Musée de l'Institut du Monde Arabe

Musée de l'Institut du Monde Arabe
Originally uploaded by AndyRob

The Musée de l'Institut du Monde Arabe is near the Jardin des Plantes accessible by batobus on Paris City Breaks

Designed in 1987 by architect Jean Nouvel and funded by 22 different, mostly Arab countries, it includes expositions on calligraphy, decorative arts, architecture, and photography produced by the Arab/Islamic world, as well as insights into its religion, philosophy, and politics. There's a bookshop on-site, a replica of a Medina selling high-quality gift and art objects, and archival resources that are usually open only to bona-fide scholars. Views from the windows of the on-site Moroccan restaurant encompass Notre-Dame, l'Ile de la Cité, and Sacré-Coeur.

Paris - Charonne, Rue de Bagnolet

Paris - Charonne, Rue de Bagnolet
Originally uploaded by Añelo de la Krotsche

Paris - Charonne, Rue de Bagnolet

In the 18th Century, wealthy Parisians liked to come to "their Belleville countryside". They had fine residences built there, now demolished. At number 148, Rue de Bagnolet, there are still some of the last vestiges of the Château de Bagnolet and the Ermitage pavilion, which was most notably a meeting place for counter-revolutionaries, in times before they were guillotined.

Undiscovered Paris

Well to be honest there aren't any undiscovered districts in Paris at all but it can feel a bit special if you get to know a new part that is a little off the beaten Paris breaks pathway. Here I am sitting next to the fountain in the place de la contrescarpe in the Rue Mouffetarde, also known as the old latin quarter.



It's a great little area to get away from the big boulevards and busy traffic in most of Paris, and imagine you are in a small French provincial town or village, bacause that's what it feels like.

Art Paris Breaks

Paris Breaks for Art

Sometimes dedicating entire Paris breaks to Art is completely justified. Paris is a kind of epicentre when it comes to all sorts of cutural heights and art is perhaps the archetype. I'm not talking about tacky charicature buskers in the square next to the Sacre Coeur but about fine art in all its forms. Architecture, painting, sculpture and especially nodern art with its installations and experiential exhibitions. All of this is based on history with famous and up and coming artists being drawn to Paris from all over the world in a succession of waves that have continued throughout the centuries.

The Picasso museum in Paris is currently closed for extended refurbishment but the Rodin is well worth a visit just to start off with, if you are a new to artistic Paris breaks. After that you can find all sorts of gems just by following your nose or sensibilities.

Paris Breaks from a Height

paris-2008
Originally uploaded by sabrimurat2007

On Paris breaks you get several opportunities to get realy high up above Paris and see the beautiful city from a birds eye perspective. The Eiffel tower is an obvious choice, but there is also the Tour Montparnasse, other tower blocks, and the butte de Montmartre.

Paris Breaks on Facebook

Paris Breaks on Facebook

Sacré Coeur seen from Boulevard de Rochechouart

Paris - Le Sacré-Coeur vu du Boulevard de Rochechouart
Originally uploaded by Añelo de la Krotsche

One of the delights of Paris breaks is to catch a glimpse of some famous or unknown distant architecture from up a side street. This is one such moment, the Sacré Coeur seen from Boulevard de Rochechouart