Inaugurations

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Theres a lot happening in the French capital as summer sets in! On the cultural front, Le Manoir de Paris
has opened a haunted house, Petit Bain has an exciting line-up of events for children and adults, and French
national rail centre CNOF has opened up its industrial facilities to the general public. On the accommodation
scene, the Mandarin Oriental, the Crayon and the Ascott Arc de Triomphe have opened recently, while the
Ariane Montparnasse and the Palm unveil their new decor. As for fine dining, the new Opra restaurant boasts
astonishing architecture and a sophisticated menu, while the Chesnaie du Roy has had a makeover to provide
a stylish setting for upscale events.

Culture //

Le Manoir de Paris: The secrets of a haunted house

This new attraction in the heart of Paris the first of its kind in France brings to life 13 legends of Paris. Halfway
between a museum and an amusement park, this haunted house is spread over almost 1,000 m2. Visitors follow an
interactive path through the thrilling history of Paris.
The citys thousand-year history abounds in mysteries, legends, myths and dark secrets. Paris streets, houses and
parks have many a strange story to tell. At Le Manoir de Paris, visitors follow in the footsteps of Victor Hugo
and Alexandre Dumas to discover some of the most bone-chilling legends of various districts. Located in a listed
monument near the Gare de lEst, Le Manoir de Paris draws on sophisticated gadgetry and the services of
professional actors to bring famous Paris legends to life the Hunchback of Notre Dame, the Phantom of the
Opera, the Bloodthirsty Baker, etc.
The haunted house is a living museum where visitors can explore stories of Paris at their own pace the
crocodile discovered in 1984 in the sewers under the Pont Neuf, the man in the iron mask who died in 1703
after being held prisoner for 34 years, the unsolved mystery of the murder in the Paris metro on 16 May 1937,
and other such tales.
These 13 tales of dark doings in the city and its underground passages are narrated in the course of a 23-room
tour. While the entire establishment is accessible to disabled people, a visit is not recommended for pregnant
women, people with a heart condition or those suffering from epilepsy and children under 10 years of age. Tours
are available in French and English.
Le Manoir de Paris will soon be adding more Paris legends to its programme.

>

LE MANOIR DE PARIS
18 rue de Paradis, Paris 10th
http://lemanoirdeparis.fr
Summer opening times: 5pm to 9pm on Thursday and Friday and 3pm to 7pm on Saturday and Sunday
From September 2011: 6pm to 10pm on Thursday and Friday and 3pm to 7pm on Saturday and Sunday
Guided tour with a storyteller on Wednesdays (by appointment only). Special opening times for Halloween from 20 October
to 5 November

Industrial tourism at the Gare de lEst

The Centre National des Oprations Ferroviaires is the equivalent of a control tower for all rail traffic throughout
France. It is operational round the clock, all year round. French railway company SNCF manages the system on
behalf of Rseau Ferr de France, the French national rail network.
The SNCF recently launched an unprecedented and innovative industrial tourism initiative, opening up the Centre
National des Oprations Ferroviaires to the public. The tour starts with a 1hr30min presentation of behind-thescenes railway operations in a dedicated visitor centre. Visitors are then taken to the very heart of the system
the control room, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, where 100 people work round the clock tracking
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the 20,000-odd trains that run each day on the 30,000 km of French railway lines. The crisis centre is permanently
on the alert to take immediate action in case of a rail accident anywhere in France.
The CNOF has trained a team of guides to give the public fascinating insights into how the railway works. The
tour is free of charge.

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CENTRE NATIONAL DES OPRATIONS FERROVIAIRES

21 rue dAlsace, Paris 10th
www.sncf.com/visiter

Petit Bain
Petit Bain is a concert hall, social integration centre, restaurant and cultural venue rolled into one a meeting
point for artistic disciplines, audiences and cultures from around the world. With a focus on encouraging
innovative artistic ideas, the venue hosts international cultural events all year round in a variety of fields
music, dance, graphic art, illustrations and fine food.
Music and visual arts feature prominently on the programme at this floating venue, housed in a barge and
moored on the Seine at the foot of the Bibliothque nationale de France Franois Mitterrand. The venue experiments
with the blending of materials, genres, places and people, hosting concerts, dance and visual arts workshops for
all ages, talks, exhibitions and a restaurant.
Every Sunday, the venue hosts a concert during a family brunch 250 concerts from January to December. This
summer, a series of I Hate World Music concerts is being co-organized at the adjoining Josephine Baker floating
pool to provide musical entertainment at the pool and on the terrace. A series of gardening workshops called
the Robinsonnades initiates adults and children alike into joys of gardening and includes the planting of a small
kitchen garden. The restaurant serves quick meals made from fresh seasonal products and the wine list is essentially
composed of natural wines. The temporary terrace will host open-air concerts and workshops all summer long to
make the most of the proximity of the Josephine Baker pool. The quay serves as an extension of the Petit Bain
for large open-air events, which are all free of charge.

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PETIT BAIN
7 port de la Gare, Paris 13th
Tel +33 (0) 1 43 49 69 88
www.petitbain.org

Terrasse Montparnasse 56 A sheltered spot to enjoy a panoramic

view
The terrace at the top of the Montparnasse Tower, with its panoramic view over the city, recently reopened after
being extensively renovated and modernized. Located at a height of 210 metres, the new rooftop terrace offers a
birds-eye view of Paris it takes in all the sights within a 40-km radius! The terrace is now entirely glassenclosed to allow visitors to remain comfortably sheltered from the wind and the rain as they enjoy the amazing
360 view of Paris.

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TOUR MONTPARNASSE
33 avenue du Maine, Paris 15th
Tel +33 (0) 1 45 38 52 56
www.tourmontparnasse56.com

Accommodation //

Crayon a cosy and colourful hotel

Crayon Hotel, a new establishment recently opened by the Elegancia Hotels Group, is like a friendly guesthouse in
the heart of Paris, with 26 rooms done up in bright, appealing colours. French artist Julie Gauthron has decorated
each room in a totally different style, liberally splashing all of them with colour. Two or three colours harmonise
or gaily overlap in each room around one common neutral element a cosy white quilt. Julie Ganthron has
experimented with bold colour combinations such as olive green and pink, blue and sandy beige, dusty pink
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and sea green. The vintage furniture throughout the hotel has been patiently trawled for at flea markets in Paris,
Lyon, Nice and Marseille, then personalised and painted. There are any number of striking pieces in the corridors
and rooms, such as a lovely Scandinavian bench, a chair once owned by publisher Pinch and 1970s lamps.
A bright, colourful patchwork of ideas and styles, Crayon is more of a guesthouse than a traditional hotel an
impression enhanced by the huge Danish desk at the reception and the black and white family photos hanging
in the lobby and the rooms, as well as the childrens crayon drawings on the walls of the hotels only suite,
situated on the fourth floor.

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HTEL CRAYON
25 rue du Bouloi, Paris 1st
Tel +33 (0) 1 42 36 54 19
www.hotelcrayon.com

The Mandarin Oriental: The lap of luxury and upscale dining in the
heart of Paris
The Mandarin Oriental, the latest luxury hotel to open in the French capital, is very centrally located a short walk
from the great couture houses, Place Vendme and the Jardin des Tuileries.
Architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte has redesigned the entire 1930s building, while Sybille de Margerie, Patrick Jouin
and Sanjit Manku have done the interior design and decoration. Boasting a large landscaped indoor garden,
the hotel has 138 rooms and suites, among the most spacious ones in Paris, ranging in size from 38 to 350 m2.
All the rooms have a plate glass window, and some also have a balcony overlooking the indoor garden.
Parisian style and Eastern refinement go hand in hand everywhere in the hotel, where comfort meets modern
to provide a cocoon of luxury and sensual delight. Spread over two floors, the hotels 900 m2 spa features a
huge indoor pool, hammam and fitness centre.
Among the highlights of this luxury hotel are its two restaurants and bar, under the supervision of Michelin-starred
chef Thierry Marx. The 40-cover restaurant Sur Mesure par Thierry Marx is stunningly inspired by Parisian
haute couture and has a light well in the centre, while the chefs table in the garden seating 6 to 8 people is
perfect for a special occasion. Camlia, the garden restaurant, serves simple, affordable French cuisine and
seats 70 people. The Bar 8 seats 49 people inside and a further 25 in the garden. The hotel also has a signature
cake shop.
There are four sleek event spaces for business travellers one 70 m2 space and three 40 m2 meeting rooms.
The spacious sixth-floor terrace can host corporate events, with catering also by Thierry Marx.

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MANDARIN ORIENTAL
251 rue Saint-Honor, Paris 1st
Tel +33 (0) 70 98 78 88
www.mandarinoriental.com/paris

The Ariane Montparnasse***: Time is of the essence

Located in a late-19th century building on a quiet Left Bank street, the Ariane Montparnasse*** has recently been
entirely renovated. Drawing inspiration from the name of the street, the theme of the new design is the hourglass (sablier in French), and time in general. Paintings and photos of hourglasses and watch movements are
scattered throughout the hotel, from the reception to the 30 rooms. There is even a collection of these instruments
to measure the passing of time in the library next to the reception.
The choice of the hourglass, which symbolises both constancy and renewal, for the interior decoration scheme
reflects the hotels philosophy offering impeccable service at all times while being flexible enough to adapt to
unexpected situations. Amenities include free Wi-Fi Internet access, a business centre, a 24-hour concierge
desk and multilingual staff.

>

HTEL ARIANE MONTPARNASSE***

35 rue de la Sablire, Paris 14th
Tel +33 (0) 1 45 45 67 13
www.hotel-ariane.fr

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The Ascott Arc de Triomphe Paris****: A sophisticated option for

business travellers
This hotel is ideally located in the 16th arrondissement, not far from the Champs-lyses, in a building designed
by Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill, who has also decorated the hotels 83 rooms with an eye to style, comfort
and well-being. An indoor patio, swimming pool and fitness centre provide opportunities for resting and keeping
in shape.
Every room category, from the Deluxe room to the Premier suite, is equipped with a top grade music system,
air conditioning and a spacious bathroom, and some rooms have a terrace offering a wonderful view over the
rooftops and monuments of Paris. The Ascott Arc de Triomphe Paris**** also provides an airport transfer service,
a business centre, a laundry and dry cleaning service.

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ASCOTT ARC DE TRIOMPHE PARIS****

81 avenue Klber, Paris 16th
Tel +33 (0) 1 44 05 75 75
www.the-ascott.com

The Palm Opra*** full of parisian charm

The atmosphere at this hotel near the Opra Garnier, designed by two young interior designers, Aurlie Sahuqu
and Sophie Hanniet, is relaxed and casual. A number of simple, practical ideas and feminine touches highlight
its welcoming, service-oriented approach, such as the childrens play area in the breakfast room and coat pegs
instead of a clothes rail in the rooms.
The hotels 38 comfortable rooms are equipped with Internet access and an iPod dock, like any home, and the
bath products and breakfast are organic.
Free Internet access is also available in the lobby, alongside a bar serving free non-alcoholic drinks to hotel
guests.

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HTEL PALM***
30 rue de Maubeuge, Paris 9th
Tel +33 (0) 1 42 85 07 61
www.hotel-palm-opera.com

Gastronomy //

LOpra at the Palais Garnier

The idea of having a restaurant within the Opra Garnier building goes back as far as 1875: architect Charles
Garniers final drawings for the project show that he intended the Salon du Glacier rotunda to house a restaurant.
There was another unsuccessful attempt to open a restaurant in the building nearly a century later, in 1973,
and again in 1992.
Charles Garniers wish has finally come true 136 years on, with the opening of LOpra in the subscribing members
rotunda, where members dismounted from horse-drawn carriages to enter the auditorium in times past.
French architect Odile Decq designed the new restaurant with input from restaurateur Pierre Franois Blanc. The
architect has done an excellent job of tackling this challenging commission the new venue had to be distinct
from the historical building while harmonising with it. The national commission for historical monuments has
lauded the quality of the architecture and the well-thought-out solutions to the various technical constraints.
A mezzanine floor and a self-supporting six-metre-high glass roof take up the upper part of the construction,
curving around, but not touching, the existing pillars. The 350-cover restaurant is spread over three levels
ground floor and mezzanine, plus a terrace.
Christophe Aribert, who has two Michelin stars, has been named executive chef of LOpra. His menu combines
traditional French cuisine with ultra-creative touches, such as the Opra dessert made with honey collected from
the beehives on the Palais Garnier roof.
The cocktails at the bar, too, are a mix of the classic (e.g. the Martini Charles) and the unexpected (e.g. the
Phantm by Martini).
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>

LOPRA
Place Jacques Rouch, Paris 9th
Tel +33 (0) 1 42 68 86 80
www.opera-restaurant.fr

The rebirth of the Chesnaie du Roy

The Chesnaie du Roy, a banqueting venue boasting magnificent reception rooms in the middle of the Bois de
Vincennes, has reopened after a ten-month renovation. Built in 1969 for the Floralies internationals flower show,
the establishments main, 770 m2 reception room offering panoramic views, where cocktails for up to 1,200 guests
can be organized, is located in an unusually shaped building resembling a boat turned upside down. With
another four rooms on the first floor, a 300 m2 terrace and 1,000 m2 of outdoor space, this is the perfect venue
for conferences, meetings, gala evenings and society dinners. An exceptional setting for any event, the
Chesnaie du Roy can host up to 1,500 people for a cocktail party and 500 people for a sit-down dinner, with
menus drawn up by caterer Butard Enescot and Bruno Turbot, a member of the elite Master Chefs of France
association, as head chef.

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LA CHESNAIE DU ROY
Route de la Pyramide, Paris 12th
Tel +33 (0) 1 41 74 00 00
www.chesnaie-du-roy.com

Stop Press //
Brunello Cucinelli, the ethically correct Italian fashion designer, is opening a 400 m2 flagship store displaying his
mens and womens collections and accessories near the lyse Palace. // Jewellery brand Van Cleef & Arpels is
opening a watch boutique called Le Temps Potique on Place Vendme. // French leather goods company
LaContrie is opening a showroom-and-atelier near the Jardin des Tuileries. //

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BRUNELLO CUCINELLI
54 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honor, Paris 8th
www.brunellocucinelli.com

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LACONTRIE
11 rue de la Sourdire, Paris 1st
www.lacontrie.com

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VAN CLEEF & ARPELS, LE TEMPS POTIQUE

22 place Vendme, Paris 1st
Tel +33 (0) 1 55 04 11 12
www.vancleef-arpels.com

18th
17th

HTEL PALM

19th

17th
CENTRE NATIONAL DES OPRATIONS
FERROVIAIRES
8th
LE MANOIR DE PARIS

9th
8th

LOPRA
ASCOTT ARC DE TRIOMPHE PARIS

10th
1st

2nd

3rd
11th

4th
7th

16th
TOUR MONTPARNASSE

15th

LE CRAYON

20th

1st

MANDARIN ORIENTAL

16th

7th

6th

6th
15th

12th

5th

HTEL ARIANE MONTPARNASSE

PETIT BAIN

14th

13th

LA CHESNAIE DU ROY

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Coming soon //
Culture
- Partial closure for the re-organization of the impressionist galleries at the Muse dOrsay, by Jean-Michel Wilmotte
(from December 2009)
- Redevelopment work at the Palais de Tokyo by architects Lacaton and Vassal to create 10,000 m2 of space devoted
to contemporary art (2010-2012)
- Renovation of the Monnaie de Paris by Philippe Prost with the opening of shops and creation of a 500 m2 zen garden,
and a cafe and gourmet restaurant by Guy Savoy (2012)
- Renovation work at the Muse de lAir et de lespace (June 2011-2014)
- Closure of the Muse de lInstitut du monde arabe for redevelopment work. Part of the collections will remain on
show (full reopening September 2011)
- Launch of the Louvre online reservation system (beginning 2012)
- Renovation of the Muse Rodin; museum to remain open (early 2012 end 2013)
- Opening of the new areas at the Grand Palais, including the Alexandre-III rotunda, the Salon dhonneur and a 700 m2
exhibition gallery (spring 2012)
- Reopening of the Muse Galliera after renovation (spring 2012)
- Opening of the Fondation Jrme-Seydoux-Path for cinema, built by Italian Renzo Piano at 73 avenue des Gobelins
(spring 2012)
- Reopening of the Muse de lHomme after renovation (2012)
- Reopening of the Muse Picasso after renovation (2012)
- Opening of the new Islamic Arts department in the Cour Visconti at the Louvre after covering of the courtyard by
architects Mario Bellini and Rudy Ricciotti. 13,000 works will be on show in 4,600 m2 of new spaces (2012)
- Opening of the Institut des Cultures dIslam in two venues, on Rue Stephenson and Rue Polonceau, in the Goutte
dOr district of the 18th arrondissement (September 2012 and September 2013)
- Reorganization of the Grand Palais with the incorporation of the Galeries nationales and the creation of a shop,
a cafe and a bookshop (2012-2017)
- Opening after renovation and extension of the old cinema Le Louxor in the 10th arrondissement (2013)
- Opening of the Louis-Vuitton foundation for contemporary art (September 2013)
- Creation of a 250-seat theatre under the Carreau du Temple (November 2013)
- Creation of a Paris Philharmonic concert hall by architect Jean Nouvel in the park of La Villette including a 2,400-seat
symphonic concert hall (March 2014)
- Renovation of the Muse de Montmartre and the museum gardens (2014)
- Opening of the Cit de lconomie in the former Gaillard townhouse, a listed building dating to 1882 in the 17th
arrondissement. The Cit will have library devoted to economics, a 120-seat amphitheatre and a restaurant, and a
2,500 m2 exhibition space for displays on the economy, currencies and finance (end 2014)
- Opening of the Maison de lHistoire de France within the premises of the Archives de France (2015)
- Reopening of the Muse Ernest-Hbert (date not specified)
Urbanism
- Transformation of the district Les Halles (2010-2014)
- Renovation of the Gare de Lyon with the creation of a 4,400 m2 glass roof for businesses, working rooms and waiting
areas (2010-2012)
- Conversion of the former Arts dco Mutualit theatre into a business and congress centre by Jean-Michel Wilmotte
(September 2011)
- Opening of the Cit de la mode et du design with a concept store (800 m2), three restaurants and a picnic area, a
nightclub and events spaces (September 2011)
- Launch of the self-service electric car hire service Autolib with 3,000 vehicles in 1,000 stations in and around Paris
(30 September 2011)
- Opening of Cinlilas, a cinematographic complex with park in the east of Paris (end 2011)
- Renovation of the Gare dAusterlitz with new areas to circulate (2011-2013)
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- Creation of 1.5 km of green spaces and natural features open to the public along part of the former inner circle railway line in the 15th arrondissement (2013)
- Reopening of a public transport network on the Seine, with three Voguo river shuttle lines circulating to and from
Suresnes, Maisons Alfort/Vitry sur Seine, the Eiffel Tower, Invalides and the Muse dOrsay (summer 2013)
- Construction of the Phare tower at La Dfense a 349-metre-high tower block with panoramic restaurant by American
architect Thom Mayne (2011-2016)
- 10,000 m2 extension of the Andr-Citron park and installation of fountains, refreshment areas and merry-go-rounds
(2011-2012)
- Extension of the tramway to the east of Paris, from Porte de Vitry to Porte de la Chapelle (2012), then as far as
Porte dAsnires (2017)
- Creation of 12 hectares of green space and sports facilities at the Hippodrome dAuteuil (2012)
- Creation of green spaces and pedestrian areas along a 2.3 km stretch on the Left Bank and Right Bank of the Seine
and the opening of a floating swimming pool moored in front of the Parc Andr Citron (September 2012)
- Extension of Line 4 of the Mtro to the south of Paris at Montrouge (end 2012)
- Redevelopment of north-east Paris, between Porte de la Chapelle and Porte de la Villette, creation of the vangile
station on RER line E, green spaces, a university campus, businesses and services (2012-2016)
- Extension and modernization of the Hippodrome de Longchamp (2013)
- Expansion of the Parc Clichy-Batignolles Martin-Luther-King (2013)
- Re-design of the Beaugrenelle district (September 2013)
- Redevelopment of the Champ-de-Mars (2014)
- The re-design of the le Seguin by Jean Nouvel, with a centre for music, a centre for contemporary art, art galleries,
guinguettes (outdoor cafes) with dancing and a 4-hectare garden (2015)
- Construction at the Porte de Versailles of the 180-m high Triangle tower block with panoramic lift, panoramic
viewpoint, panoramic restaurant and cafe and park of 8,000 m2, a project by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron
(2017)
- Construction at La Dfense of the two 323 metre-high Hermitage towers, with function room, auditorium,
contemporary art gallery, shops, htel **** with 210 rooms, conference centre and restaurants (2016)
Leisure
- Creation of a swimming area on the Daumesnil Lake in the Bois de Vincennes (2013)
- Opening of a brasserie and a luxury suite on the rooftop of the Moulin Rouge (2013)
- Renovation of the Molitor swimming pool, a gem of art deco from 1929 and creation of a 98-bedroom **** hotel,
with two restaurants and a balneotherapy centre (end 2013)
- Creation by Italian architect Renzo Piano of a 14-room multiplex cinema with 2,800 seats in the future Claude-Bernard
neighborhood of the 19th arrondissement (end 2013)
- Reopening after renovation work of all the Parc zoologique de Paris in the Bois de Vincennes with 1,000 animals,
130 species, separated into 6 biozones including a 2,000 m2 aviary and a 100 m long greenhouse (spring 2014)
- Extension and modernization of the Roland-Garros tennis stadium, with a project for a 15,000-seater centre court
with mobile roof, to host the French internationals, the Masters Series and the Fed Cup (2015)
- Opening at the Cit des Sciences of a 16-room digital complex with restaurants and shops (date to be defined)
Accommodation
- A years closure of the Prince de Galles**** hotel, bar and restaurant for full renovation and creation of a new site and
fitness space (from February 2011)
- Closure of the Marignan Champs lyses**** for 18 months for a full renovation (since April 2011)
- A years closure of the Passy Home** for a full renovation (since June 2011)
- Extension works of the Plaza Athne***** in 5,500 m2 of annexed buildings, with closure of the hotel (2011-2013)
- Conversion by Japanese architects Sejima and Nishizawo of the former La Samaritaine department store into a luxury
hotel, Le Cheval blanc, with 80 rooms and suites overlooking the Seine, a conference centre and shops (2011-2014)
- Renovation and modernization of the Bois de Boulogne camping site with the installation of caravans and cottages,
and extension of 410 tent pitches (2011-12)

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- Opening of the lyse Secret, a boutique hotel in the heart of the Golden Triangle in the 8th arrondissement, ****
category requested (summer 2011)
- Opening of the Bellevue Montmartre, a 20-room hotel with a Belle poque theme between the Moulin Rouge and the
Sacr Cur Basilica, *** category requested (autumn 2011)
- Opening of a 23-bed hotel, Jules et Jim, at 11 rue des Gravilliers in the Centre Pompidou district (summer 2011)
- Opening of the htel O, previously htel des Victoires**, decorated by Ora to, 19 rue Herold in the 2nd arrondissement
(autumn 2011)
- Reopening of the Mac Mahon hotel near the Arc de Triomphe after a full renovation, **** category requested
(November 2011)
- Opening of the 56-room Buddha Bar boutique hotel with luxurious colonial-style decor, a spa and a restaurant, on Rue
dAnjou in the 8th arrondissement, **** category requested (2012)
- Opening of the hotel Marcel, a small 35-bedroom hotel opposite the Gare de lEst, *** classification requested ***
(September 2011)
- Opening of the Htel W Paris Opra by the Starwood group in the district of the Grands Magasins (December 2011)
- Opening of a charming 23-bed hotel in the former Grand Contrle mansion house, a building designed by Jules
Hardouin-Mansart in 1684 and belonging to the national Versailles estate (end of 2011)
- Opening by the Astotel Group of the 123 Sbastopol, a cinema-themed hotel with a swimming pool and private
cinema, facing the Gat Lyrique in the 2nd arrondissement, **** category requested (September 2012)
- Opening of a second, 500-bed Christophers Inn hostel at the Gare du Nord (2012)
- Opening of a Holiday Inn at the Gare du Nord (2012)
- Opening of the Art htel Eiffel, a small 35-room designer hotel in the 15th arrondissement, *** category requested
(mid-2012)
- Opening of a 320-beds youth hostel with meeting rooms and auditorium, rue Pajol in the 18th arrondissement
(end 2012)
- Opening of a Hilton Garden Inn by the Hilton group and of a Hampton by Hilton at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport
(2013)
- Opening of a Radisson Blu at La Dfense, **** category requested (2013)
- Transformation of the Klber International conference centre into a 200-bed palace by the chain Peninsula Hotels
(2013)
- Opening of a fifth Marriott hotel in Paris, near Porte de Saint-Cloud (2013)
- Opening of a htel **** with 343 rooms at La Dfense (2014)
- Opening of a 149-room hotel designed by architect Manuelle Gautrand as part of an entirely eco-friendly project in the
19th arrondissement, *** category requested (2014)
- Opening of a hotel with 500 to 600 rooms as well as a long-stay transfer centre with accommodation at Paris Charles
de Gaulle airport (end 2014)
- Creation of Villages Nature, an ecological leisure complex by Disneyland Paris/Pierre & Vacances, with 1,700 rooms
over 259 hectares, 9,000 m2 water park and lagoon heated all year round (2015)
- Opening of a small luxury hotel by Grard Depardieu with seven guest rooms at 95 rue du Cherche-Midi in the
6th arrondissement (date not specified)
Gastronomy
- A years closure of the Caf de lHomme at Trocadro (February 2011-summer 2012)
- Opening of an organic themed restaurant overlooking a vegetable garden in the park of La Villette, created by
architects Gilles & Boissier (2011)
- Opening of two restaurants at LOre du Bois, Porte Maillot, a former pavilion in the Bois de Boulogne renovated
by the architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte (2011)
- Opening of a restaurant with conference rooms in the Ledoux rotunda by the side of the La Villette canal basin
(August 2011)
- Closure of the Ciel de Paris at the top of Montparnasse tower for full renovation (15 July 2011-January 2012)
- Opening of a restaurant at La Bourse by Marc Veyrat (September 2011)

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- Opening of an Angelina restaurant/tea room in the Htel de Sully, a 17th-century historic building in the heart of the
Marais (end 2011)
- Opening of a bar and restaurant in the Maison des Clestins on the bank of the Seine in the Marais as part of the
renovation of the riverbanks (date to be defined)
Shops
- Opening of a Banana Republic boutique at the Champs-lyses roundabout (September 2011)
- Opening of a new concept Marks and Spencer at 100 Champs-lyses (end 2011) and a second shop at the Carrousel
du Louvre (date to be defined)
- Renovation of the Galeries Lafayette to mark the 100th anniversary of its historic dome, with the refurbishment of
the Lafayette Gourmet food store and the opening of a new fine dining restaurant (2012)

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Trends

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P A R I S N E W S // J U LY 2 0 1 1

Enjoy Paris outdoors. Every summer, the French capital turns into a huge open-air showground.
Concerts and dances take place outdoors, the Seine riverbanks are transformed into a seaside resort and
Parisians and tourists rediscover the pleasure of picnicking on the grass.

Culture, cinema, theatre and concerts in the open

air //

Outdoor cinema

Throughout summer, cinema buffs can enjoy watching films outdoors: the atmosphere is convivial and unique as
everyone gathers in front of the large inflatable screen in the centre of the park at nightfall. Under the stars,
spectators enjoy long summer nights discovering or rediscovering short films and great classics. This year, the
Cinma en plein air season at La Villette has chosen Dune rue lautre (From one street to another), for its
theme, with films like Manhattan, Bonnie and Clyde or West Side Story, preceded at the weekend by a short
film. In total, around thirty or so films will be shown, all in their original version with subtitles, from 19 July to
21 August. Cinma au clair de lune, organized by the Forum des Images, will show films for free from 3 to 21 August
in different districts of Paris, including Montmartre, Montsouris, Place des Vosges, Place des Ftes; the theme will
be classic or contemporary films for which Paris is the setting, such as Fric-Frac, Garon ! or Victor Victoria. In the
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, the festival Silhouette is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year and will screen
short films for children and adults every evening from 27 August to 4 September, as well as a retrospective of the
previous years.
Access to these film shows is free; it is advisable to bring something warm to wear as Parisian evenings can be
chilly. In the event of bad weather the film shows may be cancelled, it is therefore a good idea to check on the
day by telephone or by Internet.

>

CINMA EN PLEIN AIR

Parc de la Villette
211 avenue Jean Jaurs, Paris 19th
Tel +33 (0) 1 40 03 76 92
www.villette.com

>

CINMA AU CLAIR DE LUNE

www.forumdesimages.fr

>

FESTIVAL SILHOUETTE
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, Paris 19th
www.association-silhouette.com

Festival Paris quartier dt

The 22nd edition of this one-of-a-kind arts festival offers events such as theatre, dance, music, circus, video art,
photography, etc. from 14 July to 9 August at more than thirty venues in and around Paris. Most events take place
in outdoor places such as the Cour dhonneur des Invalides (7th), in the garden mile Gall (11th), in the park
of Butte du Chapeau Rouge (19th) or in the Jardin Naturel (20th).

>

PARIS QUARTIER DT
www.quartierdete.com

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Classique au Vert
This years edition of the Festival Classique au Vert is devoted to the Americas: from the New World Symphony
to the symphonic jazz of Gershwin, songs from Broadway and Piazzolla tangos, etc. Although the French public
are fans of music from the Americas, this music is not often played in concert halls and at classical music
festivals. This summer the wonderful setting of the Parc floral plays host to renowned orchestras, musical
ensembles, singers and soloists, who will share with the public their enthusiasm for the violins of Hollywood,
the great open spaces of Aaron Copland, the military marches of Sousa and a lot of other fascinating music
from the Americas.

>

CLASSIQUE AU VERT
www.classiqueauvert.fr

Bandstands
Every year from May to October, more than 200 free concerts are given in bandstands in Parisian public parks and
gardens. Many musical styles are played: pop, rock, brass bands, folk, classical, big band jazz, choral, gospel, etc.
These outdoor concerts gather all kinds of musicians, amateurs and professionals and bring new life to the quaint
elegance of bandstands in parks and gardens.

>

KIOSQUES EN MUSIQUE
www.paris.fr

Paris Jazz Festival

Fans will be swinging to the sound of jazz. This festival cleverly brings together great and unknown jazz musicians
for all types of jazz including piano, funk, afro, Latino and big band sounds. As usual, this annual event takes
place in the bucolic setting of the Parc floral.

>

PARIS JAZZ FESTIVAL

www.parisjazzfestival.fr

Pestacles
Running until 21 September this festival includes concerts (songs, jazz, rock and classical music), street theatre,
readings of traditional stories and an exhibition for everyone but especially for children from 2-years-old, right in
the heart of the Parc floral.

>

PESTACLES
www.lespestacles.fr

Gastronomy //

Country picnics in Paris

Picnicking in Paris, you would almost think you were in the countryside. Adults will recall their childhood days
whilst children will love the freedom of eating outdoors, which all makes it a wonderful and memorable experience.
Picnicking is allowed in some 400 parks and gardens in Paris, on a footbridge, along the Seine riverbanks or
along the banks of the canal Saint Martin. You can prepare a home-made picnic or buy one already prepared
from a caterer, salad bar, juice bar, and even restaurants supply complete take-away picnics. Most of the time,
these stores provide disposable knives, forks, spoons, cups, plates and serviettes. Cojean, Fauchon, Bobs Juice
Bar, Pink Flamingo, Jour and Linas, among others, all provide delicious dishes for picnics.
For the best grassy picnic spots, there are the big Parisian parks such as Buttes-Chaumont, Parc Monceau, Parc
Montsouris, Parc de la Villette, the Champ de Mars, the Jardin du Luxembourg and the Parc de Bercy, but there
are also the Seine quaysides and those of the Canal Saint-Martin. Signs show which lawned areas are available
to picnic on. Some areas are closed to the public to allow the grass to regenerate.

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Picnickers should of course remember to respect the environment and take a bag with them to put their rubbish
in, and should not light any fires.

>

BOBS JUICE BAR

15 rue Lucien-Sampaix, Paris 10th
Tel +33 (0) 9 50 06 36 18
74 rue des Gravilliers, Paris 3rd
Tel +33 (0) 9 52 55 11 66
www.bobsjuicebar.com

>

COJEAN
10 rue des Pyramides, Paris 1st
Tel +33 (0) 1 42 96 00 50
www.cojean.fr
15 other addresses in Paris

>

FAUCHON
24-26 place de la Madeleine, Paris 8th
Tel +33 (0) 1 70 39 38 00
www.fauchon.com

>

JOUR
36 bis avenue de lOpra, Paris 2nd
www.jour.fr
10 other addresses in Paris

>

LINAS
102 rue de Bercy, Paris 12th
Tel +33 (0) 1 43 40 42 42
www.linasparis.com
7 other addresses in Paris

>

PINK FLAMINGO
67 rue Bichat, Paris 10th
Tel +33 (0) 1 42 02 31 70
www.pinkflamingopizza.com
3 other addresses in Paris

>

All parks and gardens on www.paris.fr

Recreational activities //

Quayside beaches

Despite the fact that the French capital is a long way from the sea, it has been partly transformed into a mini
seaside town every summer since 2002. So for the 10th year,
Paris-Plages has taken up residence on the right bank of the Seine and at the La Villette canal basin and invites
visitors to enjoy all the quayside attractions. This year, the Paris City Council has provided even more stretches
of beach (6,000 tons of sand): on the George Pompidou road there is a 1-kilometre-long sandy beach stretching
from the Louvre quayside to the Arcole bridge.
On the Georges Pompidou road, right up to the level of the Clestins quayside, and around the La Villette canal
basin, there is a host of attractions for Parisians and tourists: swimming pool, sprinkler garden, refreshment
kiosks, ice-cream stalls, ptanque courts, ballroom dancing or tai-chi lessons and other sporting activities for
children and adults. The 2011 edition also includes cultural events, stories, concerts, a photo marathon, etc.
With sustainable development in mind, Paris-Plages puts the emphasis on environmentally-friendly habits (selective
disposal of rubbish such as paper cups, non-motorized transport), as well as the responsible management of

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the facilities and equipment (recycled sand, installations to be reused, transformable sheeting, automatic control
of water consumption, etc.). Accessible daily from 21 July to 21 August, from 8am to midnight, Paris-Plages makes
it possible to enjoy summer in the city in a different way and remains a free event with a social conscience,
designed to be available to as many people as possible and in particular those that do not get the chance to
go away on holiday.

>

PARIS-PLAGES
http://parisplages.paris.fr

Dancing in the open air

Those who prefer to dance outdoors will have the opportunity to practice or learn the Argentine tango, salsa, rock,
swing, lindy hop, capoeira, Breton and folk dances, and the musette and ballroom dancing on the Seine quaysides. The 2011 edition of Paris danse en Seine will also feature the samba-forro (on Sunday) and the kizomba
(on Monday), a dance that is a mixture of the tango, and zouk of Angolan origin. These evenings will take place
daily from 9pm to midnight, often preceded by introductory sessions from 7.30pm onwards, on the Saint-Bernard
quayside and in the Tino Rossi garden, between Austerlitz train station and the Institut du monde arabe

A different way of discovering Paris

A newcomer on the scene for ecological outings, the Trikke makes it possible to discover all the charm of Paris
without any effort. The way to drive this three-wheeled scooter is in a standing position. The engine is electric,
silent and non-polluting. Paris Trikke Tours offers 2-hour guided tours of some twenty or so tourist sites, including
the Champs-lyses, the Eiffel Tower and the Esplanade des Invalides

>

PARIS TRIKKE TOURS

www.paristrikkes.com

18th
19th

CINMA EN PLEIN AIR

18th

17th

PARIS-PLAGES

19th

th
10th
2nd

9th

8th

3rd

2nd

1st
11th

4th

10th
3rd
11th

20th
PARIS-PLAGES
16th

th

20th

4th

7th
6th
15th

12th

5th

5th

12th

13th
14th

18th

9th
2nd

th

th

19th

18th

17th

10th

CLASSIQUE AU VERT
PARIS JAZZ FESTIVAL

13th

9th

8th

19th

10th

2nd

3rd

1st

16th

3rd
11th

4th

11th

20th
7th

6th
5th

12th

5th

12th

15th
13th

20th

4th

14th

13th

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In the spotlight
P A R I S N E W S // J U LY 2 0 1 1

n61

Hotels with a terrace or garden. Summer makes us want to make the most of the good
weather. Choosing a hotel with a terrace or a garden means that you can combine the pleasure of visiting Paris
and the Paris region with that of a privileged green setting right in the heart of the city.

Hotels with a garden or terrace in Paris

Amongst the huge range of accommodation that the capital has to offer, there are some establishments, which
behind their facades boast almost secret gardens, large wooded expanses of green or flower-filled patios. Others
offer wonderful views of the city from high terraces. Whilst some of these amazing places are often accessible
to non-residents, for lunch, dinner or simply a drink, others nevertheless remain exclusively reserved for their
hotel guests.
Close to the Louvre Museum and opposite the Tuileries gardens, the Saint James & Albany****, housed in a
17th-century mansion house once the home of the Duc de Noailles, boasts a delightful courtyard garden for
dining at lunchtime and in the evening. Near to the Champs-lyses and the Eiffel Tower, the Renaissance Paris
Htel Le Parc Trocadro***** has just opened after renovation and offers a huge 1,200 m2 terrace planted with
trees a rare expanse of greenery in the capital, for lunches and dinners. Just a few steps from the Arc de
triomphe, the elegant Htel Raphael**** has a very fine terrace, Les Jardins Plein Ciel, situated on the 7th floor
with a 360 view of the capital, open at lunchtime and dinnertime. Near to Trocadro, the Saint James Paris, (the
only chateau hotel in Paris), is a huge residence surrounded by lovely gardens exclusive to residents. From this
year, the terrace has been opened to non-residents in the evening and for brunch on Sunday.
Near to the lyse Palace, Le Bristol***** houses a beautiful garden planted with trees, open for lunch, a drink
or dinner during summertime. Away from the noise of traffic, the place is a haven of tranquility. Near to the Champ
de Mars on a quiet avenue close to the Eiffel Tower, the hotel La Bourdonnais***, has an indoor garden for hotel
guests to enjoy breakfast in. Near to the Muse dOrsay and the antique dealers district, the Htel dOrsay***,
housed in an elegant building dating back to the17th century, offers its guests a charming leafy patio in which
to relax after a walk in the city. In the Monceau district, the Best Western Premier Regents Garden**** in a
Napolon-style building offers an opulent and warm atmosphere and an oriental garden where breakfast is served
to hotel guests. At Saint Germain des Prs, the Htel Montalembert**** renovated this year, opens its terrace
in fine weather for lunch and dinner.
On the Butte Montmartre, the Terrass Hotel**** situated in a fine 19th century building, boasts a superb terrace,
The 7th, situated on the roof of the establishment. Open from April to the end of September, it offers a panoramic
view of Paris and has a lounge bar, open to all, from 11am to midnight, all week.
Near to Place de la Nation on a quiet tree-lined avenue, the Htel du Printemps** offers guests the pleasant
tranquility of its shady patio, where drinks are served in fine weather.
Finally, behind its classical facade a few steps from Porte Maillot and the Palais des Congrs, Les Jardins de la
Villa**** boasts a remarkable little courtyard garden ideal for a drink after a days sightseeing and shopping.

>

BEST WESTERN PREMIER REGENTS GARDEN

6 rue Pierre Demours, Paris 17th
Tel +33 (0) 1 45 74 07 30
www.hotel-regents-paris.com

>

HTEL LA BOURDONNAIS
111-113 avenue de la Bourdonnais, Paris 7th
Tel +33 (0) 1 47 05 45 42
www.hotellabourdonnais.com

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>

HTEL DU PRINTEMPS
80 boulevard de Picpus, Paris 12th
Tel +33 (0) 1 43 43 62 31
www.hotel-paris-printemps.com

>

HTEL DORSAY
93 rue de Lille, Paris 7th
Tel +33 (0) 1 47 05 85 54
www.paris-hotel-orsay.com

>

HTEL MONTALEMBERT
3 rue de Montalembert, Paris 7th
Tel +33 (0) 1 45 49 68 68
www.montalembert.com

>

HTEL RAPHAEL
17 avenue Klber, Paris 16th
Tel +33 (0) 1 53 64 32 00
www.raphael-hotel.com

>

LE BRISTOL
112 rue du Faubourg Saint Honor, Paris 8th
Tel +33 (0) 1 53 43 43 00
www.lebristolparis.com

>

LES JARDINS DE LA VILLA

5 rue Belidor, Paris 17th
Tel +33 (0) 1 53 81 01 10
www.jardinsdelavilla.com

>

RENAISSANCE PARIS HTEL LE PARC TROCADRO

55-57 avenue Raymond Poincar, Paris 16th
Tel +33 (0) 1 44 05 66 66
www.renaissanceleparctrocadero.fr

>

SAINT JAMES & ALBANY

202 rue de Rivoli, Paris 1st
Tel +33 (0) 1 44 58 43 21
www.saintjamesalbany.com

>

SAINT JAMES PARIS

43 avenue Bugeaud, Paris 16th
Tel +33 (0) 1 44 05 81 81
www.saint-james-paris.com

>

TERRASS HOTEL
12 rue Joseph de Maistre, Paris 18th
Tel +33 (0) 1 46 06 72 85
www.terrass-hotel.com

On the outskirts of Paris

Green settings are naturally more abundant around the capital and staying in a hotel with a beautiful garden is
definitely a plus.
On the edge of Paris, the Radisson Blu Hotel Boulogne has a huge courtyard garden planted with 30-year-old
vines! The atmosphere of this secluded patio is very relaxing for all restaurant guests. In Versailles, the Trianon
Palace**** boasts an exceptional situation right on the edge of the royal estate and surrounded by more than a
hectare of land. The hotel offers 199 guest rooms including 23 suites luxuriously decorated and the bucolic charm
of its setting extends to breakfast, served in the poetic gardens designed by landscape architect Louis Benech.
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A little further west, less than 40 kilometres from Paris, the Domaine du Tremblay sur Mauldre is a 17th-century
chateau with gardens designed by Le Notre, on the edge of the forest of Rambouillet. 40 hectares of wooded
parkland and a private 9-hole golf course provided relaxation and serenity far from hectic city life. Further west
again, 50 kilometres from the capital, the Chteau de Villiers-le-Mahieu**** is a majestic 13th-century building
surrounded by 21 hectares of parkland and one-hundred-year old trees. Difficult to imagine that this haven of peace
is less than one hour away from the capital.
To the north of Paris, in the heart of the forest of Chantilly, stands the majestic Chteau de Montvillargenne****,
a luxurious enclave in the Anglo-Norman style, less than 30 minutes from the airport of Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle.
Frances largest chateau-hotel, it is surrounded by a 6-hectare park and offers 120 guest rooms as well as a
restaurant with a terrace, open in fine weather.
To the east of Paris, the Chteau des Bondons**** is the former headquarters of General Pershing. Today, a
luxury hotel standing in a landscaped garden in 7 hectares of parkland, it offers a unique historic, tranquil and
green setting less than an hour from Paris. As for the Chteau de Sancy la Catounire*** it nestles in 5 hectares
of parkland, in the heart of Brie, on the edge of the Champagne region. Finally, more modern and on the banks
of a lake, the Vienna International Dream Castle hotel Disneyland Paris**** is a 397-bedroomed hotel close
Disneyland Paris but with all the tranquility of the countryside. Classic rooms or family rooms all offer a view
of the garden, the lake or the countryside. As for the seven Disneyland Paris hotels, you can choose from the
simplest to the most luxurious; all are situated in the heart of an enormous park of more than 2,000 hectares
including not only the Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios theme parks but also a golf course, lakes and forest.

>

CHTEAU DE MONTVILLARGENNE
Avenue Franois Mathet, Gouvieux
Tel +33 (0) 3 44 62 36 36
www.chateaudemontvillargenne.com

>

CHTEAU DE SANCY LA CATOUNIRE

1 place de lglise, Sancy les Meaux
Tel +33 (0) 1 60 25 77 77
www.chateaudesancy.com

>

CHTEAU DE VILLIERS-LE-MAHIEU
Rue du Centre, Villiers-le-Mahieu
Tel +33 (0) 1 34 87 44 25
www.chateauvilliers.com

>

CHTEAU DES BONDONS

47-49 rue des Bondons, La Fert sous Jouarre
Tel +33 (0) 1 60 22 00 98
www.chateaudesbondons.com

>

DISNEYS HOTEL NEW YORK****

DISNEYS NEWPORT BAY CLUB HOTEL***
DISNEYS SEQUOIA LODGE HOTEL***
DISNEYS HOTEL CHEYENNE**
DISNEYS SANTA FE HOTEL**
DISNEYS RANCH DAVY CROCKETT
DISNEYLAND HOTEL*****
Tel +33 (0) 8 25 30 60 30
www.disneylandparis.com

>

DOMAINE DU TREMBLAY SUR MAULDRE

2 place de lglise, Le Tremblay sur Mauldre
Tel +33 (0) 1 34 94 25 70
www.domainedutremblay.com

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>

RADISSON BLU HOTEL BOULOGNE

33 avenue douard Vaillant, Boulogne
Tel +33 (0) 1 46 08 85 00
www.radissonblu.com/hotel-parisboulogne

>

TRIANON PALACE
1 boulevard de la Reine, Versailles
Tel +33 (0) 1 30 84 50 00
www.trianonpalace.fr

>

VIENNA INTERNATIONAL DREAM CASTLE HOTEL DISNEYLAND PARIS

40 avenue de la Fosse des Pressoirs, Marne la Valle
Tel +33 (0) 1 64 17 90 16
www.dreamcastle-hotel.com

18th

17th

9th

8th
SAINT JAMES PARIS

19th

TERRASS HOTEL

10th

2nd
1st

16th

SAINT JAMES & ALBANY

3rd
11th

HTEL MONTALEMBERT

7th

20th

4th
6th
5th

HTEL DU PRINTEMPS

12th

15th
14th

13th

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Buzz on meetings
P A R I S N E W S // J U LY 2 0 1 1

n61

Transport: Key to successful event planning. Not even in his wildest imaginings
could Jules Verne have foreseen that it would one day take less than 2 hours and 40 minutes to get from
London to Paris. However, cutting down on travel time alone doesnt free up peoples schedules. Time is a
crucial factor for successful event organisation. Organisers deciding the venue and delegates deciding whether to
attend both want to minimise their travel time and maximise the time spent at the event. Travel time is no longer
calculated merely on the basis of the distance between a journeys origin and destination. The choice of transport
takes several factors into account price, safety, comfort and a reliable estimation of speed. Transport can also be
fun, and Paris travel professionals offer many ways to turn a business trip into an exciting incentive event.

Lots of ways of getting around to choose from

Paris has a wide range of transport options, both public and individual, to suit all needs. The Paris le-de-France
region boasts an exceptionally large, fast and reliable transport network comprising 16 metro lines stopping at
381 stations, 5 express regional train lines and 3 tram lines. On the RATP website, it is possible to enter a
departure and destination station to find the best itinerary and the estimated travel time, see all the options
and work out how much it will cost. For organized events such as congresses, the RATP has set up a dedicated
service for organizers to enable them to distribute complimentary or paying transport passes adaptated.
Then of course theres the official website of the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau for the purchase of the Visit
Paris travel card pass in advance of a stay. The pass gives access to all the citys public services the metro,
RER regional trains, buses and trams and avoid on having to queue up at a terminal to buy tickets.
Besides an excellent public transport system, Paris also has a variety of individual and personalised transport
options, including more than 16,000 licensed taxis, which can be hailed at any time of day or night. All the
Paris airports and train stations are well served by taxi companies and self-employed taxi drivers, and there
are several dial-a-cab firms to contact for home or office pick-ups at a specific time.
Various companies also provide chauffeur-driven vehicles of all types limousines, minibuses, coaches and even
motorcycles! These are usually to be booked in advance. Some upscale chauffeur-driven limousine rentals come
with a host of additional services to offer passengers total comfort, e.g. being met off the plane and fast-tracked
through immigration, or met at the door of the train compartment on arrival with luggage carried to the car. The
drivers are all multilingual, and the air-conditioned passenger section of each car is stocked with newspapers
in French and English, and, on request, champagne in the minibar. The main chauffer-driven car rental agencies
in Paris are Aca Savac Tourisme, Biribin Limousines, Cab Service Prestige, Car Service, Chab Limousines, Gasnier
Service Limousine, Laisser Passer, Paris Major Limousine International, ParisMinivan, Paris Royal Limousine,
PariShuttle and Visual/Transdev. Most companies require bookings for airport or train station pick-ups 48 hours
before arrival in Paris.
Alternatively, it is possible to hire a self-drive car at Paris train stations and airports. Service desks for hire
companies such as Sixt are located in the arrivals hall. Visitors would be well advised to book in advance to
ensure a rental car is available when they arrive at the airport or train station.
And, for the athletically inclined, Velib bikes are available to rent at 1,450 docking stations throughout Paris
and in 30 suburban towns.

Getting to central Paris from Paris-Orly and Paris-Charles de

Gaulle airports
The terminals at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport are all connected by a free shuttle train, the CDGVal, an Aroports
de Paris service available 24/7, fast and frequent. From the airports, there are several ways to get to central Paris
PARIS NEWS // PARIS CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU N61 // BUZZ ON MEETINGS // JULY 2011

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from the airports. In addition to the bus lines, a regional express train runs every 4 to 7 minutes from 5am to
1am (a full schedule is available on the RATP website). Air France coaches run between the airports and a few
stops in the city (route and schedule on the website), and taxis are available 24 hours a day. There is a separate
parking area for private cars and motorcycle taxis with driver to wait for their clients, which must be booked in
advance.

>

AROPORTS DE PARIS
www.aeroportsdeparis.fr

>

ACA SAVAC TOURISME

Tel +33 (0) 1 30 52 45 00
www.savac-tourisme.com

>

BIRIBIN LIMOUSINES
Tel +33 (0) 1 43 48 65 65
www.biribinlimousines.com

>

CAB SERVICE PRESTIGE

Tel +33 (0) 1 75 62 01 63
www.cabservice-prestige.com

>

CAR SERVICE
Tel +33 (0) 9 81 24 42 44
www.carservice.fr

>

CHAB LIMOUSINES
Tel +33 (0) 1 41 20 95 10
www.chabe-limousines.com

>

GASNIER SERVICE LIMOUSINE

Tel +33 (0) 1 48 22 18 18
www.gasnier-limousine.com

>

LAISSER PASSER
Tel +33 (0) 1 49 70 70 10
www.laisserpasser.fr

>

LES CARS AIR FRANCE

Tel +33 (0) 8 92 35 08 20
www.lescarsairfrance.com

>

PARIS MAJOR LIMOUSINE INTERNATIONAL

Tel +33 (0) 1 44 52 50 00
www.1st-limousine-services.com

>

PARISMINIVAN
Tel +33 (0) 1 39 13 20 64
www.parisminivan.com

>

PARIS ROYAL LIMOUSINE

Tel +33 (0) 6 99 53 68 68
www.parisroyallimousine.com

>

PARISHUTTLE
Tel +33 (0) 1 53 39 18 18
www.parishuttle.com

>

RATP
www.ratp.fr
For the congress pass: ventes.externes@ratp.fr

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>

SIXT SAS
Tel +33 (0) 1 44 38 55 55
www.sixt.fr

>

VLIB
www.velib.paris.fr

>

VISUAL/TRANSDEV
Tel +33 (0) 1 53 48 39 40
www.visual-tourisme.com

>

Single number for all Paris taxi companies

Tel +33 (0) 1 45 30 30 30

Turning utilitarian transport into an enjoyable way to sightsee

By car or bike
Why not give your incentive trip an original touch with an offbeat car or bike tour of Paris? These tours are
organised by a number of specialised firms. A French and English-speaking driver acts as your guide on tours
in a beautifully restored vintage Citron 2CV car, organised by companies such as Paris Authentic, 4 roues sous
1 parapluie and The Good Time Company. The itinerary takes you through Paris neighbourhoods, well-known
monuments and lesser-known attractions. These companies offer both daytime and nighttime tours. The
itinerary can be drawn up in advance, and even customised for teambuilding activities.
Bicycle rental firms such as Paris Bike Tour and Paris Vlo Cest Sympa offer bike tours in the company of
a bilingual guide. Tours mostly use bike lanes, and are therefore quite safe.
Another unusual way to explore Paris is by Segway. These electric two wheel machines are a great way to
cruise along the riverbanks. Segway tour company Mobilboard also organises urban orienteering and treasure
hunts, which make for an enjoyable and offbeat team building activity. This personal transportation machine
is very easy to learn to operate!

>

4 ROUES SOUS 1 PARAPLUIE

Tel +33 (0) 1 58 59 27 82
www.4roues-sous-1parapluie.com

>

MOBILBOARD
Tel +33 (0) 9 51 65 15 90
www.mobilboard.com

>

>

PARIS VLO CEST SYMPA

Tel +33 (0) 1 48 87 60 01
www.parisvelosympa.com
PARIS AUTHENTIC
Tel +33 (0) 6 64 50 44 19
www.parisauthentic.com

>

PARIS BIKE TOUR

Tel +33 (0) 1 42 74 22 14
www.parisbiketour.net

>

THE GOOD TIME COMPANY

Tel +33 (0) 1 78 69 40 86
www.thegoodtimecompany.fr

PARIS NEWS // PARIS CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU N61 // BUZZ ON MEETINGS // JULY 2011

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 Along the water

A cruise along the Seine or a Paris canal is always one of the highlights of any incentive trip to the French
capital its a leisurely way to sightsee in Paris, with the added pleasure of a boat trip. Several companies
offer cruises through central Paris on anything from a yacht to a paddle boat Bateaux Parisiens, Les
Calanques, the Compagnie des Bateaux Roue, the Marina de Paris and Yachts de Paris.
Individual headphones are provided to listen to commentary in several languages, and lunch, dinner or cocktails
can be organised on board. Canauxrama and Paris Canal organise cruises along the Paris canals. These cruises
are slower than the ones on the Seine, with the memorable experience of passing through several locks.
For a water-based incentive trip including accommodation, Le VIP Paris has a floating yacht-hotel where participants
can have dinner and then sleep on board in luxurious cabins, lulled by the gentle lapping sound of the Seine.
And then theres the Batofar, a permanently moored lighthouse boat, with a restaurant and a great choice of
music to dance the night away.

>

BATEAUX PARISIENS
Tel +33 (0) 8 25 01 01 01
www.bateauxparisiens.com

>

BATOFAR
Tel +33 (0) 1 53 60 17 00
www.batofar.org

>

CANAUXRAMA
Tel +33 (0) 1 42 39 15 00
www.canauxrama.com

>

COMPAGNIE DES BATEAUX ROUE

Tel +33 (0) 1 40 59 60 60
www.bateaux-a-roue.fr

>

LE VIP PARIS
Tel +33 (0) 1 48 84 45 30
www.le-vip-paris.com

>

LES CALANQUES
Tel +33 (0) 1 55 26 80 80
www.les-calanques.com

>

MARINA DE PARIS
Tel +33 (0) 1 43 43 40 30
www.marina-de-paris.com

>

PARIS CANAL
Tel +33 (0) 1 42 40 96 97
www.pariscanal.com

>

YACHTS DE PARIS
Tel +33 (0) 1 44 54 14 70
www.yachtsdeparis.fr

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Paris seen by
P A R I S N E W S // J U LY 2 0 1 1

n61

Managing director of Ryst-Dupeyron, the renowned fine wine and liquor specialist,
Franoise Richard-Ryst enthusiastically describes the treasures of this familyowned business set up more than a century ago in superb premises in the
heart of the 7th arrondissement.

How long have you been living in Paris?

F. R-R. : I was born in the family home in Condom in Gascony, and I feel a strong connection to my hometown.
But Ive lived in Paris since I was a child, so I also think of myself as a Parisian by choice, if not by birth.
What is special about Ryst-Dupeyron?
F. R-R. : Our company is unusual in that it has remained a family-owned business since it was set up in 1905 by
my great-grandfather Joseph Dupeyron. Im very pleased to be working these days with the fifth generation
my two daughters Aurlie and Nathalie. We offer a one-off service here in Paris we can personalize any bottle
sold at our Rue du Bac shop while you wait. We use special software to print out a personalized label within
seconds for a gift, a special occasion like a birthday or marriage or even to celebrate the signing of a business
contract. The label is identical to the one on the traditional basquaise bottles of Armagnac. We place it over the
label of the bottle of liquor or wine youve purchased, and seal it with red wax. The personalized labels are very
popular with our regular customers as well as our international visitors. We also import a wide range of port
and whisky. We produce a special brandy by maturing our Armagnac in casks previously containing rum or Premier
Cru Sauternes wine. This procedure is known as cask finish and gives the Armagnac a particular flavour and
aroma.
Where do the majority of visitors to your lovely Rue du Bac shop come from Paris, the French provinces or
abroad?
F. R-R. : We opened our Paris shop, which has a listed faade, more than 30 years ago. So we have a very loyal
customer base here in the neighbourhood. We also get a lot of people from all over Paris famous names as
well as ordinary people because they know theyll be given a friendly welcome and good advice. The profile
of our Parisian and French clientele has been changing over the past few years. We are increasingly drawing
much younger customers, who have been brought up by their parents to put quality over quantity.
We also get a lot of international customers, who appreciate our products and come to see us at any time of
year. Here, too, the customer profile is changing. We have traditionally had a lot of American and Japanese
customers, but weve been seeing increasing numbers of Russian, Chinese and Brazilian customers coming in
over the past few years. Each nationality is different. Chinese customers have usually heard about us through
word-of mouth, while Brazilians are genuinely passionate about liquors and fine wine. Few of them are connoisseurs,
as Brazil doesnt have much of a wine and spirit making industry and imported products are heavily taxed, but
theyre extremely interested in our products, and eager to learn about wines and spirits.
How are you adapting to the flow of new customers from emerging countries such as Brazil, China and Russia?
F. R-R. : We have extremely loyal staff. Most of them joined us when they were very young and are still working
with us 20 or 30 years down the line. So they are perfectly aware of our customers needs and expectations, be
PARIS NEWS // PARIS CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU N61 // PARIS SEEN BY // JULY 2011

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they French or international. They all speak French and English, like the majority of our international clientele.
Our Russian customers also appreciate the fact that one of our staff members speaks fluent Russian, which is
really important to them.
Do you have an anecdote to tell us about a specific purchase or request on the part of a customer?
F. R-R. : Our cellar master Didier once had an American client stop by with her children. Shed already bought from
us, and wanted to pick up a bottle of champagne for her husbands birthday. They started talking at length about
champagne and wine, and in the end she decided the occasion was special enough to warrant a jeroboam of
Chateaux Margaux 1995, one of the treasures of our cellar quite a change from her original request for a decent
bottle of champagne!
How do the tasting sessions you organise in the Rue du Bac shop work?
F. R-R. : We organise tasting sessions by appointment in our shop for tiny groups of two to three people. We start
out with a light cocktail made with orange juice and Armagnac, and a short film about our company and our cellars
in Condom. Our cellar masters then have participants taste four or five types of Armagnac, port or whisky, from more
recent to older vintages. Depending on peoples reactions, we offer advice on the product most likely to suit their
taste. Ive noticed that we attract a variety of people of different ages and as many women as men at our sessions,
which are held in French and English, and thats wonderful.
Do you also have shops or sales points abroad?
F. R-R. : No, but in 2001 we set up a website, on which we can take orders from all over the world. The website
catalogue features our entire range of wines, champagnes and spirits in fact its better stocked than our Paris
cellar, where were starting to run out of space! The website also offers the personalized labelling service, which
is a feature that people buying gifts and our business clientele really appreciate.
Whats your favourite Paris district?
F. R-R. : I like the entire city. I see Paris as a collection of lots of different little cities. But I do particularly like
the 7th arrondissement, where I work, and the 17th, where I live. Theres a village atmosphere in both these
districts people all know and greet each other and thats really pleasant in our modern world, where virtual
contact is increasingly replacing face-to-face contact!
Whats your favourite shopping itinerary and what are your favourite shops in Paris?
F. R-R. : I have to admit my daughters usually have to force me to go shopping! I like going to Shanghai Tang
with them to browse the chic and original clothing and accessories, and to Tods for the stylish shoes. But I
instinctively tend to shop in our district, at shops like Nouez Moi, which has lovely embroidered household
linen and charming baskets. And, as Ive got a sweet tooth, I love going to Pierre Herms to buy pastries.
And what are your favourite restaurants in Paris?
F. R-R. : I really enjoy going to dinner in a small Vietnamese restaurant in the 17th arrondissement, Le Palanquin,
which is run by a woman and her two daughters. Its a tiny place, but youre given a very warm welcome and the food
is remarkably good.
Do you visit Paris museums in your free time?
F. R-R. : I take genuine pleasure in visiting one of the numerous museums in Paris on Sunday mornings were
lucky to have such a vast choice. There are three museums Im always especially happy to visit the Muse
d'Orsay, the Muse Rodin and the Muse Jacquemart Andr.
If Paris were a colour, what colour would it be? Or a piece of music? Or a perfume or smell? Or a fine liquor?
F. R-R. : Your readers might be surprised to hear that the colour Paris symbolises for me is turquoise its a
vibrant colour, both calm and bold, which corresponds to the citys atmosphere. For the music, my first choice
would be Vivaldi. The fragrance is verbena and as for the fine liquor, Id choose a 1963 Armagnac with notes of
plum and vanilla
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>

RYST-DUPEYRON
79 rue du Bac, Paris 7th
Tel +33 (0) 1 45 48 80 93
www.vintageandco.com

>

LE PALANQUIN
4 place Boulnois, Paris 17th
Tel +33 (0) 1 43 80 46 90

>

MUSE JACQUEMART ANDR

158 boulevard Haussmann, Paris 8th
Tel +33 (0) 1 45 62 11 59
www.musee-jacquemart-andre.com

>

MUSE DORSAY
1 rue de la Lgion dHonneur, Paris 7th
Tel +33 (0) 1 40 49 48 14
www.musee-orsay.fr

>

MUSE RODIN
79 rue de Varenne, Paris 7th
Tel +33 (0) 1 44 18 61 10
www.musee-rodin.fr

>

NOUEZ MOI
86 rue du Bac, Paris 7th
Tel +33 (0)1 45 48 84 25

>

PIERRE HERM
72 rue Bonaparte, Paris 6th
Tel +33 (0) 1 43 54 47 77
www.pierreherme.com

>

SHANGHAI TANG
Maison de la Chine
76 rue Bonaparte, Paris 6th
Tel +33 (0) 40 51 95 16
www.shanghaitang.com

>

TODS
44-46 rue du Dragon, Paris 6th
Tel +33 (0) 1 53 63 39 00
www.tods.com

18th

LE PALANQUIN

17th

19th
8th

MUSE JACQUEMART ANDR

9th
1st

3rd

11th

20th
MUSE DORSAY

16th

4th

MUSE RODIN
NOUEZ MOI
PIERRE HERM

2nd

10th

RYST-DUPEYRON
TODS
SHANGHAI TANG

7th
6th

5th

15th

12th
14th

13th

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