Let's Explore
Check list to see and do Destinations Tours, Guides, Walks & Wheels Museums Sightseeing Famous Graves sightseeing destinations in Paris, around Paris, outside France, within France
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One Year Ago-One Month Ago in Paris Notre-Dame’s Fire
One year ago, April 15, the steeple of Eugène Viollet-le-Duc burned and crashed through the roof of Notre-Dame de Paris: architectural flaw? One month ago, March 15, the sun was shining; everyone ignored a lockdown, went to the "beach" and socialised. An invisible agent locked down work on Notre Dame and confined us to one meter apart. One month from now, work on the new scaffolding holding the burnt scaffolding may continue and we may be less confined. In the meantime, the flowers are blooming, the sun is shining and garbage trucks still pass through my Paris street on time.
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Charlotte Perriand, Architect/Designer/Artist at FLV
Are you interested or curious about the synthesis of architecture, art and design? Two noted artist/architects who fit that description are Charlotte Perriand and Frank Gehry. Charlotte Perriand "imagined an 'art of living' that broke the codes of the time." The Charlotte Perriand exhibition at the Fondation Louis Vuitton may be closing February 24, 2020 but you have time to download the audio guide! This exhibition and audio guide have a "use-by date" and will not be available once the next exhibit opens April 1. Listen to the stories of her career in interviews and exhibit descriptions. You will find them fascinating. Charlotte Perriand was a member of the Le Corbusier…
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Shuttle Arc de Triomphe to Fondation Louis Vuitton
Do you prefer light, airy, electric transportation? Would you like a scenic ride along the fashionable Avenue Foch to and from the Arc de Triomphe? When you plan a visit to the Fondation Louis Vuitton (FLV) you have alternatives: Line 1, Buses 63 or 244 or the FLV shuttle. The requirement to use the shuttle is to have an admission ticket to the museum. Oh my! What if you decide to go to the museum on a whim and have not purchased a ticket!?
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Find Wallace Fountains Find Paris
Have you walked around Paris and passed right by a water fountain from 1872 without taking a drink? Did you spend two Euros on a bottle of water instead? The non-profit Society of the Wallace Fountains is working hard to preserve the iconic Wallace fountains. The Paris water department (Eau de Paris) is responsible for their continued functioning. The water source differs throughout Paris. Where I live in the Bastille, ours comes from an aquifer. The fascinating story and a guidebook with maps and 21 self-guided walks is a great way for to hunt for the fountains. As Barbara Lambesis the author and President of the foundation says, “Find the Wallace…
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Madame Eiffel Tower Celebrates 130 Years
In May 2019, the Eiffel Tower turned 130; however, why not celebrate the birthday all year long. To celebrate this event, an interactive Fall Event is underway at the Eiffel Tower until the end of November on the esplanade, under a dome covering about 300 m2, is free and open to everyone. Visitors walk over screens on the ground that reproduce the image of the girders .... which feels likes walking over nothing, experience the monument’s wind resistance and become painters of the Eiffel Tower
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A Rare Moment in Paris with Frank Gehry
Frank Gehry had just left the auditorium in a conversation with Jean-Louis Cohen at the Fondation Louis-Vuitton. After listening to his architectural journey as it relates to the "free and independent" architect Charlotte Perriand, I walked up to him. I thanked him for sharing his thoughts and for his unique design of this Fondation Louis Vuitton museum shaped like a boat, which is the symbol of Paris. He touched my arm and asked if I had seen the Charlotte Perriand exhibit, which had opened the day before.
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Musée du Quai Branly – Timely Exhibition Opens
Musée du Quai Branly is free to visitors until October 11 in memory of Jacques Chirac. A timely exhibition of the acquisitions over the past 20 years opened September 24, two days before former President Chirac passed away. In 1990 while still mayor of Paris, Mr. Chirac wanted to highlight the African Arts. When he became president in 1995, the Louvre was his target for the collections from two other Paris museums: Musée de l’Homme and the national museum Musée national des Arts d’Afrique et d’Océanie. Employees of the Musée de l’Homme went on strike in 1999 against the closure. The Musée des Arts d’Afrique et d’Océanie closed in 2003.…
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Notre-Dame Bell, Emmanuel, Rings for Chirac
Walking along the narrow rue Galand the sound of a muffled bell ringing reverberated against the walls. Sitting at the café, looking at my watch, it was around 11:20 on a Monday morning. My friend guessed it was a church nearby; I guessed Notre-Dame. Couldn't be.... perhaps the towers were damaged. The constant soft ringing was not signalling the quarter, half or full hour. Earlier I had heard on French television the time for the funeral ceremony that would pass from Hôtel des Invalides to Saint-Sulpice. We walked toward Notre-Dame from where the mystery sound originated. Emmanuel, the 300 year old was ringing. The ringing was manually orchestrated. The first…
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Hôtel de Marle’s Hidden Rooms at l’Institute Suédois
Take a guided visit until October 13, of residential apartments in the Hôtel de Marle in the Marais (l'Institute Suédois). The tours are usually given in French. If you wish another language, like English, show up an hour before. Tours are Wednesday to Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 4pm. Go to reception at 3 pm and request an English tour. The Swedish Institute will arrange a guide for the exhibition “Hem fois 6” (Feel at home in 6 different apartments).
