Rendez-Vous in France

Lyon Light Festival - fete des Lumières Lyon 2010

2010-09-12T19:00:00.007+02:00

In exactly three months will start the annual “Fete des Lumieres” in Lyon, one of the most amazing enchanting celebration in France prior Christmas holidays (see previous post November 2008 in this blog). It was back in 1852 when the first celebration of the lights took place in Lyon the day of December 8^th. Since then, the tradition went one gathering more and more people illuminating the cold and dark nights of December. Nowadays, Lyon generats a highly sophisticated and internationally recognized light show in the streets of the city center charming more than 3 million visitors over the week-end making it one of the most popular events in the country. The show consists in different stories told in the streets along with amazing light projections of the main historical monuments of the city. This year, “La Fete des Lumières” starts December 8^th and will last until December 11^th.

As every year now, Hotels will be full so it is HIGHLY recommended to book a room several months in advance (sometimes a year in advance if you want to be closer to the city center). Lyon has a very good public transportation system which will make everybody’s moves much easier and faster so there is always the possibility to book a room rather far from down town but well connected to the Metro. However, don’t even think coming to the city center by car for the show, you may spend more time in your car than enjoying the show since the city center will be close to traffic after 5pm the days of the show. The public transportation company of Lyon (TCL) usually offers special tickets during the show with extended service. The offer for the 2010 event hasn’t been published yet but you can check it out at www.tcl.fr

Among well located hotels with good prices and available rooms at this date:

Kyriad lyon Croix rouse connected to Metro line C (from 118 euro/night)

Best Western Saphir Hotel connected to Metro line D (from 180 euro/night)

Mercure Lyon Beaux Arts located in the city center (from 154 euro/night)

Best Western Crequi Lyon Part Dieu (from 155 euro/night)

Residhotel Lyon Part Dieu (from 108 euro/night)

Novotel Lyon Part-Dieu (from 172 euro/night)

Park & Suites Prestige Lyon Part Dieu (from 156 euro/night)

Hotel Berlioz behind Perrache station, on tramway line T1 and close to Metro line A (from 110 euro/night)

There are numerous flights from various European cities to Lyon including UK: London, Birmingham and Manchester; Germany: Dusseldorf, Munich and Frankfurt; Italy: Milano, Roma and Bologna; Spain: Madrid, Barcelona and Sevilla; Brussels and Amsterdam. Please visit http://www.lyonaeroports.com/ to see if there is any flight from your home town.

There is a very convenient shuttle between the airport and the Lyon Part-Dieu train station that departs every 15 min for a Return ticket of 23 euro per adult. Part-Dieu station is connected to the Metro line B and Tramway line T1 which gives easy ride to the city center.

Coming by train? Hurry up, tickets go fast but you may still get a return ticket from Paris for 44 euros (or 55 euros from Paris CDG airport).

Lyon is internationally recognized for having high quality restaurants (from small and popular “Bouchons” to 3* Michelin gastronomic restaurants). Beside numerous museums and historical monuments, the city is a paradise for shoppers. There is the possibility to book one of the city special pass: the Lyon City Card that gives you free access to museums, guided tours as well as discounts for activities, shops and restaurants. You have the possibility to add public transportation to your pass for a couple of euros if you wish but remember that for the Light Festival, there will be special tickets available that may give you a cheaper option. So check it out at http://www.en.lyon-france.com/things-to-do/discover-lyon/p-1684/lyon-city-card.php prior booking your trip and enjoy the best of the city, you won’t regret it.

A treasure in the Alps not to miss

2010-08-01T19:15:00.006+02:00

The Venice of the Alps: that is the nickname given to Annecy, a real jewel sitting in the front yard of the Mont Blanc. I can’t get enough of this pretty town. Annecy has everything for you to spend a wonderful stay. Like Geneva, the city is located at the tip of a turquoise lake which continues as small canals through the city between picturesque medieval buildings. Walking in the old city is a must especially the day of the street market (Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays in the old city). The magnificent clear water canals run along small colorful streets between middle-age towers and flowery houses which hold charming restaurants, cafés and ice cream shops (offering very original flavors, some of the best I ever tasted). Then, you arriving at the lake shore you get stunned by the turquoise color of this lake. Lovers will find it very romantic, and should not forget to cross the lover’s bridge right where the smaller canal starts entering the park. The park along the lake gives you the best opportunity to enjoy a sunny afternoon resting before you take the chance to tour the lake either on one of these small cruise boats or simply on one of these pedal boats if you want to be more quiet and independent. Either way, taking a trip on the lake will give you an extraordinary view of the city, the castle of Duingt and the surrounding mountains. The city also offers beaches on either side of the city at walking distance from the center. The temperature of the lake is actually rather warm in summer so don’t be shy, you will enjoy it.

For those who want to hike, the city is a great departure to discover the lake from the surrounding mountains. From easy trails in the Semnoz forest (which offer great views just 30-40 min walk from the city) to much more demanding trails at the Mont Veyrier or La Tournette (sites of many paragliding ride departures). You will get superb views on the lake and on the greatest peaks of the Alps sitting right behind. Some of these trails are not too well indicated so you may ask for a proper map at the local tourist office for better directions.

Who can miss the Eiffel Tower?

2010-04-15T05:40:00.008+02:00

I could not have any post on the main symbol of Paris. The Eiffel Tower is definitely the most famous monument of Paris if not of the whole country. With about 7 million visitors every year, the tower is the most visited monument in the world. What I find so amazing about this structure is that it was up already in 1889, and is still so impressive. Back in 1887, the project of a revolutionary tower designed by the Gustave Eiffel, already responsible at the time for the metallic structure of The Statue of Liberty, was selected out of 700 other projects to celebrate the French scientific and technical achievements at the World Exposition in Paris in 1889. The Eiffel Tower was of course the main attraction of the event even though many people at the time were not charmed at all and even asked for a rapid demolition of the tower. Thankfully, because the tower offered a unique structure for research purposes, it was kept through the 20th century. Now the population of Paris is very proud of it and would get very upset if anyone argues with them about the reason of having such a monument in the middle of their city. Until 1930, the 318 meters’ high tower was the tallest metallic building in the world.

The tower has 3 floors that anyone can visit. There is two possibilities to access the 1st and 2nd floor. One is to wait 1 to 3 hours to get a ticket for the elevator; the other one is to take the stairs which does not require any waiting lines for obvious reasons (363 stairs to reach the 1st floor and another 340 to go to the 2nd floor). However, climbing the tower has a certain charm. Now, the website of The Eiffel Tower is giving the possibility to buy tickets online reducing the waiting time the day of your visit. The use of this online booking is HIGHLY recommended but you won’t bypass the line at the 2nd floor where changing lifts is required to reach the 3rd floor. Don’t hesitate to take your ticket to the top though to experience the use of the original lift that take you to the top along a very narrow corridor of metal. Pretty impressive!

Another way to avoid long lines is to book a table at the Michelin-starred restaurant “Le Jules Verne” on the 2nd floor which has a private elevator from the South pillar. The restaurant is pricy and reservations need to be made long time in advance but it is a unique experience and can be included within special tours together with a cruise on the Seine. Reservations are easier for lunch (much cheaper too) than for diner.

There is another restaurant on the 1st floor, the 58 Tour Eiffel which does not have a private access; you will have to pay for the elevator as for a regular visit.

Per adult the entrance fee to the 1st and 2nd floor is 8.10 euro (6.50 euro for 12-24 y.o. and 4 euro for 4-11 y.o. and handicapped) and to the 3rd floor is 13.10 euro (11.50 euro for 12-24 y.o. and 9 euro for 4-11 y.o. and handicapped).
The Paris museum pass does not give you free access to the Eiffel Tower

Fabulous Opera Garnier - Paris

2010-04-12T00:17:00.008+02:00

Let me introduce you to one of my favorite monuments of Paris: The National Opera Garnier. This building is simply magnificent. Often people see the Opera from outside without entering-- Big mistake. The monument ordered by Napoleon the 3rd was built in 1875 along with the “transformation” of Paris orchestrated by Haussmann. I highly recommend that you follow one of the guided visits to learn the details and history of the Opera that inspired Gaston Leroux to write “The Phantom of the Opera”.

The visit starts with the main entrance richly decorated with many little details that architect Garnier elegantly placed as an invitation to his musical palace. The staircase has its secret that you have to discover by yourself. Following the visit, you will discover the Italian style auditorium that will most probably push you to get a ticket for the next available show so you can better enjoy the view of this splendid room with its chandelier.

The most breathtaking room is the “Grand Foyer”. In my opinion, The Grand Foyer is simply Versailles in one corridor; you cannot get enough of it. The Grand Foyer is bordered by two prestigious rooms. The ceiling painted by Paul Baudry is a historical representation of music and comedy. Walking through this grandiose corridor between impressive chandeliers and columns is terrific and I wish everyone to experience this while visiting the city of lights.

The Opera is open for visits everyday from 10am to 5pm. The price for self-guided visit is 9 euros (5 euros for students or under 25 y.o.) and 12 euros (9 euros for students) for guided tours. Guided tours in English are held at 11:30am and 2:30pm every day from July 1st till August 31st and every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday otherwise.

Week-end Getaway deals in Bordeaux and Lyon

2010-04-04T21:51:00.009+02:00

Spring comes with ideas of taking City breaks week-end. Several cities in France offer very good deals which usually include accommodation and various visits. It would be a shame not to enjoy these offers and have more for your pennies. From my list of favorite destinations, I present 2 cities today which worth a visit taking advantage of their very attractive offers.

Bordeaux, not only the starting point for visiting the surrounding worldwide known vineyards, is a world heritage site with architectural treasures you can discover in a peaceful atmosphere. The city proposes a special deal: “Forfait Bordeaux Decouverte” or Bordeaux Discovery Package. It includes 2 nights with breakfast, a complete visit of the city (in English), a guide tour of the vineyards including wine tasting, a free pass for the main historical monuments and museums of the city, a free pass for the public transportation valid for up to 5 trips (upon request), a free bottle of wine in your hotel room, a free wine tasting at the “Bar a Vin” and finally, a free glass of champagne at the Casino Théâtre Barrière.
The price of this excellent offer depends on the class of hotel you choose to stay at. It starts at 100 euro per person for a 2* hotel.

Lyon, second biggest city in France, is also the French capital of Gastronomie! This lovely city offers a lot of options for shoppers, history lovers, and fine restaurant hunters. Lyon proposes a week-end deal that includes 2 nights and a Lyon City Card (with free access to museums, monuments and other activities). By choosing this option, you will save 50% on the second night at the hotel of your choice. Price starts at 70 euro per person for the week-end. Lyon offers other packages including one called Pack OnlyDelice which for a starting price of 125 euro, you have a night at a hotel of your choice (to pick in a list) and an introduction to the Lyonnaise Gastronomy including diner.

Epernay, stop for Champagne!

2009-10-29T03:57:00.005+01:00

You may not know the town of Epernay, but you know for sure what comes from it: Champagne. Epernay is a small town centrally located in the Champagne region. Despite its size, Epernay is recognized as the capital of Champagne as is home of some of the most famous and luxurious Champagne producers such as Moët & Chandon, Mercier and de Castellane. When walking along the Avenue de Champagne and around, you will encounter well maintained noble buildings from the XIX century, homes of wine growers for the majority of them. Don’t resist to the call of tasting some of prestigious Champagne. Cellars are usually open for visit and eventually proposing tasting either with or without appointment.

Here are some of the main houses open for visitors during week-ends and holidays:

Champagne de Castellane: Visit of production site, cellars, museum. Tasting.
Champagne Moet & Chandon: Visit of cellars and video about Champagne production. Tasting
Champagne Mercier: Visits of cellars and videos about Eugene Mercier
Champagne Delahaie: Visit of production sites
Champagne Comtesse Lafond: Visit of the Chateau and tasting.
Champagne Achille Princier: Visit of cellars and tasting.

Many more Champagne growers are opening their doors, see November 2009 schedule on http://www.ot-epernay.fr/-Champagne-wines-

And for those who want more of it, some lectures and courses are organized at famous Champagne houses to learn about all subtleties of the bubbling wine. Please contact Action Champagne Tourisme for more information on the offers.

Get ready for Christmas time and go choose your Champagne where it is grown, in Epernay!

Exhibition Louis XIV, man and king

2009-10-25T21:45:00.006+01:00

Even though the Palace of Versailles is one of the last French Castle built, it is one of the most glorious. The king Louis XIV obviously wanted it this way to demonstrate to the world the political and cultural power he certainly had at this time. This year the Palace of Versailles is paying homage to his king and organizes for the first time a complete and rich exhibition devoted to the “Roi Soleil” and his cultural impact to the french society. Louis XVI loved art and dedicated time to gather the best architects, musicians, painters and sculptors to generate an extremely rich and precious art collections. The Palace of Versailles is obviously his main achievement. Today, more than 300 pieces of his collection gathered from all over the world are arranged in the rooms of the Palace. The exhibition starts on October 20th, 2009 and will be running until February 7th, 2010. More details can be found on this leaflet: http://en.chateauversailles.fr/resources/pdf/en/actualites/depliant_louisxiv_en.pdf

The Palace of Versailles is open every day except Mondays. Tickets are available online. The exhibition, including the entrance to the Palace and the audio guide is 15 €. If you plan to visit the Palace of Versailles with the Paris Museum Pass, be aware that it does not include the exhibition and an extra fee of 11€ will be asked.

The easiest way to access Versailles from Paris is by RER train. Take RER line C5 from Gare Austerlitz, St Michel, Invalides, Musée d’Orsay or Champs de Mars station direction Versailles-Rive Gauche.

Fine Wine Fair - Le Grand Tasting Paris

2009-10-24T22:33:00.003+02:00

If you ask in the street what can be associated to France, we will most probably get « Food and Wine » in the top 3. Well, for those who decide to visit Paris in the coming December, don’t miss the fine Wine Fair or “Le Grand Tasting”, a unique experience where the best wine growers offer their nectars for tasting. This event will be holding in the Carrousel du Louvre, on December 4th and 5th from 10:30 am to 8:30 pm. Book your tickets now if you want to have a chance to taste the best wines currently produced in Bordeaux, Provence, Champagne, Alsace, Bourgogne, Val de Loire, Cotes du Rhone and other regions of France.

Entrance fees are 18 € for one day (Friday), 23 € for two days if you buy your tickets in advance or 20 € for one day (Friday), and 25 € for 2 days if you purchase them the day of your visit.

For 10 more Euro, you also have the opportunity to participate to the “Master Classes”, the “Prestige Master Classes”, or the “Ateliers Gourmand” and learn more about one particular wine or the best way to associate food with wine. These seminars are given in French only. Places are limited and it is highly recommended to book your seat in advance.

For booking and other general information about Le Grand Tasting, please visit http://www.grandtasting.com/

Provins, a medieval experience!

2009-10-19T04:44:00.009+02:00

If you are coming to Paris and are looking for an easy but exciting day trip near the capital, the medieval town of Provins is for you. Located 90 km south-east Paris, the 900 years-old market town of Provins offers an adventurous voyage back to the medieval time. The town itself has kept a beautiful fortification within which you will enjoy picturesque monuments (the town possesses 58 listed historical monuments). Overseeing the surroundings, the César tower is remarkable and represents one of the best assets of the town. Don’t miss the Tithe Barn or “Grange aux Dimes”, the famous market house, and the museum which will complete your vision of what was the medieval life in Provins. Or follow one of the guide tours provided by the tourism office.

The Provin Pass’Monuments is adequate if you want to take the full experience of the city for little money. It includes the visit of the Cesar tower, the Grange aux Dimes, the underground galleries and the museum. Plus it may give you reduced prices for shows and special events. But be aware you may not be able to visit all these sites in one day. Also, Provins organizes excellent medieval shows that are well recognized nationwide and highly recommended such as “The legend of the knights” or “the eagles of the ramparts”. More details on this brochure: http://www.provins.net/images/pdf/brochure-provins-uk.pdf

The easiest way to access Provins is by train with the “Transilien” from Paris-Est station (1h24 long for 16.50 euro return, check for departure schedule in advance). From Provins station, bus lines C and D will transport visitors to the tourism office, where tours start.

Chocolate Festival Paris, New York, Tokyo, Beijin, Moscow

2009-10-18T20:51:00.005+02:00

Dark, white or milk, with orange flavor, chili taste, or hazelnuts; professionals are developing original and tasteful associations for you to discover all kinds of combinations that make chocolate so special. Today is the opportunity for me to introduce to you the world's most famous chocolate festival organized in Paris every year in October. It is an international “rendez-vous” for the “Maître chocolatiers” to meet with the public, a special moment for professionals to share creativity and for the public to taste chocolate in its simple or more sophisticated form. This year again, chocolate was the central composition of an exceptional fashion show, always impressive in its originality.

The best “chocolatiers” were honored with the famous Chocolate Awards. This year, the 5 Star Awards went to:
FABRICE GILLOTTE (Dijon)
VINCENT GUERLAIS (Nantes)
JEAN PAUL HEVIN (Paris)
PIERRE HERME (Paris)
PATISSERIE LAC (Nice)
PASCAL LE GAC (Saint Germain en Laye)
LA MAISON DU CHOCOLAT (Paris)
PARIES (Saint Jean de Luz)
FRANCOIS PRALUS (Paris, Roanne)

Don’t hesitate to visit their shops and be amazed by their creativity and talent in transforming chocolate into a succulent colorful little cube. Their creations are unique and very original.

The Chocolate festival is now not only in Paris but also in New York, Tokyo, Beijing and Moscow. For more information about the festival and the other awarded “Maître chocolatiers”, please visit http://www.salonduchocolat.fr/.

Best baguette in Paris 2009

2009-03-22T15:26:00.006+01:00

There are trophies which may not be glorious for some people, but for others they are the recognition of many years of hard but passionate work. The « Grand Prix de la Baguette de la Ville de Paris » rewards the best Baguette of Capital. On March 20th, 161 bakers brought their best baguettes to the competition hoping to gain one of the most wanted prizes in France. I judged essential to share with you the new TOP 10 of the best bakers of Paris so you can enjoy their breads and patisseries, and share with us your opinion about the 2009’s ranking.

1st: Le Grenier de Felix, Franck TOMBAREL, 64 av Félix Faure
2nd: La Pomme Verte, Benjamin TURQUIER, 134 rue de Turenne
3rd: Stéphane EURY, 98 rue de Meaux, Paris 19ème
4th: Eran MAYER, 100 rue du Théâtre, Paris 15ème
5th: Le Grenier à Pain Abbesses, Djibril BODIAN, 38 rue des Abbesses
6th: Stéphane HENRY, 2bis bd Morland, Paris 4éme
7th: FOURMONT, Thierry RACOILLET, 50 bis rue de Douai
8th: Boulangerie Pichard, Frédéric PICHARD, 88 rue de Cambronne
9th: Jean-Marc TOUCHARD, 111 rue Saint-Dominique
10th: Le Grenier à Pain, Bertrand POUGNET, 52 av d’Italie

Experience a night in an Igloo

2009-02-22T10:22:00.008+01:00

If you are looking for original and exciting experiences during your ski vacation, here is one of them. For a romantic night or a unique moment shared with friends, bring a warm sleeping bag and come discover your minimal Inuit home made up of snow and blocks of ice. At 2000-2300 meters high, your room won’t be warmer than 3°C but you will wake up in the middle of an immaculate white landcape and feel very far away from the agitated ski resort down in the valley. Don’t wait and go enjoy the quiet and untouched magnificence of the mountain. A restaurant is usually set nearby the igloo village for dinner and breakfast.

A few Igloo villages are set this winter in different locations in the Alps and the Pyrenees.

Orcières: At the Williwaw Village (around 10 igloos) where you can enjoy dog sledding as well with Alpi-traineaux: 44Ph.desmurger@orange.fr, phone +33 (0)6 60 68 32.
Valmorel: The Kanata Village is located at the top of the ski lift Bois de la Croix. 20 euro/pers for the night with breakfast. Booking a table at the restaurant is highly recommended. cs.kanata@wanadoo.fr, phone: +33 (0)6 22 32 24 61.
Le Sauze: Until March, 31st, 5 to 7 igloos are waiting for you at the top of the Dôme chairlift in the Kanata village. 90 euro/pers includes dinner and the night in the igloo. Ecole d'aventure, phone : +33 (0)4 92 81 29 97.
Iglu Hotel offers igloo accommodation with bars, restaurants, sauna and Jacuzzi in Switzerland, Germany and Andorra with different packages possible. Standard igloo stay starts at 99 euro/pers for the night including dinner, breakfast, sleeping bags, mattress, sauna and Jacuzzi access. info@iglu-dorf.com, +41 (0)4 16 12 27 28.

Tours, the city in the heart of the Renaissance Chateaux valley

2009-02-21T13:59:00.015+01:00

Royal Chateaux, elegant French gardens, vignards and relaxing biking rides along the Loire River are some of the attractions the Loire valley offers to the visitors. The main city of the area is Tours and capital of Touraine region, home of many French royal families since the 10th century. Centrally located, Tours is a few steps from the mains most famous Renaissance Castles that participated to the splendor of this exceptional French Culture landscape that is since 2000 declared World Heritage by UNESCO.

This post focuses on the city itself and its cultural value. Indeed, tours was a major site of medieval and renaissance history and has kept in very good shape traces of its glorious past that you can discover visiting the old town.

Take the narrow streets and enjoy the enchanting 15th and 16th centuriy private houses that accompany you to the splendid Plumereau square where terraces of cafés and restaurants pop up on sunny days. On the side of the square Plumereau, there is a passageway to another charming square: Place Saint-Pierre-le-Puellier. The street Briconnet is particularly interesting in term of old architecture. Five minutes’ walk north from the square Plumereau, there are two interesting monuments: The Basilica Saint-Martin and the Tower Charlemagne.

Don’t miss the remarkable Cathedral Saint-Gatien. The cathedral sits on the east side of the city center. The edification of the cathedral sarted in 1170 and finishes with the eriction of the towers in 1547. It is an exemple of roman, gothic and renaissance architecture. The building is famous for its fantastic glass windows.

A walk around the building is very nice with the square Grégoire-de-Tours and the garden of the museum of art.

Most of the restaurants of the city are located around the square Plumereau and on the street Colbert.

My suggestions are:
Charles Barrier (one Star on the Michelin Red Guide, 101, av. Tranchée),
L’Atelier Gourmand (37, rue Etienne Marcel),
La Deuvalière (18, rue de la Monnaie),
le Rococo restaurant (14, Rue de la Grosse Tour),
Les linottes gourmandes (22, rue Georges Courteline),
L’escabeau (crepes only, 23, Rue de la Monnaie),
Le Timbre Poste (crepes only, 12, Rue Châteauneuf).

The city is very pleasant to walk but the bus system is also very well developed. The city tourism office in collaboration with private tour companies organizes very interesting day or half-day tours to visit the surrounding Chateaux, gardens, and vinyards (Prices are per person for minibus transportation, lunch and entrance fees for monuments not included).

Vinyards visit and wine tasting: half-day tours for 35 and 45 euros per person.
Visits of castles: Half-day tours start from 18 euro per person, full day tours start from 43 euro per person.

In addition, air balloon rides over the castles start from 200 euro per person.

Aix en Provence

2009-02-11T19:45:00.010+01:00

When we think about Provence, we see Lavender fields, picturesque villages, and healthy meals taken with a glass of wine in a sunny and colorful garden….but do not forget the Provencal cities.

My favorite by far is Aix-en-Provence, Founded in 122 B.C. by the Romans. The city has seen Paul Cezanne becoming one of the most influent impressionist painters of the 19th century. More elegant than Avignon, Aix-en-Provence is ideal if you love discovering Provencal architecture by walking in shaded ancient streets mostly pedestrians.
Starting from « rue cardinal » and passing by « Place Forbin », you meet typical Provencal buildings and fountains. The old city, from « rue fabrot », is extremely pleasant with charming streets and shops, squares and terraces, all calling you for a fresh drink in one of the most romantic and historical sights of France. Do not miss the « Place Richelme » with its big plane trees and the ancient grain storage center (la Halle aux grains). Guided visits of the old city organized every Saturdays (and Tuesday from April till October) in English.

Another exciting moment is simply the weekly street markets on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The antiques and flea markets are located at the Place Verdun. You will find the flower market at the “Place de l'Hôtel de Ville ». Place Richelme sees the Provencal market and finally the food market is Place de la Madeleine.
Aix is also well known for art and culture events. In July, the city holds an International festival with opera performances in the courtyard of the archiepiscopal palace, the Cathedral of St Sauveur or other castles and abbeys.

My favorite accomodation: Hotel Pigonnet, Hotel Le Mas d’Entremont, B&B Pavillon de la Torse , B&B Le Clos des Freres Gris

A restaurant to try: La Tomate Verte

Tips and advice: Promotional offer from November to March 2 hotel nights for the price of 1 in selected hotels.

Rodin Museum - Paris

2009-01-08T19:11:00.007+01:00

My first post dedicated to Parisian museums will deal with one of the most famous French sculptor: August Rodin.
Two years after the death of this innovating artist, the Rodin Museum opened gathering his bronze and marble sculptures. Centrally located in Paris, the 18th century’s private hotel Biron and its splendid garden was chosen by the sculptor himself to receive his work and private collection. Many of his sculptures including “The Thinker” are nicely displayed in the garden, proposing a romantic “promenade” to a cultural enchantment.
The visit of this museum is a treat you don’t want to miss while visiting Paris.

Nearby “Les Invalides”, the museum is located 79 rue de Varenne.

Easy access from the metro: stop at Varenne on line 13.
Bus: 69, 82, 87, 92.

Entrance fee: 6 euro (4 euro for student), family tickets available, entrance to the garden only 1 euro.

Winter hours (October to March): 9:30 am – 4:45 pm.
Summer hours (April to September): 9:30 am – 5:45 pm.

The Paris MuseumPass grant full access to this museum.

La Grande Odyssée Savoie-Mont-Blanc

2008-12-15T17:54:00.004+01:00

The first Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont-Blanc race was born in 2005 on an original idea of Nicolas Vanier and Henry Kam. This is about the most technical sled-dog race in the world. This year, from January 11th until January 21st, 20 teams with 280 dogs will run between 800 and 1 000 km for two weeks and climb more than 25 000 meters through the magnificent landscapes of Savoie and Haute-Savoie areas.
All along the 10 different stages, including 2 mass starts, a total of US$100 000 in prize will be shared between the winners.

Besides the race itself, many activities will be organized in the villages holding the event. It includes Avoriaz, Chatel, Morgins, Champery, Les Gets, Morzine, Megeve, Bonneval-sur-arc, Aussois and Val Cenis.

Promo 2009
envoyé par grandeodyssee2009

This event is the opportunity to get Dog sleigh rides in the following resorts: Avoriaz, Morzine, Les Gets, the polar base at Val Cenis, Aussois.

Otherwise: L'Alpe d'Huez, La clusaz, Chamonix, Les Saisies, Vars, Les Contamines-Montjoie, Autrans propose initiations to 2-3 days camps.

Visual art exhibition in the Grand Palais - Paris

2008-12-07T11:02:00.005+01:00

To celebrate the end of French’s 2008 European presidency and the 2008 European cultural season, 200 European artists will present an excellent exhibition devoted to visual art. During 14 nights (from Dec 18th until Dec 31st), this performance will take place in the impressive art-nouveau glass roof of the Grand Palais.
It will include 140 shows from photography and film to digital imagery giant projections on the walls, floor and roof of the Grand Palais’s nave transforming the building into a luminescent lighthouse in the heart of the capital.

It is a free exhibition running from Dec 18th to Dec 31st from 5pm till 1am in the Grand Palais, Avenue Winston Churchill (main entrance).

Metro lines 1,9,13; stop Champs-Elysées-Clemenceau or Franklin Roosevelt.

Last minute offers for Christmas time in Paris

2008-12-06T15:27:00.011+01:00

The days before Christmas are always magical especialy in Paris. I checked my favorite hotels to see if they have special last minute offers and some do, so I decided to post them here to help those who are still looking for a room for their Xmas vacation in Paris ;-)

Through the years I have selected hotels for there location, their warm hospitality, their ability to speak English (which is sadly not always the case still in Paris), and high quality services. I am so disapointed to hear that some hotels (even 3 stars) are not always able to satisfy their client's needs. However, these ones listed below usually do a great job.

I post here special rates for a double room and per night for the tested period of Dec 21st-Dec 24th.

Hotel Brighton ****: Get 3 nights for the price of 2: 120 euro (was 235) for a standard room, exceptional offer.
Hotel Luxembourg Parc****: 243 euro (was 290) for a standard room.
Hotel d’Aubusson****: 255 euro (was 305) for a standard room.

Relais Bosquet***: 124 euro (was 310) for a superior room,
Hotel des Grands hommes***: 124 euro (was 310) for a superior room.
Hotel Jardin de L’Odéon***: 95 euro (was 211) for a standard room.
Hotel de la Motte Picquet***: 128 euro (was 175) for a standard room.
Hotel de La Tour Maubourg***: 306 euro (was 360) for a Deluxe Napoleon style room.
Hotel Britannique***: 139 euro (was 185) for a standard room, 161 euro (was 215) for a superior room.
Hotel Agora Saint Germain***: 139 euro (was 195) for a standard room.
Hotel des 3 Poussins***: 99,5 euro (was 117) for a standard room.

No special rate for my favorite 2-stars hotel but they provide cheaper options for good rooms : Hotel Jeanne d’arc, Hotel langlois, Hotel de la Porte Dorée.

Charming Meribel

2008-12-04T20:59:00.010+01:00

In the middle of the “3 Vallées” connected skiing area, Meribel is probably the most charming ski resort in France.

Meribel is bourgeois, Meribel is active, Meribel offers fun for all kind of snow lovers, Meribel is just beautiful with only slendid wood and stone chalets of reasonable size and no concrete buildings devoted to massive tourism. The resort is actually divided in 2 main locations: Meribel itself and Meribel-Monttaret. Meribel-village and Les Allues are further away and less connected to the skiing area.
Meribel attracts many foreigners and English is fluently spoken there. Accommodation is expensive though in this glamorous corner of the Alps. But you won’t get bored there: a large choice of restaurants and bars, night clubs, spa and fitness centers, ice karting and skating, bowling….
The scenery is wonderful along the 8 green (the easiest), 36 blue, 21 red and even 9 black runs (2 Olympic runs and 2 slalom stadiums). The skiing area is ideal for all levels. On top, Meribel has one of the best snowparks of the Alps for snowboarders: the new Moonpark with 4 runs (comprising a sequence of jumps, rails and boxes) and the snowpark at Monttaret with 2 half-pipes.There are guided off-piste skiing, 33 km of cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and 25 km of walking trails.
Of course, Meribel is linked to the other resorts of the 3 Vallées skiing area and its 600 km of runs (in Courchevel, La Tania, Les Minuires, Val Thorens).

To sum up, Meribel worth’s the extra euro to enjoy the best of your winter trip in the Alps.

Agenda:

Dec 18th 2008, Meribel organizes the first competition of the Freestyle ski World cup.
March 28th - April 10th: The very british Meribel organizes the English ski championship in spring.

The pros: Lovely village with lots of charm, part the large connected skiing area of the 3 Vallées, one of the best snow parks for snowboarders, very lively at night. Ski lifts are high quality and the runs are fantastics with very nice panoramas. Meribel is well adapted for kids. Free shuttle within the resort.
The cons: Expensive and very busy during school holiday.

Tips and advice: The Altiport area is well indicated for beginners to practice. Staying in Meribel is expensive but for a much cheaper option, you may consider staying at Les Allues or even Brides-les-Bains since both are connected to Meribel by cable car (25 min from Brides-les-bains). It’s less fun without snow garanteed in town (for Brides-les-bains) but so much cheaper.

An overview of my favorite ski resorts in France

2008-12-03T23:13:00.017+01:00

We are first week of December and the snow is already massively covering the Alps, the Pyrenees, The Massif Central and the Jura. The ski season is very promising this year we have seen last week end the first fans surfing on the fresh silver powder in the main ski resorts. This is the opportunity to introduce my favorite ski resorts. I will focus on the Alps since I know the area better.

For skiers of all levels and snowboarders, many resorts developed great infrastructures for trying new trends like ski cross or snowblade. I suggest just a few for the quality of ski and the numerous activities they propose: Les Gets (for beginners and average skiers) and Avoriaz (great snowpark) connected to the Portes du Soleil ski area, Val d’Isere in the Espace Killy area, Courchevel (one of the most complete resort for sport and après-ski activities, quite expensive because very chic), Val Thorens (the highest ski resort in Europe – always good snow there).

For a more family-oriented resort with great panorama, I would consider Combloux and the nearby chic resort of Megeve. Both are very charming villages in a great setting in front of the Mont Blanc (especially Combloux) with good slopes (when the snow is abundant) and many other possibilities for families. The villages are lower in the valley and may not always have snow in town.
Otherwise, Meribel is very chic and a lovely village well indicated for all kind of snow lovers from skiers and snowboarders (very good snowpark) to snow walkers; Les Saisies is more quiet and rather a place for beginners and lovers of cross-country in a fantastic setting; Autran is well recognized for cross country (main activity); La Cluzas is another pretty village with lots of opportunities for all ski levels and snowshoeing and walking.

Not to forget the very international Chamonix at the foot of the highest summit in Europe: Le Mont Blanc. This town has an incredible mountain expertise (ski and climbing) with fantastic summits around.

Many more ski resort from big to very small offer very good quality ski and other snow-related activities that cannot be listed here but you can find those at http://ski-resort-france.co.uk/.

Check out the next posts, more reviews to come on specific resorts...

Light Festival Lyon - December 5-8th 2008

2008-11-30T23:25:00.016+01:00

There are many talents that can qualify people from Lyon, the city of French gastronomy, and one is that they are brilliant when it’s about entertaining us with light shows. The whole story started back in 1850 when a contest was launched to build a statue. The celebration of the new monument at the top of the hill was postponed to December when people were finally so happy that they decided to put candles at windows and to share their enthusiasm in the streets. Since then every first week-end of December, the city remembers and celebrates light outside: The Fête des lumières has born.

I have heard for a long times about this traditional celebration of light in Lyon, second largest city in France. I have never been there until last year December 7th for a week-end of celebration. First of all, I was amazed by the number of people defeating the cold to gather in the streets. Everybody went eating out in one of the numerous excellent restaurants the city has, waiting for the night show to start. Suddenly, the first colors decorated the historical buildings following the music like an open door opera of light. They use fantastic techniques to give life to churches or palaces. One of the most spectacular attractions you see this year are at the Saint-Nizier church, the Jacobins square, the Celestins square, the Hotel-Dieu Hospital, the Saint Jean Cathedral, and Fourvière hill and many more… These shows occurs in the city center, in the inlet between Bellecour square and the City Hall (Hotel de Ville) and usually starts at 6pm and last untill 1 am.

If you want to be transported in this magical world of music and scenic entertainment, don’t look further and take the chance to visit the city of Lyon early December and discover this amazing attraction, you won’t regret it.

tips and advice: Book your hotel room far in advance meaning 6 months at least!! Lyon has a metro so you can easely consider booking a hotel nearby a metro station rather than in the city center (Bellecour). Bellecour, Cordeliers or Hotel de Ville are where you want to stop for attending the Light Festival. Special bus/metro tickets are available. More buses and metro will be running during the festival.

Christmas market season has started in Alsace

2008-11-30T16:35:00.015+01:00

Christmas slowly comes into our houses. Red and green decorations starts to flourish all over the cities and shops reminding us that Christmas is not only a traditional event when families gather to celebrate the sacred newborn but also the time to think about presents and sweet delicate food to treat ourselves. There are those who stress with the idea of having Christmas back again, and those who are waiting for it to embrace the joy of celebration, the colorful lights at night and the excitement of finding the right Christmas decoration for the tree. I belong to the second category that is why I want to share my penchant for the traditional Alsatian Christmas markets.

Strasbourg: Everybody should experience once in a lifetime the “Christkindelsmarik”, the 439 years old Christmas market of Strasbourg. First of all, the location is fantastic, on the foot of the gigantic Cathedral. This Christmas market is not only a place to discover wonderful and unique handmade Christmas decorations but also a place where smells of cinnamon and warm spicy wine transmit this incredible energy of sharing cheerful moments with your family and friends around delicious Christmas sweets and beverages. When comes the night, light all over the city turn it into a magical fairy tale bubble. From November 29th till December 31st, you can enjoy hundreds of enlightened market sheds all days until 8pm (9pm on Fridays and Saturdays). There’s a skating rink on Place du Château and a huge Christmas tree on Place Kleber. Music is not forgotten in Strasbourg where more than 50 concerts appear across town in churches and even the cathedral, an experience not to be missed.

Tips and advice: be aware that more than a million people pace the streets of the Christmas markets of Strasbourg every year and you should expect lots of folks there. Avoid week-ends if possible. The main advice would be to arrive by train, but if you come by car, don’t even try to park in the city center, but park outside the city for free in the P+R and get a Bus or Tram return ticket for 2,8 euro for all people sharing the car

Colmar and surrounding villages: Not to forget other wonderful Christmas markets in Alsace where many events are occurring in a magical Christmas atmosphere. Those are less busy than in Strasbourg but still as much lovely and enthusiastic as in the capital of Alsace. Colmar, Riquewihr, Ribeauvillé, Bergheim, Kaysersberg and Eguisheim to just name a few are fairy tale cities and villages all the year round. Colmar developed a great night light decoration you will enjoy during or after visiting the different Christmas markets organized in the historical city center. Beside, the city organizes a contest of the best decorated houses. Many surprises and imagination are expected in the lovely streets of the town. Like in Strasbourg, Colmar as well as in the villages around propose many Christmas concerts in churches usually for free.
For those who like to taste wine and Christmas traditional cookies, some cellars organizes special activities around wine tasting and Christmas, some for free some with a fee and advance booking. The list of events in Colmar and surrounding villages is available in English. Here are more details on a selection of Christmas markets organized in the area of Colmar:

COLMAR Nov 22nd-Dec 31st : Sunday to Thursday from 10am to 7pm - Fridays and Saturdays from 10 am to 8 pm - Closed on Dec 25th.

EGUISHEIM : Dec 5th-14th, 19th to 23th, and 27th-29th from 9am to 7pm.

GUEBWILLER : Dec 13th-14th, 20th-21th from 10am to 7pm.

KAYSERSBERG : Nov 28th-30th, Dec 5th-7th, 12th-14th, 19th-23th from 11am to 8pm.

MUNSTER : Nove 28th-30th, Dec 5th-7th, 12th-14th, 19th-23th.

OBERNAI : Nov 29th-Dec 31st, closed on Dec 25th.

RIBEAUVILLE : Dec 6th-14th from 10am to 6pm.

RIQUEWIHR : Nov 29th-Dec 21st from 10am to 7pm.

Tips and advice: Be aware that the Christmas markets in the villages are not all open every day.