The Complete Guide with Cafes and Bistros, Museums, Great Walks and Scenic Day Trips - Couverture souple

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 067900131X ISBN 13 : 9780679001317

Editeur : Fodor's Travel Publications Inc.,U.S., 1998

Synopsis

A new edition of the guide to Paris which covers accommodation, shopping, food, sights, history , and architecture, as well as excursions to Chartres, Fontainbleu and Versailles.

A propos du livre

Extrait

Pleasures and Pastimes

Café Culture
One of the most pleasant pastimes in Paris is sitting at a table outside a café, watching the world go by. For the price of a café creme, you may linger as long as you like -- read the paper, have a meal, or plan your next move while resting your feet. Cafés are found around every bend in Paris -- you may prefer a posh perch at a renowned spot such as the Deux Magots on boulevard St-Germain or opt for a tiny café du coin (corner café) where you can have a quick cup of coffee at the counter.

Cuisine
Whether your dream meal is savoring truffle-studded foie gras from Limoges china or sharing a baguette, jambon (ham), and Camembert sur l'herbe (on the grass), eating in Paris can be a memorable experience. It's well worth splurging on a dinner of outstanding haute cuisine in formal splendor. But also keep in mind that many famous chefs have opened bistro annexes where you can sample their cooking for less. In addition, younger chefs are setting up shop in more affordable, outlying parts of Paris, where they are serving their own innovative version of bistro classics. Some of these locations can mean a long métro or cab ride, but it will give you the opportunity to discover restaurants in neighborhoods that you might not otherwise see. And don't feel guilty if you spend as much of your day in restaurants as in museums: Eating is the heart and soul of French culture. Give yourself over to the leisurely meal; two hours for a three-course menu is par, and you may, after relaxing into the routine, feel pressed at less than three.

The Louvre and Beyond
Viewing art at the Louvre could take up all of your time, but don't forget that Paris is filled with an extraordinary number of other excellent museums. Be sure to visit the Musée d'Orsay, with its collection of Impressionist works (including Manet's Déjeuner sur l'Herbe, or Lunch on the Grass), the very manageable Musée Rodin, with its lovely gardens, and the small Musée Picasso in the Marais. The La Dame á la Licorne (Lady and the Unicorn) tapestry can be viewed at the Musée National du Moyen-Age (formerly the Musée de Cluny), and Monet's Les Nymphéas (Water Lilies) are at the Musée de l'Orangerie, off place de la Concorde.

Paris by Boat
An hour on the Seine on a Bateau Mouche or a Vedette is a fun way to get to know the capital. Boats depart every hour from the Eiffel Tower, Pont de l'Alma, and square du Vert-Galant for their tours of Paris.

Shopping
If you want to spend some money or just window-shop (the French call it "lèche-vitrine," literally, "window-licking"), try these: the rue du Faubourg-St-Honoré and avenue Montaigne for classic, upscale prêt-à-porter; the Marais and place des Victoires for avant-garde designer clothes; place Vendôme for jewelry; the Left Bank for established and up-and-coming clothing and shoe designers; the Passy area for secondhand shops; the Louvre des Antiquaires complex for antiques; rue Lepic, rue de Buci, and rue Mouffetard for street markets; and the Bastille area for trendy boutiques. And don't forget the bouquinistes, open-air bookstalls along the Seine.

Strolling
Walking is by far the best way to see Paris; it's hard to get lost, thanks to very visible monuments that serve as your landmarks. Some of our favorite walks are from place St-Michel, through the Latin Quarter to the Panthéon, and down rue Mouffetard; along the banks of the Canal St-Martin and Canal de l'Ourcq up to the Parc de la Villette; through the small, winding streets of the Marais from place de la Bastille to the Pompidou Center; along busy rue Faubourg St-Honoré, from the élysée Palace to the Madeleine, place Vendôme, and the gardens of the Palais-Royal; from the Arc de Triomphe to the Louvre via the Champs-élysées, place de la Concorde, and the Tuileries Gardens; and along the streets and riverbanks of Ile St-Louis from east to west, ending at Pont St-Louis for a classic view of the Seine and Notre-Dame.

Présentation de l'éditeur

Experienced and first-time travelers alike rely on Fodor's Gold Guides for rich, reliable coverage the world over.  Updated each year and containing a full-color, foldout Rand McNally map, a Fodor's Gold Guide is an essential tool for any kind of traveler.  Smart travel tips and important contact info make planning your trip a breeze and detailed coverage of sights, accommodations, and restaurants give you the info you need to make your experience enriching and hassle-free.  If you only have room for one guide, this is the one for you.

The best guide to Paris, updated every year
All the sights--from the Arc de Triomphe to the Louvre, from Notre Dame to the Jardin des Plantes
Paris by neighborhood, with informative walks
Where to shop--from designer boutiques to flea markets
Excursions to Versailles, Chartres, Giverny, and more

Where to stay and eat, no matter what your budget
Luxurious fin-de-siécle mansions, stylish finds, grand hotels, and cozy hôtels des charmes
Restaurants, brasseries, bistros, cafés, and wine bars

Fresh, thorough, practical--off and on the beaten path
Costs, hours, descriptions, and tips by the thousands
All reviews based on visits by savvy writer-residents

35 pages of maps--and dozens of unique features
Important contacts and smart travel tips
Fodor's Choice
What's Where
Pleasures & Pastimes
New & Noteworthy
Great Itineraries
Festivals
Background essays and further reading
Complete index
And more!

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Fodor's Travel Publications Inc.,U.S.
• Date d'édition: 1998
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 067900131X
• ISBN 13: 9780679001317
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 288
• Éditeur: Fodor Eugene, Etc.
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible