Travel Guide Paris The heart of the Grande Nation
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Travel Guide
Paris
The heart of the Grande Nation
02 Quick view 05 Getting around Paris 09 Calendar of events
02 France 05 Top 10 sights 10 Hotels
03 Travel etiquette 07 Shopping in Paris 11 Crew Tip
04 Health 07 Restaurants 12 Best of ...
04 Phone calls & Internet 08 Nightlife
© schutterstock
LH.com/travelguide Paris 01/14
Travel Guide
Paris
02
Quick view
Paris: The heart of the Grande Nation
With its leafy boulevards, quaint cafés, cobbled lanes and bell-tinkling cyclists,
Paris succeeds at the impossible: making a major European capital feel like a cosy
provincial town. How does it do it despite being graced by more famous landmarks
than any other city and despite the legions of tourists who visit? Perhaps the secret
lies in its reverence of tradition,
its love of the past and the unerring rhythms of its less showy backstreets where
local cafés, new wave bistros and markets still serve their local neighbourhoods.
Whatever it is you’ll soon be seduced, even ‘in the summer, when it sizzles’ and ‘in
the winter, when it drizzles’, as Cole Porter famously put it.
France
General knowledge
Country overview
France is one of the world’s most popular travel destinations. This is partly due to
the rich diversity that France offers visitors: Beaches, palaces, the boulevards of
Paris, the natural beauty of the Loire Valley and the Alps, the lavender fields of
Provence, and of course, the gourmet restaurants and world-class wines.
Since time immemorial, the city of Paris has been a draw for travelers from around
the world, and yet, the city is just one of the many wonderful destinations that
France has to offer.
Geography
France is the largest country in the EU by surface area. It borders the English
Channel (La Manche) to the north, Belgium and Luxembourg to the northeast, and
Germany, Switzerland and Italy to the east. France’s southern border is formed by
the Mediterranean (and Monaco), its western border by the Atlantic Ocean, and it
borders Spain and Andorra to the southwest. The island of Corsica is located in
the Mediterranean, north of the Italian island of Sardinia.
The overseas départements Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guyana, Réunion,
and Mayotte also belong to France.
The diversity of landscapes ranges from the massifs of the Alps and Pyrenees to
the river valleys of the Loire, the Saône-Rhône and the Garonne, and to the Côte
d’Azur and the flatter regions of Normandy and the Atlantic coast.
General knowledge
Key facts
Population: 66,6 millions (2016)
Capital: Paris.
Language
French is the official language. There are many regional dialects, but these are
rapidly declining, with the exception of Basque, which is spoken as a first
language by some people in the southwest, and Breton, which is spoken by some
in Brittany.
Currency
Euro (EUR; symbol €) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100,
50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and
1 cents.
LH.com/travelguide Paris 02/14
Travel Guide
Paris
03
Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz. Two-pin plugs are widely used.
Public Holidays
Listed below are the public holidays for the period January 2020 to December
2021.
Note
Not all Public Holidays are observed throughout France.
2020
Jour de l’An (New Year’s Day): 1 January 2020
Vendredi Saint (Good Friday): 10 April 2020
Pâques (Easter Sunday): 12 April 2020
Lundi de Pâques (Easter Monday): 13 April 2020
Fête du Travail (Labour Day): 1 May 2020
Fête de la Victoire (Victory Day 1945): 8 May 2020
Ascension (Ascension Day): 21 May 2020
Pentecôte: (Whitsunday): 31 May 2020
Lundi de Pentecôte (Whitmonday): 1 June 2020
Fête Nationale de la France (Republic Day): 14 July 2020
Assomption (Assumption Day): 15 August 2020
Toussaint (All Saints’ Day): 1 November 2020
Armistice 1918 (Armistice Day 1918): 11 November 2020
Noël (Christmas Day): 25 December 2020
2021
Jour de l’An (New Year’s Day): 1 January 2021
Vendredi Saint (Good Friday): 2 April 2021
Pâques (Easter Sunday): 4 April 2021
Lundi de Pâques (Easter Monday): 5 April 2021
Fête du Travail (Labour Day): 1 May 2021
Fête de la Victoire (Victory Day 1945): 8 May 2021
Ascension (Ascension Day): 13 May 2021
Pentecôte: (Whitsunday): 23 May 2021
Lundi de Pentecôte (Whitmonday): 24 June 2021
Fête Nationale de la France (Republic Day): 14 July 2021
Assomption (Assumption Day): 15 August 2021
Toussaint (All Saints’ Day): 1 November 2021
Armistice 1918 (Armistice Day 1918): 11 November 2021
Noël (Christmas Day): 25 December 2021
All information subject to change.
Travel etiquette
How to fit in
Social Conventions
Shaking hands and, more familiarly, kissing both cheeks, are the usual forms of
greeting. The form of personal address is simply Monsieur or Madame without a
surname and it may take time to get on first-name terms. At more formal dinners, it
is the most important guest or host who gives the signal to start eating. Mealtimes
are often a long, leisurely experience. Casual wear is common.
Social functions, some clubs, casinos and exclusive restaurants warrant more
formal attire. Evening wear is normally specified where required. Topless
sunbathing is tolerated on most beaches but naturism is restricted to certain
beaches - local tourist offices will advise where these are. A smoking ban for
workplaces and public spaces has been in place since February 2007.
LH.com/travelguide Paris 03/14Travel Guide
Paris
04
Health
Health
Main emergency number: 112
Food & Drink
This being France, the only real problems posed by the local food and drink are
mild stomach complaints resulting from overindulgence. Tap water is safe to drink
(although you'll find a huge amount of bottled water for sale too) and cooked food,
assuming it's come from a hygienic kitchen, is certainly no more risky to consume
than that of any developed country. Some travellers steer clear of unpasteurised
dairy products due to a perceived risk of disease, while others laud the same
products for their perceived health benefits. If you're at all unsure, it's probably best
to stick to what you're used to.
Other Risks
Visitors to forested areas should consider vaccination for tick-borne encephalitis.
There was an outbreak of canine rabies in 2008. For those at high risk, vaccination
before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without
delay.
In more universal terms, sunburn is perhaps the most common complaint among
visitors to France, particularly over the summer months – temperatures are
generally higher in the south but it’s wise to be cautious across the country. The
usual precautions apply: use a generous amount of sunscreen and be sensible
about how long you spend in direct sunlight. Be aware that a breezy day can
sometimes mask high temperatures.
If walking over a long distance in warm weather, it’s advisable to drink – and carry
– plenty of water and wear appropriate clothing, including a sun hat. Blisters can
be another problem for hikers. These can often occur if new walking shoes are
being worn across a long distance. Ideally footwear should be worn in before the
trip.
Contractual physician of Lufthansa
Dr. Adler, Marion
118 Avenue du Général-Leclerc
75014 Paris
France
Tel. +33-63232-9566
Please note that Lufthansa accepts no responsibility for the treatment nor will it
bear the cost of any treatment.
Phone calls & Internet
Phone calls & Internet
Telephone
Country code: +33
Mobile telephony and Internet
Since June 2017, EU citizens traveling within the EU, and also in Iceland, Norway
and Liechtenstein have been able to use their cell phones and surf the Net without
incurring any extra charges: In other words, customers pay the same price for
phone calls, text messages and data volume as they do at home. Restrictions do
apply to the constant use of SIM cards abroad, however, and caps may be set on
data packages. For full details, contact your mobile telephony provider in your
country. Travelers using a SIM card from a non-EU state do not benefit from the
new arrangement.
Free Internet access via Wi-Fi is possible in many busy tourist spots. When using
public Wi-Fi networks, it is a wise precaution to ensure encryption of all
LH.com/travelguide Paris 04/14Travel Guide
Paris
05
passwords, credit card details and banking credentials entered. Use of a VPN app
or security software to check the safety of a hotspot is recommended.
Getting around Paris
Getting around
Public Transport
Paris public transport system is operated by RATP (tel: 3246; www.ratp.fr). The 16-
line metro covers the centre and is complemented by an extensive bus network. A
weekly travel pass for zones 1 and 2 is usually the most cost-effective option. The
Vélib’ bike system is another good option with over 1,500 stations across the city.
To use a bike you need to open a Vélib’ account, which can be done at any
station.
Taxis
Taxis can be hailed although it may prove hard and there’s an automatic
surcharge. Otherwise pick one up outside one of the major hotels. To order, call
Paris’ central taxi switchboard (tel: 01 4530 3030).
Top 10 sights
Top 10 sights in Paris
Musée de Louvre
The vast Palais du Louvre is the world’s most visited museum with over 35,000
artworks, including the world’s most famous – Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.
Musée Du Louvre, Porte Des Lions Opening times:
75001 Paris Sat-Mon and Thurs 0900-1800
France Wed and Fri 0900-2145
Tel: 01 4020 5317
www.louvre.fr
Notre Dame
This masterpiece of French Gothic architecture is the spiritual hub of Paris and the
literal hub of the country (all French roads are measured from here). Come for its
sublime soaring buttresses, glittering rose window and a rooftop tour of its
gruesome gargoyles.
As the result of a fire in April, 2019, part of the building was destroyed. Until further
notice, visitors are not permitted inside the cathedral. For detailed information, see
the cathedral website (notredameparis.fr).
Parvis Notre-Dame, Place Jean-Paul II Opening times:
75004 Paris Mon-Fri 0800-1845
France Sat-Sun 0800-1915
Tel: 01 4234 5610
www.notredamedeparis.fr
Sainte Chapelle
Built by Louis IX for his personal collection of holy relics. More beautiful by far are
the ‘walls’ of richly coloured stained glass which bathe the interior in an unearthly
glow.
8, Boulevard du Palais Opening times:
75001 Paris Daily 0930-1700
France
Tel: 01 5340 6080
LH.com/travelguide Paris 05/14Travel Guide
Paris
06
sainte-chapelle.monuments-nationaux.f
r
Centre Pompidou
When it was inaugurated in 1977, the ‘inside-out’ Pompidou Centre revolutionised
the idea of museums transforming them into popular places of cultural exchange. It
still delights visitors with its modernist art collection and forecourt filled with
buskers and mime artists.
Place Georges Pompidou Opening times:
75004 Paris Wed-Mon 1100-2100
France
Tel: 01 4478 1233 www.centrepompidou.fr
Montmartre
Topped by the iconic Sacré Coeur and home to a roll call of famous artists and
writers (many of them buried in the cemetery here), this boho neighbourhood
retains an irrepressibly vivacious atmosphere.
Montmartre
Paris
France
Musée d’Orsay
Sky lit from above the upper floors of this museum are a glimpse of Impressionist
heaven, lined as they are by all the great pieces from Monet, Renoir, Degas,
Cézanne, Van Gogh and Matisse.
1 Rue de la Légion d'Honneur Opening times:
75007 Paris Tue-Sun 0930-1800
France
Tel: 01 4049 4814 www.musee-orsay.fr
Jardin du Luxembourg
This park is Paris’ top spot for sunbathing on a sunny day, with chairs lined up on
the sunny side of the palace’s citrus-filled Orangery.
Jardin du Luxembourg, 6e Opening times:
75006 Paris Daily 0815-2200 (summer)
France 0815-1700 (winter)
Musée Rodin
This sublime sculpture park and museum – filled with the bronze and marble
sculptures of Rodin and his mistress Camille Claudel – is one of the city’s most
tranquil and romantic spots.
79 rue de Varenne Opening times:
75007 Paris Tue-Sun 1000-1745
France
Tel: 01 4418 6110 www.musee-rodin.fr
Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine
LH.com/travelguide Paris 06/14Travel Guide
Paris
07
Dry as it might sound, this museum of architecture offers a superb view of cathedral
architecture. The spectacular views of the Eiffel tower are just a nice bonus.
1, Place du Trocadéro Opening times:
75016 Paris Wed-Mon 1100-1900
France
Tel: 01 5851 5200 www.citechaillot.fr
Maison Européenne de la Photographie
The home of modern photography features cutting-edge temporary exhibitions and
blockbuster retrospectives from big names such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, David
Hockney, Annie Leibovitz and Andy Warhol.
5-7, Rue de Fourcy Opening times:
75004 Paris Wed-Sun 1100-2000
France
Tel: 01 4478 7500 www.mep-fr.org
Shopping in Paris
Shopping in Paris
Key Areas
Shopping in Paris is a highlight whether you’re in the market for high-luxury
fashion or flea-market bargains. The Right Bank is the epicentre of Parisian
fashion, especially the Champs-Élysées, the Golden Triangle between Avenue
Montaigne and Avenue George V, Rue du Faubourg St-Honoré, Place des
Victoires and the Marais. The Marais is also good for street and vintage fashion
along with Left Bank St-Germain des Prés.
Markets
Dive into Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen, Paris’ (and possibly Europe’s) largest
flea market, or opt for the 500 stalls at the smaller Marché aux Puces de Montreuil.
For food, you can’t beat the legendary Marché Bastille and the 19th-century, iron-
and-glass Marché Couvert St Quentin. The former is open mornings only, the latter
until 7.30pm.
Shopping Centres
Paris’ grands magasins (department stores) offer an excellent overview of the
Parisian shopping scene. The best are Galeries Lafayette, Le Bon Marché and Le
Printemps.
Restaurants
Restaurants in Paris
Foodies hot-foot it to Paris for good reason. This gourmet capital has everything
you could want from chandelier-litpalaces to historic bistros and immigrant-driven
world cuisine. Make sure to book ahead for weekend dining.
Le Dôme
Beautiful art deco bistro with bow-tied waiters and impressive seafood platters.
108 boulevard du Montparnasse Price: Expensive
75014 Paris
France
Le Comptoir du Relais
LH.com/travelguide Paris 07/14Travel Guide
Paris
08
Gourmet bistro fair with a creative twist from chef Yves Camdeborde.
9, Carrefour de l’Odéon Price: Expensive
75006 Paris
France
Chez Janou
Earthy Provençal dishes on pretty Place des Vosges.
2 rue Roger Verlomme Price: Moderate
75003 Paris
France
Bistroy Les Papilles
Market-driven dishes accompanied by fabulous wines from its own cellar.
30, Rue Gay-Lussac Price: Moderate
75005 Paris
France
La Cabane à Huîtres
Oysters, foie gras and smoked duck in a wooden-style oyster cabin.
4, Rue Antoine Bourdelle Price: Cheap
75015 Paris
France
Nightlife
Nightlife in Paris
Cosmopolitan Paris has an eclectic and fun nightlife scene ranging from
Champagne swilling on the Champs-Élysées to basement jazz clubs, kicking
cabaret halls, secret supper clubsand sweaty DJ dens. With a diverse immigrant
population and lots of vibrant subcultures, the music scene is particularly rich.
Le Batofar
Quirky clubbing on a bright red tugboat in the Seine.
Port de la Gare
75013 Paris
France
Le Lido de Paris
The Lido’s Bluebell Girls and extravagant cabaret easily rival the Moulin Rouge.
116 Avenue des Champs-Élysées
75008 Paris
France
Le Divan du Monde
Cross-cultural venue featuring rock parties and French chansons in Pigalle.
LH.com/travelguide Paris 08/14Travel Guide
Paris
09
75 rue des Martyrs 18e
75018 Paris
France
Le Fumoir
Top-notch cocktails and a vintage mahogany bar opposite the Louvre.
6 Rue de l’Amiral Coligny
75001 Paris
France
Le Balajo
Come for salsa classes, tea dances and weekend DJs at this 1930s ballroom.
9 Rue de Lappe
75011 Paris
France
Calendar of events
Calendar of events
Marathon de Paris
How many marathons provide a cheese and wine break in the last five miles? This
playful event is loved by marathon runners for its, well, Frenchness. It takes in
some of the finest cityscape of Paris and is a fun event to watch, if you have
already hung up your sneakers. The marathon starts approximately at 0900 on
avenue des Champs-Elysées and finishes on avenue Foch.
April 5, 2020
Venue: Streets of Paris
French Open Tennis (Roland Garros)
France’s first national men's competition was held in 1891 with the ladies'
following in 1897 and international players in 1925. Since then, the French Open
or Roland Garros Tournament (named after a French engineer and fighter pilot
shot down during WWI) has developed into a major tennis event. It is one of the
four tournaments that make up the Grand Slam championships (together with the
Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.)
May 24 - June 7, 2020
Venue: Roland Garros Stadium
Fête de la Musique (Musical Fair)
This fabulous event has free concerts throughout Paris (and the rest of France), in
the streets and various venues, such as Sainte-Chapelle, the Musée d'Orsay and
Palais de Justice. It is open to any performer, amateur or professional. All the
events are free and can take place in museums, train stations or just on a street.
Whether it’s an orchestra, choir, opera or rock band, there’s always something
going on.
June 21, 2020
Venue: Various venues
Bastille Day
LH.com/travelguide Paris 09/14Travel Guide
Paris
10
France’s principal national holiday is held every 14 July with festivities and
fireworks to commemorate the storming of the Bastille in 1789. It is officially called
the Fête Nationale (The National Celebration). The best places to catch the
fireworks is the Eiffel Tower and there are parades up the Champs-Élysées.
July 14, 2020
Venue: Various locations and Champs-Élysées
Le Cinéma en Plein Air (Open Air Cinema)
An outdoor film festival held in Parc de la Villette offers a series of well-curated art
house flicks and classics. Don’t expect Toy story 3, instead François Truffaut,
Jean-Luc Godard or Woody Allen.
July - August 2020
Venue: Parc de la Villette, 19th
Remembrance Day
National holiday on 11 November with laying of wreaths, military parade and
review of troops by the French President of the Republic.
November 11, 2020
Venue: Place Charles-de-Gaulle, 8th
Réveillon (New Year's Eve)
Every city has a central place to celebrate the coming of the new year. In Paris it’s
the Champs-Elysées. Its crowded, drunken and great fun. Fireworks on the Eiffel
Tower.
December 31, 2020
Venue: Along the Champs-Elysées
Hotels
Hotels in Paris
As one of the most visited cities in the world, Paris has an excellent range of
accommodation with budget and mid-range hotels concentrating in the Marais and
around Bastille.At the top end expect anything from exquisitely designed boutique
hotels to 100-room palaces.
Le Relais des Halles
A romantic boutique hotel furnished with luxe fabrics, art and Bose stereos.
26 rue Pierre Lescot Category: Expensive
75001 Paris
France
Residence Foch
Beautiful Haussman property where traditional décor is given a humorous modern
twist.
10 rue Marbeau Category: Expensive
75016 Paris
France
LH.com/travelguide Paris 10/14Travel Guide
Paris
11
Les Trois Poussins
A small, quiet, artful 19th-century hotel well located for Montmartre.
15 rue Clauzel Category: Moderate
75009 Paris
France
Le Vingt Prieuré
Minimally styled contemporary digs on the Right Bank of the Seine.
20 rue du Grand Prieuré Category: Moderate
75011 Paris
France
Jack’s Hotel
Charming small hotel with a friendly front desk on the Left Bank.
19 avenue Stephen Pichon Category: Cheap
75013 Paris
France
Crew Tip
My Paris
I love to stroll through Montmartre with its crowded streets, countless cafés, myriad
shops, chalk drawings on the ground and artists selling pastel and charcoal
portraits and paintings. Just around the corner from the hubbub of the busy
squares, there are lots of narrow streets and squares that transport me back to the
old Paris of bygone days.
© Deutsche Lufthansa AG
LH.com/travelguide Paris 11/14Travel Guide
Paris
12
Best of ...
... tasty spots and cozy corners for couples
© Getty Images
Paris, the capital of romance. Sure, it's a cliché. But it's also a legend lovers from
all around the world have been keepingalive for centuries. We show you the best
spots for holding hands in Paris.
Parc de Bagatelle
This park is anything but a bagatelle; in fact, Louis XVI’s brother laid down this
lovely green area in 1775, and it is absolutely huge. Later owners added to it
continuously until 1905, when the city of Paris acquired the park and planted an
extensive rose garden. It’s a wonderful place, especially in good weather, where
peacocks stroll and strut and rain tumbles from grottoes. But be sure to allow plenty
of time for your visit because the park is a little way out of town.
Route de Sèvres à Neuilly equipement.paris.fr/parc-de-bagatelle-1
75016 Paris 808
France
Le 1728
Just a stone’s throw from the Madeleine church, you will find the Le 1728
restaurant. The name denotes the year in which Antoine Mazin, Louis XV’s court
architect, erected this Classicist villa with opulent salons in which Madame de
Pompadour felt right at home. Here, dinner soon becomes a journey back in time
to the 18th century, as head chef Géraldine Rumeau serves her tuna tartare and
rack of lamb on seasonal vegetables beneath chandeliers, frescos and golden
stucco. Le 1728 even has discreet separés tucked away for lovers.
8 Rue Anjou www.restaurant-1728.com/
75008 Paris
France
Tel. +33-1/40 17 04 77
Musée de la vie romantique
The name says it all: The “museum of romantic life” is a truly sentimental place
LH.com/travelguide Paris 12/14Travel Guide
Paris
13
and a genuine insider tip for visitors to Paris – not just for its famous artworks, but
also for some superb fruit tarts. A tea room has moved into the conservatory beside
the rose-covered villa and offers delicious treats beneath shady trees. Visitors
communicate in whispers here so that no one out on the street will discover the
existence of this wonderful place.
16 Rue Chaptal www.paris.fr/pratique/musees-expos/m
75009 Paris usee-de-l...
France
Tel. +33-1/55 31 95 67
Hotel Particulier Montmartre
Avenue Junot has to be one of the most charming streets in the city. But at house
number 23, there’s a large gap. The Hotel Particulier Montmartre has done a good
job of concealing itself – at the end of a narrow street, behind a black gate. You
have to ring the bell to gain admittance to this gem of an old mansion set in its own
garden. Back in the day, it was the home of the Hermès family, then a banker lived
here, and today guests can choose from five exquisite suites, all done out by
artists.
Pavillon D hotel-particulier-montmartre.com/
23 Avenue Junot
75018 Paris
France
Tel. +33-1/53418140
Hotel Thoumieux
At Hôtel Thoumieux, reincarnation really is the operative word: A trio of experts,
Michelin star cook Jean- François Piège, star architect India Mahdavi and cult
hotelier Thierry Costes, took on the old building and transformed it into an hôtel de
charme. With its colorful, patterned wallpapers, leopard skins on the beds, four-star
service and excellent gourmet restaurant, this hotel places the emphasis on
exquisitely styled comfort, and with just 15 rooms, the atmosphere is still intimate.
79 Rue Saint-Dominique www.thoumieux.fr/
75007 Paris
France
Tel. +33-1/47 05 49 75
Les Ombres
“Les Ombres” means “the shadows,” and here it refers to those of the Eiffel Tower.
Located on the roof of the museum of world cultures at Quai Branly, Les Ombres is
certainly not the best eatery in town, but it definitely does offer the best view of the
city’s iconic landmark. Designed by star architect and Pritzker Prize winner Jean
Nouvel, Les Ombres is encased entirely in glass, so when you look up as you tuck
into your salmon carpaccio, you see the sky. As the waiters at Les Ombres often
like to take their time, guests can admire at their leisure the spectacle that occurs
on the hour, every hour, when the Eiffel Tower illuminations turn it into a thousand
twinkling stars.
27 Quai Branly lesombres-restaurant.com/
75007 Paris
France
Tel. +33-1/47 53 68 00
LH.com/travelguide Paris 13/14Travel Guide
Paris
14
St. Martin Canal
The neighborhood around St. Martin canal has shed its down-at-heel image to
become a cool place for insiders. But the 19th century metal bridges, which either
curve high above canal and locks or are raised and lowered to let ships pass,
remain as popular as ever with romantics. In the summer, they come here to picnic,
in winter, the place provides the perfect background for black-and-white pictures -
to say nothing of autumn. Nowhere in Paris could the light be more beautiful than
by this canal leading down to the Seine.
Quai de Valmy & Quai de Jemmapes
75010 Paris
France
La Conserverie
The Yves Klein Blue walls set the tone, and heavy drapes, velvet furnishings in
dark red and dark green along with flea market finds complete the picture, creating
a dimly lit, plushy atmosphere. This bar hidden away in a quiet street in the
wholesale textile district Sentier is well worth a visit, not just for the decor, but also
for the superb cocktails and excellent wines it serves.
37 Rue du Sentier www.laconserveriebar.com/
75002 Paris
France
Tel. +33-1/40 26 14 94
LH.com/travelguide Paris 14/14You can also read
