Paris_ City Guide (Lonely Planet, 7th Edition) - Lonely Planet [225]
THÉÂTRE DES BOUFFES DU NORD Map
01 46 07 34 50; www.bouffesdunord.com, in French; 37bis blvd de la Chapelle, 10e; adult €12-24, student & under 25yr €10-20; box office 11am-6pm Mon-Sat; La Chapelle
Perhaps best known as the Paris base of Peter Brooks’ and Micheline Rozan’s experimental troupes, this theatre in the northern reaches of the 10e and just north of the Gare du Nord also hosts works by other directors (eg Declan Donnellan, Stéphane Braunschweig, Krzysztof Warlikowski), as well as classical and jazz concerts.
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SPORTS & ACTIVITIES
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HEALTH & FITNESS
HAMMAMS & SPAS
GYMS
ACTIVITIES
CYCLING
SKATING
BOULES & BOWLING
TENNIS
SWIMMING
SPECTATOR SPORT
FOOTBALL
RUGBY
TENNIS
CYCLING
HORSE RACING
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top picks
Espace St-Louis
Hammam de la Mosquée de Paris
Patinoire de l’Hôtel de Ville
Piscine de la Butte aux Cailles
Piscine Joséphine Baker
Spa Nuxe
Stade de France
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What’s your recommendation? www.lonelyplanet.com/paris
Hot, sticky sports and ice-cool Parisians seemingly don’t go together. Au contraire: not only are Parisians mad about watching sport, they play it too. The only trifling difference between us and them is that they wouldn’t be seen dead walking down the street in their tracksuit (or working out in their lunch hour).
As the French capital, Paris is privy to big games in world-class stadiums, and there are bags of opportunities to see great sporting moments unfold before your very eyes. Out of the arena, it’s dead easy for all those closet sportifs (sportspeople) to stay fit (and sickeningly slim). Be it cycling, swimming, lounging on the beach, street blading with the masses or practising the silent art of t’ai chi in the Jardin du Luxembourg, this urban landscape is action-packed.
The best single source of information on sports – spectator and participatory – is the free, 500-page Parisports: Le Guide du Sport à Paris (www.sport.paris.fr, in French), published online and on paper by the Mairie de Paris (Paris Town Hall; Map; 39 75; www.paris.fr; Hôtel de Ville, 29 rue de Rivoli, 4e; Hôtel de Ville); mairies (town halls) in every arrondissement have information on sports in their own patch. For sports stadiums, venues, public spaces and associations surf www.parisinfo.com.
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HEALTH & FITNESS
Whether you want to hobnob with the stars at a spa de luxe or dance the samba on the Seine, Paris has spaces to suit every whim. Spoil yourself.
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HAMMAMS & SPAS
Nothing beats a lavender-and-ginger massage, perfumed foot soak or flop in a traditional Turkish bath (hammam) between sips of thé à la menthe (mint tea) after a hard day slogging the city sights.
ESPACE JOÏYA Map
01 40 70 16 49; www.joiya.fr; 6 rue de la Renaissance, 8e; 30min/1hr/90min €45/80/115; 10.30am-7pm Mon-Thu, 10.30am-9pm Fri & Sat; Alma-Morceau
The creation of former Russian model mad about Asia, Julia Lemigova (she looks like Julia Roberts), this exclusive spa unwinds wound-up city slickers with detox and de-stress massages using natural and essential oils. The truly indulgent can go for a four-hand massage, followed by a bento box lunch (€25) in the stylish salon de thé. Or plump for both options: a 30-/60-minute massage and bento lunch costs €65/100.
HAMMAM DE LA MOSQUÉE DE PARIS Map
01 43 31 38 20; www.la-mosquee.com; 39 rue Geoffroy St-Hilaire, 5e; admission €15; men 2-9pm Tue & 10am-9pm Sun, women 10am-9pm Mon, Wed, Thu & Sat, 2-9pm Fri; Censier Daubenton or Place Monge
Massages at this atmospheric hammam cost €1 a minute and come in 10-, 20- or 30-minute packages. Should you fancy an exfoliating body scrub and mint tea, get the 10-/30-minute massage formule (€38/58). There are lunch deals for rumbling tummies. Bring a swimsuit but hire a towel/dressing gown (€4/5). No children under 12 years.