24 Hours Paris

Reader Reviews!

2010-06-02T14:55:00.004+02:00

Only two weeks after its launch, reader reviews are starting to roll in! Here's a few of the notes we've received. Thank you!

It's not easy breathing new life into the guidebook genre, but Marsha Moore has nailed it. In her light, conversational style she's shown me a Paris altogether different from the one I thought I knew. This book is far from the usual dictionary list of 'must see' tourist sights ; it's a book of ideas, and shows a side of Paris the other guide books miss entirely. It's also a book full of old favourites such as the reclining chairs around the fountains in the Tuileries (p93), alongside gems I knew nothing about such as Castel Beranger (p43). If you've been to Paris before and what to see more of the 'real' Paris, or you just want to escape the tourist hordes, this is the guidebook for you. I'll be taking mine with me the next time I go - I only wish that was tomorrow.
--Joe Dorward

Received the book within five days and have read it cover to cover twice. Highlighted everything I want to do. That would take extending our travels however! But my list is certainly looking different than it was a few days ago. I'm sure this trip to Paris will be so distinct from my previous visits because of you. I will be back to you upon my return and report. Thanks so much for all your research. I will certainly recommend your books to anyone I know traveling to London and Paris.
-- Marcy Eisenberg, USA

After reading Moore's 24 Hours - Paris, I want to hop on a plane today and go check out some of the treasures she's discovered for us ... flea markets, gardens, dance clubs, shopping, films, and food food food! I want to see and do it all... a wonderful read.
-- India Drummond, Scotland.

What a fun, intriguing book! I've been to Paris only once. However, I shall return. Soon. I'll have 24 Hours Paris with me.
-- Rosemary Henley

Whether you are passing through, staying awhile or starting a new life, there are some books about Paris that are a must and this is one of them. You may have been before, you have searched online as what to do, you have asked friends, STOP. This book offers the alternatives to the regular "things to do in ......" Yes, it still offers the best places to eat, drink and see but it also offers a quirkier side to this amazing city. This book will take you that little bit further under the skin of this great city. 24 hours is never enough in Paris, but if that's all you have, then what a 24hrs you will have. Already in the bag for the next visit. A great book for every type of visitor.
-- Mr MJ Blades, New York

Paris is, unfortunately, a city I seem to end up in while 'just passing through'. Be it on the way to the Disney resort, or stranded there while waiting for a connecting flight to India. On both occasions, we just 'did the sights' I wish I had this book back then. Pocket sized (essential!) and easy to flip through and set out in sections relating to the time of day, you simply turn to the hour you're in and voila, instant suggestions for places to visit and eat. Most of them are quirky, interesting and different, there are plenty of places to visit for the whole family during the day-light hours along with more unusual haunts for the more adventurous (sewers and sex shops anyone?). In short this book allows you to get the most out of a city at any hour of the day, perfect if you're passing through or spending a long weekend. Looking forwards to seeing what city Marsha tackles next!
-- Fenschwing, UK

Once again, Marsha Moore has delivered a spectacular and unique guide book - this time it's Paris that gets the 24 hours treatment. All the usual tourist traps are included, but the book also goes beyond these and offers a fresh glimpse into la Ville-Lumière. With interesting suggestions about what to do and where to eat around-the-clock, all relevant information is handily included (opening times, price, website details) with each entry. It doesn't matter whether you're a first-time visitor to Paris or a seasoned one, this book is definitely worth buying for some eye-opening new ways to explore Paris. Brilliant.
--Elle, UK

6 a.m. - Old Bordello

2010-05-11T08:36:00.000+02:00

It’s just a generic building on a nothing-special street, but number 122 Rue de Provence was once a prime destination for royalty, film stars and politicians – or anyone looking for a little bit of loving. In the 1930s, this townhouse was one of Paris’ grandest bordellos and its rooms were designed to fulfil any man’s dream, from getting it on in Rome to being nailed to a cross. The place to be seen at night, its restaurant also attracted icons like Marlene Dietrich, Charlie Chaplin and Katharine Hepburn. Solicitors toil away behind the windows now, but for those with vivid imaginations you can picture what once went on behind the closed doors and shutters.

Old Bordello: 122 Rue de Provence, 75008. Métro: Havre-Caumartin

5 a.m. - Paris Projects

2010-05-10T15:17:00.000+02:00

Begin the day with charitable thoughts at 45 Rue Jeanne d’Arc. It’s not much to look at, but this building is one of the earliest examples of social housing in Paris. Constructed by the Société Philanthropique, a society founded in 1780 by wealthy men ‘inspired by benevolence’, the building has housed people in difficulty since the mid-1800s – and it still does so today. The society now owns more than fifteen other buildings all over Paris, home to around 680 families.

The First Paris Project: www.philanthropique.asso.fr

4 a.m. - Pig Out

2010-05-09T09:30:00.000+02:00

You needn’t worry about looking like a porker at this restaurant: at Au Pied de Cochon, it’s all about the pig. Open 24 hours since 1946, you can chow down on the legendary onion soup by day or sample a swine delight by night. Located just beside Les Halles, it’s the ideal place to refuel after late-night cinema or gear-up with extra calories for clubbing. Grab some trotters or some bone marrow; if pigs could fly, you can bet they’d stop here for some sustenance too.

Au Pied de Cochon: www.pieddecochon.com

3 a.m. - Rat Catchers

2010-05-08T19:27:00.002+02:00

The store’s only open by day, but if you’re hankering after a little late-night taxidermy, fill your eyes at Julien Aurouze and Co. The exterminator’s shop-front clearly displays their expertise: dead rats dangle in the window and the sign above promises to destroy ‘harmful animals’. Open since 1872, the shop also featured in the Disney film Ratatouille.

Julien Aurouze and Co: www.aurouze.fr

2 a.m. - Be Selective

2010-05-07T11:40:00.001+02:00

It’s full of tourists now, but from the early to mid-twentieth century Le Select was the place for artists to eat, sleep (waiterswere told not to wake them) and argue. Opened in 1925, the café was a favourite of Henry Miller, who wrote about it in The Tropic of Cancer. Hemingway and Picasso were regulars, too. It was the first café in Montparnasse to stay open all night, and even today you can still visit in the wee hours.

Le Select: 99 Boulevard du Montparnasse.

1 a.m. - Porn-Art

2010-05-06T07:10:00.002+02:00

Is it pornography or is it art? At the Erotic Museum of Paris, the line between the two is definitely blurred. Opened in 1997 and occupying seven floors of a townhouse in Montmartre,
the museum showcases past and present erotic objects from around the world. Learn about the brothels of the nineteenth century, peer into doll-house peep-shows and see a porn film from the early 1900s. With exhibitions changing every three months, you can be sure your interest will stay, well, aroused.

Musée de l’Érotisme de Paris: www.musee-erotisme.com

24 Hours Paris Launches One Week from Today!

2010-05-05T13:16:00.003+02:00

24 Hours Paris launches one week from today! To win your very own 24 Hours Paris book or a copy of 24 Hours London, all you need to do is either write on Facebook or email marshawrites AT gmail.com with the answer to this question:

Which city do you like more -- London or Paris -- and why?
(Note: nation bashing does not count as a reason!)

We'll give away one copy of 24 Hours Paris and one copy of 24 Hours London to the two best (or most interesting) answers.The contest is open until launch day -- May 12, 2010 -- and the winners will be posted on that day. Also on launch day, there will be a 24 Hour Tweetathon on Twitter, where every hour from 12 a.m. on May 12th until 11 p.m. that same day, top tips will be posted from the book. Follow along here.

12 a.m. - Night Walk

2010-05-05T07:25:00.001+02:00

It may have been a long night but don’t worry: the coloured glass beads you see as you head for home aren’t a hallucination. Two cupolas, made of glistening beads threaded through aluminium, hang over a bench right by the entrance of métro station Palais-Royal, one of the first eight stations to be opened in 1900. Artist Jean-Michel Othoniel designed the Kiosque des noctambules (Kiosk of the Nightwalkers) in 2000 to celebrate the Métro’s 100th birthday.
Take a load off and join the party one more time before calling it a night.

Métro: Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre: entrance on Place Colette.

11 p.m. - Pick-Up Post

2010-05-04T09:09:00.000+02:00

If you’re a writer without a post box and you want to get your mail along with a cocktail or two, do what Ernest Hemingway did: head to The Ritz. In keeping with tradition, writers can have their post addressed to this iconic hotel. Grab your letters, then order Hemingway’s favourite drink – a singlemalt whiskey – at the aptly-named Bar Hemingway. Whet your appetite with the 25 photos he took as inspiration for his book A Moveable Feast and savour the cocktails prepared by Colin Field, voted the world’s best bartender in 2001. Or sip a Bloody Mary, said to have been created so Hemingway’s fourth wife, Mary, wouldn’t be able to smell alcohol on his breath. Whatever your passion, there’s plenty of ways to find stimulation here.

Bar Hemingway: www.ritzparis.com

10 p.m. - Horror Show

2010-05-03T09:00:00.002+02:00

If you just can’t get enough of cult classic film The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Studio Galande is the cinema for you. Every Friday and Saturday nights, the place is packed with punters ready for the ritual of throwing rice, toilet rolls and water at the screen – and, by default, the audience. As the only remaining European cinema to regularly show the film, this small single-screen venue has become something of a legend in its own right. Bring along your props, cover up with old clothes, and get ready to sing along.

Studio Galande: www.studiogalande.fr

9 p.m. - Mane Event

2010-05-02T12:26:00.000+02:00

Want a new tribal hairdo, complete with braids and feather-like tufts? From super-long hair extensions to radical colours, if you’re looking for a brave new look then hit Space Hair. Opened in 1996, its star-covered interior with booming music was more like a dance-club than a hair salon – and Parisians loved it.

Although it’s somewhat tamer now, it still retains its alternative feeling with trendy haircuts custom-designed for the young clientele who flock through the doors. Open until late, you can get your new ‘do then head straight to a club without losing much party time.

Space Hair: www.space-hair.com

8 p.m. - Sun Kings

2010-05-01T09:31:00.000+02:00

If you’re after eye-popping performances, get yourself over to an old munitions factory where avant-garde Le Théâtre du Soleil will deliver theatre the likes of which you’ve never seen. Founded in 1964, the ensemble uses unconventional sets and spaces to perform their own creations. Peer behind the curtain as the actors prepare – don’t worry, you’re
allowed! – and get ready for anything. Make sure to book well in advance: the theatre is extremely popular with Parisians.

Le Théâtre du Soleil: www.theatre-du-soleil.fr

6 p.m. - Art for the People

2010-04-30T08:55:00.001+02:00

Once a former funeral home run by the state, 104 is now a place where art comes alive. Designed as a venue for art to engage with the public and vice versa, the 39,000 square metre exhibition space has an ever-changing programme of installations, as well as a special children’s area for young ones to make their own creations. Eat alongside the artists in the restaurant, shop for your own supplies, and hone your talents in the space for amateurs. There’s no rest for the
artistic here.

104: www.104.fr

5 p.m. - Pound the Pavement

2010-04-29T08:57:00.001+02:00

If all that fine food is threatening to make you tip the scales, why not combine a little tourism and exercise with Get in Shape’s Footing Touristique. Choose from a variety of jogging routes ranging from 3 km to 20 km, each taking in a few sights along the way. A guide accompanies you to keep you on track – and to provide a little motivation when your pastry-induced sugar-rush subsides. Get your trainers on and experience Paris with a runner’s high.

Footing Touristique: www.getinshape.fr

4 p.m. - Get Creative

2010-04-28T11:52:00.002+02:00

Make like Monet and get out your canvas and brushes to capture some of Paris’ charm. Don’t worry if you’ve left them at home – at Sennelier, you can stock up on brushes, oil paints and watercolours to your artistic heart’s content.

Gustave Sennelier, who opened the shop in 1887, was fascinated by the chemistry of colours. In collaboration with painters – including Cezanne – Sennelier developed 100 shades of colour, ground by hand in an intensive process. In 1949 the shop even designed a product just for Picasso: an oil pastel that wouldn’t smudge. Today, the shop is still run by the Sennelier family and although the production of paints has been modernised, the history of its famous past customers still lingers in the air.

Sennelier: www.magasinsennelier.fr

Paris Beyond the Eiffel Tower

2010-04-27T08:09:00.004+02:00

Recently published on BonjourParis.com, Marsha Moore writes about her explorations into the Paris beyond the Eiffel Tower.

When I first travelled to Paris as an 18-year-old, just having the Eiffel Tower in my sights was enough to keep me content. I was only interested in fulfilling my Parisian fantasies by shopping on the Champs-Elysées, cruising the Seine and climbing the stairs to the Sacré-Coeur. Over time and through multiple visits, though, I began to crave more. I wanted to get to know the real Paris, the one I suspected existed underneath the gilded exterior but wasn't able to access from the beaten paths. It was time to lift the lid off the City of Light and see what lay beneath.

What I found was a Paris buzzing with quirky sights and a multitude of wonderful things to explore—at any hour of the day. From outdoor art to midnight cinema and everything in between, if you're willing to stray away from the usual sights the city doesn't disappoint.

Click here for more!

3 p.m. - Flour Power

2010-04-27T08:03:00.001+02:00

Everyone’s heard of the infamous Moulin Rouge, but in its day the Moulin de la Galette was the true belle of the ball, posing for painters like Renoir (Bal du Moulin de la Galette)
and Van Gogh (Le Moulin de la Galette). Used to grind flour, the mill relied on two windmills for power: the Radet and Blute-fin. Over the years, the building has been used as a dance hall and a television studio before being sold into private hands. The spirit of the Moulin lives on, though, at the new Moulin de la Galette, now a restaurant and topped with the original Radet windmill, moved from its original location in 1924.

Moulin du Radet: www.lemoulindelagalette.eu

2 p.m.- Hot Air

2010-04-26T09:01:00.001+02:00

Rise high in the sky – 150 metres high, to be exact – with the Air de Paris Balloon. The hot-air balloon has been in residence in André Citroën Park since 1999, ferrying over half a million brave souls to dizzying heights. The balloon provides more than a fix for thrill seekers, though: since 2008, it has also been used to indicate air quality, turning green for good air and orange through red for poor. See Paris from above and get clued-in to what you’re breathing.

Ballon Air de Paris: www.ballondeparis.com

1 p.m. - No Strings Attached

2010-04-25T16:09:00.001+02:00

Get out in the open and rid yourself of any technological constraints with free wireless access at the Arènes de Lutèce. This amphitheatre was built by the Romans in the first century and was initially used as a theatre, sporting venue and circus. Discovered in the 1860s when nearby Rue
Monge was constructed, the arena was restored thanks to the support of the artistic community of the time, including Victor Hugo. Now, you can take advantage of modern-day technology as you browse for your favourite Romans. And if you tire of your laptop, why not take to the arena for a game of boules?

Square des Arènes de Lutèce: 47 Rue Monge, 75005. Métro: Place Monge,
Cardinal Lemoine, Jussieu.

12 p.m. - Crêpe Expectations

2010-04-24T10:33:00.001+02:00

The crêpe may have its roots in Brittany, but it’s the stuff of legends at Chez Josselin. Located close to the Montparnasse train station (with a direct train to Brittany), this tiny crêperie is nestled amongst a whole host of other restaurants selling the national dish. Bretons coming to Paris for work settled around the train station, and restaurants set up shop to serve their crêpe cravings. The best of the bunch, Chez Josselin is cosy, cluttered and fast! Choose a dinner crêpe (with savoury filling, called galette) or satisfy your sweet-tooth with a traditional sugar crêpe. Either way, you can’t go wrong at Chez Josselin.

Chez Josselin: 67 Rue du Montparnasse. Métro: Edgar Quinet or Montparnasse.

11 a.m. - Kahn Do

2010-04-23T08:43:00.000+02:00

He was a man of great ambition: to capture humans from across the globe using colour photography. Nowadays, that doesn’t seem too lofty. But back in Albert Kahn’s time – the start of the twentieth century – such technology was still in its infancy. Hoping his project would create world peace, the wealthy Kahn sent more than fifty photographers around the world, from Vietnam to Norway. From 1909 to 1931, they snapped 72,000 autochromes of a world in flux: from the last Celtic villages in Ireland to the collapse of the Austro- Hungarian empire.

Located at Kahn’s former residence, the Albert Kahn Museum displays what Kahn called ‘The Archives of the Planet’. Kahn’s philosophy of bringing the world together is also evident in his garden, which consists of Japanese, French, English and even African wildlife. Take a stroll around the world and see the past in living colour.

Musée Albert Kahn: www.albert-kahn.fr

10 a.m. - Glassy Eyed

2010-04-22T09:08:00.001+02:00

The sheer amount of sparkling glass on display at the Baccarat Museum is almost blinding. Founded in 1764 in the French town of Baccarat, Baccarat Crystal has produced everything
from candelabras to hookahs for a long line of royal houses around the world. Some of its finest treasures are now on display in the former mansion of a viscountess, redesigned in
seriously over-the-top style by Philippe Starck. Check out the crystal chandelier submerged in water, the talking vases and pieces specially designed for the Prince of Wales.

Galerie-musée Baccarat: www.baccarat.fr

9 a.m. - Backseat Driver

2010-04-21T09:02:00.000+02:00

Tour Paris in a piece of French history itself, the Citroën 2CV. Produced between 1948 to 1990, these deux chevaux vapeur (two steam horses, in English) are considered by many to be an icon of French cars – James Bond himself even drove one in the 1981 film For Your Eyes Only. With Paris Authentic’s 2CV Tours, you can be the star of your own show. Choose from a variety of tours by day or by night and take in the sights through the open-top or see-through roof. Snuggle up in the back seat and let the knowledgeable guide (and the two steam horses) do all the work.

2CV Paris Tour: www.parisauthentic.com

Sneak Peek

2010-04-20T14:23:00.002+02:00

Urban Travel Blog recently published a Top 5 Quirky Sights in Paris using listings compiled by Marsha Moore, author of 24 Hours Paris. Go check it out!

8 a.m. - Sacred Sandwich

2010-04-20T08:49:00.000+02:00

If you need some fortification before making the climb to the Sacré Coeur Cathedral, head over to bakery Coquelicot. Grab one of their takeaway sandwiches to munch on while you toil – or, if you prefer not to mix pleasure with pain, simply collapse on the hilly lawns on the way up to the cathedral and enjoy. Coquelicot also offers a filling brunch but be warned: you may not feel like moving afterwards! Grab a baguette to dip in your hot chocolate, relax in the flower-dotted interior, and enjoy.

Coquelicot: www.coquelicot-montmartre.com

7 a.m. - Pisstake

2010-04-19T08:37:00.001+02:00

Relieve your bladder and get up close and personal with a piece of Parisian history at the same time. Located on Boulevard Arago in front of the La Santé Prison, the city’s last remaining vespasienne – otherwise known as pissoir – is the sole survivor of the 1,200 public urinals that once dotted the streets.

Nowadays, Parisians prefer the modern pod-like sanisettes, where toilet activities are out of sight to passers-by. But if privacy’s no issue or if nature’s call is too strong to resist then
drop your trousers and engage with the past.

Last Pissoir: Boulevard Arago (in front of La Santé Prison). Metro: Saint-Jacques.

6 a.m. - Take Charge

2010-04-18T10:52:00.000+02:00

Grab hold of your destiny (or feel like it, anyway) on Metro Line 14. Get a seat right up front on these automated trains and pretend you’re the one steering it down the track. Paris’ metro system is over a hundred years old, but Line 14 – opened in 1998 – is one of its newer offshoots. Take in the old-world glamour of the Gare de Lyon and Gare St Lazare, the Neo-Classical elegance of the Church of the Madeleine and see the National Library of France, all from the comfort of the driver’s seat.

Metro Line 14: check schedule at www.ratp.info.

5 a.m. - The Woman who Launched a Thousand Grains

2010-04-17T20:24:00.000+02:00

Take to the water at Pont de la Tournelle and begin the day with a blessing from Saint Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris. Since 1928, her statue has sat atop a pylon on the eastern side of the bridge, keeping a watchful on her city. In 464, when the city was starving thanks to a blockade by a Merovingian king, Geneviève somehow managed to pass through the lines of boats and bring grain to the city. Showing their true appreciation of food, Parisians made her their patron saint.

Statue of Saint Geneviève: Metro: Pont Marie.

4 a.m. - Go Crazy

2010-04-16T11:07:00.001+02:00

Held twice a month at concert hall Bataclan, these crazy noholds-barred parties feature drag queens galore, dancing and a whole lot of fun. La Nuit des Follivores (with French music
from the 70s and 80s) and its sister La Nuit des Crazyvores (with English music from the 70s, 80s and 90s) have been going strong for ten years and continue to be packed with every kind of humanity. Get your gear on for this gay-friendly event and join in the revelry.

La Nuit des Follivores and La Nuit des Crazyvores: www.le-bataclan.com

3 a.m. - Dead Lock

2010-04-15T16:53:00.001+02:00

If it’s dark and it’s late then it’s the perfect time to check out the Lock of the Dead on Canal Saint-Martin. Located near a Merovingian cemetery and the infamous Montfaucon gallows – where offenders were hanged in groups of sixteen and left to rot – if you close your eyes you may still catch a whiff of the scent of decay. In this café-packed area, though, it’s more likely to be last night’s dinner than what’s leftover on the gallows.

Les Écluses des Morts: Rue Louis Blanc on Canal St-Martin.

2 a.m. - Dance on Deck

2010-04-14T10:43:00.001+02:00

For more than ten years, big red boat Batofar has been home to some of Paris’ best after-hours parties. With DJs spinning everything from experimental to techno, you can join the crowd on the dance-floor or hang around in one of the suspended hammocks on deck. Just watch where you spin or you might end up in the drink!

Batofar: www.batofar.org

1 a.m. - Oyster Aphrodisiac

2010-04-13T10:47:00.001+02:00

If you need something extra to get going for the night ahead, you can’t go wrong with oysters from Au Rocher de Cancale. Located on the site of a former oyster market and open since
1846 – a time when Parisians were consuming six million dozen oysters each year – the restaurant was a favourite of literary giant Balzac and the street itself was immortalised
in an 1878 painting by Claude Monet. Polish off some sea creatures and take a stroll through history.

Au Rocher de Cancale: www.aurocherdecancale.fr

12 a.m. - Midnight Movies

2010-04-12T11:01:00.002+02:00

Get your fill of film at the midnight hour at Le Champo Cinéma, where you can watch not just one but three movies – and have breakfast, too! Choose from two concurrent programmes at this art-house cinema, founded in 1938 in an old bookstore. Then slide into the crimson-red chairs and away to fantasy until morning.

Le Champo Cinéma: www.lechampo.com

11 p.m. - You Gotta Have Faith

2010-01-02T18:02:00.000+01:00

Pay penance for all the drink you’ve been consuming at Le Leche Vin (literally, the ‘lick wine’). Here, you can have your drink and say some Hail Mary’s at the same time. The walls of this student-friendly (read: cheap) drinking den are covered with religious relics, perhaps to atone for the bawdy loos plastered with porn. One look at the rustic Turkish toilets will have even the most hardened sinner begging for deliverance.

10 p.m. - French Funnies

2009-11-27T18:57:00.001+01:00

Started by a group of friend in 1969, Cafe de la Gare is the place to go if you’re in the mood for some fun – or funnies. With over 300 seats and shows ranging from fringe to stand-up comics to revue, you never know quite what you’re in for. It’s all in French, but some of the shows are so out there even understanding the language isn’t much help. Prepared to be perplexed, entertained and amused all in one go.

9 p.m. - Get Some Spirit

2009-11-27T18:54:00.002+01:00

Have a little soul(s) and call on the undead to join the party every third Thursday of the month at Paris Paranormal. Held less than 50 metres from Père Lachaise cemetery, the séance aims to speak with those who have crossed to the other side. It’s all in French, but what’s a little language barrier when it comes spectral communication?

8 p.m. - Suck it Up

2009-11-27T18:54:00.001+01:00

Put aside your dignity and get ready for an experience unlike any other. At Le Refuge des Fondues, you’ll share your table with other diners, scribble on walls and suck wine from a baby bottle. It may sound like dining hell, but the convivial atmosphere and packed-like-sardines benches mean you can talk to just about anyone. Get your fill of fondue and enjoy your alcoholic oral fixation!

7 p.m. - Grill and Chill

2009-11-25T20:20:00.001+01:00

With summertime BBQs on the roof and interior design by Philippe Starck, you can’t go wrong at Mama Shelter. This ultra-cool hotel – created by the co-founders of Club Med – offers non-residents the chance to hang out on high or sample delights down below at the two bars and restaurant. Get a taste of how the hip live at one of the 50 most stylish business hotels in the world, according to Wallpaper and Fortune magazines. And if you want to stay a bit longer, rooms are surprisingly affordable – prices start from around €110 per night.

6 p.m. - If the Shoe Fits

2009-11-25T20:18:00.000+01:00

A trip to Paris would be remiss without a visit to legendary French shoemaker Christian Louboutin. His creations – easily recognisable by their crimson soles and killer heels – have been worn by almost every Hollywood star imaginable, from Oprah to Sarah Jessica Parker. Louboutin’s designs were influenced by the showgirls of Paris nightclubs he used to skip school to watch. Add a little bit of Paris glamour to your step (if you can manage to walk on the sky-high heels, that is) and teeter about on your own custom-made stilettos from his boutique on rue Jean-Jacques-Rousseau.

5 p.m. - Twin Cinemas

2009-11-25T20:17:00.001+01:00

If one cinema just isn’t enough, head down to the Bassin de Vilette where you get two in one go. The largest artificial lake in Paris, the Bassin de Vilette was created in 1808 as a back-up for Paris’ drinking water supply. Now, it’s home to the MK2 cinemas (the Quai de Seine and the Quai de Loire) which straddle each side of the rectangular reservoir. Showing a wide variety of art-house films – with three restaurants, 12 screens and a book-store between them – you’ll be hard pressed to choose one over the other. Don’t worry if you can’t decide: electric ferry Zéro de Conduit (free for ticketholders) zips film-goers back and forth. Snuggle into the ‘love-seats’ (two-seaters) at the Quai de Loire then take a moon-lit ride across the water for a bite at the Quai de Seine. Here, it’s double the cinematic fun.

4 p.m. - Belle View

2009-11-24T20:53:00.001+01:00

Flee the packed tourist sites and get some quiet at Belleville Park. At 108 metres, it’s the highest park in Paris and it has the stunning panoramic views across the city to prove it. See the longest waterfall fountain in Paris, learn about the importance of clean air at the Maison de l’Air, or hit some balls around on the ping-pong tables. As you wander between the packed flower beds – prepared for their flowers two years ahead of time – you’ll feel like you’ve found a little piece of Parisian heaven.

3 p.m. - Classes for Lasses

2009-11-24T20:52:00.001+01:00

Hone your bedroom moves at the L’Ecole des Filles des Joie, where every Saturday afternoon you can unleash your inner stripper. Learn how to gracefully remove a glove while posing like the latest Playboy pin-up. Classes are open to everyone, from the painfully shy to the seasoned exhibitionist. And if you’re ready for a larger audience, you can even hit the stage with the Cabaret des Filles de Joie, held every two months.

2 p.m. - Under the Hammer

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Try your luck and test your French at auction-house Hotel Drouot. With almost-daily auctions, you can walk away with everything from porcelain dolls and antique books to leopard-spotted chaises. Check the website to see what’s on, steel your nerves and come ready to compete – you’ll be up against dealers and online bidders from around the world. Open since 1852 and a French institution, it’s good fun to browse Hotel Druout’s auction rooms even if you’re not into buying.

1 p.m. - Fork Out

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If money is no object and you’re looking for the ultimate Parisian brunch, hit The Ritz. The oldest Ritz in the world, for just over a €100 you can eat your eggs (and so much more) at the hotel’s restaurant L'Espadon, which earned a coveted Michelin star in 2007. Listen to the live piano, send the little ones off to the games area (with marshmallows on offer, they’ll be sure to go willingly) and head out to the lush garden. And if all that food has made you sleepy, you can also reserve a room – starting from the mere price of €550 per night.

12 p.m. - Go Cerf-ing

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Built in 1825, this covered arcade is 100 metres of pure shopping glee. With 33 shops ranging from the latest designers to artists’ workshops, you’ll be sure to find something unlike any other here. Check out MX Sylvie Branellec, whose pearl-crafted jewellery shines under a giant crab ceiling. Or head to Le Labo for lights like you’ve never seen: fashioned from fabric and wire, or reclaimed objects. Whatever the shop, your senses will be sated – although it may be at the expense of your pocketbook!

11 a.m. - Plant Power

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Rise above it all and surround yourself with an oasis of calm on the Promenade Plantée. This once-abandoned railway track is now a 4.5 kilometre-long elevated walking track from Bastille to the Bois due Vincennes. Created in 1988, you can expect to get up close and personal with the urban and the wild as you pass by buildings and bats (the Pipistrelle hangs out here). Walk amidst the wild poppies, cherry trees and wrought-iron balconies, take in the great views over the roof-tops, and savour the urban jungle.

10 a.m. - Get Hopping

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If you want to hit a flea market where things are hopping, head to Porte de Montreuil. You can find everything – from car-parts to second-hand clothes – at this vast market, one of the oldest and largest in Paris. The mountains of tat may not be pretty, but sifting through the piles may unearth a treasure: in 1991, a punter reputedly bought a painting here that later turned out to be a Van Gogh worth over 2 million Euro! Go early on a Monday morning before all the good stuff is snatched up.

9 a.m. - Sand and Seine

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Most Parisians flee the city for the coast in August, but with Paris Plage you can have your moment in the sun and stay in the big city, too. First opened in 2002, the beach was decried as frivolous fun, but Parisians soon embraced the concept with open arms – and swimsuits.

Stretching over three kilometres, complete with sun loungers, palm trees, cafes and a swimming pool, you’ll soon forget you’re in the heart of a major metropolis. And if you soon tire of relaxation, you can use your muscles with tai chi and wall-climbing. If it’s your mind you’re looking to stretch, head to Paris Plage’s other location at the Francois Mitterrand National Library, where you can grab a newspaper for free, take out a book, use the Intenet and even learn how to draw. Just keep your top on, ladies – topless bathing is not de rigeur.

8 a.m. - Writing on the Wall

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If you fancy some fresh air with your art, head over to Belleville to rue Dénoyez, rue de l'Ermitage and rue Ramponeau where artists have transformed the plain urban surfaces of the city into fantastical murals with every-evolving street-art.

Known collectively as La Kommune, this group of artists has taken over an abandoned theatre on rue l’Ermitage, covering the interior with graffiti, and a garden on rue Ramponeau where what’s growing is as much a part of the art as what’s showing. If you go on Sunday for an afternoon stroll, you might even seen some graffiti artists at work as the walls morph into their next reincarnation.