Paris & Ile De France | A French Collection

20 Photos to Inspire You to Visit Paris in the Fall

Paris in the Fall

Paris in the Fall. Paris is always a good idea no matter what the season, but many of us have a favourite time, or season of the year, that speaks to us and pulls at our heart strings. What is it that draws us to Paris at a particular season?

Winter with cold days is perfect for sipping a warm drink in a café, or bundling up in cosy clothes and enjoying some of the famous sights with less tourists. Winter also has a certain calm charm about it, and I love that you can see the architecture of the buildings more clearly with the trees bare and exposed.

Paris Doors – The elegant doors of Paris

Paris Doors - The elegant doors of Paris

Can you imagine a Paris without its unique and stunning doors? I can't and I know plenty of other photographers wouldn't be able to either. Paris and her doors are a drawcard for professional photographers, amateurs and tourists and even the locals take snaps of pretty doors also. Any why not? Brightly and freshly painted, or cracking and peeling, polished large knockers or petite handles, they are part of the Parisian architecture that the city is famous for.

Paris Bistro Chairs – The Origin of the Bistro Chair

Le Bistro Chair of Paris

"When you spend as much time in cafés as I do, you begin to notice that the typique bistro chair is like a snowflake. They are alike, yet no two are the same" - Janice MacLeod, A Paris Year

I absolutely love this quote by Janice MacLeod, the author of two of my most favourites books about Paris, A Paris Year and Dear Paris. It perfectly describes the iconic Paris bistro chair that we all love, and that is as much a part of Paris as is the Eiffel Tower, fresh croissants and the Louvre. In this blog post we look at the origins of the Paris bistro chair, why we love them and the unspoken rules around what and what not to do when seating yourself at a Parisian bistro. And I've got a wonderful gallery of photos taken from my wanderings in Paris of the different styles of bistro chairs.

Librairie Jousseaume – Ancient Bookstore at Galerie Vivienne, Paris

Librairie Jousseaume the ancient bookstore at Galerie Vivienne, Paris

Librairie Jousseaume is an ancient bookstore in what is considered one of Paris' loveliest covered passageways, Galerie Vivienne. Galerie Vivienne was inaugurated in 1826 and with its neoclassical decor, mosaic floor and cupola it quickly became Paris' loveliest covered passageway. Located in the central 2nd arrondissement, the gallery is 176 metres long and just 3 metres wide and has been listed as a historical monument since 7 July 1974.

Librairie Jousseaume, Galerie Vivienne, Paris 1905

When the passageway first opened, the bookstore (librairie) was one of the original tenants. The name of the initial store was Librairie Petit-Siroux and you can still see this original name above the store's window. Librairie Jousseaume is in fact made up of two shops which face each other at the point where the covered passage changes direction.

Arc de Triomphe Fast Facts

Arc de Triomphe Fast Facts

Built by Napoléon for his army and commissioned in 1806.
It took 30 years to build the Arc.
Napoléon and his army had conquered much of Europe by then and were considered invincible.
Napoléon promised his army they would return home through the arches of the Arc.
The Arc is 162 feet tall and 150 feet wide.
You need to climb 284 steep steps to reach the top of the Arc.

What to See and Do in Montparnasse

Come with me to find out what to see and do in Montparnasse. Montparnasse has not really been on my preferred list of places to stay whilst in Paris. But now, after a short visit one trip with children in tow and just recently a longer stay on my way through to the northwest countryside of Brittany, I found lots to see and do.

What to See and Do in Montparnasse

Here's my round up of what to see and do in Montparnasse - I'm sure you'll find lots to interest you whether you're there for a few hours or a few days. Mostly in the 14th arrondissement, Montparnasse has been called the bohemian centre of Paris.

The diverse range of restaurants, a legacy of art, historic streets, gardens and one of the largest cemeteries in Paris (home to some very famous people) plus the skyscraper of all Parisian skyscrapers, are waiting to be discovered in Montparnasse.

Montparnasse Cemetery

Montparnasse Cemetery is a huge cemetery in the 14th arrondissement of Paris that covers around 45 acres. It is one of the most visited sites in Montparnasse and is the burial ground of famous Parisian writers, artists, scientists and intellectuals. I was lucky enough to spend time wandering and exploring the cemetery the other week and share what I found in today's post.

A History of Montparnasse Cemetery

Going back in history to the Middle-Ages, the site of the cemetery was farmland and was occupied by market gardeners. In around 1825 the cemetery was created and was originally known as the Cimetière du Midi. It was at that time located outside of Paris.

Napoléon Bonaparte

France and Napoléon go hand in hand but with two French Napoléons, it can get tricky to know which Napoléon did what in Paris. This is especially so as they were even related. So just what did Napoléon Bonaparte do compared to Napoléon III? Who was the emperor and who was the architectural mastermind.

Napoléon Bonaparte vs Napoléon III

Paris has reminders of Napoléon everywhere, including the "N" engraved in bridges and on buildings, statues and even cafés named after these famous gentlemen. The café Le Bonaparte above is a perfect spot for my morning coffee after leaving my usual hotel on rue Vaneau, then heading down due de Babylone, rue de Sévres, rue de Four and then straight across Boulevard Saint-Germain to the cafe. It's a relaxed spot with plenty of pedestrian traffic to watch while taking a drink.

« Previous Page

20 Photos to Inspire You to Visit Paris in the Fall

Paris in the Fall

Paris Doors – The elegant doors of Paris

Paris Doors - The elegant doors of Paris

Paris Bistro Chairs – The Origin of the Bistro Chair

Le Bistro Chair of Paris

Librairie Jousseaume – Ancient Bookstore at Galerie Vivienne, Paris

Librairie Jousseaume the ancient bookstore at Galerie Vivienne, Paris

Arc de Triomphe Fast Facts

Arc de Triomphe Fast Facts

What to See and Do in Montparnasse

What to See and Do in Montparnasse

Montparnasse Cemetery

A History of Montparnasse Cemetery

Napoléon Bonaparte

Napoléon Bonaparte vs Napoléon III

PRESS & MEDIA

Follow Us

GET OUR NEWSLETTERS

JOIN ME IN FRANCE ON INSTRAGRAM

afrenchcollection