The Christmas season has arrived upon Paris ! As every year before the Winter Holidays, the capital is transformed, decorated and shines with a thousand lights, following the rythm of the countdown to Christmas day. This perticular time in the Parisian life makes the city a different world that awaits only to be discovered by visitors. The Paris advent calendar is filled with tremendous decors and folklore that will enchant the eyes of little and big children. If you are sensitive to the winter charm of the effervescent and illuminated capital, you only have to go and discover it ! Here is an overview of what Paris has to offer during this Christmas season...
City lights
When the Christmas season is coming, the city of Paris dresses up in many lights and decorations. They go from simple festive lights along the big and average-sized streets of the capital to massive and sometimes impressive light installations. To make your eyes enjoy the most beautiful of them, here are a few neighborhoods you should visit this time of year.
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The Eiffel Tower : all year long, but especially around Christmas time, the emblematic tower of the French capital puts on its party dress. The thousands of light bulbs that dress it and that go on and off at different rythms make a meeting with the tall Iron Lady magical.
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The neighborhood of Saint Germain des Prés : just a few steps away from Hotel du Danube, the Saint Germain des Prés square and church are transformed too. The clever lightings and decorations give an almost enchanted aspect to the unique charm of the neighborhood. Take the time to sip on a hot cup of coffee on one of the heated terrasses on the square and enjoy the pretty lights in the dark wintery afternoon.
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The Grands Boulevards : the Boulevard Haussmann, known by shopping lovers from around the globe, offers without a doubt the most impressive light installations of Parisian Chritsmas time. The facades of the two department stores that make this neighborhood famous (the Printemps and the Galeries Lafayette) are covered on several stories with gigantic and lace-like patterns, made of thousands of light bulbs. And to add to the fairy atmosphere, both department stores compete with creativeness and extravagance in making tremendous decorations for their many shopping windows. For those of you who are not afraid of crowds, a nice walk along the sidewalk that goes along them (from Chaussée d'Antin-Lafayette to Havre-Caumartin, line 9) turns into a contemplative ramble !
Christmas markets
And for those of you who love Christmas markets, know that Paris is full of them at this season ! Here is a brief overview of the many you can chose from, so you can pick the neighborhood you would like to do your Christmas shopping in.
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Avenue des Champs Elysées (Paris 8°) : from November 14th, 2014 to January 4th, 2015
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Montparnasse (Paris 15°), place Raoul-Dautry : from the 4th to the 31st of December, 2014
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Le Village de Noël de Montmartre (Paris 18°), place du Tertre : from December 5th, 2014 to January 4th, 2015
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Alsacian Christmas market at Gare de l'Est (Paris 10°) : from the 4th to the 19th of December, 2014
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Place Saint Sulpice (Paris 6°) : from the 1st to the 24th of December, 2014
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Place Saint Germain des Prés (Paris 6°) : from December 6th, 2014 to January 2nd, 2015
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La Défense (Courbevoie) : from November 20th, 2014 to December 28th, 2014
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« Gourmand » Christmas salon, Place de la Bourse (Paris 2°) : from the 19th to the 22nd of December, 2014
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Les fééries d'Auteuil, 40 rue Jean de la Fontaine (Paris 16°) : from the 6th to the 14th of December, 2014