Source: Christmas in Paris – New Year in Paris – Paris Tourist Office

Looking for a new tradition? Go to Paris for Christmas or to ring in the new year! The city dressed up for the holidays will take your breath away — if you go to Paris during Christmas time, you might think the city got their nickname “The City of Light” from this time of year. (Actually, it was probably because they were the first European city to use gas lamps outside.) The entire city is bathed in Christmas lights, from storefronts and windows to trees and landscapes. As always, there is plenty to do, including visiting Christmas markets and seasonal ice rinks.

I have given details below of several of my favorite things to do in Paris this time of year. But first, here are 12 pictures of holidays past to see for yourself: Paris during the holidays is a must-do. Even if it’s just once in your lifetime.

Here are 3 of my favorite activities to do in Paris during the holidays:

“Reconnect” with loved ones on the ice; just be sure to wear gloves.

1. Go ice skating at one of the temporary ice skating rinks, such as: inside the Grand Palais (avenue Winston Churchill, from 14 December 2016 – 2 January 2017), or outside on the Eiffel Tower (5 avenue Anatole, from 15 December 2016 – 19 February 2017). Ice skating isn’t just for kids: it can be a good way to “reconnect” with the one you love, especially if one or both of you have a hard time staying upright on the ice. Doesn’t that sound like fun for the whole family? Just be sure to wear gloves as protection from the cold and others’ skates in case you fall. Or is that when you fall?

Christmas markets are a great place to eat and people-watch.

2. Walk and admire, eat, drink, and buy gifts at Christmas markets. There are Christmas markets all over Paris, but probably the largest is on the Champs-Elysees. The highlights of my visits to this market in 2014 were talking to a Moscovite about his black lacquer boxes he had for sale and eating a crepe with Grand Marnier. (Okay, I might have had two.) I also got a serving of German-made goulash that was so large I had leftovers for 2 more meals. Since you’re in France, you can also purchase hot and cold liquor drinks to warm your bones.

Celebrating New Year’s on the Champs-Elysees? Hope you like crowds!

3. Ring in the new year on the Champs-Elysees (31 December 2016). Could there be anything more romantic than celebrating New Year’s Eve with the one(s) you love under the stars in Paris? I doubt it.

Salut !

 Fouquet’s Paris and Galeries Lafayette by Elsa L. Fridl. All other images from Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Featured image, Galeries Lafayette by Brett. The Eiffel Tower by C. A Paris Street by Dirk Haun. Au Printemps by Brett. Vendome Place by PhOtOnQuAnTIQuE. Notre Dame by Linus Mak. A Christmas Decoration by Jean-Yves Romanetti. The Champs-Elysees by Daxis. A Tree with Lights (“Christmas in Paris”) by John Stanforth. Decorations at Notre Dame (“Notre Dame dans la Boule”) by Luca Vanzella. Paris Opera House by Chris Chabot. Ice Skating on the Eiffel Tower by C. Christmas Market by Linus Mak. Celebrating New Year’s by Falcon Photography.

Saturday. What is it about Paris in winter that makes me so lazy in the A.M.? The sun even acts like it wants to stay hidden under the covers (of clouds). I will say the anti-histamine knocked me out pretty good. I felt a little “other worldly” when I first got up, though I got up earlier than yesterday. I ate breakfast. My appetite was back. I went to the grocery store and the dry cleaner. I tried to go to the Post (Office), but it had closed at Noon. Then I took a bus (#30) to Trocedero to see the Eiffel Tower. I took a few pictures, including a couple of a pair of newlyweds, and then had an espresso and glace chocolat (chocolate ice cream). Then I walked to Champs-Elysees, and along the way, I took some beautiful pictures of Christmas windows and other Christmas decorations. The French do everything with beauty and style. The decorations are a feast for the eyes.

At the top of Champs-Elysees I took a few photos of the Arc de Triomphe. I walked some more, took a few pictures of some French soldiers (retired) and headed into the Metro. I ate, worked out, took a bath, and now am settling in for the night.

I forgot to say that when I came back to the hostel yesterday 2 women had arrived from Pakistan. I had a conversation with one of them and she told me how much she loves makeup. She said that when she recently went shopping with her husband she told him she wanted another eye shadow. “But you have one just like it,” was his response. “But I want that one!” she said. It was such a riot to hear her talk. I think the only people who don’t think human beings are the same world over are people who don’t travel. I nearly fell off my bunk from laughing. They leave tomorrow for Italy. They are both sweet, but one is so…..messy. Why leave dirty tissue on the bed?

Salut !

All images by Elsa L. Fridl.

Here are 7 factors to consider when booking your destination wedding in Paris hotel for you and your guests, as well as 4 recommendations.

Raph & John at Le Grand Hotel, Paris.

1. Price. Whether you or your guests are paying for their rooms, the price or a room or a suite is an important factor. It is also likely negotiable if you have enough guests staying in the same hotel. Look at search sites such as TripAdvisor Price Finder or Trivago to find the best price for the type of room you want. Then call the hotel and tell them you have ‘x’ number of guests coming on ‘y’ date, and the best price you found online is ‘z.’ Ask them if they have a group rate, and if not, if they can do better than that price. Even better, before you call the hotel you really want, do the same for at least two other hotels; no matter if the other hotels two have enough rooms to accommodate you, your dream hotel will never know. It’s possible your dream hotel will give you a better price than the one you’ve quoted. If they give you a group rate, you will likely have to pay a deposit based on the total number of guests. Notes: It is important to do this in a phone call rather than an email. Also, if you are considering to hold your ceremony and/or reception at your hotel, be sure to give this information at the time of booking.

2. Type of rooms available – single/double/suite. Consider not just your needs, but the needs of your guests. Is anyone coming with a child? Will you have guests who are elderly or have special needs? Some guests will likely be more comfortable in a suite (with additional seating and space to move around) than a single or double room.

3. Location near ceremony and/or reception. It is said that while in Paris, you are never more than a 10-minute walk from a metro stop. Still, in the event of foul weather, you would want to be close to metro if that is your mode of transportation, or, if your ceremony/reception is on the outskirts of Paris, you will want to stay as close as possible to your venue. If it is important that you stay near your reception, search the address on Google and click on “Maps.” From there, use the Nearby search and search for hotels close to it. There will be many, most likely. At least it will help you narrow down your search.

4. Location in view of favorite landmark(s). Have you always dreamed of staying in the 7e in full view of the Eiffel Tower? You will pay handsomely for that view, regardless of what kind of room it is. Again, use Google Maps to locate your favorite landmark, and search Nearby for hotels.

5. Hotel also to be your ceremony and/or reception venue. If you hold your ceremony and/or reception at the hotel, it will certainly make it easier on your guests, if not yourself. Try to find a hotel with gardens or other public spaces so your guests won’t get bored with their surroundings.

6. Level of Luxury desired, including Wi-Fi (pronounced “wee-fee” in France). Gardens, restaurants, furnishings, all will have an impact on how you remember your wedding in Paris.

7. Close to metro and/or parking. Try to make it easy to get there. Check out the parking situation (if important) and tell your guests.

Le Bristol Paris
112 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore
75008 Paris

Phone: +33 01 53 43 43 00

A Mercedes parked outside Le Bristol Hotel.

Email: reservation@lebristolparis.com

Amenities: 3 restaurants (a 3-Michelin star and 1-Michelin star) and a bar; Spa Le Bristol by La Prairie, one of the world’s most luxurious skin care names; Swimming pool; Fitness Centre.

Metro: Saint-Phillippe-du-Roule

Le Bristol came to my attention when it was featured in Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris. I fell in love with the plush interiors of the rooms, the flowers, the elegant look of the place. And get this — what really did it for me was the trim moulding on the walls; that detail just speaks luxury to me. History? Le Bristol was built in the 18th century and features furniture in the Louis XV and Louis XVI styles, along with paintings and fine fabrics reflecting the eras. Chef Eric Frechon is a recipient of the “Meilleur Ouvrier de France” (“Best Craftsman in France”) title for his 3-Michelin star restaurant Epicure.The hotel makes many Top Hotels in Paris lists. Located in the 8th arrondissement, it’s located in-between the Champs-Elysees and boulevard Haussmann, two luxury shopping areas. Le Bristol is a 5-minute walk from Saint-Philippe-du-Roule metro.

Intercontinental Le Grand Hotel Paris
2 rue Scribe
75009 Paris

Phone: +33 01 40 07 32 32 (Hotel)

Raph & John’s reception at the Opera Ballroom.

Email: parhbevent@ihg.com

Amenities: Cafe, Bar & La Verriere Restaurant (set in a winter garden); Spa treatments; Sauna; Shoe shine; Private limousine; Business Center.

Metro: Opera

The Intercontinental Le Grand Hotel Paris, also known as “Le Grand Hotel,” opened in 1862 and is classified as historic. The 9th arrondissement is mostly known as the home of the Opera House, and Le Grand Hotel offers floodlit views of it. The hotel’s Opera Ballroom, which Raph & John rented for their reception, is said to be the most renowned ballroom in Paris, and is so stunning it took my breath away the first time I saw it.

Four Seasons George V Hotel Paris
31 avenue George V
75008 Paris

Phone: +33 01 49 52 70 00

Courtyard at the Four Seasons George V Hotel.

Email: Contact Page

Amenities: Spa (Massages, facials, hair salon); Health Club; Pool & whirlpool; Saunas & steam rooms; 24-hour Business Centre; Multilingual Concierge; Complimentary standard WiFi; Babysitting services; Internet access in meeting rooms; Family activities.

Metro: George V

I became familiar with the Four Seasons brand by the chain’s DC hotel where I used to have tea. Luxurious and elegant, I always felt at home there. The Four Seasons George V Hotel came into my radar when it was featured in the movie “French Kiss.” As you might imagine, it’s a 10-minute walk to the Arc de Triomphe via the Champs-Elysees, the most famous shopping district in Paris. Other than shopping, the 8th arrondissement is known for the Place de la Concorde and the Elysees Palace, the official residence of the President of France.

Les Jardins de la Villa & Spa (Boutique Hotel)
5 rue Belidor
75017 Paris

The Les Jardins de la Villa is modern and ultra chic.

Phone: +33 01 53 81 01 10

Email: info@jardinsdevilla.com or Contact Page

Amenities: Garden terrace; Sauna; Steam bath; Massages; Fitness room; unlimited Wi-Fi; balcony with upgraded rooms; children under age 2 stay free.

Metro: Porte Maillot

This boutique is small with 33 rooms but has a lot of character and class; it is considered a small luxury hotel. Located in the 17th arrondissement, a relatively quiet living area for mostly upper-class and middle class young couples and families with children, it is a 10-15 minute walk to the Arc de Triomphe, and very close to Porte Maillot metro.

Au revoir!

Raph & John at the Intercontinental Le Grand Hotel by Agence Tophos, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Mercedes SLS outside Le Bristol Hotel by Ian McWilliams, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Raph & John’s reception at the Opera Ballroom by Agence Tophos, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Courtyard at the Four Seasons George V Hotel by Calwhiz, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Les Jardins de la Villa by TripAdvisor.

I am featuring photos of Raph & John’s wedding in Paris for this series (see above). I want to make it clear that I do not know this couple: I selected their photos from an album on Flickr because I love their theme and the photos are available for use under the CCBY 2.0 license. If I married in Paris, I would want a theme somewhat similar to theirs–in terms of colors and formality.

President John F. Kennedy’s Eternal Flame and grave at Arlington National Cemetery.

Today Americans pause to remember that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on this day in 1963 while riding in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas. The event is so seared in our memories that most Americans who were alive then remember where they were when they heard the President had been shot.

What many people probably do not know is that JFK’s eternal flame at his grave site in Arlington National Cemetery was requested by his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, at least in part because of the impression the eternal flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier under the Arc de Triomphe had had on her when she visited France with her husband in 1961. President Kennedy and French President Charles de Gaulle had a good, diplomatic relationship based on mutual respect. Their relationship was further cemented by Mrs. Kennedy, who wowed the French people with her grace, her style, and her ability to speak French fluently. French President de Gaulle was equally impressed: He is said to have told President Kennedy: “Your wife knows more about French history than any French woman.”

The Eternal Flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France.

After her husband was killed, Jacqueline Kennedy requested an eternal flame be part of his grave site. There was some resistance to her request, but Mrs. Kennedy was insistent.  The permanent John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame grave site was consecrated and opened to the public on March 15, 1967, which replaced a temporary grave and eternal flame used for Kennedy’s funeral three days after his assassination.

The site was designed by architect John Carl Warnecke, a long-time friend of President Kennedy.

Sadly, tragically, Kennedy was killed on de Gaulle’s 73^rd birthday. Kennedy’s eternal flame and death on the French President’s birthday forever link the U.S. and France in friendship and sorrow.

Au revoir.

Image of JFK’s Eternal Flame and Grave Site by Klinton Smith, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Image of Eternal Flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier under the Arc de Triomphe by Elsa L. Fridl.

References:

“JFK and Jackie’s Secret Life Between the (Book) Covers, ” by Thurston Clarke, blogs.wsj.com, published July 25, 2013, 12:00 P.M. ET. Clarke also wrote “JFK’s Last Hundred Days: The Transformation of a Man and The Emergence of a Great President,” published by Penguin Press, 2013.

“John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0.

I. M. Pei’s pyramid at the Louvre is gorgeous at night.

1. Louvre
1st arrondissement
Metro: Palais Royal-Musee du Louvre

The Louvre is the most visited museum in the world and is known by many as the home of the Mona Lisa. It was originally built as a fortress by Phillip II in the 12^th century; the only remnant of the original building still visible is in the crypt. The Louvre was altered frequently in the Middle Ages, and Charles V converted the building into a residence. Francis I renovated the site in French Renaissance style, and it was his collection (including the Mona Lisa) that became the nucleus of the Louvre’s holdings. After Louis XIV chose Versailles as his residence in 1682, the Louvre was used as a residence for artists. During the French Revolution, the Louvre was transformed into a public museum.

It has been featured in many movies, of late at the beginning and the end of The Da Vinci Code (2006). I. M. Pei’s pyramid in front of the Louvre is gorgeous lit up at night.

A grieving mother is aided by a magical cowboy in a segment of Paris je t’aime.

2. Place des Victories
2nd arrondissement
Metro: Bourse, Pyramides or Etienne Marcel

The Place de Victories is a round-about (circle), located a short distance northeast from the Palais Royal and straddling the border between the 1^st and the 2^nd arrondissements. It is at the confluence of six streets: rue de la Feuillade, rue Vide Gousset, rue d’Aboukir, rue Etienne Marcel, rue Croix des Petits Champs, and rue Catinat. At the center of the Place des Victoires is an equestrian monument in honor of King Louis XIV, celebrating the Treaties of Nijmegen, which concluded in 1678-79. King Louis XIV negotiated the Treaty of Nijmegen which ended the Franco-Dutch War of 1672-78; this lay the groundwork for other treaties involving France, the Dutch Republic, Spain, Brandenburg, Sweden, Denmark, the Prince-Bishopric of Muster, and the Holy Empire – collectively, The Treaties of Nijmegen.

In Paris, je t’aime (2006), in a story of the same name as the arrondissement, a mother (Juliette Binoche) has a hard time accepting her son (Martin Combes) has died, and she is helped by a magical cowboy (Willem Dafoe), which her son loved. This also seems to be a commentary on French culture: In America, it wouldn’t be unusual for a mother to mourn for months, but in this segment, a father (Hippolyte Girardot) tells his wife, “It’s been a week, already.”

The beautiful garden at Square du Templar used to house the Knight Templars’ palace before being torn down to modernize. On the main lawn, there is a plaque with the names of 85 children from the 3rd arrondissement deported to Auschwitz — one of France’s many memorials to those lost in WWII.

3. Square du Temple
3rd arrondissement
Metro: Temple

The Knights Templar are only referred to in flash back in The Da Vinci Code. Still, they are an integral part of the story, since in Dan Brown’s storyline, they were charged with protecting a secret bloodline of Christ.

The Knights Templar were real, though Dan Brown mixed fact with fiction in his portrayal of them in “The Da Vinci Code.”

In reality, they protected pilgrims in the Holy Land, and were officially endorsed by the Catholic Church. Their secret initiation ceremony created mistrust of the order and Phillip IV ordered many of the Knights Templar to be rounded up and burned at the stake on Friday, October 13, 1307. Some believe this is the origin of Friday the 13^th being an unlucky day.

Notre Dame has grounds on the other side for quiet contemplation — or for learning the one you loved loved you in return, as in “Midnight in Paris.”

4. Notre Dame
6 Parvis Notre Dame – Place Jean-Paul II
4th arrondissement
Metro: Cite, Hotel de Ville, or St. Michel

Notre Dame was completed in 1345 and is among the first buildings in the world to use flying buttresses. It was built in the French Gothic architectural style.

In Midnight in Paris (2011), Notre Dame plays a supporting role, since the action doesn’t take place in its hallowed interior, but rather in the serene park surrounding the cathedral. While sitting on a park bench, a museum docent (Carla Bruni) translates a diary for Gil (Owen Wilson) written by Adriana (Marion Cotillard), a 1920s French woman he falls in love with by going back in time while visiting Paris.

Shakespeare and Company plays only a minor role in “Midnight in Paris,” but like a good-looking actor who is destined to be discovered, you notice it.

5. Shakespeare and Company
37 rue de la Bucherie
5th arrondissement
Metro: St. Michel

The original Shakespeare and Company opened in 1919 and moved in 1922. In the early 1920s, it was a gathering place for writers such as Ernest Hemingway and James Joyce. This first location closed during the German occupation of Paris and never re-opened.

The current Shakespeare and Company opened in 1951 under another name and was later renamed in tribute to the original book store.

There are lots of nooks and well-used chairs in Shakespeare and Company to curl up in and read.

Shakespeare and Company only plays a minor role in Midnight in Paris (a walk-by, more or less), but like a good-looking actor who is destined to be discovered, you notice it. The bookstore has lots of nooks and crannies and used chairs to curl up in and read. You can even buy a book if you want.

With such an emphasis on fresh food in France, it makes sense there would be many outdoor markets like the one on Rue Mouffetard.

6. Rue Mouffetard
The market starts at Place Contrescarpe and ends below at St. Medard Church.
5th arrondissement
Metro: Censier Daubenton

Rue Mouffetard is one of Paris’s oldest neighborhoods, dating back to Neolithic Times. Since food – especially fresh food – has always been a national passion in France with many people shopping for food daily, it makes sense that fruit, vegetables, and meat would be sold at such street markets at their peak of freshness.

The interior shots of St. Sulpice in “The Da Vinci Code” were filmed on a sound stage. You might be surprised by how dark the interior really is.

In Julie & Julia (2009), Julia Child (Meryl Streep) shops for groceries at rue Mouffetard where she ingratiates herself to the locals with her charm and personality.

7. St. Sulpice
2 rue Palatine
6th arrondissement
Metro: St. Sulpice or Mabillon

St. Sulpice is the second largest church in the city and is dedicated to Sulpitius the Pious, a 7^th century bishop of Bourges, France. Coincidentally, the church is the second built on the site: the original was built in the 13^th century. Construction of the current structure began in 1646 and took over 100 years to be what it is today.

Can you imagine being trapped in a falling elevator in the Eiffel Tower’s elevator shaft?

In The Da Vinci Code, Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks)  searches for the “Rose Line,” a fictional name given to the Paris Meridian which is marked by a brass strip on the interior floor of the church. The real exterior of the church is used, but the interior was digitally recreated in the studio.

8. Eiffel Tower
Champ de Mars, 5 avenue Anatole
7th arrondissement
Metro: Bir-Hakeim or Trocadero

The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 to be that year’s entrance arch to the 1889 World’s Fair. It is named after Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, the engineer who designed it. Many people didn’t think the design was feasible; later, it was criticized for being an eyesore and many people called for it to be dismantled. Cooler heads prevailed. Today, it is one of the most recognized structures in the world: One cannot think of France without envisioning the Eiffel Tower.

The Eiffel Tower has played many starring and supporting roles in movies, but perhaps one of the most unforgettable is in Superman II (1980) when Superman (Christopher Reeve) saves Louis Lane (Margot Kidder) by flying under the falling elevator she’s in and hurling it into space (letting her off first!), inadvertently freeing three villains from a glass prism-jail when the elevator shatters it in space. This was a white-knuckle stunt to watch at the time.

The Pont Alexandre III is behind the Grand Palais, which is at the east end of the Champs-Elysees.

9. Pont Alexandre III
8th arrondissement
Metro: Charles de Gaulle Etoile (walk down length of the Champs-Elysees to the Grand Palais, the bridge is behind it), George V, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Champs-Elysees, or Concorde

Gabrielle (Lea Seydoux) loves Cole Porter and Paris in the rain in “Midnight in Paris.”

The bridge spans the Seine River and connects the Champs-Elysees quarter with those of Invalides and Eiffel Tower. It is widely regarded as the most beautiful and most ornate bridge in Paris. It was built to celebrate a treaty between France and Russia.

At the end of Midnight in Paris, Gil (Owen Wilson) runs into Gabrielle (Lea Seydoux), a young French woman whose values reflect his own. It starts to rain while they are walking on the bridge, and she tells him she doesn’t mind getting wet, and that Paris is most beautiful in the rain. Since his ex-fiancee hated getting wet and couldn’t see the beauty of Paris, philosophically speaking, the bridge serves as a transition for Gil to follow his values and find personal happiness as a result.

The Arc de Triomphe features exquisite detail, including 6 reliefs on the facades of the Arch and 21 sculpted roses on its interior.

10. Arc de Triomphe
Place Charles de Gaulle
8th arrondissement
Metro: Charles de Gaulle Etoile

The Arc de Triomphe was completed in 1836 to honor France’s war dead of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. It was featured in The Day of the Jackal (1973) when French President Charles de Gaulle (Adrian Cayla-Legrand) rides in a parade to celebrate Liberation Day (August 25, 1944) when Paris was liberated from the Germans at the end of WWII. During filming, the actor playing de Gaulle was mistaken for the former French President – even though he had died in 1969 – causing at least one person to faint. The filming took place during a real Liberation Day parade.

Fountain at Place de la Concorde at sunset.

11. Place de la Concorde Fountain
8th arrondissement
Metro: Concorde

There are 2 fountains at Place de la Concorde: the south fountain, Maritime Navigation, and the north, River Commerce and Navigation — so named because they were built in the shadow of the Ministry of the Navy.  They were completed in 1840 during the reign of King Louis-Philippe.

In The Devil Wears Prada (2006), Andy (Anne Hathaway) throws her phone into one of the fountains when she’s “done” with Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep).

The Theatre de l’Athenee is said to be one of the most beautiful buildings in Paris.

12. Theatre de l’Athenee (also known as Theatre de l’Athenee-Louis-Jouvet)
7 rue Boudreau
9th arrondissement
Square de l’Opera-Louis Jouvet
Metro: Havre-Caumartin, Opera; RER: Auber

 The theatre was built in 1894 from the foyer of the previous theatre on the site. It is named after Louis Jouvet, who directed the theatre from 1934 – 1951. The theatre is classified as an historical monument.

In Hugo (2011), a boy (Asa Butterfield) lives alone in a clock tower after his father (Jude Law) and then a guardian (Ray Winstone) die. The boy tries to find a key to operate a robot his father left him. A magician named Georges Melies (Ben Kingsley), who eventually helps him, performs a magic trick in the theatre.

Gare du Nord serves approximately 190 million passengers per year.

13. Gare du Nord
112 rue de Maubeuge
10th arrondissement
Metro: Gare du Nord

The original Gare du Nord (“North Station”) was built in 1846. It was partially demolished in 1860 so it could expand. The station serves approximately 190 million travelers per year, making it the busiest railway station in Europe.

Gare du Nord railway station is enormous by anyone’s standards.

When Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) in The Bourne Identity (2002) first arrives in Paris, he locks his duffle bag full of spy paraphernalia in a locker in Gare du Nord. I’ve been in Gare du Nord several times and I’ve never seen lockers – I would think they would be a security risk – but I’ve never looked for them, either. I’ve always been too busy getting to where I want to go, similar to Mr. Bourne.

Le Pure Cafe is said to be a “genuine bistro experience.”

14. Le Pure Café
14 rue Jean Mace
11th arrondissement
Metro: Charonne

Le Pure Café is decorated in the Art Deco style and offers classic French dishes as well as burgers and cappuccino. It is often described as “a genuine bistro experience,” and is well-regarded by local Parisians.

Many people now associate Le Pure Café with the film “Before Sunset.”

While Paris landmarks, like A-List stars, are easy to spot in movies, cafés often play minor roles like that of an “extra” – important to the scene, though nameless. One such café is Le Pure Café in the 11^th arrondissement, in Before Sunset (2004), where Celine (Julie Delpy) and Jesse (Ethan Hawke) connect.

Le Train Bleu Restaurant, inside Gare de Lyon station, was named after a luxury train of the same name.

15. Le Train Bleu Restaurant
Gare de Lyon, Place Louis Armand
12th arrondissement
Metro: Gare de Lyon

Le Train Bleu is a restaurant built in 1901 in a hall of Gare de Lyon railway station. Initially called “Buffet de la Gare de Lyon,” it was renamed in 1963 after a luxury train of the same name that ran between Calais and the French Riviera. It is decorated in the Renaissance style with frescoes on the walls and ceilings, gilded cherubs, and light fixtures with numerous bulbs.

Le Train Bleu serves as the backdrop for Nikita’s (Anne Parillaud) first mission as a trained assassin in La Femme Nikita (1990). I fully admit I included Le Train Bleu because the décor is so gorgeous I couldn’t resist.

Avenue de Choisy, part of the Asian Quarter in Paris.

16. Quartier Asiatique (“Asian Quarter”)
13th arrondissement
Metro: Tolbiac, Olympiades, or Port d’Ivry

 Quartier Asiatique is roughly the shape of a triangle formed by the confluence of avenue de Choisy, avenue d’Ivry, and boulevard Massena, as well as the Les Olympiades complex. It is the largest commercial and cultural center for the Asian community of Paris.

 In the Port de Choisy segment of Paris je t’aime, a new beauty products salesman (Barbet Schroeder) runs into “sales resistance” by a salon owner (Li Xin) in Chinatown.

Doc (Roy Scheider) in “Marathon Man.”

Le Dome Cafe opened in 1898 and offers sumptuous seafood meals.

17. Le Dome Café
108 boulevard du Montparnasse
14th arrondissement
Metro: Vavin

Le Dome Café opened in 1898, and similar to Shakespeare and Company, served as a gathering place for writers and artists on the West Bank. Today, it is said to be one of the best seafood restaurants in Paris.

In Marathon Man (1976), Doc (Roy Scheider) meets with his superior Janeway (William Devane) at Le Dome Café to talk about his concerns for his safety.

Le Cordon Bleu was closed during the German occupation of France and reopened in 1946 under the tutelage of Madame Elisabeth Brassart.

18. Le Cordon Bleu
8 rue Leon, Delhomme
15th arrondissement
Metro: Convention

Le Cordon Bleu (“The Blue Ribbon”) is one of the world’s most renowned and prestigious cooking schools. The school has its roots in La Cuisinere Cordon Bleu Magazine founded by Marthe Distel in the late 19th century. The magazine featured cooking lessons by some of the best chefs in France. Le C0rdon Bleu opened in 1895 but closed during the German occupation of France (1940-1944). Madame Elisabeth Brassart relaunched the school in 1945 and managed it until her retirement in 1984.

In Julie & Julia, Julia famously attends Le Cordon Bleu cooking school, where she learns to master the art of French cooking.

The folding-over of rue Bouchut is a stunning special effect in “Inception.”

19. Rue Bouchut
15th arrondissement
Metro: Sevres-Lecorbe

Rue Bouchut is a quintessential Paris street due to its architecture: buildings with many stories and windows, wrought iron bars holding window boxes, and decorative molding giving the building facades definition and character. There is also a round-about at one end of the street. Perhaps it is the street’s quintessential French character that persuaded Christopher Nolan to select the location for a sequence in Inception, in which Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) teaches Ariadne (Ellen Page) about the dream state while they walk around Paris. While the two are talking, Ariadne folds rue Bouchut unto itself.

Rue Bouchut has a round-about at one end.

Unfortunately, there was construction underway on rue Bouchut when I was in Paris in the fall of 2014, so I couldn’t take my own picture. I hope you are more fortunate.

A beautiful sunset at Pont de Bir-Hakeim.

20. Pont de Bir-Hakeim
Connects 15th & 16th arrondissements
Metro: Bir-Hakeim (15th arrondissement)

The bridge was constructed between 1903 – 1905, and replaced a bridge built in 1878. Pont de Bir-Hakeim has two levels: one for motor vehicles and pedestrians, and a viaduct above for Line 6 of the Paris metro.

In Inception, Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) instructs Ariadne (Ellen Page) to never create dreamscapes from memory while the two walk on the pedestrian walkway. Ariadne finds out why in the form of Mal (Marion Cotillard) walking up to her and “killing” her – which wakes her up.

If you’re interested in the history of fashion, the Palais Galliera is the place for you.

21. Palais Galliera (more formal, Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris, “City of Paris Fashion Museum”)
10 avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie
16th arrondissement
Metro: Iena

The museum was a gift of Duchess Galliera and was built to display her family’s works of art. It was designed by Leon Ginain, who also supervised its construction. The museum formally opened in July 1894, and only has temporary exhibits, due to the delicate nature of its collections. The museum is closed between each exhibit. [Note: The museum is temporarily closed until November 2015.]

The Paris Fashion Show that Andy (Anne Hathaway) attends in Emily’s (Emily Blunt) place is held here in The Devil Wears Prada, which was strictly for filmmaking purposes.

A bird’s eye view Hotel Camelia International, 17e.

22. Hotel Camelia International
3 rue Darcet
17th arrondissement
Metro: Place de Clichy or La Fourche

Hotel Camelia is a budget hotel in pricey Paris. Just remember: You get what you pay for.

In Taken (2008), Bryan (Liam Neeson) finds a girl who had been taken hostage and takes her to the first safe place he can think of: Hotel Camelia, run by an old friend.

The steps to Le Basilique du Sacre-Coeur have been featured in many films.

23. (Steps to ) Le Basilique du Sacre-Coeur
(“Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris”)
18th arrondissement
Metro: Abbesse

Le Basilique du Sacre-Coeur, “Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris” is the crown jewel of Montmartre.

The Basilica is located at the summit of the butte Montmartre, the highest point in the city. It was constructed between 1875 – 1914. Being the highest point in the city means you have to climb many steps to get there: 270, to be exact.

The obelisk at Place des Fetes is the site of a sad story in “Paris, je t’aime.”

24. Place des Fetes (above ground)
Metro: Place des Fetes
19th arrondissement

As a place, it is nearly entirely concrete, though the Square Monseigneur-Maillet, one of Paris’s oldest gardens, is nearby.

The “Place des Fetes” segment of Paris je t’aime is a sad story about a man (Seydou Boro) who dies from a stab wound while being tended by the female medic (Aissa Maiga) he is secretly in love with.

There are many feral cats at Pere Lachaise Cemetery to keep the dead company.

Frederic Chopin’s gravesite at Pere Lachaise Cemetery.

25. Pere Lachaise Cemetery
20th arrondissement
Metro: Gambetta

Pere Lachaise Cemetery is the largest cemetery in Paris. It takes its name from Pere Francois de la Chaise (1624-1709), a Jesuit priest who lived on the property. Napoleon established the cemetery in 1804 and declared, “Every citizen has the right to be buried regardless of race or religion.” Few people wanted to be buried here at first due to its location (and its lack of blessing by the Catholic Church). That changed after the cemetery’s administrators decided to move the remains of Jean de la Fontaine and Moliere to Pere Lachaise; soon after, people clamored to be buried with the famous.

Frances (Emily Mortimer) and William (Rufus Sewell) are an engaged couple in a Paris je t’aime segment who argue because he cannot make her laugh. William gets a little help from Oscar Wilde (Alexander Payne) in patching things up with his fiancée.

I went for a coffee after visiting the cemetery. You might want to, too.

Au revoir!

Image credits by entry: 1) Louvre by CanStockPhoto; 2) Place des Victoires by Alex1961, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 3) Square du Temple by David McKelvey, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; Knights Templar drawing by Steve Nimmons, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 4) Notre Dame by NBPhotostream, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 5) Shakespeare and Company by Elsa L. Fridl; Interior Photo by Alexandre Duret-Lutz, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 6) Rue Mouffetard by Wally Gobetz, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 7) St. Sulpice Church by Linus Mak, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 8) Eiffel Tower Elevator Shaft by Linus Mak, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 9) Pont Alexandre III by Jean-Marc, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; Photo of Lea Seydoux courtesy of Blu-ray, used by permission; 10) Arc de Triomphe by Richard, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 11) Place de la Concorde Fountain by Christine Kalina, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 12) Theatre de l’Athenee by Haguard DuNord, Wikimedia Commons, CCBY 3.0; 13) Gare du Nord facade by CanStockPhoto; Gare du Nord panorama by Mitch Barrie, Flickr, CCBY 2.0;  14) Le Pure Café by Bertrand, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; Image of Before Sunset courtesy of Blu-ray, used by permission; 15) Le Train Bleu Restaurant by Brendan Lynch, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 16) Quartier Asiatique, Avenue de Choisy by Antoine, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 17) Le Dome Cafe in the Public Domain; Image of Roy Scheider courtesy of Blu-ray, used by permission; 18) Le Cordon Bleu by Tara Tiger Brown, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 19) Rue Bouchut by ParisRiveGauche.com, CCBY 2.0; Rue Bouchut by Mathieu Marquet, Wikimedia Commons, CCBY 2.0; 20) Pont de Bir-Hakeim by Zoltan Voros, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 21) Palais Galliera by Panoramas, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 22) Hotel Camelia International by Hector Parayuelos, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 23) Steps of Le Basilique du Sacre Coeur by CanStockPhoto; Sacre Coeur by Cbarbi, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 24) Place des Fetes by Witguide.free.fr, CCBY 2.0; 25) Pere Lachaise, Photo of Chopin’s Grave by CanStockPhoto; Cat at Grave by Daniel Racovitan, Flickr, CCBY 2.0.

Verbiage references by entry: 1) “Louvre” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; “Film locations for The Da Vinci Code (2000),” by Movie-locations.com; 2) “Place des Victoires,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; 3) “Knights Templar,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; “Square du Temple” by David McKelvey, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 4) “Notre Dame de Paris,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; “Film locations for Midnight in Paris (2011)” by Movie-locations.com; 5) “Shakespeare and Company (bookstore),” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; 6) “Rue Mouffetard,” Wikipedia, for fact market dates back to Neolithic Times; 7) “Church of Saint-Sulpice, Paris,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; “Film locations for The Da Vinci Code, Movie-locations.com; 8) “Eiffel Tower,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; 9) “Pont Alexandre III,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; 10) “Arc de Triomphe,” by Wikipedia, for fact the Arc was completed in 1836 to honor France’s war dead of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars; Day of the Jackal, by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; 11) “Fontaines de la Concorde,” by Wikipedia, for fact that two fountains were completed at that location in 1840 during the reign of King Louis-Philippe; 12) “Theatre de l’Athenee,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; “Film locations for Hugo (2011),” Movie-locations.com; 13) “Gare du Nord,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; “Film locations for Bourne Identity (2002),” Movie-locations.com; 14) “Le Pure Café,” TripAdvisor; “Film locations for Before Sunset (2004),” Movie-locations.com; 15) “Le Train Bleu,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; “La Femme Nikita (1990), Filming locations,” IMDb; 16) “Quartier Asiatique,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; “Paris je t’aime,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; 17) “Le Dome Café,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; “Film locations for Marathon Man (1976),” Movie-locations.com; 18) “Le Cordon Bleu,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; 19) Rue Bouchut, no references; 20) “Pont de Bir-Hakeim,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; 21) “Musee Galliera,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; “Film locations for The Devil Wears Prada (2006),” Movie-locations.com; 22) “Film locations for Taken (2008),” Movie-locations.com; 23) “Sacre-Coeur, Paris,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; 24) “Place des fetes,” Witguide.free.fr; 25) “Pere Lachaise Cemetery,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0.

Entries with CCBY 3.0 licenses are available under the “share and share alike” clause.