As you can see from the map below, 122 rue de Provence is not far at all from several of the tourist sights in Paris. But if you happen to pass the building today, although it now houses offices, here’s a fascinating story you can tell your companions.Back in...
Local authorities and tourism organisations are having to serious;y rethink about the people whose entertainment and leisure they are responsible for. So on July 18th, 2020, in the midst of the COVID epidemic, the city of Paris held its first Le Cinéma Sur L’eau....
They are an icon of Paris, without a doubt. The Morris Columns, developed in the nineteenth century specifically to support advertising posters are seen in other European towns too but yet they somehow seem to be so typical of Paris. When Gabriel Morris, a Parisien...
It started life in 1929. Piscine Molitor, probably one of the most stunning man-made vistas in Europe – has a history that travels from Johnny Weissmuller (who found Hollywood fame as Tarzan of the Apes) through the decades to Pi Patel (whose tiger Richard...
Travelling by train overnight is – to me – one of the most luxurious and romantic ways to get from point A to point B. Someone else has to worry about the driving, the navigating … you’re in a proper bed and not trying to sleep in a cramped...
When I was a kid, every year our family used to go in the car to Italy. This was a fantastic journey and a lot of the driving was through France. For us three kids, especially the younger ones, this could get a bit boring so we used to play those dreadful spot-the...
Writers, artists, politicians, entertainers … even a well-known fertility symbol are all together in 110 acres in Paris. From Jim Morrison to Oscar Wilde, from Edith Piaf to Maria Callas you can visit them all, or their graves, at any rate, completely free of...
This quirky bookstore, which seems to be so very French, was opened in Paris in 1951 — by an American, George Whitman. Although it’s a legitimate commercial concern and sells new and secondhand books it’s also a sort of literary drop-in centre and...
Even though French iconic singer Edith Piaf died as long ago as 1963, most people would recognise her voice today. Even those who aren’t old enough to remember her will probably know this: And there is a private museum dedicated to her in Paris. It can be...
If you’re flying to Paris and are just about to land at the airport, the chances are that you’ll be flying over the ghost village of Goussainville-Vieux Pays . When you’re read the story that led to this village being abandoned, you’ll be sure...
It’s one of those debates that crops up from time to time – which do you prefer to drink, still water or fizzy water? Whichever you prefer, the fact remains that the bottled water industry is enormous (and regarded by some as something of a con.) I...
Imagine – you’re on vacation on Paris and you wake up in your own luxurious apartment. You can see the Eiffel Tower from your comfortable bed. A few small steps take you out onto your balcony where you and your partner enjoy local croissants,...
Take a walking tour of many of the famous locations where films have been made in the fabulous city of Paris. Probably one of the most iconic movies made in Paris is Charade starring Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn and yes, you’ll see those locations and many...
For a generation (or two or three) of women, Serge Gainsbourg was the epitome of French debauched sexiness. For musicians and music lovers, he was highly-acclaimed, especially in his own country. He died in 1991 but the house that he lived in from the late nineteen...
I don’t know about you but one of the joys of travelling – for me – is finding bars and cool places to eat. And this is particularly the case when those places have a history. Harry’s New York Bar in Paris is an excellent example. The...
If you ever have a money-is-no-object moment, then for the height of luxury look no further than the Hôtel Ritz Paris. You’ll be following in the footsteps of the rich and famous – and the infamous. This luxury hotel first opened its doors in 1898 and...
If you’re visiting Paris then it’s an excellent idea to check out the services offered to you by the Paris Pass. You’ll discover ways to save money on visits to attractions, bargain transport within the city, make tours much kinder on your wallet...
