Well is that time again, need to tell you about some news from France. As you might know, September is the rentrée or re-entry month where we all come back from our long vacations and things begin to groove again, like school is back and in other times conferences, conventions were galore. OF course, this year will be less but nevertheless, its still rentrée in France. Now for the news…
In the interests of ecology, metro tickets will gradually disappear. And we are starting next October 2021 with the end of the book of 10 tickets, sold until then for 16.90€ (compared to € 1.90 per single ticket). They will give way to dematerialized transport tickets which will be loaded onto an electronic card. For now, it will still be possible to purchase single cardboard tickets. This card, therefore, called Pass Navigo Easy, can be bought for 2€ at the terminals and can be recharged at will. Unlike the Navigo Pass that we know, it is non-nominative and can be lent to other travelers. The purchase price of the card will be quickly refunded, since the notebook will cost 2€ less on it than with cardboard tickets. RATP webpage: https://www.ratp.fr/en/titres-et-tarifs/passe-navigo-easy
The Fun fair of Neuneu (old name but folks still call it,now is Bois de Boulogne) is back at the Bois de Boulogne until October 17. More than a hundred stands are set up between the Rond-Point de la Porte de la Muette and the lake in a wooded setting with a view of the Eiffel Tower. The opportunity to find the ghost train, the bumper cars or the “little Fousset”, troubadour who scrolls on the stage of his trailer a swarm of endearing and funny characters. And discover new attractions such as the Booster Maxx or the Surf Party, reserved for thrill seekers, or the India caterpillar. webpage: https://en.parisinfo.com/paris-show-exhibition/135456/festival-at-the-bois-de-boulogne
No more long lines of customers going up the Boulevard Rochechouart (18éme), their arms laden with pink gingham plastic bags. Although taken over in 2017 by the GPG group (Gifi), old venerable store Tati, already challenged by the arrival of new inexpensive ready-to-wear giants, has not withstood the Covid crisis. In July 2020, the announcement was made of the permanent closure of the historic store, despite an investment plan of 150 million euros. Now, future historic Tati building in Barbès 18éme, will be renovated with shops, a restaurant, a hotel, and housing. One to look at once done. See the store online for now: https://www.tati.fr/
The opening, in the heart of the Marais, of a free dog park has turned into a standoff between residents and animal owners to the detriment of the latter. Dog lovers accuse the City of neglecting the canine cause. Oh Paris is not going where it should lately. Don’t dispair , there are several parks for dogs allowed in Paris; see them here: https://www.sortiraparis.com/arts-culture/balades/guides/206402-les-parcs-squares-et-jardins-ou-promener-son-chien-a-paris
Canceled last year due to the health crisis, the Les Coleurs du Val d’Oise fireworks festival returns this Saturday at the Enghien-Soisy racecourse, for its thirteenth edition. For nearly two hours, spectators will be able to immerse themselves in the world of Chihiro travel, a classic of Hayao Miyazaki, Arthur and the Invisibles, Mulan or even the Snow Queen. webpage: https://lescouleursduvaldoise.com/
This is the 35th store opened in France and the only one to date in Ile-de-France in Provins, Seine et Marne dept 77. By renting a stand for one to several weeks, salespeople benefit from the duration to sell clothes, objects and furniture, in addition to certain free services. Location, Au Vide Grenier, 3 avenue de la Voulzie facing Feu Vert auto store. webpage: https://www.auvidegrenier-magasins.fr/provins
Carrefour launches into the battle for discount in Île-de France with its Supeco brand, already established in the North and East of France. It is Carrefour’s anti-Lidl weapon . The first Supeco in the region opens this Wednesday in Buchelay, in the Yvelines 78. webpage: https://www.supeco.fr/content/7-vos-magasins
The Museum of the Great War opened its doors on November 11, 2011. This weekend will be held the traditional historical reconstruction open to all and free, More than 300 enthusiasts of everything related to the First World War will reconstitute, this weekend in the immediate vicinity of the museum of the Great War in Meaux, scenes from the First Battle of the Marne, which took place from September 5 to 9, 1914 a few kilometers away. On the program, vehicles of 14-18, soldiers in uniform from several countries and air battles with vintage planes, because the place of memory opened on November 11, 2011 – 11/11/11! – and announces what visitors will find there over the next twelve months. The first, which will be inaugurated on November 11, will look back on ten years of donations. The collection of Jean-Pierre Verney (the one behind the creation of the museum) numbered 50,000 objects. Today we are at 70,000 objects. The second exhibition, which will open in March 2022, will focus on trench systems. This will explain that they have existed since the dawn of time. But the trenches of the Great War resulted in the evolution of weaponry and had an impact on men. Museum of the Great War, rue Lazare-Ponticelli in Meaux. Information on +33 (0) 1.60.32.14.18 , I say a must to see; webpage: http://www.museedelagrandeguerre.eu
The castle of the pediatric center of Loges-en-Josas ,Yvelines 78, selected for the Loto du patrimoine,(heritage lotto to finance their renovations) by Stéphane Bern, the pediatric center of Côtes .The site accommodates, in the 19C building, children who have undergone major surgical operations. A nice wonderful work and pretty building that now will be save for generations to come and Children to benefit from. It’s worth seeing it for its architecture. webpage: https://www.centredescotes.com/presentation-de-l-etablissement/
Through rare period drawings, the new exhibition at the Musée Condé (Chantilly castle) allows us to decipher the arrival of the Italian Renaissance movement via the construction of the Château de Fontainebleau and its influence on French art. As part of this new exhibition, the Musée Condé has unearthed some fifty pieces from the Fontainebleau school in its graphic arts cabinet. They are visible until November 7 2021. We must first go back to 1528 when King François I left the banks of the Loire to launch a major project to embellish his Château de Fontainebleau. He brings in the greatest artists from the peninsula to transform the place. These painters and sculptors popularize a formula called to great success, what will be called much later “the school of Fontainebleau”. These masterpieces were brought together by Henri d´Orléans, Duke of Aumale, former owner and legatee of the Cantilian collections, who had a strong interest in the French Renaissance. Son of King Louis-Philippe, he stayed regularly in his youth in Fontainebleau and was inspired by it for the reconstruction of Chantilly. Near his home, the Duke also regularly had the opportunity to admire one of the rare period frescoes preserved in France, at the Abbey of Chaalis. Le trait de la seduction, Drawings from the Fontainebleau School, until November 7 at the Graphic Arts Cabinet of the Château de Chantilly. Exhibition included in the 1-day ticket (Castle, park, Grandes Écuries, temporary exhibitions) Full price: 17€ webpage: https://chateaudechantilly.fr/
Immersed in the “ghost” Saint-Martin metro station, closed to travelers since 1939, forbidden to the public at the start of WWII, this station, located between Strasbourg-Saint-Denis and République and where lines 8 and 9 intersect, offers a maze of mysterious and fascinating corridors, On the forecourt of the Renaissance Theater, a stone’s throw from the Porte Saint-Martin (see post), a discreet staircase leads to one of the metro’s most secret places. The “ghost station” Saint-Martin, offers a fascinating dive into history. In 1999,the transport network RATP renovates the station as a solidarity space of insertion managed by the Salvation Army charitable organisation to help the poor entered society. Pass by it take a look worth for the history. This is Paris!
On September 18 and 19,2021 the European Heritage Days will allow you to discover unusual places: embassies, factories, stations, palaces … these visits are often taken by storm, but reservations are possible to avoid the queues , Each place defines hours and conditions, as it is Covid-19 reservation policy … the novelty this year for the Heritage Days will also be the requirement or not of the health pass to access the places according to the reception conditions (open air or not , visitor level greater than 50 people, etc …), Information webpage: https://www.europeanheritagedays.com/search?keywords=paris&type=All&ccode=16&month_datepicker_from=&month_datepicker_to=
From the post-war period to the Pantheon, Joséphine Baker born in Missouri USA in 1906, her real name Freda Josephine McDonald, naturalized French in 1937; this artist and figure of the Resistance will be the first black woman to enter the Parisian necropolis, On November 30,2021 Joséphine Baker (see post) will become the first black woman to enter the Pantheon.(see post) A decision taken at the end of August by Emmanuel Macron to honor the memory of the Franco-American singer, icon of the Roaring Twenties. Suffice to say that the artist, nicknamed “the black Venus”, experienced her greatest hours of glory long before the creation of the newspaper Le Monde (text taken from it) , in 1944. It was not until 1949. webpage: http://www.paris-pantheon.fr/en/
Taste of Paris! Located in the heart of the ephemeral Grand Palais, this festival will take you to discover local products, their artisans and their know-how. The appointment is given. From September 16 to 19, 2021, Taste of Paris takes over the ephemeral Grand Palais to offer you signature dishes from forty great Parisian chefs, but also ,and above all, products from producers and artisans from all over France. A real godsend for all those passionate about cooking and good wines! Webpage: https://paris.tastefestivals.com/
The Harry Potter pop-up store is taking up residence,in the Marais Paris by next December 2021 (site says july 31 but you know covid). The Wizard’s Shop, entirely dedicated to this universe. You can find a large selection of board games, toys and other goodies on the theme of the wizarding school, scarves and accessories to wear the colors of your house, stationery or even the mythical wands from Ollivander, and even some of the most popular candies among wizards like chocolate frogs or Bertie Hook’s surprise dragees! All within an absolutely magical setting. Beautiful collector’s items will also be present, as well as exclusives such as mystery boxes by houses. The decoration of the shop will be directly inspired by the great room and the common room of Gryffindor, to transport you even more to Hogwarts. The Wizard’s Shop, 130 Rue de Turenne 3éme; opening hours so far will be Tuesday to Sunday from 11h to 19h. However, I see we have a closer store in Nantes! webpage: https://the-wizards-shop.com/fr/content/14-magasins
At the start of 2022, Serge Gainsbourg’s famous house will be transformed into a museum to the delight of nostalgics and other curious people. Located at 5 bis, rue de Verneuil, 7éme, The Gainsbourg house or at least its facade is well known to residents, but few people have had the chance to enter it. For the 30 years of the artist’s death, Jane Birkin has nevertheless confirmed that this mansion will be transformed into a museum, The museum will be accompanied by a bookstore-boutique, a piano-bar at night and a café baptized “Gainsbarre”. The opening of the ticket office is already scheduled for this fall 2021. webpage: https://www.maisongainsbourg.fr/
There you go folks, a load of goodies in my belle France. WE all got the health pass already so now figuring where we go lol!!! So many choices yikes! Hope you are all doing well and ready to travel again. And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 