This is my latest from my belle France; And it is that time again to tell you my latest rants about some news from France. An eventful post in my blog that I have enjoyed together with you for the last 12+ years , And for those non Roman CCCXCII is 392 ! ,I have come back to new posts and continue the saga of this series with news of my belle France ! Of course chosen by me; there are many others. Hope you enjoy the post as I.
Launched in 2019 in Paris, the digitization of transport tickets is slow to extend to all lines in the Paris region. As the Olympics approach, the promised ticketing innovations are not all there. The digitized monthly Navigo package has been accessible on Android smartphones since October 17, 2022. An innovation that is not available for all transport tickets or all journeys in Ile-de-France , For the most connected users, this innovation attractive call for others, such as the highly anticipated arrival of Ile-de-France transport tickets on iPhone, or even the dematerialization of Paris suburbs tickets, today only available in cardboard…Be aware if planning visit in summer 2024 it will be hell !
Get ready to experience an exceptional year: throughout the pre-Olympic period, the Westfield Forum des Halles shopping center will host an increasing number of sporting events. After the inauguration of the first official Paris 2024 store last November, 2022, this dynamic is gaining momentum with, on the program, demonstrations and meetings with athletes. A temple of urban lifestyle with its ultra-trendy boutiques, Westfield Forum des Halles is placing the emphasis on urban disciplines for the start of the school year, mainly from street culture. Yes nice come now because in 2024 will be hell !!just saying,
The 2024 edition of the Foire du Trône at the lawn of Reuilly (12eme) threatened by the Olympics? Due to the installation of a military encampment in the Bois de Vincennes for the Olympic Games, the City announced to the fairground workers that they could only be present for four weeks next year, instead of two months. A period too short to be profitable, professionals are alarmed. After the bouquinistes or bookstores on the banks of the Seine, it is the turn of the fairgrounds to be directly threatened by the Paris Olympics scheduled for next summer. I told you so , will be too big to handle this time is not 1924!
Hear all about it! My fav metro line 6 in Paris. By the Bir-Hakeim station, is under construction from this Monday,October 30th and will no longer be served until February 5 2024! A temporary terminus of the 6 will be transferred to Trocadéro where two regular bus lines leave (the 22 and the 30) serving Etoile and where a replacement bus service will also be set up for 5 days. The trains of the 6 will leave, normally, from the Charles-de-Gaulle/Etoile terminus when the service resumes at 5h30, Tuesday, November 7… But still without stopping at Bir-Hakeim before February 5 2024. And from Thursday,Nov 2nd 2023, traffic will also be interrupted between Trocadéro and Charles-de-Gaulle/Etoile, for 5 days. Up to Monday November 6 inclusive. This closure, scheduled during school holidays to take advantage of the drop in ridership on the networks, should allow the RATP to replace two switches which have reached retirement age (set at 60 years for the metro lines on tires).
Finally,the inauguration of the road bypass to the east of Roissy CDG airport (aka Paris CDG), After four years of work, the new section of motorway was inaugurated this past Friday October 27th 2023. These 9 km of lane, which will be open to cars from November 15,2023 will improve traffic around the airport area with the aim to streamline traffic and open up the north-east area of the airport!!
In a year, you will no longer have to stop at the toll gates of Buchelay and Montesson (Yvelines 78). It will then be possible to complete the 210 km of Paris-Caen without stopping. Which rode on it zillions of time always paying my tax contribution Tolls! This will be a revolution that will lead to new habits as by the end of 2024, the toll barriers at Buchelay and Montesson , and all those that follow as far as Normandy, will be officially replaced by gantries, a type of toll without barriers. The free-flow toll gantry instantly recognizes your license plate or electronic toll badge. You pass the toll without barriers, without slowing down and without stopping. In just a few clicks, pay your toll (yes get it in the mail for payment later as similar to a fine! or subscribe to an electronic toll subscription for even greater simplicity.I ride the roads of France and never a toll subscription this will have to be study further by yours truly!
To celebrate All Saint’s Day,(Nov 1st), the private classified ads site PAP studied the sales prices in the immediate vicinity of Parisian cemeteries. Unlike the Parisian average, these prices stay in shape. Does moving next to headstones scare you? Yes,and surprise prices hold steady I guess folks like to live near the dead ! Nearly two thirds of French buyers say they prefer to avoid (according to a study published last year by the online valuation site Meilleurs Agents).Gladly ! In Paris, where density is very high, is there a “cemetery effect”? This is the question that the private real estate ads site PAP asked itself on the occasion of Halloween. Having the deceased as neighbors does not cost less! The Père-Lachaise cemetery (20éme Paris) is the most visited in the world and one of the most beautiful in the city, but prices in the surrounding area remain stable compared to Paris , There you have it even the dead won’t lower the prices in eternal Paris !!
The committee of the famous Avenue des Champs-Elysées has revealed the name of the sponsor of this 2023 edition of the end-of-year Christmas illuminations. The lighting will start this year from November 19 at 18h (6pm) to discover the 400 trees on the Champs-Élysées and a slogan: “Let’s light up the avenue, let’s make Paris shine.” Illuminations in three stages. The calm of the champagne garland, then suddenly the excitement of the sparkling on the hour, resumed at the quarter of an hour, at the half hour, a nod to the sparkling of the Eiffel Tower, then the combined two , To activate the magic button of illuminations on the evening of November 19, they will be performance by singers Clara Luciani then Tahar Rahim, and the French actor and director Gilles Lellouche has been designated godfather of this 2023 edition. The festivities will begin at 11h with the pedestrianization of the avenue. Then a Latin music show, a batucada from 16h before the inaugural gesture performed by Gilles Lellouche accompanied by the mayor of Paris and three seriously ill children welcomed by the Petits Princes association. A DJ set will follow at 20h15 accompanied by fireworks. Choreographer Sadeck Berrabah will also present, with 32 dancers, part of his show “Murmuration”. The illuminations will make the 400 trees shine from 17h until midnight on November 19 and until the end of the Christmas holidays, except on New Year’s Eve evenings on December 24 and 31 when they will sparkle all night long With 180 actors, 19 terraces harmonized),and 12 hotels,the avenue has recovered very well after the health crisis and is growing rapidly. Galleries 26 and 66, currently undergoing renovation, will open at the beginning of 2024, without forgetting the return of luxury brands Yes indeed the Avenue is back and we will be by there!!! And Merry Christmas to all !!!
The monumental statue, the Monument Americain was destroyed in June 2021 by vandals. The repair work is almost complete and the inauguration will be held the day before the anniversary of the armistice of 1918 (end of WWI Nov 11). The monumental statue, composed of 220 stone blocks covering a concrete and brick structure and which measures 23 meters high, will be inaugurated on Friday November 10 at 19h with a fireworks display.The monument is a gift of the United States to France and is American territory by French law, This is in my memorable Meaux and glad it was done !
Stéphane Costes is the voice of the Hippodrome de Chantilly racecourse. The commentator thrills spectators and punters during almost all the horse racing meetings which take place at the famous racecourse. Live both on the Equidia tv channel and in the speakers, this enthusiast stands out for his rapid delivery. Yes indeed been there and watch it regularly on television, Another trivia for the memories of always, Senlis-Chantilly tourist office on the racecourse : https://www.chantilly-senlis-tourisme.com/en/the-destination/terre-de-cheval/lhippodrome-de-chantilly/
During the holidays 2023 , come and try your hand at the Fort Boyard events... This official action game from the famous France 2 TV show is located right in the Westfield Vélizy 2 shopping center in Vélizy-Villancourt (Yvelines 78). Fort Boyard Aventures is the official action game of the show “Fort Boyard” welcomes more than 200 people every day at the Westfield shopping center. My sons watch the show, and my oldest had visited in Île-d’Aix (Charente-Maritime 17), Vélizy 2 shopping center : https://www.westfield.com/france/velizy2/boutiques-detail/fort-boyard-aventures/79209
Something trivial but nice memories of us as used to shop often there, Among the brands of fashion giants, the Relais Val de Seine has just opened a second-hand clothing store in the 3 Fontaines shopping center in Cergy (Val-d’Oise 95). A novelty that stands out and already attracts many customers looking for attractive prices. Between the windows with sparkling lights and enticing presentations, its sobriety stands out a little. The latest store which has just opened its doors does not go unnoticed. Like everywhere else in the aisles of the recently renovated shopping complex, webpage : https://www.3fontaines.com/
Another memorable spot good to mention here for the memories of always, After thirty years in Chanteloup-les-Vignes,(Yvelines 78) the Company of Contraries will set up its marquee in Limay (also Yvelines 78)The Company of Contraries is moving from November 2 2023. A more than symbolic departure for the association dedicated to circus arts, which has supported more than 20,000 children since its creation in 1993. It is a symbol of Chanteloup-les-Vignes which is leaving. Official webpage : http://www.compagniedescontraires.com/lacompagniedescontraires.html
From the Rabanne collection for H&M to the premium lines of COS or Mango, fast fashion brands continue to refine their offering. While taking care of their image. For one evening, the cult American singer Cher and the energetic Swede Robyn electrified a small, hand-picked crowd gathered at the select club Le Silencio, whose decoration is by David Lynch. Which luxury brand hit so hard? None. It was an evening hosted by the low-cost fashion giant, the Swedish H&M. But luxury wasn’t far away. The label celebrated the launch of its next collaboration with the Rabanne brand, ( Paco Rabanne, aka Francisco Rabaneda y Cuervo, born in Pasaia (Guipuscoa, Spain) and died February 3, 2023 in Portsall (Finistére 29 Brittany France) available on November 9 2023. H&M, pioneer of what we call fast fashion, these brands with accessible prices and constantly renewed collections, offers here a complete collection, which perfectly transcribes the essence of the Rabanne style, imagined ten years ago by Julien Dossena. There are pieces for men and women, including obviously metallic dresses made from recycled aluminum, others with very seventies psychedelic prints, officer’s jackets, well-cut blazers, floral tops, and even jewelry. very desirable tinsel and decorative objects, such as cushions or silver candlesticks. Historical fast fashion brands H&M was founded in 1947, Zara in 1975, Mango in 1984 , have indeed largely contributed over time to establishing a democratization of fashion Official H&M Rabanne : https://www2.hm.com/fr_fr/free-form-campaigns/rabanne-hm.html#/
Sephora reopens on the Avenue des Champs-Elysées! The perfume brand spent six months of work renovating its store. At the head of 3,000 points of sale around the world, the LVMH subsidiary, On the eve of its inauguration,last Friday October 27, 2023 the Sephora store is ready to once again welcome a horde of customers. This gigantic point of sale, a sort of supermarket that sells 309 brands of beauty products and perfumes, ranks second among the largest Sephora stores, behind that of Dubai and ahead of that of New York, operated in the Soho district .The brand has hardly amended the concept imagined in 1969 in Limoges by this distribution pioneer, who succeeded in imposing self-service in a sector hitherto known for subjecting the sale of perfumes and lipstick to the advice from a saleswoman behind a perfume counter. Fragrances remain self-service. The black and white of its beginnings is still in place.Official Sephora C-E : https://www.sephora.fr/sephora-champs-elysees.html
At the beginning of the 20C, this family of Italian mosaicists gave this art a new lease of life, decorating villas, shops and public buildings in the northwest of France. Their creations, long ignored, are now classified and restored. In Rennes, rue Dupont-des-Loges, the owners of the Alaska flea market love the majestic mosaic floor. A terrazzo in gray and ocher tones, surrounded by subtle black and gold friezes. A surprise discovered at the opening in 2017 by the Alaskan owners, this magnificent original floor having until then been hidden under old white tiles. Long before becoming a trendy flea market, the place housed a Peugeot garage at the beginning of the 20C, La Californie, a small island bordered by the arms of the Vilaine river to the east of the city center, a few steps from the train station Official Rennes tourist office on Alaska : https://www.tourisme-rennes.com/fr/organiser-mon-sejour/restaurants/alaska-brocante-et-snack/
The Salon du Chocolat celebrates its return from October 28 until November 1 2023 (missed it again ! ) at the Parc des Expos at Porte de Versailles with its multiple tastings and chocolate parades. It was on this occasion that the second edition of the Master du Pain au Chocolat took place this Monday, October 30, organized by the Confédération Nationale de la Boulangerie-Pâtisserie Française. And the good news is that an address in the Île-de-France region is in the top 3! For this new edition, 42 candidates were in the running to try to win the 2023 prize for the best pain au chocolat in France. Each candidate was tasked with presenting five identical pain au chocolat (between 55 and 65 grams). The big winner crowned Champion of France is Sylvain Belouin from Brissac-Loire-Aubance (Maine et Loire 49) , followed by Sigami Sugeetharan, an artisan baker to come and discover in Claye-Souilly,(Seine et Marne 77) , and 3rd, Frédéric Hubert, baker in Thionville-Elange (La Moselle 57) , Official Salon du Chocolat : https://www.salon-du-chocolat.com/concours/
At the Bar des Maillets d’Argent, the legend of the Tour d’Argent without the elevator, continues, By taking it from Maubert, the left bank has never lacked these ordinary brasseries but, for several weeks, towards the Seine and with the nice pretext of a complete renovation, the glorious Tour d’Argent (Silver Tower) now prides itself on holding a beautiful counter at 5, quai de la Tournelle and this heavy door like the legends, until then reserved only for customers of the large table, here it is opening a little, after you, straight ahead, at the end of the ground floor..Bar des Mallets d’Argent! Official Tour d’Argent : https://tourdargent.com/le-bar-des-maillets-dargent/
And I close out this post with something for the culturally inclined and lovers of the 7eme Art, these are my favorites not visit them all but most, Worth a trip while in Paris me think, The best arthouse cinemas in Paris !
You only know it if you live in the 15éme (nahh,,,) , and that’s not even certain. A stone’s throw from Rue du Commerce, with a view of the Eiffel Tower, the Chaplin Saint-Lambert is a UFO. The four-screen cinema has been given a makeover, for a vintage style. The seats in this cinema theater are comfortable, of course, but we mainly come here for the astonishing programming. This cinema has a little brother in the 14éme, at 24 place Denfert-Rochereau: Le Chaplin Denfert. Le Chaplin Saint Lambert 6, rue Péclet 15eme Official les Cinemas Chaplin: https://www.lescinemaschaplin.fr/
Located in the heart of Montreuil, the Méliès is the largest public art house cinema in Europe !, with 6 rooms, 1,105 seats and 3,230 m² of space. with a unique interior design, combining wood frames, raw metal and spotlight-shaped lighting reminiscent of the world of cinema. Méliès offers a demanding, dynamic and accessible program for all audiences, including people with reduced mobility. The establishment even offers a restaurant, an area dedicated to children and a library. Comfort is guaranteed with ultra-comfortable seats, entirely LED lighting and the latest generation sound system, Le Méliés Montreuil 12, place Jean-Jaurès 20eme Official Le Méliés Montreuil: https://www.meliesmontreuil.com/
You probably know it, Studio 28 is the cinema that welcomed Audrey Tautou during the famous scene where the beautiful brunette is sitting in the cinema and the voice-over declares “Sometimes, on Friday evenings, Amélie goes to the cinema” during the filming of “Fabulous Destiny of Amélie Poulain”. Nestled in the heights of Montmartre, with its small terrace for tea, Studio 28 will perfectly immerse you in the good old nostalgia of the world of cinema. Studio 28, 10, rue Tholozé 18éme, Official Studio 28 cinema: https://www.cinema-studio28.fr/
Located next to the legendary Avenue des Champs-Elysées, the Le Balzac cinema has always loudly proclaimed its desire to defend arthouse cinemas. Basically, in the 1930s, the cinema on rue Balzac only had a single, giant theater with more than 600 seats. Now, after several renovations, the cinema contains three projection rooms. Once a month, you can also attend the famous “Pochette Surprise” sessions, with the broadcast of several short films, often silent, dating from the first steps in the history of cinema. Le Balzac, 1, rue Balzac 8éme, Official cinema Balzac: https://www.cinemabalzac.com/
If you take a walk between old Montparnasse and the Luxembourg Gardens, you will surely see an old disused factory. Don’t be fooled by appearances because it’s actually the Lucernaire, a building you don’t want to avoid! Le Lucernaire is a crossroads where cinema, theater, photography and gastronomy intertwine. This Parisian cinema focuses mainly on the distribution of works by French and European authors, while giving strong importance to authors “from the South”. Le Lucernaire also invites you to attend meetings with the directors and teams of the films ,Le Lucernaire, 53, rue Notre-Dame-des-Champs, 6éme, Official Le Lucernaire cinema: https://www.lucernaire.fr/
An essential part of Parisian culture, the Panthéon cinema is above all the oldest cinema in Paris in continuous activity. Inaugurated in 1907, the cinema has become a legendary theater, Avant-garde, the Panthéon cinema was the very first to dare to show foreign films in original language. From now on, the cinema has been taken over by the production company Why Not and continues to screen arthouse films ,The Panthéon cinema even has a little surprise in store for you with its 150 m2 lost lounge/bar, warmly decorated by Catherine Deneuve and Christian Sapet. Le Cinéma du Panthéon, 13, rue Victor-Cousin, 5éme, Official Le Cinéma du Panthéon: https://www.cinemadupantheon.fr/
There you go folks, my latest round of mysome news from France coming to you freely by the road warrior travel guy . Again, hope you enjoy this post as I,
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 