| | Charles Garnier was this mid nineteenth-century opera house’s architect. Decorated with nymphs and cherubs, lined with gold, and a ceiling painted by Chagall. Outstanding productions with elaborate sets and effects. |
| One of Paris’ most famous cabarets. A bit pricey, but if you’re in for a splash, do it up – dinner or champagne with a show (including sequined dancers, music, and special effects) can be had at ten p.m. and midnight daily. |
| Yes, you can still go to the Moulin Rouge and watch the can-can in its spectacular birthplace! Dinner dances are at eight p.m., and shows are at ten and midnight daily. Book early, since this is naturally a hot item. |
| Perhaps the oldest theatre company in the western world, the Comédie française has been housed in the Palais Royal since just after Molière staged his works there in the 1660s (the Comédie was formed in 1680 by an order from Louis XIV). Many of the classic French playwrights’ oeuvres are performed here today, as well as the contemporary ones. |
| The largest theater in Paris, opened in 1862 and located in the 1st arrondissement; it seats 2,500 spectators and shows everything from ballets to operas to music concerts. Impressive décor and incredible acoustics. |
| Formerly Théâtre Sarah Bernhardt, right next door to Théâtre du Châtelet. Considered the premiere modern dance space in Europe. |
| Two theater spaces, the larger of which is used to host major foreign language productions. Historically, performances at the Odéon were scandalously avant-garde (such as Beaumarchais’ Le Mariage de Figaro, which landed him in jail in 1794). |
| Enjoy a romantic dinner as your tour Paris by water. This cruise offers a delicious meal and viewing Paris by night along the Seine. The cruise lasts about 2 hours. Don't miss this great memory. |
| In late June, Paris hosts a week-long gay pride celebration featuring parties, expositions, and parades à la San Francisco, stretching from the Place de la République to the Place de la Bastille. |
| In late June to early July, the Parisian suburb of Villette hosts 50 fabulous jazz concerts in local auditoriums, concert halls, and churches, and frequently features some of the world’s most talented musicians. |
| On the 14th of July, 1789, the French citizens stormed the Bastille and began the French Revolution. Today’s Bastille Day celebrations involve enormous parades down the Champs-Elysées, reams of fireworks, and endless festivities. Only brave the Champs-Elysées crowds if you’ve the stamina, though: hundreds of thousands of people will attempt to scrunch together on that patriotic boulevard, and it... |
| Begun in 2002 and now a Paris staple, Paris-Plage brings sand, parasols, palm trees, and sunbeds to the right bank of the Seine, near the Pont Neuf and Hôtel de Ville, for the summer season (July and August). You’d be crazy (and probably forbidden) to actually swim in the Seine; this beach is designed for lounging and sport-playing, and features various concerts and other events throughout its... |
| If you’re a techno fan, don’t miss early September’s funky beats. Technopol, a French association for the promotion of electronic arts and music, puts on this fabulous streetside danceathon in the city center each year that features upwards from 150 DJs and draws crowds in the 400 thousands. |
| The first weekend of October every year transforms Parisian monuments, neighborhoods, and routes into sparkling art installations that last all night (typically from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.). Best part: they are 100 percent free. |
| A French version of Labor Day, this national holiday on the first of May often sets the stage for major union events and protests. You’ll also find fresh sprigs of lily of the valley for sale at all the florists’ shops, ready to be exchanged for good luck. |
| To celebrate summertime with music, all of France (with Paris as its pinnacle) explodes each June 21st into a symphonic frenzy of street parties and and free outdoor concerts of every genre and description, from jazz to techno, folk to funk. Anyone who sings or plays is encouraged to grab a street corner and join in. |
| Celebrating the defeat of the Nazi regime on May 7, 1945, Paris takes May 5 through 8 to parade and party. A procession down the Champs-Elysées is always in order, as well as additional festivities. |
| Organized by the Federation Nationale des Cinémas Francais in the year 2000, this three-day event in March allows spectators to cram into the theaters and view hundreds of films for exceptionally low prices. www.printempsducinema.com |
| La Fete du Cinéma, lasting the entire month of June and organized by the same group as the Printemps du Cinema, offers a similar program, and includes special premiere showings with actors and directors. www.feteducinema.com |
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