Are you celebrating Mothers Day in Paris this year? How absolutely marvellous!
There are so many wonderful things to do, from picnics in the park, to special lunches and dinners in restaurants, to relaxing with family and friends just about anywhere!
Here are a few places to whet your whistle for things to see and do:
If you’re celebrating Mothers Day i Paris, what a special treat :-)
There are so many wonderful things to do, from picnics in the park, to special lunches and dinners in restaurants, to relaxing with family and friends just about anywhere!
Here are a few places to whet your whistle for things to see and do:
My name is Teena Hughes, I’m an Australian who has lived in Paris several times over a period of about thirty years, and I love to go back once a year if possible, and spend about six weeks feeling like a local Parisienne again :-)
While I’m there, I catch up with my friends I met there over twenty years ago, plus I host Adventures. I’ve also written a couple of books about Paris, and I love this city more than any other.
Enjoy the little French tidbits I have for you today, and do get in touch if you’d like to chat or ask a question. Here we go!
I plan to create another one with different photos too — so stay tuned!
And for my Postcards from Paris subscribers, I’m sending you a freebie one-page Calendar too!
With love from me and a huge thanks for following along on my Paris adventures xxx Just check your email :-)
What’s happening in Paris in October?
Le Salon du Chocolat, that’s what!
The words in the video translate to:
Le Salon du Chocolat c’est le plus grand evenement mondial dedie au chocolat et au cacao == The Chocolate Salon is the the largest world-wide event dedicated to chocolate and cocoa.
500 participants, 60 pays = 600 attendees, 60 countries
5 Jours de Show = 5 Days
20 Robes en Chocolat = 20 Dresses made of chocolate
100 Demos Par les Plus Grands Chefs = 100 Demonstrations by the Top Chefs
12o Ateliers = 120 Studios
Le Salon du Chocolat Junior = the Junior Chocolate Salon
28 Oct – 01 Nov Paris Porte de Versaille = 28 October to 01 November at Porte de Versaille
Le Loir Dans le Théière 3 rue des Rosiers 75004 Paris
When I lived in Paris in the late 1980s, this became one of my favourite places, and I’ve heard that the name of this Tea Salon came from an unlucky dormouse which was thrown into a teapot during the Mad Hatter’s feast in Alice in Wonderland story.
Now in 2017, I still visit this gorgeous tea salon when I am in Paris each year, and I want to share it with you. This warm and cozy space is decorated with trinkets and knick knacks (odds and ends) and the aroma of the delicious gourmet cuisine (pies, large salads) wafts by and makes the mouth water. Keep an eye out for the dozens of pastries which include the incredible lemon meringue pie and the chocolate fondant cake.
Come weekends, it’s hard to find a spot to sit as …
The hottest temperatures in Paris are generally July and August (summer) with June and October almost as warm.
The coldest months are around November, December, January, February, March and April.
It’s hard to predict accurately as the weather can change from year to year.
Whenever you decide to visit, have a great time!
Bon Voyage!
Teena!
Question from Eshaana:
Hi Teena I am planning to relocate from Geneva to Parisin September this year to study French full time. I would love to start my orientation to Paris with your week-long silk painting course. Please let me know the dates of the next courses in July/August with details of costs etc. I look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards
Eshaana
My reply:
Bonjour Eshaana!
How lovely to hear back from you.
I totally understand, and yes it would be great to meet inParis for silk painting.
If you’re on my Paris newsletter list, you’ll be notified when I plan my next trip to Paris and will get other tips about the city I love.
Hi Teena. Are you still doing one day beginner silk painting? I’m a Canadian lady interested in a unique Paris experience.
My reply:
Hi Marion, lovely to hear from you!
I live in Australia, and travel to Paris each year for 6 weeks to host my Adventures. Unfortunately I won’t be there at the same time as you I do have online Courses though — I’m currently updating and adding some new ones in the next month or so, if you’d like to be notified please sign up at http://how-to-paint-on-silk.com/newsletter-sign-up.html — if you have any questions, please do let me know. And have a fantastic time in Paris!! Wish I could be there at the same time!
Bon voyage!
Teena
I hope you enjoyed Postcards from Paris October 2017 today!
I’m excited to tell you I’ve started planning my next trip to Paris – woohoo! July 2018 sounds like a great plan — can you meet me there? I’ve got my fingers’ crossed!
Let me know if you have any questions about Paris or my website, or just want to share some tips about your trip to Paris.
Post a Comment below, or click the little “Say Bonjour!” tab on the right side of the screen, or pop over to the Facebook page — I’d love to hear from you!
Wander around this market which is spread across two avenues. You may not find much furniture or antiques, but there are all kinds of other goodies to find, such as scarves by Hermès, flapper dresses, vintage perfume bottles and toys, and possibly some beautiful French linens. Allow plenty of time to browse to your heart’s content.
Marché aux Puces de St Ouen
This one covers seven hectares, 3,000 traders and up to 180,000 visitors each weekend, and is generally considered to be the biggest flea market in the world! Well organised into a series of enclosed villages, you’ll enjoy walking around here as it’s not a messy bric and brac market at all, and has some entirely covered areas and others with open-air streets. This is however one flea market you’ll need to visit quite a few times to see everything.
Les Puces de Montreuil
At this market you’ll find trash and treasure, from vintage clothes and toys to old cutlery, 1940s light-fittings, furniture and antique glassware. Take your time and you’ll probably find something fabulous which you didn’t know you needed!
1st arrondissement: Musée National de l’Orangerie Jardin des Tuileries, Paris 1st – Metro Concorde
5th arrondissement: Musée de l’Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de ParisHôtel de Miramion – 47, quai de la Tournelle, Paris 5th – Metro Maubert – Mutualité / Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame
3rd arrondissement: Musée National Picasso Hôtel Salé – 5, rue de Thorigny, Paris 3rd – Metro Saint-Paul / Châtelet – Les Halles
3rd arrondissement: Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature Hôtel de Mongelas – 62, rue des Archives, Paris 3rd – Metro Hôtel de Ville / Châtelet – Les Halles
4th arrondissement: Musée National d’art moderne – Centre Pompidou Place Georges Pompidou, Paris 4th – Metro Hôtel de Ville / Châtelet – Les Halles
5th arrondissement: Musée National du Moyen Âge – Thermes de Cluny 6, place Paul Painlevé, Paris 5th – Metro Cluny – La Sorbonne / Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame
6th arrondissement: Musée National Ernest Hébert Hôtel de Montmorency-Bours – 85, rue du Cherche-Midi, Paris 6th – Metro Vaneau
6th arrondissement: Musée National Eugène Delacroix 6 rue de Furstenberg, Paris 6th – Metro Saint-Germain-des-Prés / Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame
7th arrondissement: Musée d’Orsay 1, rue de la Légion d’Honneur, Paris 7th – Metro Solférino / Musée d’Orsay
7th arrondissement: Musée du Quai Branly 37, quai Branly Portail Debilly, Paris 7th – Metro Alma – Marceau / Pont de l’Alma
7th arrondissement: Musée Rodin 79, rue de Varenne, Paris 7th – Metro Varenne / Invalides
9th arrondissement: Musée National Gustave Moreau 14, rue de la Rochefoucauld, Paris 9th – Metro Trinité
16th arrondissement: Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine Palais de Chaillot – 1, place du Trocadéro et du 11 novembre, Paris 16th – Metro Trocadéro / Champ de Mars – Tour Eiffel
Cité National de l’histoire de l’immigration 293, avenue Daumesnil, Paris 12th – Metro Porte Dorée
16th arrondissement: Musée des Arts et Métiers 60, rue Réaumur, Paris 16th – Metro Arts et Métiers
17th arrondissement: Musée National Jean-Jacques Henner — 43, avenue de Villiers, Paris 17th – Metro Malesherbes
Map of Paris Arrondissements (Districts)
November to March — Other Museums with Free Entry
1st arrondissement: Sainte-Chapelle 4, boulevard du Palais, Paris 1st – Metro Châtelet / Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame
1st arrondissement: Conciergerie 2, boulevard du Palais, Paris 1st – Metro Cité / Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame
4th arrondissement: Tours de Notre-Dame, 6 place du parvis Notre-Dame, Paris 4th – Metro Saint-Michel / Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame
5th arrondissement: Panthéon, Place du Panthéon, Paris 5th – Metro Cardinal Lemoine / Luxembourg
8th arrondissement: Arc de Triomphe, Place Charles de Gaulle, Paris 8th – Metro Charles de Gaulle – Etoile
Château de Vincennes, Avenue de Paris, 94 – Château de Vincennes
Château de Versailles 78 – RER Versailles – Rive Gauche
List of free Paris Museums as PDF
Would you like a PDF of this page? I’m creating one at the moment — if you received this update via email, just reply to the email and I’ll send it to you as soon as it’s ready.
Let me know if you have any questions or just want to share some tips about your trip to Paris.
Post a Comment below, or click the little “Say Bonjour!” tab on the right side of the screen, or pop over to the Facebook page — I’d love to hear from you!
Ciao ciao for now, I hope you enjoyed my List of free Paris Museums!
Teena
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If you’re wondering where to find fabric at Marché St Pierre in Paris, I have a few tips for you.
Yesterday I reacquainted myself with the wonderful fabric district at the foot of Sacre Coeur in Montmartre. Before I came out of the metro at Anvers, I spotted a very cute little RATP Information desk, so I popped over to have a look at the maps and information on offer.
This is the first one I’ve seen in the metro, and the two young people spoke English and were very helpful. If you see these info desks, do have a look and see if there’s any info which can help you while you’re in Paris.
As I came up out of the metro I was presented with a scene I hadn’t seen for a few years, the wonderful craziness of people, noise, traffic, and shops particular to this part of paris, with the prospect of seeing my old favourite fabric stores in the next few minutes. I crossed the street and walked up rue du Steinkerke where some of the touristy shops were open, and others would open later – if you want to find cute and/or kitschy Paris souvenirs, check out this street :-)
I met my friend Gaby (who shares my love of fabric) outside Marché St Pierre, and we decided to have a coffee first and then explore the stores, starting with Marché St Pierre.
I asked a couple of chaps who worked at Marché St Pierre if there were any little cafes close by (as I wanted to avoid the touristy ones which were filled with tourists), and at first they said the one we could see across the road was the only one. We thanked them and decided to go on a little search, but one of the chaps mentioned there was one “vrai café” just down the road (a true French cafe) so off we went.
We found the Cafe Orsel (we were on rue d’Orsel) and he was right – it was an authentic looking cafe and not a tourist to be seen :-)
I ordered the coffees at the bar and watched while they were made – totally impressed that it looked like the barista was using real milk to heat up, so I asked him and he confirmed it – fabulous!
Fabric at Marché St Pierre – the whole building
The Marché St Pierre is a building which houses every imagineable type of fabric you might need, all under the one roof.
Of course I wanted to see the silk first, so we walked up the stairs to level 2 (there is a lift in the back right-hand-corner of the store, for those with mobility problems). On the ground floor you can see what’s where – it’s printed on the steps of the staircase :-)
We ended up looking around on every floor and we wanted to buy LOTS of fabric, but we also knew there were many streets surrounding this building filled with other stores we needed to investigate first. What a wonderful thing to do for the whole day in Paris!
I have lots more photos to upload and videos, so stay tuned!
Map showing where to find fabric at Marché St Pierre 75018
I have other pages on how to find fabric at Marché St Pierre and other Textile shops in Paris
Historic mansions in the Marais district (75003) of Paris house the wonderful French archives – these buildings are known as “hotels particuliers” (translates to “historic mansions”).
It’s free to visit the French Archives and you’ll be able to see :
the original Declaration on the Rights of Man and of the Citizen dating from 1789
letters from Louis XVI
a papyrus dated AD625 which was issued by King Chlotar II.
Locations:
Rue des Archives or Hotel de Soubise on Rue des Francs-Bourgeois ( the Museum of French History can be found here)
you’ll also be able to visit three small gardens – Jardin d’Assy, Jardin Fontenay and Jardin Jaucourt (“jardin” translates to “garden”)
Map and location of each address for the French archives http://www.archivesnationales.culture.gouv.fr/chan/chan/presentation.html – you might also enjoy What to do in Paris, France.
Map of 3rd Arrondissement, 75003 Paris (le “troisieme”, the “third”)
[mappress mapid=”15″]
If you do visit the French archives in Paris, I’d love to hear what you enjoyed most – post a Comment below if you have a moment, thanks!!
Matthew’s wondering where to take his girlfriend on 18th December.
Hi Teena
Thanks for your reply. I want to take my woman for a wonderful birthday night on 18th December – anything on that date? A concert maybe? Paul McCartney again?! Or an opera??
Thnks for your advice! Best.
Matthew.
Teena says …
Hey Matthew,
Thanks for dropping by my site about Paris :-)
To find out what’s on for a specific date, check out these websites:
Every time I visit Paris I always take a pre-dinner, early evening Champagne Cruise on the River Seine, it only takes an hour and you will get to see the beautiful historical building, Eiffel Tower and bridges from the water.
Have you tried coffee at La Cafeotheque?
My husband and I loved the coffee here on our recent trip to Paris (we are self professed Melbourne coffee snobs).
They roast their own beans and the main Barista trained in Sydney.
Perfect every time.
La Cafeotheque
52 rue de l’ Hotel de Ville, Paris 75004.
Michelle
Melbourne, Australia
Thanks Michelle!
I’m ALWAYS on the lookout for Italian-style coffee the way we Aussies prefer it, and this is a GREAT FIND!
When I’m next in Paris I will be checking out this Sydney Barista on my first day :-)
For where to eat, there are hundreds of restaurants in a very small amount of space, so you will be spoiled for choice – just walk down any street and you’ll find a café, restaurant, bistro or brasserie where you can dine. You can also check out my pages here:
Click any of the famous French food photos above to read more about all of these delicious French foods – yum yum!
As I don’t know what age you are, I can’t recommond where you should go clubbing, but if you buy the Pariscope booklet as soon as you arrive, it is filled with places to go and things to do for the period of time you’re in Paris. You can buy these where you see magazines and newspapers sold.
Would you like to be dancing in the streets of rue Mouffetard in Paris?
I’ve just read that on Every Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m. there is a group of dancers and singers who celebrate life by dancing in the street — on rue Mouffetard.
What a joyous fun thing to do!
If you are in the area, do pop along and have a look.
PS – rue Mouffetard is very well known in Paris, and worth a few hours to mosey along very slowly :-)
I do have online Courses though — I’m currently updating and adding some new ones in the next month or so, if you’d like to be notified please sign up at 
