Activities in Paris
Cultural Activities: Paris, "the city of Lights"
With its history and architectural patrimony, Paris is living, moving and evolving every day. From the "Ile de la Cité" to La Villette, from Notre-Dame Cathedral to the Opera, from the small streets of Montmartre to the "Arche de la Défense", from the Sacré-Cœur to the brand new National Library François Mitterand, Paris is a mosaic that overwhelms our eyes and senses.
A historic, economic, architectural, cultural, artistic and academic capital, Paris understandably remains the most visited city in the world. Every day Paris offers exhibitions, theatre performances, classical and modern concerts. Discover countless shops and companies displaying the Parisian "savoir-faire".
Activities in Paris - offered by French language school
In addition to language courses Accord – Language School organises cultural activities regularly for its students enabling them to acquire a better understanding and appreciation of French culture. This programme varies according to the season and the Parisian cultural events. Some examples are:
- Walks in historic and picturesque quarters of the capital, either with a guide or with the help of an itinerary-game written up by the pedagogical team: the Latin Quarter with Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Marais, the Montmartre Quarter with the Sacré-Cœur Cathedral.
- Guided tours of the numerous museums of Paris: the Louvre, the Museum of Modern Art, the Picasso Museum, etc.
- Outings to the cinema or the theater which often give rise to lively discussions in Parisian cafés
- Excursions in the Loire Valley and its famous castles
- In the Summer, students are invited to attend weekly conferences held at the school on various topics of French civilization.
Attractions
What makes a city like Paris an interesting place to visit? Paris is more than just an ordinary city, it is an extraordinary city! “The City of Lights” has a wide range of attractions that people from all over the world visit and explore.
Impressive architecture is evident in Paris. Magnificent man-made creations like the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre Museum, and the Eiffel Tower are internationally-recognizable symbols of Paris and are well known as the city’s major landmarks. Visitors also put ecclesiastical masterpieces like Saint Chapelle, Basilica of the Sacré Cour, and the Eglise de la Madeleine as part of their itinerary in Paris. The business district La Défense with its high rise buildings, the media and information technology hub Val de Seine, and the skyscraper Tour Montparnasse are among the modern architectural additions to Paris’ cityscape.
Momentous places in Paris have witnessed the building of a nation. Among the historical places in Paris are the Place de la Bastille, which was the seat of the French Revolution; the seventeenth century garden-promenade turned avenue Champs-Élysées which is now a major shopping street; the Place de la Concorde which was the site of the infamous guillotine during the revolution, is now home to two ancient Egyptian obelisks and two identical stone buildings the luxurious Hotel de Crillon and the French Naval Ministry; and Place Vendome which is known for its plush hotels the Hotel Ritz and Hotel de Vendome, and its jewelers and fashion designers.
Paris, which is sometimes called as the most romantic city in the world, has a lot of parks and gardens to leisurely walk in. The two oldest and famous gardens in Paris, the Tuileries Garden and Luxembourg Garden are located on the banks of the Seine. Paris’ first public garden Jardin les Plantes, was created for the cultivation of medicinal plants. Newer addition to the park landscape is the Parc de la Vilette. Some cemeteries in Paris have become hot spots for tourists because they give the tourists the chance to pay homage to its famous dead. The cemeteries Père Lachaise, Montmartre, Cimetière du Montparnasse, and Passy are among the famous burial grounds of Paris with artists, writers, poets, musicians and other historical people buried there.
Entertainment in Paris is very dynamic and very much a part of French culture. Opera houses, theaters, concert halls, dancehalls, discotheques, and cinemas strewn across Paris give its tourists and residents the kind of entertainment that they prefer. And don’t forget about the renowned French language schools that offer the best French language courses! Shopping is also one of the reasons why Paris is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world. Luxury fashion brands Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior and Givenchy call Avenue Montaigne their home while the Faubourg Saint-Honoré houses Hermès, Christian Lacroix. Aside from fashion, the French are also known for their top-quality delectable cuisine and Paris, being the capital of good taste, has a lot of restaurants that offer gastronomic delights! The culinary reputation of Paris is derived from the different origins of its inhabitants. Migration from different parts of the world to Paris have influenced French cuisine and made it more diverse.
Famous for its beautiful architecture, scrumptious cuisine, diverse culture and bright lights, Paris is one wonderful city you shouldn’t miss!
