Destination Paris

This summer is all about culture. Forget the beach, the package holidays and the sangria; this summer is all about city destinations. Paris is the ideal location to spend your summer; jam packed with culture and even a beach (yes I did say beach, check it out on my blog), Paris can offer you much more than most destinations. Forget the typical holiday accommodation you usually find, Paris accommodation is different. Most Paris hotels will ensure that your visit to the French capital is unforgettable; this is your chance to really be spoilt. If you prefer a more traditional, homely feeling, a Paris apartment will give you the experience of actually living in this wonderful city for the duration of your stay. As a back up to this incredibly enthusiastic appraisal of Paris, I’ve chosen three activities that I will most certainly be attending and think you should to (you could call them three very good reasons if you like).

At Paris’s Salle Saint-Jean de Hôtel de Ville, you will get the exciting opportunity to visit the Grace Kelly exhibition. Understandably, the exhibition is only exiting if you actually like Grace Kelly but in all seriousness, who doesn’t? The exhibition is only on for a limited time and will be showcasing on its way back from Monaco on the 10th of June to the 16th of August. Here, you will learn about the star’s history through anecdotes, photos and movie memorabilia. Furthermore, for any fashion fanatics, her wedding gown and other dresses that she wore on the red carpet and in the films will be on display. I for one can’t wait.

The ‘Cinéma au clair de lune' festival returns this year and promises to be as special as ever. Different ‘quartieres’ show open air screenings of specially selected films during the whole event. The main screenings will be shown at the ‘Parc André-Citroën’, with further projections being held at the ‘Butte de Montmartre’ and the ‘Parc de Choisy’, therefore stretching to every corner of the city. Every year, the festival celebrates a different theme, and this year will be the year of European cinema. Around 300-500 people can come along and watch some of the highly acclaimed films such as Woody Allen’s ‘Match Point’ and Pedro Almodovar’s ‘High Heels’. The atmosphere in these open air screenings really is electric; you can bring rugs and picnics and enjoy the night relaxing with friends.

My final must see event is the Arènes de Montmartre Festival. This travelling theatre will be coming to Paris on the 13th of August for three weeks and will be showcasing the comical work of the Italian masters of comedy and street performance. This year’s performances will be coming from the Mystère Bouffe Theatre Company who are said to be amongst the best in Europe and are very strong competitors amongst world wide talent.