The Venetian Carnival, Paris
Paris’ Venetian Carnival: “Le grand rendez-vous du!”
Address: Port de Plaisance
Arrondissement: 16th
Begins: March 31
Ends: April 1
Hours: 2:30 – 5:30pm
Tickets: Free
WWW: Paris’ Venetian Carnival Website
Email: Venetian Carnival Email
About Venetian Carnival in Paris
Paris brings back the primeval Venetian carnival with a rich show of vibrant costumes, unique masks, brilliant head pieces and one of a kind water displays. “The City of Lights” seeks to transform itself into “The City of Canals,” while honoring the Venetian ‘watery’ customs. In doing so, nearly all of the city’s waterways are filled to their limits with hundreds of decorated boats while musicians play and cloaked celebrants dance. Nearly 20,000 visitors come to witness this spectacular display of color and ancient history.
Paris Metro Stations for the Venetian Carnival
To get to the Venetian Carnival, most travel to Bastille metro station situated on Paris’ Metro Lines 1, 5 and 8. The station is located near its namesake and some of the very few remains of the former prison can be found on line 5.
Paris Hotels for the Venetian Carnival
The one star Hotel Baudelaire Bastille is conveniently located at 12 rue de Charonne, just a quarter of a kilo from the Bastille metro station and the canals where the Venetian Carnival lives. The Baudelaire is also minutes away from some of Paris’ trendiest areas like Gare de Lyon and Gare d’Austerlitz. The price for a single room starts at 55EUR, perfect for a traveler on a budget.
Three star Bastille Speria features a prime location, 1 rue de la Bastille, near Place de la Bastille, Place des Vosges and Marais, for a steal of a price. Just a stone’s throw from the Bastille metro station and the Venetian Canal this hotel also offers off street parking, a rarity for a city of this magnitude! A single room starts at the comfortable price point of 80EUR.
Le Marceau Bastille is a four star gem of a hotel that is located at 13 rue Jules Cesar. And like its boulevards namesake, you will be treated like royalty in this recently renovated, artsy hotel. The hotel sits just over a quarter of a kilometer away from the Venetian Carnival so walking the cultured streets is a must! The Marceau is the perfect blend of modern atmosphere, coziness and hospitable services, all rolled into the standard room packages price of 180EUR or the single room price of 381EUR.
Festival of the Imagination, Paris
Festival of the Imagination: “Defining exploration, discovery, revelation and hopes the world over.”
Address: Maison des Cultures du Monde, 101 Boulevard Raspail, 75006, Paris
Arrondissement: 6th
Begins: March
Ends: April
Hours: Varies to Event
Tickets: Varies to Event
WWW: Festival de l’Imaginarie
Email: esber@mcm.asso.fr
Phone: +33 (0) 1 45 44 41 42
About Festival of the Imagination
The Festival of Imagination is held annually in Paris each spring. This innovative event seeks to promote cultural from the nearest, as well as the farthest, reaches of the earth.
This fascinating program is as diverse as the people of the world. Each culture brings its own traditions, whether modern or olden to the table for a spicy mix of contemporary, academic, minimalist, sophisticated, chic, modern and folk performance pieces. In the past these events have been through the spoken word, song and/or dance of Japanese puppetry from Sado Island, dance music from Cape Verde, choirs from the Syrian Orthodox Church, folk music from the Hmong of the Golden Triangle and many other exotic and entertaining peoples.
As the name states, the only limitation on this festival is the imagination!
Paris Metro Stations for Festival of the Imagination
To get to the Festival of Imagination at the Maison des Culture du Monde, you can take Metro Line 4 to station St Placide in Montparnasse or Metro Line 12 to station Notre Dame des Champs, also in Montparnasse.
Paris Hotels for the Festival of the Imagination
Here is a short guide to Festival of the Imagination Hotels.
Perfect for those on a budget, the Hotel de L’avenier has a minimal cost of 56EUR per night for its three star status. Located on a quiet street on the Left Bank, right beside Montparnasse, a stone’s throw from the Festival of the Imagination, this setting also provides easy access to Le Jardin du Luxembourg, the spirited St Michel’s district and the Notre Dame des Champs station on Metro Line 12. 65 rue Madame, Paris, 75006
The Best Western Aramis Saint German is situated in the lively St Germain district. The hotel attracts lofty guests that are drawn to the warm, home away from home atmosphere that the staff and hotel itself provides, although the best part may just be the 83EUR per night pricetag for such a delightful three star stay. 124 rue de Rennes, Paris, 75006
For those seeking a bit of luxury, the Grand Hotel Littre, which sits between Montparnasse and the St Germain district, provides just that. It is a first class five star and the 200EUR per night price tag promises to be well worth your while