- Paris
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France
The Priory is a former hospital dating from the end of the 17th century. It was later used as a religious retreat. In 1913 the painter, Maurice Denis, who was deeply religious, as well as being a leading theorist of Post Impressionism, acquired the building and its grounds.
The Priory now houses a small but good collection of French art from the period 1880 to 1940, including Symbolism and Post Impressionism, especially the work of the Pont Aven artists and the Nabis.
The gardens are very beautiful and show sculpture by Bourdelle and Maillol. It's a quiet and contemplative sort of place except when the primary schools are in for an afternoon of art.
2 Rue Maurice Denis, 78100 St Germaine-en-Laye, west of Paris. Metro/RER from Chatelet to St Germaine-en-Laye. Then 10 minute walk through the town. There is said to be a bus but I never saw it.
Before the film 'Amelie', it was just another cafe in Montmartre. It serves perfectly good food and drink, as it always did, and lies on the tourist trail between the Moulin Rouge and Sacre Coeur.
Now it's a stop for a coffee, or lunch, because everyone wants to see the film location. Apart from the tobacco counter, everything is just as it was in the film, including the miniscule 'toilette' where the earth-shaking sex scene took place.
When I made my visit it was full of art students rather than tourists, perhaps you need to go there in the evenings to find out if the locals still actually use it. As a rare example of a real life film set though, it's priceless.
15 Rue Lepic
Metro: Abbesses
A relaxed and informal French restaurant that serves traditional fare. Oysters from Cancale, creme brulee, pate, steak, duck and great gratin dauphinois were some of the very reasonably priced dishes enjoyed. It has a huge wine list and staff bring you menus chalked up on blackboards. Booking is recommended as it gets very busy. Good for dinner or lunch.
La Robe et le Palais
13 rue des Lavandières St-Opportune, 1er
tel 01.45.08.07.41
Metro Chatelet
In and around Rue Daru is a small Russian community where you can find Russian restaurants and shops to browse around. The grandest feature however is the Orthodox Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky, which is an impressive sight, both outside and in.
Rue Daru
Metro: Courcelles
Albert Kahn was a 19th and 20th century businessman who decided to use his wealth to create an 'Archive of the Planet' at the turn of these centuries in a world being irrevocably changed by the industrial revolution.
He did this by hiring a number of photographers, equipping them with the Lumiere brothers' autochrome colour photography cameras and despatching them to all corners of the globe. The result became a unique archive of 72,000 images and 600,000 feet of film taken between 1900 and 1930.
A selection of the autochromes, as well as clips of film footage, are now on display in the museum, the selections change on an annual basis.
The entry fee also includes access to Kahn's gardens which also reflect his internationalist philosophy. The gardens are a mixture of Japanese, French and English and also include three ‘mini-forests’ with terrain that you might find in any one of the African, Asian or American continents. There is also a ‘Palmarium’ that houses a café as well as some more exotic plant life.
The museum is modern, having opened only in 1986, and also includes computer booths where you’ll find an interactive map of the whole complex, inside and out.
Viewers of the BBC’s ‘Edwardians in Colour’ series will have had a preview of what the museum has to offer, and it’s well worth the 30 minute Metro ride to see it for yourself.
14 Rue du Port in the Boulogne-Billancourt district.
Metro: Pont de Saint Cloud (the museum is literally around the corner and is signposted).
Phone: 01 55 19 28 00
The Buttes Chaumont park is slightly different to other parks in Paris, in that it was built on a former quarry and, as such, has some interesting hilly views across Paris, alongside an artificial cave complete with stalactites and waterfall.
This market is situated in southern Paris and takes place on Saturdays and Sundays from 7 in the morning to around 1.30pm.
Selling lots of Parisian knick-knacks, books, old postcards, jewellery, furniture and much more.
A mix of professionals and amateur sellers and, unlike some other markets in Paris which are awash with cheap clothes and tat, this one has a certain charm.
The sellers aren't pushy and are happy for you to look around and root through without hovering over your shoulder. Some are completely oblivious to their customers, I passed four men sitting at a table playing cards while people sorted through fabric!
Although officially it finishes at 1.30, I would advise going early-ish as many start packing up around 12.
All together a lovely place to wander on a weekend morning.
Av Georges-Lafenestre/ Av Marc- Sangnier 14e.
metro. Porte-de-vanves (line13)
Tram. Potre-de-vanves (tram line 3)
Le Reconfort is a lovely little restaurant in the Marais district. Food is absolutely delicious and the waiters (who I suspect are also the owners) are really great. The menu is in an old French novel which really adds to its bohemian vibe!
37 Rue De Poitou
75003
Paris
Fuxia is a vibrant and atmospheric Italian restaurant in the square of Place Marché St-Honore. Incredibly good value and great food. We had to wait around 15 minutes for a table and there was a wait all night, but never for too long and a great sign of a popular place. Also full of Parisiens, so a good place if you want to get rid of the rest of the tourists in Paris!
Marché St-Honore off Rue St-Honore
The Musée d'Orsay is open until 9.45pm on Thursday nights. It is *really quiet* and the museum has a totally different atmosphere than in the day. A very relaxing way spend an evening.
It is bigger, quieter and in my opinion the most beautiful park you will find in Paris. Parisians will actually leave central Paris to go to this park in summer- that's saying something!
You cannot help but be impressed by its scale. It has the 'grand canal', fountains, a chateau and huge expanses of immaculately kept lawns. But what is also nice is that you can take smaller plane tree lined paths that guide you through a series of more secluded areas. Both elements work seamlessly together.
Undoubtedly the best place to have a picnic in summer!
Parc de seaux is approx. 15/20 minutes from zone 1 on RER line B
nearest RER stations: parc du seaux & la croix de berny
www.ratp.com
I'd recommend a visit to Angelina's tearooms on Rue de Rivoli - an ideal place to take your partner or daughter if you want to impress her with the knowledge that Angelina is known to have been frequented by Coco Chanel!
That reason aside, the cakes are fabulous (like little pieces of art and totally delicious). Their signature dessert, chesnut-based Mont Blonc, is a delight. The coffee is great (cafe creme my personal favourite although I read about their
notoriously rich chocolat l’africain) and the beautiful decor makes for a lovely experience.
Ladies, don't leave without visiting the bathroom which is as lovely as the rest of the place!
226 rue de Rivoli, 1er, near the Jardin Tuileries. Tel: 01 42 60 82 00
This charming Lyonnaise restaurant tends to be favoured by well-heeled Americans. But don't let that put you off. A meal here is an experience: from the gorgeous chinaware to the traditional pots of steaming casseroles, foie gras and toasts, and sumptious desserts.
32, rue St-Marc 75002
Tel: 01 42 96 65 04
I recently had the opportunity to visit the new (or renovated) Musée des Arts Decoratifs here in Paris. Set just next to the Louvre on the rue du Rivoli, it has taken the arts & crafts movement to the next level.
Next to 14th century glassware or pottery, you'll see exhibited a similar item made last year. But it's not just about pottery and chairs, the toy exhibit is incredible!
The museum is really well laid out to keep one's interest - is small enough that it doesn't take you all day - and close to many of the other "must see" sights of Paris to make it worth the visit. To get a feel of the variation of the museum, go here: www.parisdailyphoto.com/2007/04/muse-des-arts-dcoratifs.html
Les Arts Décoratifs
107, rue de Rivoli
75001 Paris France
Official Website: www.lesartsdecoratifs.fr/index_gb.html
It isn't always easy to find a room at this reasonably-priced gem, in the heart of Hemingway's Latin Quarter (near the rue Mouffetard).
Regulars come back again and again for its low-key charm, family atmosphere and (star attraction) the pretty, cobbled courtyard, with breakfast tables outside in summer.
75, rue du Cardinal Lemoine
75005 Paris
Tel: +33 01.43.26.79.23
Metro: Place Monge, Cardinal Lemoine
A chic, lively cafe in the heart of the Latin Quarter. Wonderful brunch on the weekends. Good for families, too.
Place Contrescarpe, Paris 75005. Metro: Place Monge.
Now there is a guide that lets you quickly spot on a map the location of the nearest sanisette (free public toilet). So you don't need, to rush in a cafe and spend your money!
Restaurant Chartier is possibly the best restaurant in Paris (although I haven't been to many!).
They change the menu every day so you can try a different meal anytime you go and the food is always gorgeous.
The waiters are really friendly and, with a mixture of English and French, you can always have a good chat with them. They have time for everyone even though it's a busy restaurant.
There's not many problems with it apart from it's quite hard to find - it's on Rue Du Faubourg, Montmartre and there are at least four Rue Du Faubourgs in Paris!
The other thing is the room vibrates a bit when the Metro train passes underground!
from Roisin (age 12)
7 Rue Du Faubourg Montmartre, 75009 Paris
www.restaurant-chartier.com
There's a Metro Station just outside the Restaurant.
Disneyland Resort Paris is the most magical place I have ever been to.
Trust me, you won't just go there once - you will be booking another holiday there as soon as you get back!! Why do I love it?
I'll tell you. . .
Once you step on to the cobbles of Main Street USA and see Sleeping Beauty's Castle up ahead, you will be tingling with excitement!!
Rides that I recommend:
Space Mountain; Mission 2
Rock 'n' Rollercoaster
Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast
Pirates of the Caribbean
I stayed at Hotel New York and it was just amazing. It has 2 restaurants, bars and so much more!! Definitely a must!
Restaurants that I recommend:
The Blue Lagoon
Plaza Gardens
Rainforest Cafe
I hope that I have given you an insight into the magical world of Disneyland Resort Paris!
From Rhian (age 12).
To contact Disneyland Resort Paris (general information, booking. . .)
CALL 08705 03 03 03 (UK)
www.disneylandparis.com
James, my husband and I love spending weekends in Paris and each time we have the opportunity, we try to experience different places even if it is sometimes difficult not to book into our favourite hotel in St Germain.
We decided to take 4 days off to celebrate Valentine's Day and Paul wanted to organise everything which was very romantic! He seemed so excited about it that I guessed it was something very special. After staying in so many charming places in Paris, we have both become very demanding.
After I insisted so much he gave me the following clues:
He said we would be in the very heart of Paris, with a view from the window of the Place de la Concorde, the Parliament Building and some of the most beautiful bridges on the seine, the Pont Alexandre III. I guessed what it might be but I did not say anything as I did not want to disappoint him.
In fact, during one of our previous stays, after a long walk we had actually stopped at the Hotel Crillon for a cup of tea and I mentioned that I would love to stay there at least once! On our arrival day after the Eurostar the taxi drove us to the Place de la Concorde where the Crillon is situated but instead of stopping in front of the Palace we continued on towards the quai where he stopped in the middle of nowhere as there were hardly any buildings let alone hotel.
When we walked down the steps to the river with our luggage, I suddenly realised that we were not going to stay in a palace but in a péniche which was situated exactly as Paul mentioned: our accommodation would be in between the Alexandre III bridge, the Parliament building and the Place de la Concorde and at my door the quais that I love so much to wonder along. We had a lovely stay at Alain and Rita’s home who live there all year. Paul found this fabulous place through www.paris-apartments-for-rent.com and we recommend you to experience it just for one day. Rate is 150 € per night including breakfast.
Lisa/London
lisa.dawner@yahoo.co.uk
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