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 16 years , And for those non Roman CCCXCVIII is 398 !! ,I have come back to new posts and continue the saga of this series some news from France , part CCCXCVIII !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
From the Carrousel and Tuileries gardens 1er arrondissement to the Grands-Explorateurs garden at Port-Royal 6éme arrondissement, erotic statues abound. In the heart of the Saint-Étienne-du-Mont Church 5éme arrondissement, the pulpit is supported by a nearly nude statue of Samson. Dalida’s breasts are on display for the lustful gaze of passersby in Montmartre 18éme arrondissement, and Père-Lachaise Cemetery 20éme arrondissement is teeming with bare-breasted sculptures. Sexual rituals are even practiced there, giving the recumbent effigy of Victor Noir a striking patina where his virility was exposed. “Eroticism is a characteristic of Paris,” quips Marc Lemonier, prolific author of books on the history of Paris, who is publishing “Paris érotique” (La Musardine, 224 pages, €17) this past Thursday, June 4th 2026. The book outlines a history of the twenty arrondissements. More info in La Musardine : https://www.lamusardine.com/l-espace-sexo/20843-paris-erotique.html
In front of the entrance to the National Maritime Museum , 16éme arrondissement, tricolored, rectilinear shapes are painted on the roadway along the Trocadéro esplanade. The artwork stretches from Avenue Paul Doumer to Avenue du Président-Wilson. From the terrace, with its breathtaking view of the Eiffel Tower on one side, a blue, white, and red aircraft carrier is revealed on the other. This representation of the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is the work of Crey 132, a street artist from Champigny (Val-de-Marne dept 94). 264 meters long, it was created over several weeks. This artwork is part of a cultural program offered by the museum, which in 2026 will celebrate the 400th anniversary of the French Navy, founded by Richelieu in 1626. More info at the musée de la Marine National : https://www.musee-marine.fr/nos-musees/paris/expositions-et-evenements/les-evenements/un-porte-avions-grandeur-nature-place-du-trocadero.html
Air Transat and Nantes Atlantique Airport were delighted to inaugurate the very first direct flight to the beautiful city of Quebec! In Canada,
With its 15 brand-new platforms, the gare routiére de Nantes or bus station now serves 17 regular bus routes, operated by the regional network Aléop as well as major long-distance transport companies such as FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, and other coach operators. The result: more than 40 destinations directly accessible from Nantes, without having to cross the city or look for a stop on the outskirts.
The city of Cergy has just launched its third market, in front of the Cergy-Préfecture train station, every Thursday afternoon. Located at the exit of the RER A train station,
Wedged between Coulommiers and Brie de Meaux (see posts), and Brie de Melun, “Brie de Coulommiers” is taking a gamble by changing its name. The 57th Coulommiers Cheese and Wine Fair (Seine-et-Marne dept 77) is the second largest agricultural fair in the Île-de-France region after the Paris International Agricultural Show. It was also this past Friday May 29 2026 that the new name chosen for Brie de Coulommiers, which is seeking Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status, was unveiled.
After 30 years on display, the large trompe-l’œil mural in the Saint-Louis district of Versailles (see posts) has been restored to its original colors. At the corner of Rue Mazière, the famous fresco depicting “shops of yesteryear” has just been restored.
After 40 years of waiting, the official date of the arrival of the RER E in Mantes-la-Jolie (see posts) has finally been revealed. The RER E will enter commercial service to Mantes-la-Jolie (Yvelines dept 78) on February 28, 2027. This was officially announced by the managers of the Eole project during the Mayors’ Trade Show of Île-de-France, which took place this past Tuesday, June 2 in Paris, Porte de Versailles (15éme arrondissement).
The Dutch startup GoVolta is selling train tickets between Paris and Amsterdam starting at €19, with daily departures beginning December 14, 2026. This offer is directly designed to compete with Thalys (now Eurostar). Since May 28, 2026, GoVolta has opened its ticket office for a daily service between the two capitals. The journey, approximately seven hours long, serves eleven stations across France, Belgium, and the Netherlands: Paris-Gare du Nord, Arras, Longueau (Amiens), Ghent-Saint-Pierre, Antwerp-Central, Roosendaal, Lage Zwaluwe, Rotterdam-Central, The Hague HS, Haarlem, and Amsterdam. The first departures are scheduled to begin on December 14, 2026, from Paris-Gare du Nord (see post) ,and Antwerp-Central. The company launched an Amsterdam-Berlin route on March 18, 2026, via Amersfoort, Deventer, Hengelo, Bad Bentheim, Osnabrück and Hanover, with tickets starting from 10 euros for a journey of approximately 6 hours 30 minutes. The official GoVolta : https://govolta.nl/nl?_fl=en
It’s been almost two years now, since the end of the Olympics, that the Place de la Concorde has been partially closed to traffic. This situation is expected to become permanent very soon as part of major works to transform the square once and for all. Currently, the Place de la Concorde is far from being a favorite spot for Parisians, whether they are cyclists, pedestrians, or motorists. And at the same time, with more than 5,000 cars, 3,000 bicycles, and 3,000 pedestrians using it every day, it’s inevitably a bit chaotic. The left side will be shared between cars and cyclists. Cyclists will therefore have to contend with traffic coming from the Champs-Élysées in one direction, and with the continuous flow of traffic from the square and the Rue de Rivoli in both directions. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2028!
Sometimes you have to search for a while to find the narrow Rue du Cirque, nestled between the imposing Avenue Gabriel on one side and the long Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré on the other. In Paris’s 8éme arrondissement, the heart of political power, this thoroughfare exudes discretion. A shop that still houses a men’s shirtmaker or a high-end watchmaker embodies a certain idea of understated French chic. The circus that gave its name to the street in 1849 was a place of entertainment for all of Paris. In the mid-19C, where the Théâtre Marigny now stands, there was a 6,000-seat rotunda open from May to September. This was the Cirque d’Été (Summer Circus). On Saturdays, people flocked to the Champs-Élysées to see equestrian shows, acrobats, or human cannonballs. Napoleon III wanted these popular spectacles to continue beyond the summer season. This is why the Cirque d’Hiver (Winter Circus) was founded in 1852, located in the 11éme arrondissement. After the demolition of the Cirque d’Été (Summer Circus) in 1900, the street name remained, like a dismantled set whose sign had been preserved. Walk it is very nice area !
The former Silencio des Prés, an iconic art-house cinema in the 6éme arrondissement, is reopening. Starting June 3rd, 2026, its 208 navy blue seats and seven-meter-long screen will screen the greatest films, bringing cinema back to the heart of the Saint-Germain-des-Prés quartier./neighborhood. Open since 1969, the Saint-Germain-des-Prés has seen hundreds of iconic directors and actors pass through its doors. First known as Le Bilboquet, the cinema then became the Olympic Saint-Germain, then Le Beau Regard, before changing its name once again to L’Étoile Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and finally settling on Silencio des Prés. Later, Catherine Deneuve would cite it as one of her favorite Parisian cinemas. But over time, this venue will become an event space with private screenings and parties before closing at the dawn of 2025. the cinema Saint Germain des Prés is located at 22 rue Guillaume Apollinaire, The official cinema Le Saint Germain des Prés : https://www.lesaintgermaindespres.com/
Toulouse’s coolest street art and urban art festival returns from June 5th to July 26th, 2026, this time at the Jacques Vion Barracks on Allée Charles-de-Fitte. It brings together more than 40 artists from France, Spain, Greece, Chile, and beyond. Radically different names, styles, and worlds coexist in the same space to create something unique. In addition to the artworks, the program includes workshops, guided tours, talks, video screenings, live performances, tattoos, a festive outdoor bar, and food trucks. There’s also a dedicated children’s area with wooden modules to paint, introductory workshops, and collaborative murals. The official Caserne Jacques Vion or barracks : https://caserne-jacques-vion.fr/
Something to discover and bring back nice memories of my travels to Vietnam, Located in the 9éme arrondissement, BẾP (cuisine in Vietnamese) celebrates the family cuisine of southern Vietnam through recipes passed down through generations. At lunchtime, the restaurant brings back cơm tấm, a popular specialty still rare in Paris. A new addition to the Sobremesa team in the 18éme arrondissement, a hub for chef residencies with Asian influences, Led by Marie Nguyen and her brother Antoine, who runs the kitchen, BẾP tells their story: a culinary and family heritage, and a story of dual culture as second-generation immigrants. Their father and grandmother arrived in France in the 1970s, carrying only their recipes. For nearly 30 years, they ran a Vietnamese restaurant in the 15éme arrondissement, where the siblings grew up. It’s this bridge between Vietnam and France that Marie and Antoine wanted to highlight with BẾP , alongside Emilien Quéméner, Marie’s life partner and sommelier at Sobremesa. At lunchtime, the menu features cơm tấm, an iconic and popular dish typical of southern Vietnamese cuisine, which can be enjoyed everywhere in the streets of Ho Chi Minh City (see posts) ,and now in Paris. BẾP, 49 rue Marguerite de Rochechouart, 9éme arrondissement, More info at Bép Paris : https://www.bepparis.fr/menu
There you go folks, my latest round of my some news from France coming to you freely by the road warrior travel guy . Again, hope you enjoy this post on some news from France , part CCCXCVIII !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 