It sounds cliché, but Paris is beautiful during all the seasons of the year. Winter is fabulous for the beauty and spirit of the Christmas holidays. Spring - because of the new life blossoming in its splendid parks and gardens, and the summer – for the long lazy afternoons, outdoor picnics and late night walks along the banks of the river. But it is the autumn that gives the City of Lights that special charm. With its warm colors, it turns Paris into a cozy, aromatic, delicious tale, which can be experienced only then.
Here are a few reasons why you should think about a Parisian escape just now:
Most of the locals have come back to town after the summer months spent in Provence and Corsica and now Paris, dressed in the colors of autumn, looks full of life, more authentic and exciting than ever. The sun keeps the terraces of cafes and restaurants full, and the Parisians are a lot more than the tourists these days. The high season is over and the crowds of people in front of each cultural monument are far smaller. Instead of making your way amongst groups of hectic tourists, you will be able to walk peacefully like a true Parisian with a baguette and newspaper in your hand.
The perfect bodies from the beach no longer instill guilty thoughts in the mind of the true gastronomic traveler. Or at least not until the beginning of next summer. Now is the moment when you can truly enjoy French cuisine. And in autumn it smells delicious, of onion soup, Beef Burginon, roasted chestnuts, cinnamon, pumpkin and other epicurean pleasures. If we talk about an authentic French bistro, you can be sure that the freshly baked baguettes with a little French butter and a glass of wine are just enough to satisfy even the most demanding palate. Here is where we should note the contribution of the French nation to the creation of some of the best wines in the world.
Attractive showcases with freshly baked croissants, beautifully arranged pastries and delicious cakes. These are the famous French bakeries and pastry shops, which you should definitely pay attention to. If you are in the 6th district of Paris, at Un Dimanche à Paris they will serve you delicious treats that look like small pieces of art. If you happen to be in Marias, it would be nice to go to the Café Pouchkine for their iconic macaroons or to Rose Bakery for their special sweets.
What is the best thing wyou can do when the leaves begin to fall and the temperatures outside are dropping? You choose a favorite cozy place and enjoy an interesting book, a cup of tea or the bliss called “hot chocolate”. Fortunately, you can do all of this in the Merci café. Paris is the city of sweet delights. Cold weather is the perfect excuse to go to the Angelina for their famous hot chocolate or warm your hands with a hot crape as you walk around the Tuileries Gardens. For anyone who has a special attitude towards these kinds of pleasure, we recommend Les Marquis de Ladurée and Patrick Roger as great places you should not miss when in Paris.
This is the time when Paris acquires the warm shades of gold and rust. It turns into a beautiful watercolor masterpiece when its parks change into their autumn attire. The most photogenic season of the year looks fantastic at Jardin du Luxembourg, Places des Vosges, Jardin des Tuileries, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont and Parc Monceau. You can also climb up to Montmartre - the artistic hill of the city that reminds of the paintings of Picasso, Van Gogh, Modiliani, Matisse, Degas, Monet, and Dali. The Belle Epoque bohemian and artistic spirit still lurks around in the area where the former workshops of these famous artists were located.
The Grand Hôtel du Palais Royal is next to one of the most beautiful parks in the city - the Palais-Royal Gardens. The location of the hotel is a real advantage, especially during colder days when its not the best time for long walks - in this case the Louvre and the famous Rue Saint-Honoré shopping street are just around the corner.
Autumn is a good time for visiting the Versailles too. Its gardens resemble the beautufil paintings of famous artists. And if it gets too cold for walking outside, there are plenty of things to enjoy inside, in the breathtaking palace.
The Museum of Rodin is another place to visit then. Besides the 6600 sculptures by the famous author, you can also admire the beautiful gardens of the former Brion Hotel.
The Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen is the world's largest antiques market and the fourth most visited attraction in France. An entire day, or even a whole weekend, would not be enough to tour and explore every corner of the 14 separate areas with antique furniture, paintings, ceramics and jewelery exhibited by over 1,700 merchants. Still, we recommend you give it a try.
The program of the different events from the artistic and cultural life of Paris can be found in the Autumn calendar of the French capital. The "Festival de l'Automne" includes interesting exhibitions, music and cinema events to be held there during the upcoming season.
Bon Voyage!
Photos by @ paris.with.me, @olga_barantseva, @parisification, @wanderingthestreetsofparis, @seemyparis, @aperoaparis and the World Wide Web