30 Things to do in Montreal | Top Attractions Travel Guide
When visiting Montreal consider the following top 35 things to do in Montreal as a travel video guide for all of the best attractions in the city. There is no other city in Canada or the United States of America that can compare with Montreal in terms of its diversity and European flare. As a city of festivals (during the winter, fall, spring and summer) you're left with an inexhaustible amount of things to see and do in the city during all four seasons.
GEAR WE USE
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II:
Canon G7X:
Olympus 14-150mm II Lens:
Rode Video Mic GO:
Joby Gorilla Pod:
SanDisk 16GB Extreme Pro:
SOCIAL MEDIA & TRAVEL BLOGS
AUDREY:
blog:
instagram:
facebook:
twitter:
SAMUEL:
blog:
facebook:
twitter:
instragram:
Compared to other Canadian cities, Montreal offers world class arts, dining, architecture, entertainment, arts and festivals showcasing the best of Canadian culture and Canadian food. Eating poutine, watching a Montreal Canadiens hockey game for fun and taking in a mesmerizing Cirque du Soleil were the highlights of our visit. If you only have time to one destination in Canada let it be Montréal, Québec:
1) Visit the Museum of Fine Arts - Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal
2) Hike up Mount Royal Park - Mont Royal
3) Check out Le Plateau Neighborliness - Le Plateau-Mont-Royal
4) Tam Tams drumming on Sundays in Mount Royal Park - Les Tam-Tams du Mont Royal
5) Wander around the campus area of McGill University - l'Université McGill
6) Eat poutine - cantines or casse-croûtes
7) Visit the historic area of Old Montreal - Vieux-Montréal
8) Lookout point from Mount Royal Park - Parc du Mont-Royal
9) Go shopping at Bonsecours Market - Marché Bonsecours
10) Habitat 67 - Expo 67
11) Check out the many summer and winter festivals in Montreal including the Highlands games, Rogers cup, Tango events and Blues festival.
12) Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal - Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal
13) Visit the Montreal Biodome - Biodôme de Montréal
14) Montreal's Olympic Stadium 'The Big O' - Stade Olympique de Montréal
15) Montreal Botanical Garden - Jardin botanique de Montréal
16) Watch a Habs game the Montreal Canadiens - Les Canadiens de Montréal
17) Eat Montreal smoked meat at Schwartz's - viande fumée
18) Notre-Dame Cathedral - Notre-Dame Basilica
19) Cirque du Soleil 'Circus of the sun'
20) Montreal street art and graffiti
21) Go shopping and people watching along Saint Catherine Street - Rue Sainte-Catherine
22) Go shopping or warm up under Montreal's Underground City - RÉSO or La Ville Souterraine
23) Relax, exercise or have a picnic at La Fontaine Park - Parc La Fontaine)
24) Montreal's Gay Village - Le Village gai
25) Eat Montreal bagels at St-Viateur Bagel - petit pain
26) Ride a bicycle around the city
27) Visit Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral - Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde
28) Visit the Old Port of Montreal - Vieux-Port de Montréal
29) Take the Metro around Montreal - Métro de Montréal
30) In-line skate or bicycle around Lachine Canal - Canal de Lachine
Head to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts for a look at some of the free current exhibitions. We're here at Park Mount Royal to walk around and head to the lookout point for amazing city views. We chose to stay in the neighborhood of Le Plateau-Mont Royal. On Sunday afternoons you'll find a huge drumming circle on the east end of Mount Royal called Tam Tams. McGill University is one of the most prestigious universities in all of Canada. Poutine, a French Canadian dish, it is basically french fries with gravy and cheese curds on top. For a taste of French charm, wander down the cobbled streets of Old Montreal. Tonight we're at the Cirque du Soleil for a circus performance. The biodome is a popular attraction for families with children. Olympic Stadium is the former home of the Montreal Expos. The botanical gardens are home to beautiful gardens. Bell Center is home to the Montreal Canadiens, one of the most celebrated NHL franchises. There is no better place ot eat smoked meat in Montreal than Schwartz. The Notre Dame Basilica is located in the historic district of Old Montreal. If you enjoy checking out graffiti around Saint Catherine street which is also a shopping district. Eat St. Viateur bagels, which are really famous here in Montreal. A great way to get around the city is by Bixi bike. Montreal's Old Port is worth a wander. This video features songs available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Commercial license.
Places to see in ( Bordeaux - France )
Places to see in ( Bordeaux - France )
Bordeaux, hub of the famed wine-growing region, is a port city on the Garonne River in southwestern France. It’s known for its Gothic Cathédrale Saint-André, 18th- to 19th-century mansions and notable art museums such as the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux. Public gardens line the curving river quays. The grand Place de la Bourse, centered on the Three Graces fountain, overlooks the Miroir d’Eau reflecting pool.
The city of Bordeaux is among France's most exciting, vibrant and dynamic cities. In the last decade and a half, it's shed its languid, Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty) image thanks to the vision of city mayor Alain Juppé who has pedestrianised boulevards, restored neoclassical architecture, created a high-tech public transport system and reclaimed Bordeaux's former industrial wet docks at Bassin à Flots. Half the city (18 sq km) is Unesco-listed, making it the largest urban World Heritage site; while world-class architects have designed a bevy of striking new buildings – the Herzog & de Meuron stadium (2015), decanter-shaped La Cité du Vin (2016) and Jean-Jacques Bosc bridge (2018) across the Garonne River included.
Bordeaux is often referred to as Little Paris and the rivalry between the Bordelais (people from Bordeaux) and Parisiens is a hot subject, so you may experience some heated arguments on the subject during your stay. Bordeaux is a flat city, built on the banks of the Garonne River. It is also the largest French city by area and geographically one of the largest in Europe. The Garonne merges a dozen kilometers below the city with another river, the Dordogne River to form the Gironde Estuary, which is biggest estuary in France..
Bordeaux is a historic city with many tourist attractions. The main districts are briefly presented here, which are listed according to their distance from the railway station. Les Quais— Great for going for a nice walk on the shores of the Garonne, enjoying a ride on a ferry boat, viewing a stunning landscape over the bridges of Bordeaux, or dancing the night away in the city's many nightclubs. The Aquitaine Bridge is an architectural achievement unique in France. The Jacques-Chaban-Delmas lift bridge ; located between the Quais and the Aquitaine bridge. Opened in 2013, it features a liftable deck, which goes up to 53 meters (170 ft), to enable cruise ships and historical sailboats to dock close to the Quinconces Square.
La Victoire— Historical monuments meet student life and bars.
The Pedestrian Center — If you plan on shopping, or are looking for cultural activities, Bordeaux has a lot to offer - and it starts right here. Gambetta Square — The rich districts of Bordeaux start north - this part of the town is nicknamed Little Paris. Quinconces Square — Be sure to check out the fountain monument to the Girondins, a group of moderate, bourgeois National Assembly deputies during the French Revolution.
Meriadeck — The administrative center of Bordeaux, with one of the biggest libraries in France. Do not miss the Victory Arch (Roman architecture), at the center of La Victoire and a great example of the town's Roman roots. Relax and take a picnic in the lush Public Gardens, north of Gambetta square. The Girondins memorial on the Quinconces square is a fitting tribute to the Members of Parliament from Gironde who were guillotined by Robespierre.
Musee D'Art Contemporain at 7, rue Ferrère. Definitely worth a visit if you are interested in Modern Art. Musee D'Aquitaine, 20, cours Pasteur. Stunning museum that exhibits Gallo-Roman statues and relics dating back 25,000 years. Musee national des douanes (Customs National Museum), 1 place de la Bourse. 10AM - 6PM.Tue-Sun. a historical museum of the french customs administration.
( Bordeaux - France ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting Bordeaux . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Bordeaux - France
Join us for more :
Places to see in ( Anglet - France )
Places to see in ( Anglet - France )
Anglet is a French commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwestern France. Anglet lies in the traditional province of Labourd of the Northern Basque Country while its inhabitants have traditionally spoken Gascon (Occitan). The inhabitants of the commune are known as Angloys or Angloyes
Anglet commune is part of the urban area of Bayonne-Anglet-Biarritz (B.A.B.) located south-west of the city and part of the Basque province of Labourd. The commune is 10% covered with pine forests, including those of Pignada, Lazaretto, and Chiberta. The sandy coast starts 200 km north at the Pointe de Grave on the shore of the estuary of the Gironde and ends in Anglet. It is punctuated by numerous seawalls cutting the shore. At Anglet the outline of the public maritime domain has been updated and a coastal reserve forty metres (130 feet) wide has been observed since 1978. With its many bays and inlets this area is a laboratory for monitoring techniques for studying coastal erosion. The Anglet coast is about 4.5 km long and has 11 beaches from north to south:
Beach of la Barre;
Beach of lesCavaliers;
Beach of les Dunes;
Beach of l'Ocean;
Beach of la Madrague;
Beach of la petite Madrague;
Beach of les Corsaires;
Beach of la Marinella;
Beach of les Sables d'or;
Beach of Club;
Beach of VVF (Village Vacances Famille).
Anglet is served by the A63 autoroute, the D810 road from Bayonne to Anglet town, and the D260 road from Bayonne to the northern part of the commune and continuing south-west towards Biarritz. Localities and hamlets :
Aritxague
la Barre
Blancpignon
Bois Belin
le Brise-Lames
la Butte aux Cailles
Camiade
Cantau
les Cavaliers
la chambre d'Amour
Chassin
Château de Brindos
Chiberta
Choisy
Cinq Cantons
les Corsaires
Courbois
Girouette
Hailtz
Hardoy
El Hogar
Hondritz
Irumendy
Jorlis
le Lazaret
Louillot
la Madrague
Maignon
Marinella
Mauléon
Montbrun
Montdeville
Moulinau
l'Océan
le Pavillon Chinois
Péan
Le Phare
le Pignada
Port du Soufre
Quatre Cantons
Refuge Notre-Dame
les Sables d'Or
Saint-Bernard
Saint-Jean
Salines
Stella-Maris
Sutar
Tivoli
Tour de Lannes
Les Trois Croix
Troissonat
l'Union
Based on discoveries made, the oldest land in Anglet dates back to prehistory (mid-Paleolithic) and Mousterian culture (from 100,000 to 35,000 BC). Postwar, urbanization continued because of the space available and attractive prices, unlike Bayonne or Biarritz. From 1970 to 1980 Anglet absorbed 70% of subdivision projects in the metropolitan area against 10% for Biarritz. The thirty glorious years spared no area of the commune, when only a few years past it had farmland, parks, ancient marshes (object of fervour a few centuries earlier).
( Anglet - France ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting Anglet . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Anglet - France
Join us for more :
Top10 Recommended Hotels in Le Diamant, Martinique, Caribbean Islands
Subscribe to the channel
Top10 Recommended Hotels in Le Diamant, Martinique, Caribbean Islands: 1. Marine Hotel Diamant ***
2. Diamant Beach **
3. Reve Bleu / L'ecrin Bleu
4. Diamant les bains - Résidence Hôtelière ****
5. Residence Anse Bleue **
6. Casa Créole
7. Casa Flora
8. Domaine Diamant Caraibes
9. Kay Jean Au Diamant
10. Le Mayann
Houses and flats for rent in Le Diamant
Look for cheap airline tickets to Le Diamant
Address:
1. Pointe De La Chery, Loisirs & Tourisme, 97223 Le Diamant, Martinique, From € 61
The Marine Hotel Diamant has air-conditioned apartments with a balcony and views of Rocher du Diamant or the Caribbean Sea. It is within a 5-minute drive of Le Diamant and has free on-site parking.
2. Ravine Gens Bois, 97223 Le Diamant, Martinique, From € 72
Located in Le Diamant, Diamant Beach offers an outdoor pool. This self-catering accommodation features WiFi.
3. Morne LACROIX, 97223 Le Diamant, Martinique, From € 80
This property is a 4-minute walk from the beach. Offering an outdoor pool, Reve Bleu / L'ecrin Bleu is situated in Le Diamant. Les Trois-Îlets is 7 km away. Free private parking is available on site.
4. 90 Rue Justin Roc, 97223 Le Diamant, Martinique, From € 260
Diamant les bains - Résidence Hôtelière is located in Le Diamant, just 6.4 km from Les Trois-Îlets. Guests can enjoy the on-site restaurant. Free private parking is available on site.
5. Quartier Dizac, 97223 Le Diamant, Martinique, From € 338
This property is a 10-minute walk from the beach. Residence Anse Bleue is located 800 m from Grand Anse du Diamant Beach and features an extensive garden, swimming pool and wooden architecture. Free Wi-Fi is available in public areas.
6. Mare Poirier, 97223 Le Diamant, Martinique, From € 595
Featuring a garden, Casa Créole is located in Le Diamant. Les Trois-Îlets is 6.8 km away. Free WiFi is available and free private parking is available on site.
7. Allée Des Oiseaux de Paradis, 97223 Le Diamant, Martinique, From € 290
Featuring an outdoor pool, Casa Flora is located in Le Diamant, just 5.8 km from Les Trois-Îlets. Fort-de-France is 14.5 km from the property. Free private parking is available on site.
8. Anse cafard, 97223 Le Diamant, Martinique, From € 1,204
This property is 3 minutes walk from the beach. Featuring an outdoor pool and terrace, Villa Diamantine is located in Le Diamant. This self-catering accommodation offers a dining area, seating area and outdoor furniture. Free WiFi access is available.
9. Morne Blanc, Rue Osman Durand, 97223 Le Diamant, Martinique, From € 195
Kay Jean Au Diamant offers accommodations in Le Diamant, 5.6 km from Les Trois-Îlets and 12.9 km from Fort-de-France. Kay Jean Au Diamant features views of the garden and is 12.9 km from Sainte-Luce. Free private parking is available on site.
10. Haut du diamant, 97223 Le Diamant, Martinique, From € 118
This property is a 6-minute walk from the beach. Le Mayann offers accommodations in Le Diamant. The property is 6.3 km from Les Trois-Îlets and free private parking is featured.
Le Château de Rambouillet, toute une Histoire - Terres de France
Chaîne YouTube officielle de l'émission Terres de France.
Cette semaine Charlotte Dekoker vous propose une visite à travers le temps !
Elle vous emmène au château de Rambouillet dans les Yvelines. Un château qui au fil des siècles a vu passer les rois, les reines, les présidents français, les chefs d’état étrangers et les invités d’honneur de la République Française.
Résidence royale puis présidentielle, désormais le château est ouvert à la visite.
On évoque également le parc et la forêt de Rambouillet mais surtout la laiterie de la reine Marie-Antoinette et la chaumière aux coquillages, 2 joyaux incroyables.
Première diffusion : 14 avril 2019.
Plus d'infos et de replays :
LA BUTTE MONTMARTRE.wmv
Montmartre est une ancienne commune française du département de la Seine, annexée en 1860 par Paris. L'essentiel de son territoire constitue depuis lors le 18e arrondissement de la capitale, une fraction en ayant été aussi été attribuée à la commune de Saint-Ouen.
Montmartre est désormais un quartier de Paris situé dans le nord de la capitale, sur la colline de la butte Montmartre qui est l'un des principaux lieux touristiques de Paris. C'est à Montmartre qu'est situé le point culminant de Paris : 130,53 mètres, altitude du sol naturel à l'intérieur du cimetière jouxtant l'église Saint-Pierre de Montmartre.
On accède au sommet de la colline par le funiculaire ou en empruntant un escalier de 222 marches.
La basilique du Sacré-Cœur, dite du Vœu national, située au sommet de la butte Montmartre, est un édifice religieux parisien majeur. Sa construction fut décrétée par une loi votée par l'Assemblée nationale de 1871 en juillet 1873 dans le cadre d'un nouvel « Ordre moral » faisant suite aux événements de la Commune de Paris. Avec plus de dix millions de pèlerins et visiteurs par an (en 2006), c'est le second monument de France le plus visité après la cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris.
L'église Saint-Pierre de Montmartre est l'une des plus vieilles églises de Paris. Consacrée en 1147 par le pape Eugène III, elle est le seul vestige de l'abbaye royale de Montmartre.
Située au sommet de la butte Montmartre, elle jouxte la basilique du Sacré-Cœur et est l'une des deux églises paroissiales catholiques de la butte avec l'église Saint-Jean de Montmartre.
L'église fait l'objet d'un classement au titre des monuments historiques depuis le 21 mai 1923.
La place du Tertre est située dans le 18e arrondissement de Paris, en France, à 130 m d'altitude.
Avec ses nombreux artistes dressant leur chevalet chaque jour pour les touristes, la Place du Tertre est un rappel de l'époque où Montmartre était la Mecque de l'art moderne : au début du xxe siècle, de nombreux peintres comme Picasso et Utrillo y vivaient. Elle est un des lieux de Paris les plus visités par les touristes.
La place du Tertre correspond au centre de l'ancien village de Montmartre, à quelques mètres de la basilique du Sacré-Cœur et de l'église Saint-Pierre de Montmartre. La première mairie de Montmartre, installée en 1790 au domicile du premier maire, Félix Desportes, est une des maisons de la place.
On y trouve le restaurant À la Mère Catherine, fondé en 1793.
LE BATEAU LAVOIR au numéro 13 de la place Émile-Goudeau (autrefois place Ravignan) et de la rue Ravignan, une maison remplace vers 1860 la guinguette du Poirier-sans-Pareil qui avait dû fermer vers 1830 suite à un affaissement de terrain. Construite en grande partie en brique et en bois sur le flanc d'une carrière éboulée, son rez-de-chaussée (aucun étage en façade avant) situé au numéro 13, correspond au deuxième étage de sa façade arrière, la dénivellation de terrain commandant la distribution intérieure originale. Elle est compartimentée en petits logements d'une pièce répartis de chaque côté d'un couloir rappelant les coursives d'un paquebot. Ce serait l'origine du nom de Bateau. Pour Lavoir ce nom ne lui aurait été donné que par ironie par Max Jacob, la maison ne comportant qu'un unique poste d'eau. En 1889, le propriétaire fait appel à un architecte pour la transformer en ateliers d'artistes dont la majorité donnait sur l'arrière. Avant de prendre le surnom de Bateau-Lavoir on l'appelait la Maison du Trappeur.
Le premier artiste à s'y installer en 1892 est le peintre Maxime Maufra, de retour d'un séjour en Bretagne. L'endroit devient rapidement un lieu de rencontre, où l'on remarque notamment la présence de Paul Gauguin. Entre 1900 et 1904, l'endroit est occupé par deux groupes d'artistes, des Italiens dont le plus célèbre est Ardengo Soffici et des Espagnols regroupés autour de Paco Durrio. Puis Picasso arrive en 1904 (il y demeure jusqu'en 1909 et y garde un atelier jusqu'en 1912). Sa période bleue étant terminée, il entame les tableaux de la période rose qui prend fin en 1907. En 1907 sa toile Les Demoiselles d'Avignon y est dévoilée marquant le début du cubisme. À cette époque les habitants se nomment Kees van Dongen, Juan Gris, Constantin Brancusi, Modigliani, Pierre Mac Orlan, Max Jacob. En 1908 le Douanier Rousseau y est accueilli par un mémorable banquet. Le Bateau-Lavoir perd de son animation à partir de la Première Guerre mondiale au profit du quartier de Montparnasse et de La Ruche, son équivalent de la rive gauche. La maison fut aussi surnommée la Villa Médicis de la peinture moderne (par analogie avec la villa Médicis à Rome).
Inscription aux monuments historiques de la partie non incendiée monuments historiques le 31 mai 1965.
JOURNEES DU PATRIMOINE 2 - CHATEAU DE RAMBOUILLET ET CHATEAU DE ST JEAN DE BEAUREGARD
JOURNEES DU PATRIMOINE CHATEAU DE RAMBOUILLET MAIRIE DE RAMBOUILLET ET CHATEAU DE ST JEAN DE BEAUREGARD
La Maison louis XIV à Saint Jean de Luz
Lohobiague-Enea, qui en basque, signifie de ou chez Lohobiague, fut construite par Joannis de Lohobiague, riche armateur, et Marie-Sol de Hirigoyen, sa femme, sur un terrain acquis en bordure d'un vaste esplanade servant de place à la ville, à l'entrée du pont de bois qui conduisait à Ciboure.
Cette maison noble est bâtie comme une maison traditionnelle basque. Mais son architecture extérieure est élégante et distinguée, dans le style très classique de l'époque, où l'harmonie résidait dans une symétrie bien proportionnée.
La façade principale, en pierre, dite façade Louis XIII, donne sur la place.
L’autre façade, côté sud, avec ses deux étages de galeries à colonnes de pierre, de type navarrais, donne sur le port.
On ne visite que le deuxième étage.
C'est l'étage noble où résidait le maître de maison et chef de famille, et qui comportait les pièces de réception.
Le cadre est resté le même, soigneusement conservé et entretenu par la famille qui l'habite encore aujourd'hui et qui descend de celle qui fit édifier la maison. La décoration, le mobilier sont à l'égal des magnifiques pièces d'habitation et de réception qui constituent l'étage.
La visite de la Maison Louis XIV, une des bien rares demeures à avoir résisté au temps et aux hommes, donnera une idée précise de ce que fut le cadre de vie de ces riches familles d’armateurs luziens du XVIIème.
Places to see in ( Paris - France ) Opera Bastille
Places to see in ( Paris - France ) Opera Bastille
The Opéra Bastille is a modern opera house in Paris, France. Inaugurated in 1989 as part of President François Mitterrand’s “Grands Travaux”, it became the main facility of the Paris National Opera, France's principal opera company, alongside the older Palais Garnier; most opera performances are shown at the Bastille along with some ballet performances and symphony concerts, while Garnier presents a mix of opera and ballet performances.
Designed by Uruguayan architect Carlos Ott, it is located at the Place de la Bastille, in the 11th arrondissement; it seats 2,723 people in total, with a main theatre, concert hall and studio theatre. The idea for a new popular and modern opera house in Paris first came up in the 1880s, only years after the opening of the palais Garnier. It would remain virtual for a century and re-emerge periodically due to the recurrent crisis at the Opera and to the limitations imposed on modern opera production by the palais Garnier. It was notably promoted in 1965–1968 by stage director Jean Vilar, the most prominent figure in popular theatre at the time, who had been commissioned a reform project for the National Opera Theatre and echoed composer Pierre Boulez’ provocative appeal to blow up opera houses, as well as by senior civil servant François Bloch-Lainé in a 1977 report on the Opera's management and perspectives.
In 1981, the newly elected President François Mitterrand included a new opera house in his large monument-building programme known as the “Grands Travaux”. The project was originally part of the Cité de la musique, a complex of musical institutions in North-Eastern Paris. It was quickly decided to separate it and to build it in the Bastille area of Paris, a relatively working-class district that also evoked the French Revolution and was a traditional starting or ending point for demonstrations. The following year, an international competition was launched, under supervision of the Opera Bastille Public Corporation (EPOB), to select an architect. 756 entries were received, and, in November 1983, the competition was won by then little-known architect Carlos Ott, an Uruguayan living in Canada. It was said that the jury, who—unusually—did not know the authors of the submission, mistakenly assumed that his design was from American architect Richard Meier.
The Opéra Bastille's management and public perception were marred by various controversies and scandals in the house's first decade and even before its opening. The Opéra Bastille is located on the place de la Bastille. In order to make it blend into the landscape, the square was not remodeled to be aligned with it in a general parallel plan, but the left-hand side of the facade was left partly hidden behind an older and smaller building, which was expected to give the impression that the opera house had been part of the area for a very long time.
( Paris - France ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting Paris . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Paris - France
Join us for more :
Paris, France - Video tour of Saint-Germain-des-Pres
Paris [France] Saint-Germain Des Pres is an amazing neighourhood in Paris [France]!
The Saint-Germain-des-Prés area stretches just south of the Seine and east of the Latin Quarter, and was once a large monastery and a tiny market town. Its name in French means Saint Germain in the meadows, and that was exactly where it was located: outside the walls of the city.
The monastery was founded in 532 by Childebert, the second king of France. It became rich and powerful, but did not survive the Viking raids of the 9th century. The monks then camped in the ruins until 990, when the monastery was rebuilt by King Robert the Pious.
The town between it and the city was a very lively place. Eventually theaters started popping up. By the 17th century, the town boasted the composer Lully's first opera house, Moliere's first theatre and the first Comédie Française. It eventually became a well-known literary and artistic center.
With construction starting in approximately 1000 A.D., the Eglise Saint-Germain-des-Prés is the oldest existing church in Paris. Most of it is Romanesque. The rounded arches, small windows and heavy walls of the bell tower are typical of the Romanesque style.
The area soon became a center for artists, intellectuals and writers. Already in the 17th century, the village was home to writers like Racine and La Rochefoucault. In the 19th century painters like Delacroix and Manet, and writers like Balzac settled here. Benjamin Franklin and Oscar Wilde lived near the square, as well. In the 1920s, many Americans were attracted by the charm of the neighborhood. Hemingway and his wife lived here, and Henry Miller often found himself in the district. Later, Picasso moved here and this is where he painted Guernica.
Life here still centers on the square in front of the church and on 3 famous cafés nearby. The square is a popular meeting place, often featuring musicians and sculpture displays.
Les Deux Magots, located at 6 place de l'Eglise Saint-Germain-des-Prés, is named for 2 Chinese figures on the wall inside, left over from when the café was a silk merchant's shop. When it opened, the café was a favorite of the poets Verlaine and Rimbaud. In the 1930s, Picasso liked to come here. In the late 30s, the café was frequented by the existentialist philosopher Jean Paul Sartre and the writers Camus and Prévert.
When the café became a favorite of the Germans occupying Paris, Sartre and his colleagues abandoned it for Café de Flore on the next block, at 172 Boulevard Saint-Germain. The owner gave them the upstairs to sit, drink coffee and write. Sartre wrote his famous treatise Being and Nothingness in this location.
The other famous drinking place is the Brasserie Lipp, across the street at 151 Boulevard Saint-Germain. It was favored by the poets André Gide and Paul Valéry in the 1920s and it was here that Hemingway wrote A Farewell to Arms.
The Institut de France, at 23 quai Conti, with its distinctive dome was built in the 17th century for Louis XIV's Prime Minister, Mazarin. It is now the French Institute, the headquarters of the five French academies of arts and sciences. The most famous academy is the Académie Française, whose jurisdiction is the French language.
[paris france]
[paris city]
[travel from london to paris]
[places to stay in paris]
[paris tours ]
[paris shopping]
[paris attractions]
[things to do in paris]
[paris sightseeing]
[paris tourism]
[tourist attractions in paris]
[places to visit in paris]
[paris tourist attractions]
[visiting paris]
[best of paris]