Theatre and shows
With something like 140 theatres and show venues,
Paris is a real feast for the eye: major productions, historical
reconstructions, musicals and much more, all for your pleasure
and enjoyment. For an intake of culture, the ultimate in dramatic
art is on offer in Paris: classical and contemporary plays,
a new take on Greek tragedy, light comedies and vaudeville,
one-man shows and stand-up, opera, dance or poetry: the choice
is huge and varied. European and international productions are
often staged in the original language with subtitles in French.
Some venues are equipped for the hard of hearing.
Music
Whatever your age or tastes, Paris has something
for you, from electronic to classical, jazz to gospel, pop,
rock, hip-hop, ragga, groove or even those typically Parisian
popular songs, with music and lyrics that have travelled the
world… Singing stars and leading musicians from all over
the world inevitably come to Paris to perform at least once
on its legendary stages, either in front of audiences of thousands…
or in the charming intimacy of the smaller venues. In Paris
the “Fête de la Musique” is celebrated annually,
but all year round music is everywhere, in the metro, in the
street, in the cafés and churches…
Festivals and fun
All year round, a multitude of celebrations
and festivals take place throughout the city. Art in all its
forms and combinations invades the most unexpected places when
summer arrives: the Seine river banks, courtyards of mansion
houses, lawns, woods, parks and gardens, museum halls transformed
temporarily for a concert or a performance… the “Fête
de la Musique”, Paris Plage and its beaches, Gay Pride,
Paris “Quartier d’été” festival,
open-air cinema, Techno parade and the “Printemps des
rues” all punctuate Paris’s busy art scene. When
autumn is here, the rhythm doesn’t slow but simply gears
up to the new season: “Nuit Blanche” (Sleepless
Night), Days of Heritage, Paris Garden Festival, Autumn Festival,
Sacred Art…And of course Paris is a multicultural city
with celebrations for the Chinese New Year, the Indian Ganesh
festival and the “Belles Nuits du Ramadan”!
With the kids
On the agenda in venues especially for children:
puppets, circuses with brave lion-tamers and fabulous acrobats,
enchanted cruises, magicians, story-tellers and singers guarantee
that your family outing will be a success! During the holidays,
the possibilities abound. In Paris, the release of a film for
younger audiences is an occasion for a unique premiere evening,
full of fun and colours. A new children’s book arriving
on the market is a chance to meet the author at a book-signing
or exhibitions by illustrators who happily present their work.
Children are welcome at open-air concerts, ideal occasions for
a cheerful picnic. You can have fun all together at the popular
dances and festivities or even on the terraces of one of our
stadiums for a marvellous souvenir of the magic exploits of
top sportsmen. Add to that the “Art” workshops in
selected museums and the “Do-it-yourself” ones in
some leading shops, where your youngest is transformed into
a great inventor, architect or artist in just one afternoon
– as long as he or she speaks French.
Sport
Sporting enthusiasts are given the full treatment
in Paris: with stadiums, tennis courts, swimming pools, cycle
lanes, horse-riding and racing – and more. In addition,
Paris hosts some major events: the finish of the Tour de France
(cycling), the Paris Marathon, the French tennis Open at Roland-Garros,
athletics at the Gaz de France meeting, the Trophée Lalique
(ice-skating) and the Six Nations rugby tournament to name but
a few… so you can admire the champions of every sport
Paris with the
Parisians
You’ve already been to Paris once,
twice, maybe even ten times before and this time your mind is
made up: you are going to spend your next stay not just as a
visitor, but in true Parisian style! So, we are giving you the
opportunity to go and meet the Parisians, in their own environment,
their own neighbourhoods: experience enjoyable moments and exchanges,
share their leisure activities and try out their suggestions
for places to go. All this is possible either in meeting-places
like the ever-present cafés, or at festive events and
activities that they particularly enjoy.
Not only that, if you choose bed and breakfast accommodation
(chambre d’hôte), the Parisians will also welcome
you into their own homes!
Enjoy your visit! You are sure to take home some unforgettable
memories!
And, a word of advice to wall-flowers and other timid types
– all of these activities are strictly voluntary and involve
no forced audience participation of any kind. So, don’t
hang back if you are unsure of your French or don’t like
speaking in front of groups: all of theses activities offer
a wonderful low-key occasion to make new friends in Paris.
