CIMETIÈRE DU MONTPARNASSE

PARIS, FRANCE

Opened in 1824, the Montparnasse cemetery, which has a surface area of 19 hectares, is the second largest necropolis in Paris, after the Père Lachaise cemetery. 

Full of trees, the cemetery occupies the former site of three farms, of which a listed tower belonging to one of the flour mills still stands. 

Among some of the famous works of art at the cemetery is 'Le Baiser' (The Kiss) by the sculptor Constantin Brancusi (1876-1957). 

Visitors can discover the burial places of famous men and women: Charles Baudelaire, Guy de Maupassant, Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Charles Garnier.

A haven of peace at the heart of one of the liveliest districts in Paris.

--parisinfo.com

ÉGLISE SAINT-EUSTACHE

PARIS, FRANCE

The Eglise Saint-Eustache in the heart of Les Halles is one of the most visited churches in Paris. 

It is known for its unusually large dimensions, which make it seem more like a cathedral than a church, and the wealth of art works it houses. 

The church was built in 1532 and subsequently restored in 1840, and therefore uses a variety of styles: the façade is Gothic, while the interior is in the Renaissance and classical styles. 

The organ of Saint-Eustache is the biggest pipe organ in France, and its resident organist gives a free concert on Sunday afternoons.

In keeping with its longstanding tradition of classical music, the church hosts performances all year round by symphony orchestras and choral ensembles such as Chœurs de Radio France and the Orchestre National de France; its concerts feature on the programme of prestigious festivals like the Festival d’Automne à Paris and Paris Quartier d’Été.

--parisinfo.com

GARE DE LYON

PARIS, FRANCE

The Gare de Lyon is one of the seven termini of the SNCF network in Paris. 

Built in 1855, it was almost entirely burnt down by a fire during the Paris Commune in 1871 and then rebuilt exactly as it was. 

For the 1900 World Fair, the station was completely rebuilt by Marius Toudoire, an architect from Toulon. 

The new building, with its wonderful facade on Place Diderot (today Place Louis-Armand) and a 67-metre-high clock tower, was inaugurated on 6 April 1901. 

The Gare de Lyon is also famous for its restaurant Le Train Bleu, one of the capital’s most iconic restaurants. 

Trains arrive here from the centre and the south-east of France (Burgundy, Auvergne, Rhône-Alpes, Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur), Switzerland, Italy and Spain via Montpellier

--parisinfo.com

PAVILLONS DE BERCY - MUSÉE DES ARTS FORAINS

PARIS, FRANCE

The biggest collection in Europe of fairground and show objects are displayed here by Jean Paul Favand, the founder of the museums.

The decor mixes tradition with modernity and the short-lived with the long lasting to bring the items to life.

Each area has a particular theme: 19th-century fairgrounds at the Musée des Arts Forains, carnival in the Salons Vénitiens, cabinets of curiosity in the Théâtre du Merveilleux and amazing gardens in the Théâtre de Verdure.

The unique place, a veritable laboratory of ideas, uses the latest technology in sound and video projection to reveal the soul of heritage objects, to get your imagination going and welcome you into this world of daydreams.

-parisinfo.com

INSTITUT DU MUNDO ARABE

PARIS, FRANCE

The Arab World Institute was founded in 1987 by France and the states of the Arab League with the aim of disseminating and promoting all the facets of Arab culture.

A place where people can meet and exchange ideas with others, the Institute has for the last 30 years contributed to the consolidation of the cultural, political, economic, and social links between France and the Arab world.

A richly diverse programme of exhibitions and events in a world famous building comprising a museum, temporary exhibition areas, an auditorium for hosting live performances, cinema screenings and conferences.

The building was designed by Jean Nouvel and Architecture Studio.

Located in the heart of historic Paris, it is recognized throughout the world as a symbol of contemporary architecture.

--PARISINFO.COM

GRAND REX

PARIS, FRANCE

An atmospheric theatre in American parlance, the Grand Rex's main auditorium features a starred ceiling and fairytale decorations on both sides of the screen, including water features.

The theatre's 2800 places are the most of any in Europe, and its 300 m2 screen wide and 11.35 m high) is the largest in Paris. 

The cinema's external facade, out of proportion to neighboring buildings, features large neon signs and an art deco style tower.

The cinema is considered to be a landmark of art deco architecture.

A French government decree on 5 October 1981 listed the Cinéma Rex, its interior decor, roofs and facades as a Monument national.

--wikipedia

VIADUC DES ARTS

PARIS, FRANCE

A stone's throw away from place de la Bastille in the 12th arrondissement, the internationally renowned Viaduc des Arts is a display case for French savoir-faire.

Its professional artists and craftspeople, is a unique place where all the latest trends merge and prominent designers come together to create elegance, refinement and luxury. 

Unique jewellery, subtly-coloured everlasting flowers, theatre sets, robotic and antique dolls, restoration of tapestries and contemporary furniture, pieces of art, painting on porcelain, lights, bronzes.

Not forgetting temporary exhibitions on the theme of Arts Professions but also on Mozart, Africa, Potters…

You can also enjoy a cup of coffee beneath the historic vaults, or simply have lunch or dinner to the sound of salsa. 

--parisinfo.com

MUSÉE DE CLUNY - LE MONDE MÉDIÉVAL

PARIS, FRANCE

The visit begins on the Boulevard Saint-Michel, where even before entering the museum, you can admire the vestiges of Gallo-Roman baths. 

Fast-forward 14 centuries and find yourself in the superb courtyard of the Hôtel de Cluny, built at the end of the 15th century.

The museum’s collections include art from antiquity to Renaissance times.

They feature some veritable masterpieces, including the Pilier des Nautes from the 1st century, and the six tapestries that make up La Dame à la Licorne (The Lady with the Unicorn), dating from the 15th century.

--parisinfo.com

CLOWN BAR

PARIS, FRANCE

The Clown Bar is located in the former pump room of the Cirque d'Hiver, situated close by. 

In surprsing decor (classed as a listed building) composed of ceramics of clowns.

The Japanese chef makes good little dishes done in a true bistro tradition. 

A "must" of the bistronomy of Haut Marais.

--parisinfo.com

PAROISSE SAINT-ÉTIENNE-DU-MONT

PARIS, FRANCE

The Eglise Saint-Etienne-du-Mont is located in the Latin Quarter in Paris, on the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève, a few steps from the Panthéon. 

Visitors come to admire this church dating back to the end of the 15th century, with a history dating back to the 6th century. 

Be sure not to miss the rood screen (1545), the last existing one in Paris, the Saint-Geneviève shrine, and the huge balcony organ. 

The church is listed as a historical monument.

--parisinfo.com

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

DR. KING GAVE HIS LIFE TRYING TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD
FOR PEOPLE IN POVERTY & PEOPLE OF COLOR

The president says white supremacists are "fine people."

The Republican Party serves only the 1%.

So I don't want to hear anyone from GOP praising Dr. King today.

The right wing's shameful and barbarous behavior means any GOP praise for MLK is disingenuous at best.

RUE DES MARTYRS

PARIS, FRANCE

Lying between the 9th and 18th districts, Rue des Martyrs is one of the busiest streets of shops and cafes to be found in Pigalle.

Linking the Eglise Notre Dame de Lorette and Sacré Coeur, it has kept, despite the years, its old-fashioned charm with its traditional shops, many typical Parisian cafes, lively bars, cabarets and historical concert hall, 'Le Divan du Monde'.

All the extravagant charm and colour of the 18th arrondissement on a single street.

The story behind the name is that Rue des Martyrs recalls St. Denis, the first bishop of Paris, who was decapitated under the Roman Empire.

The legend says he picked up his head to travel the length of this famous street, dying a few kilometres north of where the Basilica of Saint-Denis was later founded.

--parisinfo.com

DALI PARIS

MONTMARTRE, PARIS, FRANCE

Dalí Paris exhibits over 300 artworks by Salvador Dalí from a private collection.

Painting, sculptures, etchings, surrealist objects and furniture bring to life the peculiar ideas of an insatiable explorer, passionate about atomic science, the Antiquity, the Renaissance, alchemy or religion.

Salvador Dalí never stopped modeling, transforming.

His sculptures are one of the major aspects of his life work, materializing in three dimensions his surrealistic obsessional motifs: soft watches, spindly legs animals, open or closed drawers.

Salvador Dalí had an encyclopedic culture, and reinvents major texts from international literature by illustrating them: Alice in Wonderland, Don Quichotte, the Bible, offering an infinite variety of forms and colors, from delicate watercolors to striking splashes.

--PARISINFO.COM

TOUR SAINT-JACQUES

PARIS, FRANCE

The Tour Saint-Jacques stands alone in the middle of a little garden of the same name.

A tower in the flamboyant Gothic style, built between 1509 and 1523, the Tour Saint-Jacques is the only remaining vestige of the Eglise Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie destroyed in 1797.

This sanctuary was the meeting point on the Via Toronensis (or Tours route) of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela (Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle).

The statue of Blaise Pascal, at the base of the tower, is a reminder that it was here that he repeated his barometric experiments carried out in Puy-de-Dôme.

On the north-west corner, a statue of Saint Jacques le Majeur dominates the platform on which a small meteorological station was established in 1891.

It belongs to the Observatoire de Montsouris.

The sculpted symbols of the four evangelists (the lion, bull, eagle and man), appear on the corners.

These statues were restored during the last century, along with the gargoyles and the 18 statues of saints that decorate the walls of the tower.

--parisinfo.com

PONT NEUF

PARIS, FRANCE

The Pont Neuf is considered to be the oldest stone bridge in Paris. 

Henri IV ordered it to be constructed in 1578. 

Twelve arches, 384 ‘mascarons’ or grotesque faces decorating the cornices and the equestrian statue of Henri IV, the first to be placed on a public thoroughfare, make the bridge instantly recognizable. 

Consisting of two spans, the bridge connects the Musée du Louvre, Rue de Rivoli and the Tour Saint-Jacques on the Right Bank with the Rue Dauphine, the Monnaie de Paris and Saint-Germain-des-Prés on the Left Bank via the Ile de la Cité, the starting point for a tour of Notre Dame Cathedral and the Sainte-Chapelle.

--parisinfo.com

PONT DES ARTS

PARIS, FRANCE

Also known as Passerelle des Arts, the Pont des Arts is situated between the Institut de France and the Louvre. 

Built between 1801 and 1804, it was the first iron bridge in Paris.

Reserved for pedestrians, the footbridge makes for a pleasant stroll with family and friends.

It is a good location for holiday photos, as it offers fine views of the Seine and its monuments. 

The bridge is especially popular with couples.

--parisinfo.com

JARDIN DES TUILERIES

PARIS, FRANCE

The Tuileries Gardens take their name from the tile factories which previously stood on the site where Queen Catherine de Medici built the Palais des Tuileries in 1564.

André Le Nôtre, the famous gardener of King Louis XIV, re-landscaped the gardens in 1664 to give them their current French formal garden style.

The gardens, which separate the Louvre from the Place de la Concorde, are a pleasant place for walking and for culture for Parisians and tourists.

Maillol statues stand alongside those of Rodin or Giacometti.

The gardens’ two ponds are perfect places to relax by.

The Musée de l’Orangerie, where visitors can admire the works of Monet, is in the south-west part of the Tuileries.

CITÉ DE L'ARCHITECTURE ET DU PATRIMOINE

PLACE DU TROCADÉRO, PARIS, FRANCE

Explore 1,000 years of the history of architecture at the Cité de l’Architecture & du Patrimoine.

Situated at the Palais de Chaillot, opposite the Eiffel Tower, the Cité de l’Architecture & du Patrimoine presents some 1,000 years of architectural creations.

The museum offers visitors a journey through the rich architectural heritage of France, from the Middle Ages to the present day, stretching over 8,000 m².

Some examples include life-size productions of the doorway of Chartres cathedral, the painted cupola of the cathedral of Cahors and an apartment from Corbusier's 'Cité radieuse', reproduced in full size.

Models, videos and drawings complete the collections.

Diverse temporary exhibitions (monographs of architects, exhibitions relating to current themes, exhibition workshops for children, etc.) focus on history or the challenges of today.

--parisinfo.com

185,000 READERS

TODAY WE CELEBRATE MORE THAN 185,000 UNIQUE VISITS TO THIS BLOG

This blog launched around Memorial Day 2010.

It has more than 2,100 posts.

It has shared more than 2,000 original images, all taken by Steve Wright.

The total word count is enough to fill up more than two thick novels.

We have covered wheelchair-accessible adventures in Paris, London, Madrid, Barcelona, Cartagena, Granada, Istanbul, Cappacocia, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, San Juan, New York, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Chicago, Miami, Cleveland, Monument Valley, San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia, San Jose, Mexico City, Guanajuato, Oaxaca and countless other destinations.

Heidi Johnson-Wright, an award-winning author, has made hundreds of guest posts ranging from reviews to travel stories to cross posts from her earthboundtomboyblog.

http://earthboundtomboy.blogspot.com/

LITTLE HAVANA ME IMPORTA PLAN

SELECTED AS FINALIST FOR DESIGN AWARD

PlusUrbia’s Little Havana Me Importa: Holistic Guidelines for Social Equity, a Livable Community and Healthy Outcomes in Miami’s Most Historic Neighborhoods project has been selected as a finalist for the 56^th IMCL Design Awards competition.

Design Awards winners will be announced June 19 during the International Making cities Livable Conference in Portland. PlusUrbia founding principal Juan Mullerat will also be a featured speaker at the conference.

The Little Havana Me Importa plan creates guidelines for healthy, resilient and more affordable solutions for Little Havana. 

The plan respects Little Havana’s small-scale, culturally rich and dense community. 

It creates a more livable city while protecting residents, neighborhood character and historic buildings. 

More than 3,000 residents and stakeholders provided input and drove the vision and objectives for Miami’s most diverse and historically significant neighborhood.

https://plusurbia.com/little-havana-me-importa-plan-selected-as-finalist-for-design-award/

https://www.livablecities.org/

CENTRE POMPIDOU

PARIS, FRANCE

The Centre Pompidou, designed by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, is a 20th-century architectural marvel, immediately recognizable by its exterior escalators and enormous coloured tubing.

It is home to the National Museum of Modern Art and is internationally renowned for its 20th and 21st century art collections.

The works of iconic artists are displayed chronologically over two sections: the modern period, from 1905 to 1960 (Matisse, Picasso, Dubuffet, etc.), and the contemporary period, from 1960 to the present day (Andy Warhol, Niki de Saint Phalle, Anish Kapoor, etc.). 

In addition to its permanent collections, internationally renowned exhibitions are organized every year on the top floor, where visitors can enjoy a breathtaking view of Paris and its rooftops.

Everything you might need to spend a pleasant half-day, or indeed a day in the museum is available: eat at Le Georges, learn more at the public information library, and take a break browsing the shelves of the museum gift shop.

At the foot of the Centre, the Atelier Brancusi presents a unique collection of works by this artist who played a major role in the history of modern sculpture.

--parisinfo.com

LOUVRE

PARIS, FRANCE

The former President François Mitterand wanted it, so the Chinese-American architect Ieoh Ming Pei made it.

Opened on the 30th March 1989, the Louvre Pyramid marked a turning point in the history of the Louvre Museum, which occupies the former royal palace. 

The structure is made of metal, as well as 603 diamonds and 70 triangles of plastic glass, and is located in the heart of the court of Napoléon. 

It has become an unmissable monument of Parisian architecture, in front of which visitors like to have their photo taken.

--parisinfo.com

MARCHE ALIGRE

PARIS, FRANCE

Between the place de la Bastille and the place de la Nation, the Beauvau market - also called the Aligre market (in name of where it is located) - is held 6 days a week. 

The market is divided into two sections. 

The covered market, inside 3 beautiful halls appreciated by lovers of architecture, is dedicated to food stalls and has a real mix of stores such as the Aouba coffee shop, Langlet-Hardouin cheese shop, a vegetarian butcher (la Boucherie Végétarienne) and herbs and spices are for sale in the Sur Les Quais boutique.

The uncovered market opens out onto the square and even down the rue d'Aligre. It includes a food section and many antique shops.

--parisinfo.com

QUARTIER LATIN

PARIS, FRANCE

No trip to Paris is complete without a visit to the Latin Quarter in the 5th arrondissement, on the Left Bank. 

The area’s many cafés and restaurants are laid-back and welcoming; they are filled with Parisians, students and tourists. 

There are several attractions to visit, among them the Pantheon, the Musée National du Moyen-Âge, the Luxembourg gardens and museum and the Arènes de Lutèce.

As you stroll through the district you will also come across the Sorbonne, the best known university in Paris; the Collège de France, the Lycée Henri IV, the shopping streets Rue Mouffetard and Rue Monge and the charming Place de la Contrescarpe. 

The district also has popular show venues like the Paradis Latin, the Théâtre de l’Odéon and the Caveau de la Huchette.

PARISINFO.COM

MARCHE BASTILLE

PARIS, FRANCE

One of the biggest Parisian markets, with Place de la Bastille's Colonne de Juillet as the backdrop. 

A hundred or so stalls offer a huge range of products.

--parisinfo.com

COULÉE VERTE RENÉ-DUMONT -- PROMENADE PLANTEE

PARIS, FRANCE

Created in 1988 by Philippe Mathieux and Jacques Vergely on the former railway line, which linked Place de la Bastille to Varenne-Saint-Maur from 1859.

The Promenade Plantée mixes areas of wild vegetation that has sprung up alongside the railway line with more modern landscaped areas.

It begins behind the Bastille opera house and runs above avenue Daumesnil to the Jardin de Reuilly: it is the famous Viaduc des Arts.

The Allée Vivaldi then comprises the shopping part of the walkway.

Then, it continues through tunnels and trenches and ends at Porte Dorée and the Bois de Vincennes.

An extraordinary journey along 4.5 km planted with many types of lime and hazelnut trees, climbing plants, rosebushes and other plants.

The walk gives you the opportunity to admire various remarkable views of the most modern and typical parts of the 12th arrondissement.

--parisinfo.com

RUE CREMIEUX

PARIS, FRANCE

At one time this enchanting little cobbled street, hidden away in the 12th arrondissement, was a “secret place” few people knew about. 

These days, however, Rue Crémieux is an increasingly sought out haunt for fashion photographers, filmmakers, and people looking for something uniquely suited the color-saturated world of Instagram.

Don’t let that put you off finding this charming little Parisian backstreet, though. 

In many respects this quaint throughway between Rue de Lyon and Rue de Bercy doesn’t really feel like Paris at all, and is perhaps more reminiscent of Portobello Road In London’s Notting Hill, or Burano in Venice.

Amid the colorful façades, trompes l’œil paintings, and shuttered windows, are window boxes and terracotta pots filled with lush plants that add to the feeling you have somehow escaped Paris for a moment. 

This is a residential street, albeit a very short one, but the homes are not large. In fact, on one side of the street the building is little more than one room in depth.

An interesting fact that few visitors to Rue Crémieux probably realize is that the street is actually named after a lawyer. 

Jokes aside, it was renamed in 1897 in dedication to Adolphe Crémieux, who defended the human rights of the Jewish people living in France.

--atlastobscura.com

MONTPARNASSE

PARIS, FRANCE

The Montparnasse district has been frequently visited by lots of major artists of the 20th Century, such as Picasso, Soutine, Foujita, Modigliani, Brancusi, Braque, Man Ray.

From its rich past, Montparnasse has conserved artist workshops, famous cafes and brasseries (the Closerie des Lilas, the Dôme, the Coupole, etc.)

This place boasts an important cultural setting with several museums and walking spots, such as the Panoramic Observatory of the Montparnasse Tower, the Montparnasse cemetery, the Bourdelle Musuem, the Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation, the Catacombes, the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art.

--parisinfo.com

CIRQUE D'HIVER

PARIS, FRANCE

Built in 1852, the Cirque d'Hiver is one of the oldest constructed circuses in Europe.

Every winter, the Bouglione family present a new show with an international cast of artists.

Clowns, animals, acrobats, trapeze artists, tightrope walkers and jugglers put on a magical show.

An orchestra and dancers add to the entertainment.

--Parisinfo.com

CANAL ST. MARTIN

PARIS, FRANCE

Extending over 4.5 km, of which 2 are underground, the canal has linked the Port de l’Arsenal to the La Villette canal basin since 1825.

Its course across working class areas punctuated with locks, swing bridges, Venetian-style footbridges, and lined with chestnut trees and squares inspired Georges Simenon, Léo Malet and Marcel Carné in the film Hôtel du Nord.

Not surprisingly, serenades by the water and supper under the stars have become an institution here, as have brunches, delightful retro bistros and colourful eateries on both sides of the canal banks.

--Parisinfo.com

GALLERIES LAFAYETTE

PARIS, FRANCE

A global event-based retail and fashion leader, Galeries Lafayette Haussmann has become a Paris icon since its creation in 1894, and a must-visit venue in the capital.

The historic store (established 1912), is composed of three buildings bringing together the best of fashion, luxury items, accessories, homewares, and food with over 3,500 brands.

Brands include: Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, Céline, Chloé, Cartier, Chaumet, Moynat, Delvaux, Fauré Le Page, Loewe, Longchamp, Isabel Marant, Maje, Sandro, A.P.C., The Kooples, Zadig & Voltaire, Acne, De Fursac, Guerlain, Sisley, Hermès, Diptyque, L'Occitane, Jacadi, Tartine et Chocolat, Petit Bateau, Bernardaud, Christofle, Pierre Hermé, Angelina, Alain Ducasse.

Participating in the outreach of the French 'Art de Vivre' and the promotion of creators, this flagship store is positioned as a Parisian fashion theatre, open to the world and whose mission is to offer its French and international clients a unique experience, revelling in all the energy of creation.

--ParisInfo.com