Paris_ City Guide (Lonely Planet, 7th Edition) - Lonely Planet [3]
PARIS PLAGES
www.paris.fr
Initiated in 2002, ‘Paris Beaches’ is one of the most inspired and successful city recreational events in the world. Across four weeks, from mid-July to mid-August, three waterfront areas are transformed into sand and pebble ‘beaches’, complete with sun beds, beach umbrellas, atomisers, lounge chairs and palm trees. They make up the 3km-long stretch along the Right Bank embankment from the quai Henri IV at the Pont de Sully (metro Sully Morland) in the 4e to the quai des Tuileries (metro Tuileries) below the Louvre in the 1er; a 1km-long ‘beach’ below the Bibliothèque Nationale de France and across from the Parc de Bercy in the 13e on the Left Bank; and the area around the Bassin de la Villette in the 19e (metro Jaurès). The beaches are open from 8am to midnight daily.
TOUR DE FRANCE
www.letour.fr
The last of 21 stages of this prestigious, 3500km-long cycling event finishes with a race up av des Champs-Élysées on the third or fourth Sunday of July, as it has done since 1975.
September & October
JAZZ À LA VILLETTE
www.villette.com, in French
This super 10-day jazz festival in early September has sessions in Parc de la Villette, at the Cité de la Musique and in surrounding bars.
FESTIVAL D’AUTOMNE
www.festival-automne.com
The Autumn Festival of arts has painting, music, dance and theatre at venues throughout the city from mid-September to mid-December.
EUROPEAN HERITAGE DAYS
www.journeesdupatrimoine.culture.fr, in French
As elsewhere in Europe on the third weekend in September, Paris opens the doors to buildings (eg embassies, government ministries, corporate offices – even the Palais de l’Élysée) normally off-limits to outsiders.
TECHNOPARADE
www.technopol.net, in French
Part of the annual festival called Rendez-vous Électroniques (Electronic Meeting), this parade involving some 20 floats and carrying 150 musicians and DJs wends its way on the periphery of the Marais on the third Saturday of September, starting and ending at place de la Bastille, 12e.
NUIT BLANCHE
www.paris.fr
‘White Night’ (or more accurately ‘All Nighter’) is when Paris ‘does’ New York and becomes ‘the city that doesn’t sleep at all’. It’s a cultural festival that lasts from sundown until sunrise on the first Saturday and Sunday of October, with museums and recreational facilities in town joining bars and clubs and staying open till the very wee hours.
FÊTE DES VENDANGES DE MONTMARTRE
www.fetedesvendangesdemontmartre.com, in French
This festival is held over the second weekend in October following the harvesting of grapes from the Close du Montmartre, with costumes, speeches and a parade.
FOIRE INTERNATIONALE D’ART CONTEMPORAIN
www.fiacparis.com
Better known as FIAC, this huge contemporary art fair is held over five days in late October, with some 160 galleries represented at the Louvre and the Grand Palais.
November & December
AFRICOLOR
www.africolor.com, in French
This African music festival is held for the most part in venues in the suburbs surrounding Paris from late November to late December.
JUMPING INTERNATIONAL DE PARIS
www.salon-cheval.com, in French
This annual showjumping tournament features the world’s most celebrated jumpers at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy in the 12e arrondissement (metro Bercy) in the first half of December. The annual International Showjumping Competition forms part of the Salon du Cheval at the Parc des Expositions at Porte de Versailles in the 15e (metro Porte de Versailles).
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top picks
UNUSUAL EVENTS
Paris Plages (opposite) – the next best thing to the seaside along France’s smallest urban beaches
Gay Pride March (opposite) – feathers and beads and participants in and out of same
Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre (left) – lots of noise for a bunch of old (and some say sour) grapes
Louis XVI Commemorative Mass – right-wing sob-fest for aristocrats, pretenders and hangers-on
Salon Internationale de l’Agriculture