Pompidou Center Reopens

Pompidou Center Reopens: "Workers at the Georges Pompidou Centre in Paris have suspended a strike that had shut down the museum for three weeks."

Workers at several other major French museums and cultural institutions went on strike in sympathy, including the Musée d’Orsay, Notre Dame Cathedral and the palace at Versailles, but have since reopened.

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

Latin Quarter Paris Breaks

Latin Quarter Paris Breaks 5th Arrondissement - Quartier Latin

The Latin Quarter, quartier latin or 5th Arrondissement has long been the intellectual centre and heart and soul of Paris, as well as becoming a major tourist area. Bookshops, colleges, churches, clubs, student dives, Roman ruins, publishing houses, street musicians, world foodie restaurants and expensive boutiques characterize the district. Since the founding of the Sorbonne in 1253, the quarter was called Latin because students and professors spoke the Latin language, long before one particular dialect had become standardised as modern French. Follow in the footsteps of Descartes, Verlaine, Camus, Sartre, James Thurber, Elliot Paul, and Hemingway as you enjoy Paris breaks in the latin quarter. Changing times have brought Greek, Moroccan, and Vietnamese immigrants, among others, offering everything from couscous to fiery-hot spring rolls and souvlaki. The 5th arrondissement borders the banks of Seine, and you'll want to stroll along the quayside at quai de Montebello, checking the secondhand book shops with everything from antique Daumier prints to yellowing copies of Balzac's Père Goriot in the shadow of Notre-Dame.

Paris - La Pyramide du Louvre

Paris - La Pyramide du Louvre
Originally uploaded by Añelo de la Krotsche

The pyramid at the entrance to the Louvre has become one of the many iconic pieces of modern architcture in Paris

Paris Breaks to the 5th arrondissement

The fifth arrondissement is the latin quarter and perfect for lively Paris breaks with a youthful feel, cosmopolitain cuisine and swinging nightlife.

This is the famous Left Bank, which to Londoners looking at the Paris city map looks more like the southbank but never mind that. This is teh country which has 15 days in a fortnight afterall.

So what os there to see in the 5th, well there's the Pantheon - a big temple like structure on the top of a hill with a large dome, there's the zoo and gardens and Jardin des Plantes, and the Museum of the Arab World.

The area still has a significant student presence, with several universities and schools of higher education being located in the 5th arrondissement but a lot of students and faculty have been forced to more affordable areas such as the 13th arroondissement.

So it's a tourist area now, with affordable hotels and restaurants for visitors and plenty to see and do.

Euros for Paris Breaks

The fall of the GB Pound against the Euro meant that Paris Breaks are more expensive, so there's been some resolve to take more short breaks in the UK and postpone Paris breaks until better days. The only trouble is that we miss Paris.

We miss the atmosphere, the wandering streets, planned architecture unexpected surprises, the Seine, food and drink and everything else about our favourite city.

Paris Breaks in the snow

Paris under the snow
Originally uploaded by Gregory Bastien

If you are in continental Europe in January you might expect some very cold weather but Paris breaks in the winter are still very exciting and spring is really only just around the corner.

Paris Breaks with Velib Bicycle Rental

Paris Breaks by Bicycle

The Velib or Velo Libre free bicycle rental scheme is now massive in Paris. It's a great way to get around in the city and after taking out a nominal one euro per day subscription, each one way rental is completely free as long as you complete the journey withing one half an hour. That should be long enough to get where you want to be and you don;t need to worry about finding another bike to get back again because they are everywhere.

photo by P.Yoruba