Newer posts are loading.
You are at the newest post.
Click here to check if anything new just came in.
Click here to check if anything new just came in.
February 02 2012
Paris fashion museum
If there is one last "industry" where the French still have a pretty good position, it's la mode (fashion). No wonder then, that we hold on to it as much as we can... I already mentioned the Institut Français de la Mode, a school that is more a business school dedicated to fashion than an actual designer school), and here is the fashion museum. It's called the Galliera (after the name of the Italian Duchess who once owned the place - a stunning palace surrounded by a 17600 sq meter garden in the heart of the 16th arrondissement!) and it owns no less than 90 000 fashion pieces (from dresses to gloves, fans, umbrellas...). I've never visited it - and I won't before another year and a half for it's currently closed, but the outside is already something!
January 30 2012
Paris Mint!
It's the last day of January and it's about time to take down the Christmas decorations! I took this photo at La Monnaie de Paris (Paris mint or coins and medals), a public body that was founded in 864 and is in charge of issuing coins and medals on behalf of the French Government (they still are nowadays, even though we don't use proper French coins anymore but Euros). The place is also a museum, located is a 18th century building, where you can buy medals; at the moment, they are promoting four gold and silver coins, produced under a licence with The Andy Warhol Foundation for theVisual Arts!
January 16 2012
Galerie des glaces
Once again, I haven't been able to go out today, so I dug into my treasure box and found a photo I apparently never showed you. I took it at the Chateau de Versailles in 2010, during a private visit I was fortunate enough to take part in. Those of you who visited the castle will naturally have recognizes Les Galerie des glaces (the hall of mirrors), a stunning hall that is 239.5 ft long and 35 ft wide! An amazing place, that France could surely not afford nowadays ;-)
December 20 2011
Restaurant Le Derrière
Today (well Tuesday) I had lunch with the communications manager of Fotolia, who took me to an amazing restaurant I never knew of. It's called Le Derrière and it's really a place you have to visit if you come to Paris. It's a 3 story building (pretty old - it's located in Le Marais, near the Pompidou Center) with many rooms that you can rent out for a party (like this one in the photo). The ground floor is more like a "classic" restaurant even though the decor is everything, but classic! Have a look at a few other shots on the Making of... And read a critic by La Fourchette.
December 12 2011
Press conference
Today I attended a press conference at the Pavillon de l'Arsenal - a must visit museum dedicated to the Paris architecture. The purpose of the conference was to announce the launch of a very innovative digital map (a team work of Google and Paris), in which you can see "the future Paris" in 3D. How is that possible? Simply because some of the main architectural projects have been digitally embedded into the giant interactive map that can be seen in the Pavillon. It was really fascinating, but, call me weird, I was even more fascinated by the glow in the dark green shows of Ms Dominique Alba, General Manager of the Pavillon who introduced the project to us ;-) Make sure you also see the making of.
December 04 2011
Season Classic!
I know what you're gonna say... Again! Yes again, every year it's the same, but it's still beautiful. In case you would not know what it is (which I seriously doubt!) , this the famous Notre Dame Cathedral, located in the middle of l'île de la Cité. Every year towards the end of November they erect an enormous Christmas tree in front of it (of course it's does not look so big in this photo ;-) and it's always breath taking. Last year, at the same time, it was super cold and snowy. This year, it's extraordinary mild.
December 03 2011
Among the numerous markets that we have in Paris, the marché d'Aligre - located at rue d'Aligre, of course! - is probably one of the best ones. It's made of a covered area (built in 1779 and still operating nowadays - after a little face lift in 1843!) and an open air open air one, where I took this very Parisian photo. This market is open everyday except Mondays and it's definitely worth a visit if you come to Paris. More on this site - in French.
November 09 2011
The PDP calendars are out!
Here is another photo I took at the Petit Palais while I was visiting in the inside garden. unfortunately I forgot to make a note of the sculptor's name, so there is not much I can tell you about them. Instead I'll seize the opportunity to let you know that the 2012 PDP calendars are just off press (well, off Zazzle!) and that there is even a 30% off offer until midnight Pacific time. Like last year, there is a B&W version and a color one. I hope you'll like them.
November 05 2011
Another good address...
Here is a place you have to make a note of, if you come to Paris. You'll find it right in the heart of Paris, off the Champs Elysées, but you'll be surprised how quiet it is! Why? Because it's located right in the middle of Le Petit Palais... Tip: when you walk in ask for a free ticket to the "permanent collections", you can then walk in to this little secluded garden and enjoy a two course meal (including a glass of wine and coffee) for 24 € ! BTW, I took this photo Friday morning, as you can see we're having a sort of Indian summer at the moment.
November 03 2011
A drink by the Palais Royal
If you came to Paris, you probably went to the Palais Royal (Royal Palace), and you probably had a drink at this café called Le Nemours, right by the entrance of the Palace (facing the Place Colette, from where I took this photo) . It's a very nice location to sit and watch the people go by, as I did this morning while I was having breakfast (actually it looks empty in this photo because I took it very early, but it's generally very busy!).
September 28 2011
A cute little theater...
I have passed by this place many times thinking each time "this is really a cute little theater!", but never managed to take a proper photo (it's located on a little square with lots of trees that makes it difficult to take photos). Anyway, this time I'm pretty happy with the result. It really looks little a mock up doesn't it? FYI, it's Le Théâtre de l'Atelier located at place Charles Dullin (who was the art director of the theater at the beginning of the 20th century), right by Montmartre.
September 16 2011
Sunset on Notre Dame
Another of this September evening light that is so beautiful in Paris. I passed by Notre Dame last evening around 7:30 on my way to my brother's and I could not help but admiring this stunning Paris landmark. Besides, for once that it's not covered in scaffolding... Have a great week-end everyone. I hope the weather is going to remain as clear as this!
September 14 2011
Porte Saint Denis
The big arch in the middle of l'Etoile, on top of the Champs Elysées is not the only one in Paris. There are many other arches, like this one I photographed in the 10th arrondissement at the crossing of rue Saint-Denis and Boulevard Bonne-nouvelle. It was built in 1672 in replacement for a medieval gate in the city walls built by Charles V in the 14th century (read the whole story here if you're interested). It's a stunning monument, and the blue/cloudy sky makes it even more beautiful.
September 05 2011
Hotel Crillon
Due to its location (facing the Place de La Concorde), the hotel Crillon is probably one of the most luxurious hotels in Paris. The actual building was constructed in 1758 by architect Jacques-Ange Gabriel, then it was later bought to be used as a private home (yes a private home!) in 1788 by the Count of Crillon. It was confiscated during the revolution period (in 1791) then becamee a hotel in 1907 (read the whole story here is you're interested). What you see on the left is not the actual building, it's a fake facade which purpose is to hide the real one while it's being redone. Cool isn't?
August 17 2011
Icarus at La Défense
I had a meeting at La Défense this morning. La Défense - for those of you who would have forgotten - is a business district right outside Paris where mostly skyscrapers are to be found. But not only... there is also a lot or "street"(there are no actual streets over there!) art, like this one, a stunning statue of Icare (Icarus), made by Igor Mitoraj.
August 13 2011
Outside the Hôtel de Salm
I fell in love with this Sphinx! Really stunning. I came across it by chance while walking in front of the Hotel de Salm, a former Hotel particulier (a private house generally built by rich aristocrats before the 18th cetury, mostly) that is now the Musée de la Légion d'Honneur (a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802). I did not go inside, but I will. I find it very peaceful; perfect for a summer Sunday in quiet Paris ;-)
August 11 2011
Sunny break at the pyramid
Hurrah, it's been at least 2 days in a row that the sun has been shining in Paris! Not for long, tough, when you read these lines, the rain will have returned ;-( Anyway, here is a view of today, from the inside of the Louvre Pyramid, a glass an metal pyramid located in the middle of the main courtyard of the Louvre Palace. Very controversial in its times, this very modern structure is now extremely popular and was even duplicated in other places, like the Museum of Science and industry in Chicago. A definite must see if you come to Paris...
August 10 2011
Fascinating Clock
I could look at this clock for hours without being bored! If you visited Paris already, you probably know it's located in the Musée d'Orsay, this stunning museum that was previously a train station until it was closed (and almost destroyed) between 1958 and 1996. I have been unable to find out who made this clock, but I saw it's the only remain from the times this place was a station. Anyway, I had the opportunity to briefly go there (obviously around noon!) and, well, I took this photo thinking of you ;-)
August 08 2011
Creative architecture
You find this building a little dark for a Haussmanian construction? You're right, but wait the story is interesting! As you can guess, it's not a real one, but a concrete cast of a Haussmanian facade. And why is it so? Because the architect (Edouard François), had to solve a problem: unify 7 different era buildings into a unique one. He had the clever idea to hide them behind this facade, that he calls a "concrete 3D wall paper with glass windows hanging like paintings". Pretty creative... BTW, it's a hotel and it's located at the corner of rue Quentin Bauchard and rue Vernet, just off the Champs Elysées.
July 15 2011
A new place to visit
This morning I went to rue des Archives, in Le Marais, and noticed that the door to the gardens of the Hotel de Soubise (that I already mentioned here) were open. To me, that was a first, so, of course, I entered... And I discovered a huge area in which you can see this stunning facade (this building is actually the place where the French national archives are located) and gardens. I found out later on the Web that the doors have only been opened to the public since the end of June and that there is a total surface of 8 000 sq meters (86 111 square feet). All this in the heart of Paris, not bad!
Older posts are this way
If this message doesn't go away, click anywhere on the page to continue loading posts.
Could not load more posts
Maybe Soup is currently being updated? I'll try again automatically in a few seconds...
Maybe Soup is currently being updated? I'll try again automatically in a few seconds...
Just a second, loading more posts...
You've reached the end.
