Now we’ve talked about the sporty aspect of the Bois de Boulogne, we’ve decided to devote a couple of lines to the natural beauty of this place. Spread over 845 hectares, the Nature reasserts itself and invites everybody for a magic stroll in the parc de Bagatelle, the Mare Saint-James, or in the bird reserve.

Photo Credit: Mairie de Paris – DEVE

Parc de Bagatelle
You can’t miss the Parc de Bagatelle and its bridges, rocks, caves and artificial waterfalls, so romantic! Ot to mention the majestic trees which lives there for centuries as the Monkey-puzzle Tree (140 years old) and the Weeping Beech Tree (150 years old). Its leaves caress slowly the Bassin des Nymphéas where a gorgeous pagoda dating from 19th century, stands.

Photo Credit: Flickr – Gabrilu

Lakes, Streams and Gardens
The Bois de Boulogne houses a lot of lakes and streams. Of course the Lac Inférieur, the largest of the wood, comes immediately to mind, followed by the prestigious Grande Cascade, and the Mare Saint-James, animals use its two island a refuge. A little bit further, you’ll find the Ruisseau Longchamp, which cross the Jardin Pré-Catelan. Right after, you could walk in the Jardin Shakespeare, composed of little gardens inspired by his famous plays.

Photo Credit: Bernard Frippiat

Birds Reserves
A lot of rare varieties are welcomed n this reserve as the Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Bullfinch. Visitors can admire them from the two observatories. The glasshouse d’Auteuil has been settled in the heart of a meadow, with a lovely pond. The Bois de Boulogne is a true country standing at the doorstep of a megalopolis where pollution is ever-present! A true breath of fresh air!

Photo Credit: R. Dumoulin

Bois de Boulogne
75116 Paris
France

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While Spring has just started, the Bois de Boulogne seems to be the perfect place to spend a relax afternoon. Located at the Southwest edge of Paris, it attracts many energetic Parisians who love running between its cute paths. Horse shows fans are glad to meet at the mythical racetracks housed in the wood too. Our blog dedicates a couple of articles to this multifaceted green space.

Photo Credit: Club des gentlemen-riders

Paths
In the center of the 846-hectares wood, a 2500-meters circuit has been built for joggers especially. Divided in 19 steps it starts at the “Carrefour des 5 routes”. Furthermore, 14 km are reserved to hiking and bicycle rides, not to mention the 28 km reserved to pony-trekking. Grab your saddle!

Photo Credit: Urban Challenge

Racetracks
The Hippodrome d’Auteuil is a benchmark in our capital, it’s considered as the Temple of fence races in France. Inaugurated in 1873, it’s well-known for the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris, the flagship race which takes place every year in May. On the other side of the wood, one of the most beautiful racetrack of the world is hidden, the Hippodrome de Longchamp. Since 1857, it welcomes  the most prestigious races of purebred horses, as the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. A nice occasion to try the panoramic restaurant open for every race.

Photo Credit: Blog Idées de Parents

Bois de Boulogne
75116 Paris

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Sunny days are back, and families meet in the Jardin d’Acclimatation. Indeed, it’s full of activities as numerous as various and perfect for our children. Let’s have a tour…

Educational Activities
Children are totally keen on this Parisian park! Here they can watch a funny puppet show and many ateliers are organized for them (cuisine, gardening, magic and even sciences). They can also play with distorting mirrors or in the playground. Not to mention the amusement-ride village… This park has been made for children and parents are enchanted!

Nature and Animals
With the Enchanted River, Pony back ride is one of the children’s favorite activity. Many other wonderful attractions are waiting for the as the Seoul Garden where you can see cute deers, the Great Aviary where exotic birds are flying, and the Small Farm which initiates little children to rural world.

Restaurants
After all these emotions you’ll need to get strength back, fortunately, the Jardin has a wide choice of restaurants. The Terrasse du Jardin is perfect to enjoy sun, while the Grande Verrière has design tables, of course, both prepare a succulent cuisine. During afternoon, you can have a sweet break at Angelina, a so chic tea room, or a delicious cotton candy at the Café du Village. To summer up, whatever how old you are, everybody spend a good time at the Jardin d’Acclimatation!

The garden is open everyday from 10am to 6pm until March 31st, and until 7pm from April to September.
Prices are detailed on the official website.

Jardin d’Acclimatation
Bois de Boulogne
75116 Paris
France

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While we spend our day in ² area, let’s go for a stroll in the Musée National de la Marine , its current temporary exhibition has called our attention.

«Ballet des optiques».
Photo: Sébastien Dondain (Musée national de la Marine).

Although lighthouses seem familiar, do we really know their history? Today, they light our coasts up, but during the 19th century, Paris was the capital of lighthouses, and a high place of optical and mechanical experimentation. The Musée National de la Marines features this fantastic universe, through various points of view and an important installation. Essential mark for navigators, technological and architectural wonder, lighthouse still a major symbol of coastal history, halfway between myth and artistic inspiration. There is no time to waste, check this event now!

Picture extracted from, The Lighthouse at the End of the World, Jules Verne, published in 1905.

The World in 1901
D.R. Musée national de la Marine.

PHARES, an exhibition ran by the Musée National de la Marine, until 4 November 2012.
Open from Monday to Friday, from 11am to 6pm, until 7pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
Admissions: €9.

Musée national de la Marine
17, Place du Trocadéro
75116 Paris
France
T.: +33 (0)1 53 65 69 69
reservation@musee-marine.fr

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According to the Gavarni hotel staff, Passy area is a lovely place to walking around. Today, they bring us in a restaurant in front of the Seine, just minutes away the Eiffel Tower. Among emblematic Parisian places where we spend a very good time, a glass of wine in the hand, there is Le Tournesol. The inside decoration is totally in black and ochre, providing this special atmosphere that only the Parisian bistro got. And we love to coil up in its typical red couches, where we savor a succulent Cassolette d’encornet or a Bacon-cheeseburger garnished with homemade French fries. It already makes our mouths water!

Open everyday from 10am to 2am. Non-stop service from 12pm to 11pm everyday.

Photo credit: La Fourchette

Photo credit: La Fourchette

Le Tournesol
2, Avenue de Lamballe
75016 Paris
France
T.: +33 (0)1 45 25 95 94
reservation@le-tournesol.fr

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After the chic and glam brand Lollipops, and the rock and provocative one Fame on You, the Gavarni hotel has chosen a luxury multibrand store that Parisian girls adore to close this week dedicated to fashion in Passy. At A Toutes Les Filles, luxury brand clothes such as Givenchy, Chloé and Dolce & Gabbana meet the “casual chic” jeans of J Brand or T-shirts by James Perse. This modern Ali Baba’s cave has been created by the fashion designer Sophie Levy. She studies closely every fashion show to pick only the best. An shop to recommend to your best-friends!

Open everyday from 11am to 7pm. Closed on Sunday.

A Toutes Les Filles
145, rue de la Pompe
75016 Paris
France
T.: +33 (0)1 45 05 06 23
contact@atlf.fr

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We told you about Lollipops universe on Monday, made for sweet, feminine, glam and sensual ladies. Today, we’re going to celebrate the rock and trendy girl, the pure bold Parisian girl, who is proud displaying messages when she walks in the city. As the T-shirt is a perfect way of expression, the brand Fame on You has chosen it to print its freaky messages on hype graphics. On a track suit, a skinny jeans or a shorty, the Fame on You collections as “Stay Fame” and “Chic and Toxic” make you irresistible. So, do you feel rebel enough to succumb for this collection?

Open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10.30 am to 7.30 pm.

WAN Concept Store
88, rue de la Pompe
75016 Paris
France
T.: +33 (0)1 45 53 31 80

See the other fashion places near Passy, recommended by the Gavarni Hotel.

Lately, between two ethical tips we used to entrust the best shopping places around the Gavarni hotel, in the chic district of Passy. Today we think of young ladies looking for 100% girly shops. At the 13, rue de Passy you’ll see a little pink shop window, that shopaholic know well: Lollipops. First, real kingdom of accessories, the brand has recently launched a ready-to-wear range, devoted to dresses and tops. Between romanticism and femininity, the collection is perfect for a glam and colorful summer.

Lollipops
13, rue de Passy
75016 Paris
France

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To end this Gavarni Week, the Gavarni hotel allows you to get a piece of its history. In the Napoleon Gallery, near the Eiffel Tower, you can buy Paul Gavarni’s lithographs. This little and intimate gallery, specialized in old engravings, suggests funny portraits dating from 1856 which describe perfectly the 19th century Parisian society, under Louis-Philippe. About 40 lithographs are available. Exactly what you need to be plunge in the striking universe of this genius.

The Paul Gavarni’s original lithographs are available on the official website of the Napoléon Gallery.
Price: €80.

Galerie Napoléon
112, rue Blomet
75015 Paris
France
T.: +33 (0)1 42 50 73 06

Since we told about the great French caricaturist Paul Gavarni on Monday, we’ve decided to lpresent also the work of his contemporaries through a thorough book. The exhibition «Pour rire… Daumier, Gavarni, Rops, l’invention de la silhouette» shown few months ago, at the Museum of History and Modern Art Louis-Senlecq of l’Isle-Adam, has been particularly appreciated thanks to its important collection of drawings, stone carving and paintings straight out from imagination and observation of three major caricaturists: Honoré Daumier, Paul Gavarni and Félicien Rops. The catalog printed for the occasion made a lasting impression on everybody.

Photo credit: Honoré Daumier (1808-1879), Ingrate patrie, tu n’auras pas mon oeuvre !, série Actualités, 1840 (Collection of l’ENSBA).

A Caricatural Book
As the exhibition says, the book talks about life of these three artists and examines their vision, sometimes cynical but often funny and tender of their period. The crinoline is invading the sidewalks of Paris, courtesans and other women of easy virtue, speculators and lawyers, bourgeois and the lower classes, we plunge into the 19th century and caricature spares anybody, all social classes and sometimes even artists are touched. Under the reign of Louis-Philippe, characters described by the acerbic look of these genius have provoked scandals. The books makes cleverly the parallelism of the evolution of their works, thanks to many reproductions and analysis.

Photo credit: Honoré Daumier, in “Moeurs conjugales”, 1840 / Ecole nationale des beaux-arts, Paris.

Photo credit: Paul Gavarni, Une fadaise sur une falaise, 1839/Ecole nationale de beaux-arts, Paris.

Exhibition Catalog «Pour rire… Daumier, Gavarni, Rops, l’invention de la silhouette», published by the Félicien Rops Museum from Namur, Belgium (September 24th 2010 – January 9th 2011) and the Museum of History and Mondern Art Louis-Senlecq of L’Isle-Adam, France (April 9th – September 18th 2011). Author: Ségolène Le Men. 240 pages / 160 illustrations. €34.