Paris Bucket List

I’m in Paris for 9 months in 2013 for culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu! Here’s a working list of the places I want to see while I’m there!

Museums:

Musee de l’Orangerie: Monet’s Water Lilies

Musee d’Orsay: impressionist and postimpressionists work in an old train station.

Musee Rodin: The Thinker!

Musee de Quai Branly: Home of a Vertical Garden w/ 15,000 plant varieties.

Musee du Louvre:  The museum in Paris! Winged Victory, Mona Lisa, etc, etc.

Andre Jacques Mart Museum

 

Monuments:

Arc de Triumphe

Eiffel Tower

Pantheon: Burial site of several famous French.

 

Fun Shops and Things:

Shakespeare & Company: Legandary bookshop across the river from the Notre Dame.

 

Gardens:

Jardin des Tuileries

Palais Royal: My favorite garden in Paris right by the Louvre.

Jardin du Luxembourg

Jardin des Plantes

 

Markets:

Marche Belleville

Rue Mouffetard

Rue Montorgueil

Marche aux Fleurs: Ile de la Cite flower market

 

Not to Miss Restaurants:

Bethillon: Legendary ice cream on Ile de la Cite

 

Churches:

Notre Dame

Eglise St-Eustache: One of the least known and beautiful churches.

Ste-Chapelle

Eglise St-Sulpice

Eglise St-Germain des Pres

Basilique du Sacre Coeur

Mosquee de Paris

 

Other:

Clos Montmartre: small vineyard in the middle of Paris

Tour Jean Sans Peur: Gothic Tower that is part of a splendid mansion that you can climb to the top of.

Pont Neuf: famous bridge

Arenes de Lutece: 2nd-century Roman amphitheater

 

Paris Day Trips:

Fontainebleau Chateau

 

Events:

Printemps du Cinema: theaters around the city offer a 3.50 euros entry fee for one weekend.

Paris Plage: the Seine becomes the site of a beach in from mid-Fuly to mid-August

Marathon International de Paris: marathon & half marathon starting on the Champs-Elysees in April

La Nuit Des Musees Europeenne: key museums open late for one night mid-May.

Festival de Saint Denis: Classical concerts in the Basilique de St-Denis and various other venues throughout June.

Fete de la Musique: music festival with performances all over the city. June 21

Gay Pride March: in late June through the Marais with floats and crazy costumes.

Paris Jazz Festival: free jazz concerts every Saturday and Sunday afternoon in June and July in the Parc Floral de Paris.

Paris Cinema: rare and restored films screened across paris in the first half of July.

Bastille Day: French Independence day! July 14th

Tour de France: Bike race in July.

Journees Europeennes du Patrimoine: Buildings usually off-limits to visitors are open to the public. Third weekend in Sept.

Nuit Blanche: Cultural festival that lasts from sundown to sun up in October.

Fete des Vendanges de Montmartre: Festival following the harvesting of the grapes at this tiny vineyard in France in October.

Africolor: African music festival in November.

Jumping International de Paris: horse showjumping tournament in December.