It's September & Cultural LIfe Roars Back to Paris!

In early September Paris undergoes a noticeable re-invigoration. Cafes and restaurants open up again, everyone is back from summer vacation. The cultural calendar swells with events of all types…. Major art and antique shows, music of every persuasion. Here are just a few things you might want to note if you are visiting Paris in September.

The blockbuster art show of the season will be a major Monet show at the Grand Palais, September 22 through January 10.

Lovers of antiques and design will not want to miss the Bienniale des Antiquaires, September 15 to 22 at the Grand Palais. This massive event features top quality, often very rare items ranging from furnishings to jewelry to paintings to archaelogical finds. There are 25 new international dealers in this year’s show adding to an already remarkable variety of offerings.

As fall arrives, the Opera en Plein Air season continues. Visit the ground of the Hotel des Invalides to hear Carmen performed from September 7-14. www.operaenpleinair.com

If you love Django Reinhardt’s gypsy jazz check out the Django Dorm concert at the Salle Pleyel on September 30.

And that’s just a start!

Monet et l'Abstraction at the Marmottan

The Musee Marmottan near the Bois de Boulogne is hosting a gem of a show through September. Much has been written about Monet's later works prefiguring modern abstraction and this show is an excellent opportunity to draw your own conclusions about Monet's impact on modern artists. I saw a similar show at the Thyssen Bornemissa museum in Madrid last April and it was one of the best small shows I had ever seen... provocative and interesting. The Marmottan is featuring 20 of their Monet masterworks and hangs them alongside works by Jackson Pollock, Kandinsky, Richter and others.

If you are in Paris this summer or early September this show should be on your list.

Musée Marmottan Monet: 2, rue Louis-Boilly, 75016, Paris. Métro: Muette. Tel.: 01 42 24 07 02. Open Tuesday, 11am-9pm, Wednesday-Saturday, 11am-6pm. Closed Monday. Admission: €9. Through September 26. www.marmottan.com

Bicycling in and around Paris

Summer in Paris.  Walking and bicycling around town are even more appealing than usual.  If you want to go it alone without a guide, rent one of those sleek grey Velibs that are positioned in rental pods all over Paris.  You don't even have to return your bike to the same place you rented it.

If you prefer a guided small group bicycle tour in Paris, or a wonderful all day tour to Versailles or Giverny, cut and paste these links into your browser and book for a memorable in Paris tour or a day to two of France's top destinations near Paris!  By the way, for Monet's Garden and Versailles you take the train to the nearby station and then bicycle. Picnic lunches are part of the full day tours. Lovely all in all.

https://reservations.fattirebiketours.com/reseller/your-great-days-paris/paris-day-bike

https://reservations.fattirebiketours.com/reseller/your-great-days-paris/versailles-bike

https://reservations.fattirebiketours.com/reseller/your-great-days-paris/monet-bike

Combo deals on great Paris Museums

In Paris for only a few days and don't want to buy a two or four day Museum and Monuments Pass?

Here are a couple of sweet 'combo' tickets that may be of interest. Just discovered these when trying to figure out how a client could pack both Rodin Museum, Napoleon's Tomb at Invalides and the incomparable Orsay museum into one day. You must use these combos on the same day but if they work for you, this is a good option!

1.  The Musée d'Orsay /Musée de l'Orangerie Passport: 1 ticket for 2 museums on the same day, from Wednesday to Sunday  €13

2.  The Musée d'Orsay - Musée Rodin Passport: One ticket to visit two museums on the same day.  € 12 instead of € 14

3.  Keep your ticket!  In the week following the date on your Musée d'Orsay entrance ticket you can take advantage of reduced rates  to buy a ticket for the Gustave Moreau National Museum and also to visit the Palais Garnier (Paris National Opera).  

Remember, the Orsay is closed Tuesdays.  It is also open late on Thursdays, until 9 p.m. and these evenings never seem to be so crowded.  I'll be  on the lookout for other new combo options!