

More details about the “Fête du Pain” :

More photos :

Your Private Walk with Ann Jeanne in Paris, a native Parisian ? 

  • You’d like to feel like a local and having a tour in a Paris neighborhood, but you don’t feel having a tour with a group ?
  • You’d like to discover Paris off the beaten path ?
  • You’d like to see Paris in another perspective and to know more about Paris lifestyle ?

WELCOME !

 CONTACT me for a private walking tour and experience Paris as a local

  • You only, or you and the person you choose.
  • Duration of the tour : from 2 hours.  It includes a coffee in an authentic cafe 
  • The  tour can be customized according to your preferences and interests 

For more details :  The tours  and Practical details and fees 

Don’t hesitate to contact me

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