Some of the issues that have divided Parisians to the point of bitter debate have been the Paris municipality’s decrees ordering the closure of some of its expressways to vehicular traffic and their conversion into pedestrian malls. The two most important were the Left Bank and Right Bank expressways. The Left Bank expressway conversion was […]
Author Archives: marina.woodson
Exhibition from Feb 8th to July 8th 2018 The lovely Marmottan Monet Museum presents (until July 8) a rare display of intimate paintings of one of the great French masters of the 19th century. Camille Corot (1796-1875) was mostly known and trained in the neoclassical style which featured landscapes and traditional themes. But he […]
Of the 130 museums in Paris, no less than seven of them relate to the world of fashion. This one was created by the Foundation Pierre Bergé — Yves Saint Laurent and is located in the headquarters of the YSL haute couture house from 1974 to 2002, the year the house closed and was turned […]
The French railway network is justifiably one of France’s pride and joy assets, affording an extensive network of comfortable rail transportation services in nearly every corner of France. It is rated as one of the best in the world, when taking into account speed, comfort, punctuality, price and safety. Each day 14 million passengers use […]
Fashion and the city of Paris are two old friends. Ever since the royal courts of France took up residence in or near Paris, centuries ago, social codes and fashionable dressing developed. And as fashion thrived, so did the merchants and the businesses that plied the trade. Colbert, who was Minister of Finances under Louis […]
The Madeleine-Palais Royal district and more specifically the Saint Honore street probably comprise the most traditional Paris fashion neighbourhood… After having spoken of the prestigious fashion district located at avenue Montaigne, let us now talk about the place where Kings and Queens and later the Parisian bourgeoisie came to dress up. It is the place […]
Almost everybody has heard of the Champs Elysees avenue: its malls, cafés, cinema theaters. It is one of the busiest places in Paris. It is also one of most symbolic streets, and a gathering place on special events. For example, after France won the soccer world cups in 1998 and just recently in 2018, it […]
Here is a short history of the most visited cemetery in the world, with more than 3 Million visits per year, as well as the most popular cemetery in France. It is especially known for the amount of great personalities of the art world who are buried there. It was one of the cemeteries which […]
The skyline of Paris viewed from a height is distinct, with a display of continuity through most of the city, and an unobstructed view of its many unique buildings, which stand out. Seeing its skyline is one of its most agreeable perspectives, so here are a few perches from which you can enjoy the view. […]
Paris has 37 bridges, of which the Pont Neuf is the oldest actually standing. Ironically, Pont Neuf means the New Bridge, and it was the first stone bridge to be built in Paris. It connects both banks of the Seine river, as well as the tip of the Cité Island, which is the larger of […]