OUR WEEK IN PARIS
Snapshots From Paris

Each week, I share a handful of photos that tell the story of our Paris. From quick phone snaps to more carefully composed shots, these images are little postcards of our life in Paris, inviting you to see the city through our eyes.

1. (top left) Place des Vosges

2. (top right) Palais Royale

3. (bottom left) Tuileries Garden / Louvre

4. (bottom right) Conciergerie

Paris Photo at the Grand Palais

The Paris Photo show at the Grand Palais was incredible - I'm still buzzing from seeing so much fantastic photography in one place. The mix of classic and contemporary work was perfect, and there was something powerful about seeing it all under that beautiful glass ceiling.

You can't beat the Grand Palais as a venue for this kind of show. The natural light streaming in from above made everything look even better, and the whole experience just reminded me why I love photography so much.

LINKING YOU TO PARIS

➡️ The bells of Notre Dame cathedral ring out for first time since 2019 fire: From France 24 - The bells of Notre Dame tolled on Friday for the first time since Paris's beloved cathedral was ravaged by flames in 2019. The famous monument is set to reopen its doors to the public on December 8. Thanks for sending this article my way, Heather!

➡️ French public holidays: Important Dates in 2024 and 2025: For anyone living, moving to, or visiting France, this article might be helpful. Watch out for May! It’s a minefield of holidays.

➡️ The Best Things to Do for Christmas in Paris: From Conde Nast Traveler - Christmas in Paris may not boast the winter-white scenes that often come with the holidays, but the city glows with thousands of lights as it transforms into the ultimate winter wonderland, complete with an ice skating rink below the Eiffel Tower and more than a dozen Christmas markets scattered across the city.

WEEKLY PRINT DEAL

Montmartre Mystique

Your Weekly Window to Paris: 70% Off Collector's Print

Price: $29.99 (Regular Price: $95)

Each week, we highlight a new fine art photo print that captures the beauty of Paris. It's a lovely way to add a touch of Parisian elegance to your home or office.

This Week's Featured Print: Montmartre Mystique

This week's featured print captures the enchanting twilight magic of Montmartre, where the iconic dome of Sacré-Cœur Basilica watches over the cobblestone streets of Paris's most romantic quarter. Shot during the blue hour, when the vintage lampposts cast their warm glow across the centuries-old cobblestones, this atmospheric image reveals the timeless charm of Montmartre.

Details:

• Size: 8x10 inches

• Material: Premium archival paper

• Limited-Time Offer: Available only until Sunday night

• Discount applied at checkout

VISITING PARIS

Magical Holiday Markets in Paris

Despite my usual composed demeanor, I turn into an absolute kid when the Christmas markets arrive. There's something about the twinkling lights, the scent of mulled wine, and the sound of holiday music drifting through the crisp winter air that makes me giddy with excitement.

Paris transforms into a winter wonderland during the holiday season, with enchanting Christmas markets (Marchés de Noël) popping up across the city from mid-November through early January. The largest and most spectacular market can be found at the Jardin des Tuileries (November 16, 2024 - January 1, 2025), featuring over 100 wooden chalets offering artisanal gifts, regional foods, and holiday treats.

Visitors can enjoy mulled wine (vin chaud), roasted chestnuts, and French delicacies while browsing handcrafted goods. The market also includes a festive ice skating rink and a giant Ferris wheel offering spectacular views over Paris.

For a more intimate experience, the charming Notre Dame Christmas Market (November 29 - December 25, 2024) offers a picturesque setting with the cathedral as its backdrop. Located in Square Viviani on the Left Bank, this market specializes in high-quality French arts and crafts, gourmet foods, and traditional holiday treats. The market's elegant atmosphere and focus on authentic French products make it a favorite among locals and visitors.

The La Défense Christmas Market (November 14 - December 29, 2024) is the largest in the Paris region, with nearly 200 wooden chalets spread across the plaza of this modern business district. New for 2024, the market will feature a real Christmas ice rink at the foot of the Grande Arche. This market is particularly known for its diverse international offerings, from Canadian maple products to traditional Alsatian specialties.

For those seeking a more local experience, the Montmartre Christmas Market at Place des Abbesses offers a quintessentially Parisian atmosphere with its village-like charm. Here, visitors can find local artisans selling unique gifts while enjoying spectacular views of the city. Remember that evening visits to any of these markets are especially magical, as thousands of twinkling lights create an enchanting atmosphere perfect for experiencing the City of Light during its most festive season.

Pro tip: My favorite time to visit is just after sunset, around 5 PM, when the lights are twinkling and the evening crowd hasn't yet arrived. That's when you'll find me, warming my hands around a cup of vin chaud.

PARIS CAFES

Dining on the Seine at Riviera Fuga

Perched elegantly on the Seine River near the majestic Pont Alexandre III, Riviera Fuga offers a unique dining experience that blends Italian and Japanese cuisines in a floating setting. The restaurant's location aboard a boat provides diners with a distinctive perspective of Paris, particularly enchanting as the city lights reflect off the water's surface.

Following an afternoon exploring Paris Photo at the Grand Palais, this boat-restaurant proved to be a convenient and novel dining choice. While the cuisine may not rank among Paris's top culinary destinations, we enjoyed several fusion starters including a creamy burrata served with homemade focaccia and an innovative pumpkin cream with green yuzukosho coulis.

The restaurant's design, with its large windows and nautical-themed décor, creates an engaging environment that complements the gentle movement of the Seine below. The crispy fried calamari, served with sesame mayonnaise and squid ink tomato sauce, rounded out our meal as we watched the passing river traffic and enjoyed views of the ornate bridge. For visitors seeking a memorable dining experience that combines sightseeing with their meal, Riviera Fuga offers an opportunity to appreciate Paris from a different vantage point.

A PEEK INTO HISTORY

The Medici Fountain of Luxembourg Gardens

In the corner of Paris's Luxembourg Gardens stands a magnificent piece of Italian-inspired architecture—the Medici Fountain. This fountain tells a story of royal ambition, lost love, and artistic transformation spanning nearly 400 years.

The fountain's story begins with Marie de Medici, an Italian noblewoman from the powerful House of Medici who became Queen of France through her marriage to King Henry IV in 1600. After Henry's assassination in 1610, the widowed Marie, feeling alienated from the French court, decided to create her own slice of Italy in Paris. Around 1630, she commissioned the fountain as part of her new Luxembourg Palace project, designed to remind her of her beloved Florence childhood home.

The fountain has survived numerous transformations through the centuries. By the 18th century, it had fallen into disrepair as French tastes shifted away from Italian styles. Napoleon I ordered its first restoration in the early 1800s. Its most dramatic change came in the 1860s during Baron Haussmann's renovation of Paris - the fountain was carefully moved 30 meters from its original location to make way for a new street.

Architect Alphonse de Gisors gave the fountain its current romantic appearance during this move. He added the long tree-shaded basin and commissioned its centerpiece sculpture - a dramatic scene depicting the mythological tale of Polyphemus discovering the lovers Acis and Galatea. The fountain also features statues representing the Rivers Rhône and Seine, as well as figures of Diana the Huntress and Faunus, the forest god.

Today, this hidden masterpiece continues to enchant visitors, offering a peaceful retreat where Parisians and tourists alike can rest on shaded benches beside its sparkling waters, much as Marie de Medici might have done four centuries ago.

FRENCH SONG OF THE WEEK
Gaëtan Roussel & Adeline Lovo - Crois-moi ! 

Crois-moi!" brings together two fascinating voices from different corners of the French music scene: Gaëtan Roussel, the gravelly-voiced frontman you might know from Louise Attaque, and Adeline Lovo, whose crystalline vocals have been turning heads in Paris.

Together, they've created something that feels both classic and completely fresh – like stumbling upon a secret jazz club down a cobblestone street, or catching the last rays of sun from a Montmartre rooftop. This duet isn't trying to be the next big hit; it's just doing what French music does best: telling stories that make you feel things.