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Spring Ball in Paris

By Charlotte Reverse
23/03/2004

"Paris is crazy with joy/when Spring arrives /It's the illegitimate child/The favourite/and Paris writes his name on the walls/ Spring Ball like a heart on a tree/ engraved on a stone " Jacques Prévert.
 

Top of the page First to lead the dance, the Brits, for whom Paris really is worth a special visit. Last year, her Majesty's subjects even overtook the Americans in terms of number of visitors in the French capital. For obvious reasons, things were not the same after September 11th and especially after the tense relations between the French and American governments in 2003. Paris is no longer as popular on the other side of the Atlantic. To make things even better for the Brits, the Eiffel Tower is now only 2h35 from Big Ben. But what does the Gentlemen-Traveller do on his arrival in Gare du Nord? According to a recent survey carried out by the Tourism Office and The Paris Congres, the British visitor likes to settle in the 9th, the 17th or the 5th district, look first and foremost for art exhibitions and spends on average 1114.60 euros (approx. £750) for a 4 or 5-day visit.

   
         
  Top of the page What has Paris got to offer for a successful few days:
First day: Find your way around: When you arrive in Paris, get both a free map of the French Metro and the `A nous Paris' brochure distributed by the RATP. Each week it offers a selection of outings and events to discover in the capital. Finally, follow the Oriental trend. This year France celebrates China and Paris intends to take the lead. One exhibition is held at Le Chateau de Versaillesand is one of many that will be dedicated to it this year. In addition, approximately 40 Chineses, HongKong and Taiwanese writers have attended this month's Book Show

Second day: Me first. Run quickly to see the retrospective "Moi". Self-portraits of the 20th century shown at the Luxembourg Museum. It gives an overview of the changes that this art form has experienced over the last century. Don't forget to go around the Luxembourg garden and take this opportunity to go and enjoy the first rays of sun, sitting down on one of the chairs, observed by the statues, queens of the place. Tea time? The pâtisserie Dalloyau, situated only a few yards from there, is famous for its chocolates and its raspberry and vanilla macaroons but also for those flavoured with curry, fennel or mustard seeds.

Third day: You and me. Straight to Pigalle. For the Museum of Romantic Life. Hold hands in front of Millet, Courbet, Delacroix and Daumier. Whisper to her that the Rouart family to whom these masterpieces belong, also had famous artists amongst its members. At the end of the visit, leave Pigalle to enter the Abbesses' mystery. With its never ending spiral staircase, this tube station can give you vertigo. The way up is worth the effort: coloured frescos have been painted on each side of the staircase. Impressive! Last but not least, kiss each other standing in water. The small Arsenal port situated near Bastille is still a must for the lovers of tranquillity sitting at one of cafés terraces.

Fourth day: Lose yourself. Dive into the Indigo of one of Joan Miro's paintings at the Pompidou Centre all Spring. Then let your eyes drift into the Parisian blue sky. On the last floor, the museum becomes a Café-restaurant and offers an exceptional view over the Paris skyline. Need to get back to earth? Go and have a wander around the Gambetta area in the 20th district and finish your day with music at La Flèche d'Or. High spot of Parisian night life, this former station converted into a bar and concert hall gives new groups a chance to make their stage debut.

Your Parisian escapade ends far too soon but no need to wait for the beginning of the summer to nip back for another bit of French leave.

          Macarons Dalloyau
         
  Top of the page Follow the guide
""Kangxi, the Chinese Emperor - The forbidden city in Versailles" a portrait of an enlightened sovereign, contempory of Louis XIV, keen to open himself to twestern influences. At the National Museum at the Chateau de Versailles until 9th May 2004.

The "Montagnes Célestes" offers a wide overview of the Chinese artistic variations around this theme. At the Galeries Nationales at the Grand Palais, 3 avenue du Général Eisenhower. Paris 8e. From 1st April until 28th June.

"Moi" self-portrait of the 20th century. From the front, from the back, back to front or disguised, the artists (Buffet, Cesar, Frida Kahlo, Giacometti, Picasso and many others) reveal themselves, perhaps more through their painting than through their own image. To be seen amongst other things, the last self-portraits of Degas and Mondrian. Musée du Luxembourg, 19 rue de Vaugirard, Paris 6e. From 31st March until 25th July 2004.

"The Rouart Family at the heart of Impressionism". In addition to numerous impressionist work the museum displays Henri Rouart's own paintings, those of his son Ernest and of his grand son Augustin - three generations bound together by the same love of colour and light. At the Museum of Romantic Life, 16 rue Chaptal. Paris 9e.
Until 13th June 2004.

Joan Miro - 1917-1934 - "The Birth of the World" 
The Pompidou Centre dedicates an exhibition to the Catalan painter and to his works created between 1917 and 1934.
This period of intense production corresponds also to the time during which Miro developed his pictorial language. Nearly 240 works (paintings, objects, drawings, collages), of which certain have never been previously been seen in France, illustrate the creative journey of the artist. Pompidou Centre, rue Rambuteau, on the corner of the rue Merri. Paris 4e. Until 28th June 2004.

Pâtisserie Dalloyau, 2 Place Edmond Rostand, Paris 6e.

La Flèche d'Or, 102 rue de Bagnolet, Paris 20e.

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