About Paris France Blog

Hotels, vacation guide and what’s on in Paris, France

Supercross de Bercy, Paris

Posted in November, Paris by admin on the September 24th, 2007

Supercross de Bercy: “A literally astounding show!”

Address: 8 Boulevard de Bercy, 75012, Paris
Arrondissement: 12

Begins: November 9, 2007
Ends: November 11, 2007
Hours: November 9 & 10 at 8pm; November 11 at 3pm
Tickets: On sale beginning July 15, 2007. www.ticketnet.fr
Numbered seats: November 9 & 11 = EUR70; November 10 = EUR79
Non-numbered seats: November 9 & 11 = EUR55; November 10 = EUR60

WWW: http://www.supercrossbercy.com
Phone: 33 (01) 41 40 32 32

If you want to see the worlds’ most electrifying and top motorbike riders doing their most challenging, sky high stunts then the Supercross Bercy is for you. The Supercross Bercy is one of the greatest 100% freestyle motorbike competitions in the world. With a third of the riders French, a third American and the other third from around the world, this contest brings in the best of the best. The riders are fearless, flying through the air doing gravity defying stunts. The Supercross Bercy’s location, at Paris Bercy Palais Omnisports, claims to be a fan favorite due to its superlative lighting, entertaining atmosphere, well organized seating arrangements and excellent view of the show. This annual show, in the Paris’ infamous 12th arrondissement, is sure to give you thrill that will leave you exhilarated for the rest of your stay in the city.

Paris Metro Stations for the Supercross Bercy

Hop on the Paris Metro’s Line 14 and hop off at Bercy. The Paris Bercy Palais Omnisports is located just south of this station.

Paris Hotels for the Supercross Bercy

There are lots of hotels in Bercy, Paris suitably situated for this event.

For 65 euros you can have a comfortable stay at the Citotel Sport Hotel. The hotel is located only 3 metro stations away from the Palais Omnisports which makes for an easy trip for Supercross Bercy goers. There are also several other sites to be seen nearby such as the Paris zoo and Lake Daumesnil. You can’t go wrong with the Citotel Sport Hotel which offers a welcoming atmosphere and friendly staff at an affordable price.

Hotel Bella Époque is the epitome of French hotels. For a price of 120 euros per night, you can book a stay at this charming and simplistic Parisian hotel. Right near the heart of the city, you can experience the real magic of Paris. The setting is situated next to Bastille Square, the oldest square in France as well as the Opera House. After your time at the Supercross Bercy, you easily walk to Notre Dame cathedral, stroll the banks of the Saint Martin Canal, after which, you may take a seat at one of the many fine cafes and restaurants nearby for an excellent meal to round out the day.

The Le Marceau Bastille is located in the bustling center of the Bastille district. There is much to see and do here after your time at the Supercross Bercy is done such as visiting the infamous old Bastille prison where Maria Antoinette, among other famous Parisian’s, had a stay. The Le Marceau Bastille is newly renovated and offers an eclectic, artistic appeal like none other and is completely worth the 220 euro a night price tag.

The Autumn Festival, Paris

Posted in December, November, October, Paris, September by Stephanie on the September 17th, 2007

The Autumn Festival: “A crossroad for avant-garde and forward-looking artistic creation.”

Address: 16 rue de Rivoli
75001 Paris, France
Phone: + 33 01 53 45 17 17

Begins: September 12, 2007
Ends: December 22, 2007
Hours: Hours vary
Tickets: Prices vary. You can book tickets by calling or logging onto the website.
WWW: www.festival-automne.com
Email: info@festival-automne.com

Paris’ Autumn Festival is a world renowned gathering of many ultramodern artists. It is a delightful taste of many scopes of art including: theatre, dance, cinema, music and visual arts. Artists and festival goers alike can enjoy many of the fine displays that the festival has to offer at different locations throughout Paris. There are conferences that are sprinkled throughout the exhibits so people can tune into more specific details about their favorite exhibition.

This event, which is in its 36th circuit this year, is designed to open up the eyes of event goers and people around the world through artists who are thought to be ahead of their time within their respected industries. Artists thoughtfully craft works which bring lookers and watchers into their forward thinking world while bringing them into contact with non-western cultures, the focus this year being on Middle Eastern creations. The Autumn Festival works hard to show the world new, commissioned and highly experimental works from these artists so don’t convey a restricted statement of mind but rather come equipped with an open mind and a willingness to travel the day away and visit as many of these fantastic exhibits as possible, the entire autumn long. 

In Paris’ 1st arrondissement, the Louvre Museum’s galleries and auditorium is holding a plethora of wonderful events from music to visual arts. Some of the modern musical acts to perform are Anton Webern, Arnold Schoenberg, Mark Andrea and Frederic Pattar on November 9 and a concert featuring Bela Bartok, Salvatore Sciarrino, Jorg Widmann and Matthias Pintscher on November 16. Rounding out the Louvre’s musical involvement with the event is a tribute to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart by Jorg Widmann. Each of these musical events is 8.50 to 14 euros. From halls to walls, the galleries will feature artists Anselm Kiefer and Bill T. Jones’ “Walking the Line” exhibit from November 20 – November 24. This exhibits prices are 18 to 30 euros per person.

The 4th arrondissement holds many venues which capture the arts for the Autumn Festival. One such place is the Centre Pompidou. The Centre Pompidou is housing 10 events from the realms of theatre, dance and music. Most of the theatre performances are 10 – 14 euros and include Abbas Kiarostami’s “Looking at Tazieh,” Rabih Mroue’s performance, Walid Raad’s “I Feel a Great Desire to Meet the Masses Once Again” and Tim Etchells “That Night Follows Day.” The venue is holding four fantastic dance exhibits are Eszter Salamon’s “And Then,” Emmanuelle Huynh’s “Le Grand Dehors,” Raimund Hoghe’s “Bolero Variations” and Alain Buffard’s “(Not) a love song.” All of these events are 10 – 14 euros too. Two spectacular musical events at the Centre Pompidou are a concert which features Franco, Donatoni, Jerome Combier and Salvatore Sciarrino as well as an outstanding exhibition by Xavier le Roy titled “Le Sacre du Printemps.” These events, too, are 10 to 14 euros per person.

The Theatre de la Ville, which is also in the 4th arrondissement, boasts two wonderful performances – one by Mathilde Monnier’s dancers entitled “Tempo 76″ and the other by Merce Cunningham called “Crises/Eyespace/CRWDSPCR.” The Theatre de la Ville’s pricing for these two shows is between 13 and 26 euros. 

The area near the Bastille, the 11th arrondissement, is also holding a good many events in several local venues. The Theatre de la Bastille is showing 4 exquisite theater performances (Lars Noren’s “La Veillee,” Jean-Luc Lagarce, Les Possedes and Rodolphe Dana’s “Derniers remords avant l’oublie,” Amir Reza Koohestani’s “Recent Experiences” and Tg Stan and Thomas Bernhard’s “Sauve qui peut”) along with one exclusive dance show by Meg Stuart/Damaged Goods and titled “Eira.” Pricing here is approximately 7 to 20 euros per person each show.

Also in this vicinity is the Paris National Opera house. The hall is boasting two performances by Racheed Al-Bougaily, Saed Haddad, Nouri Iskandar, Daniel Landau, Kiawasch SahebNassagh, and Nieuw Ensemble as well as a wonderful showing by Hiba Al Kawas, Shafi Badredding, Alireza Farhang, Samir Odeh-Tamimi, Rashidah Ibrahaim and New Ensemble. These unbelievable musical events are to be held in the amphitheatre; some of which are holding special meet and greets after the show so fans can meet the composers. Pricing for the Paris National Opera’s house Autumn Festival events are from 7 to 14 euros.

These are just a handful of the venues and the artists serving in this years exciting Autumn Festival. There are many other galleries, museums, theaters and venues that are housing the likes of visual arts, dance, theatre, music, cinema and other forms of art in their halls. To further look at different talents appearing at the Festival or at any of the other Festival locations please look on the Autumn Festival’s website, which is linked above.

Paris Metro Stations for Autumn Festival Events Listed

1st Arrondissement
Metro Line 1: Royal Palace, Louvre Museum, Tuileries Garden

4th Arrondissement
Metro Line 11: Rambuteau, Hotel de Ville, Chatelet

11th Arrondissement
Metro Line 5: Bastille, Breguet-Sabin

Paris Hotels for Autumn Festival

Located in the 1st arrondissement, the 3 star Hotel des Tuileries Paris is a charming dwelling featuring unique decor that fuses modern amenities with old world Parisian toile and prints. For 143 euros a night, you can stay at a place fit for a queen, literally! Marie Antoinette once stayed here with Louis XVI. It just does not get anymore Parisian a stay than that.

The Les Jardins de Paris Marais is located in the center of the 4th arrondissement. It has a very cozy and simplistic interior which makes it look and feel like home. Starting at 135 euros per night, this 3 star hotel is near the metro as well as other legendary attractions like the Bastille.

The Standard Design Hotel is more than meets the eye. It is not of standard design but rather features very chic and trendy room designs starting at 131 euros per night. This 3 star hotel is located in a quiet, historic neighbor very and is only mere feet from the front stoop of the Bastille. There are many other attractions which you can stroll too such as Notre Dame, Opera Bastille and other local bars, restaurants, theaters and shops.

Again, these are just a few of the locations in which Autumn Festival goers can stay at when they are not strolling through the exhibits. There are many other venues scattered throughout the city and many other places to stay, as this event is massive and takes over the entire city each fall. These arrondissements that we’ve featured, and the hotels and metros near them, are just some of the more popular places that Paris’ tourists often like to stay.
 

Paris, Christmas Light Show

Posted in December, November, Paris by Stephanie on the September 7th, 2007

Christmas Lights in Paris “The City of Light…”

Phone: + (33) 892 683 000
Starts: Mid-November
Ends: Beginning of January
Open: Every evening.
Prices: Free

Paris at Christmas time. This statement stands firmly behind Paris’ “City of Lights” alias. Tourists from around the globe come to see the city bathed in a beautiful golden light each year. Notre Dame Cathedral puts up a massive tree each year next to its infamous tower. The quaint little Christmas Market is set up for folks to browse and find great treasures for loved ones. People lace up to put their ice skates to the test at the infamous rink in front of Hotel de Ville in the heart of the city. Shops, hotels, galleries, cathedrals and museums alike dress up in good, cheery Christmas style. But the one thing that draws most attention is the light show along the Champs Elysees. No other light demonstration in the world can compare to the radiant glow that is cast along this busy street in Paris each Christmas season.

Paris Metro Stations for the Christmas Light Show on the Champs Elysees

The best metro lines to get you to the Christmas Show along the Champs Elysees are Paris Metros 1 and 13. Both of these lines cross onto the same platform. These lines will take you to the very place that the Paris’ heart beats, the 8th arrondissement.

Paris Hotels for the Christmas Light Show on the Champs Elysees

If you are looking to stay within your means try a stay at 2 star Hotel D Argenson located right in the 8th arrondissement, just a stones throw away from the Champs Elysees. This quaint hotel, which starts at a mere 70 euros a night, evokes the same cozy sentimental feeling you get when staying at grandma’s house.

To get more bang for your buck book your Parisian days at the Hotel Best Western Bradford Elysees. This hotel is a short walk from the light show on the Champs Elysees and features large, airy rooms for a very comfortable stay. Starting at a mere 130 euros per night, the mind boggling price, aside from the light show, is the best part!

If you want to stay right where the action is there is only one place to go, literally, and that is at the 4 star Hotel Marriot Champs Elysees Paris. This is the one and only place to stay along the historic avenue that houses the annual Christmas light show.  For starting rates of 593 euros per night, you too can truly discover the magic of Paris at Christmas time.

Paris International Photo Fair

Posted in November, Paris by admin on the September 4th, 2007

“Life Through a Lens”

99 Rue de Rivoli
Carrousel de Louvre
Paris 75001
Neighborhood: 1st Arrondissement
Phone: +33 (0) 1 41 90 47 80

Starts: November 15, 2007
Ends: November 18, 2007
Open: 11am – 8 pm daily
Tickets: Adult – 15 euros, discounted – 7.5 euros

WWW – http://www.parisphoto.fr/

The Paris International Photo Fair has gathered the best of the best in still photography for over a decade now, this year being no exception. Sixteen countries, eighty three galleries and twenty publishers will be represented by the 105 exhibitors. The exquisite exhibitions will pull in 40,000 visitors to gawk at the awe inspiring stills and pay homage with a photographic presentation to the culture rich 2007 guest of honor, Italy.

Some of the displays will look deeply into the history of photography, from the first days to what’s happening right now and what is to proceed. The fair isn’t all just ogling photos. It is about learning the craft and meeting some of the faces behind the photos. There will be book signings, prize drawings and fascinating lectures from some of the photographers among other things.

Paris Metro Stations for the Photo Fair

If you do not expect to stay in a hotel near by the Carrousel de Louvre, Paris’ Metro Line 1, which was the first to open in the city in 1900, will take you where you need to go. Be sure to get off at the Louvre station which has copies of art work featured in the museum as well as glass benches and Roman arches along the platforms. You can’t miss it!

Paris Hotels for the Photo Fair

The Paris International Photo Fair has partnered with The Bureau des Salons de Paris to further accommodate their guests. The Bureau has hand selected 200+ of the most fantastic hotels the city has to offer so Photo Fair guests can live easy during their stay.

If you prefer not to go through the Bureau, there are plenty of magnificent hotels around the Louvre to book a stay at.

If you’re on a budget 2 star, Hotel Flor Rivoli is just for you. A single room is a mere 70 euros, while a double is only 85 euros at this adorable, little 20 room historical district hotel which is located right next to the Louvre.

If you have a little to spare, the 3 star Hotel Best Western Louvre Piemont is the place to be. The smell of flowers from the Palais Royal Gardens across the way will drift into your room as you prepare to take a short walk to the Louvre to join the other guests at the Photo Fair. Starting at 129 euros per night for a single room, you can’t beat the affordable luxury of the Hotel Best Western.

The 4 star Best Western Louvre Opera is one of the chicest stays in the city. The interior boasts a cool blue, green and purple palette to sooth guests. The Best Western is located on the best bank in Paris. Why you ask? Because it is walking distance from the Photo Fair at the Louvre as well as the luxury shopping district of Rue Saint Honore. Cheers to an all around chic stay – from the rooms to the shopping – starting at just 169 euros a night.

If you expect nothing but the best than we suggest you book your nights at Hotel Castille Paris. The interior boasts eclectic black and white furniture pared with muted walls, a tranquil Florentine patio, large wall murals reminiscent of the artist greats who took to the city decades ago and traditional French toile walls among other magnificent French and Venetian inspiration throughout. The 4 star Hotel Castille Paris, which starts at 327 euros per night, is the ultimate in Parisian luxury.