Book your Olympics stay early! (credit)

The Summer Olympics in Paris are just around the corner, promising to be one of the most thrilling and buzzed-about events of the year. With Paris set to be a hub of activity and endless entertainment, securing your stay now is crucial. Fortunately, a handful of our fantastic luxury vacation rentals are still available in Paris, all waiting to be discovered through Vacation Perfect. Don’t delay … book your stay today to ensure you’re at the heart of the action for the Summer Olympics. For more inspiration, check out these beautiful Paris luxury vacation rentals near Olympic events.

Plan the perfect Olympics stay at the Marcillac.

Marcillac

Marcillac is set in one of the best spots for travelers attending the Olympics. Located between the Champ de Mars and Invalides, this property sleeps up to 4 guests and has one bedroom and bathroom. We know you will love the wood beamed ceiling, large windows and balcony view overlooking a quiet courtyard. It’s a great place between events to recharge for primetime sports and exciting things happening all over the city.

A dream Olympics stay at the Cabernet!

Cabernet

This charming vacation rental has a great position in the 7th arrondissement near the Champ de Mars and a dream view of the Eiffel Tower. With an elegant decor and comfortable style, it is a one-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment suitable for 3 people. Another benefit of this vacation rental is the excellent transportation options nearby, allowing you to easily go to and from Olympic events.

Book a spacious stay at the Clos Jolie.

Clos Jolie

Looking for a larger vacation rental for your Olympics stay? With three bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, this beautiful rental has room for 6 people. You will be very near the Louvre and the Seine right in the historic heart of Paris. An ideal central location for Olympics events!

Book Now To Experience the Paris Olympics

The Summer Olympics in Paris are close, but there are still amazing luxury vacation rentals through Vacation Perfect here in Paris. Visit our website to read about special offers and availability for the Olympics. Follow our Paris Perfect travel blog for more ideas and travel inspiration. Contact us on our website or call 1-888-520-2087 to learn more about renting a vacation apartment in Paris.

The post Luxury Vacation Rentals for the Summer Olympics in Paris appeared first on Paris Perfect.

Excitement for the Paris Olympics is building! (credit)

The countdown to the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics has begun! With just one year left until this historic event, sports and Paris enthusiasts from around the globe are preparing to experience the City of Light like they’ve never seen it before. As excitement builds, there’s no better time than now to plan your Parisian getaway. We have you covered with the perfect accommodation options to ensure you have an unforgettable experience during the Olympics.

Why Book Early?

Paris is a city known for its charm and allure, and during the Olympics, it will be even more enchanting. As the world’s attention turns to the French capital, it’s important to secure your vacation apartment rental early. By booking your stay now, you guarantee yourself a prime spot in this vibrant city, avoiding the disappointment of limited availability later.

Experience Parisian Authenticity

Our handpicked vacation apartments offer a unique and authentic Parisian experience for you to enjoy with your family and friends. Nestled in the heart of the city, you’ll be immersed in the local culture, surrounded by iconic landmarks and a lively atmosphere. Whether you’re exploring the historic streets, indulging in delicious cuisine or cheering for your favorite athletes, our apartments provide the perfect base for your Olympic adventure.

The Eiffel Tower looking picture perfect for the Olympics! (credit)

Comfort and Convenience

After a day filled with Olympic excitement, coming back to the comfort of your own vacation apartment is priceless. Unlike impersonal hotel rooms, our apartments offer ample space and all the amenities you need to unwind and recharge. From cozy stays to spacious apartments perfect for families, we have a range of vacation rentals for a comfortable stay.

Act Now, Cherish Forever

Experience the Paris 2024 Summer Games and create cherished memories that will last a lifetime! Paris is waiting for you – seize this opportunity and be part of history in the making. Click here to see our apartments available and to secure your stay now. We’re excited to welcome you to Paris for the Olympics!

The post Countdown to the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics: Book Your Stay Now! appeared first on Paris Perfect.

Lovers of art and culture will be spoiled in Paris in 2022 with some fabulous shows at the city’s impressive museums and galleries. We’ve rounded up 10 of the best Paris art exhibitions this spring and summer to tempt you, perfect for planning a trip around, with more cultural delights likely to be unveiled in autumn. And we’ve got chic Paris vacation rentals to make your French escape a delight. If you can’t travel at the moment, why not take inspiration for future visits from our selection of five must-see Paris art museums?

Exposition: Picasso-Rodin

Musée national Picasso-Paris (until 5 March 2022)

This exciting exhibition brings together two art stars, Spanish painter Pablo Picasso and French sculptor Auguste Rodin, who both did much of their best work in Paris. Presented jointly by the Musée national Picasso-Paris in the Marais and the Musée Rodin, Exhibition: Picasso-Rodin shows key pieces in parallel at each gallery, highlighting unexpected links in their influential creative journeys. Although Musée Rodin’s exhibition has sadly ended, the one at the Picasso Museum has been extended until March. 5 rue de Thorigny, 75003

The Morozov Collection. Icons of Modern Art

Fondation Louis Vuitton (until 3 April 2022)

One of this year’s flagship Paris art exhibitions, The Morozov Collection. Icons of Modern Art at Fondation Louis Vuitton shares 200 Impressionist and Modern art masterpieces from the collection of brothers Mikhaïl and Ivan Morozov, the first time it has traveled outside of Russia. Expect French works by Manet, Rodin, Monet, Pissarro, Toulouse-Lautrec, Renoir, Cézanne, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Bonnard and Matisse, alongside Russian talents such as Malevich, spanning the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 8 avenue du Mahatma Gandhi, 75016

Marcel Proust, Un Roman Parisien at the Musée Carnavalet (Photo: © Antoine Mercusot)

Marcel Proust, Un Roman Parisien

Musée Carnavalet – Histoire de Paris (until 10 April 2022)

Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the famous French writer’s birth, exhibition Marcel Proust, Un Roman Parisien is at the historic Musée Carnavalet in the Marais. It explores the Parisian world of Proust (1871–1922), who was born and died here, and the importance of the city in his acclaimed novels. Exhibits include paintings, sculptures, photos, manuscripts, clothes, furniture and accessories, plus a recreation of his bedroom. 23 rue de Sévigné, 75003

Thierry Mugler, Couturissime at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs (Photo: © MAD, Paris, Christophe Dellière)

Thierry Mugler, Couturissime

Musée des Arts Décoratifs (until 24 April 2022)

French fashion designer Thierry Mugler died in January, making this Musée des Arts Décoratifs retrospective extra emotional. Thierry Mugler, Couturissime celebrates the creativity of this radical talent, who launched his fashion house in the Seventies and was synonymous with theatrical Eighties silhouettes and powerful femininity. Ready-to-wear, haute couture, stage costumes, photos, fragrance, catwalk shows, music videos and projections tell the story of his art and collaborations. There’s also a tribute to late designer Alber Elbaz at Palais Galliera (5 March–10 July 2022). 107 rue de Rivoli, 75001

Edmund de Waal — petrichor. Installation view Musée Nissim de Camondo, 2021. (© Edmund de Waal and MAD, Paris, Courtesy of the artist and of Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris. Photo: Christophe Dellière)

Edmund de Waal, Lettres à Camondo

Musée Nissim de Camondo (until 15 May 2022)

Lovers of contemporary ceramics and sculpture will enjoy this touching, subtle exhibition by British craft talent Edmund de Waal at atmospheric Musée Nissim de Camondo, one of Paris’s best-kept secrets. Edmund de Waal, Lettres à Camondo responds to this remarkable house museum and the Jewish family that once owned it. Art collector Moïse de Camondo’s son Nissim was killed in the First World War; his daughter and her family later died in Auschwitz. Vessels, letters and benches by de Waal dot the rooms and courtyard, spanning porcelain, gold, oak and stone, expressing this trauma and loss. 63 rue de Monceau, 75008

Yves Saint Laurent AUX MUSÉES

Centre Pompidou and five other venues (until 15 May 2022)

Paris art exhibitions don’t come more ambitious than this city-spanning showcase, devoted to the legendary French fashion designer. Yves Saint Laurent aux Musées unites six museums that inspired the designer – Centre Pompidou, Musée d’Orsay, Musée du Louvre, Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, Musée national Picasso-Paris and Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris – to mark six decades since the YSL label’s first fashion show. Each museum pairs pieces by Saint Laurent with works or artists in their collection, from Mondrian to Matisse, Dufy and Picasso, picking up on fascinating themes. See their websites for more. Places George Pompidou, 75004

Bergere couchée by Berthe Morisot, 1891. (© RMN-Grand Palais/ © Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris)

IMPRESSIONISM – AT THE SOURCE OF THE WATER LILIES

Musée de l’Orangerie (2 March–11 July 2022)

Another of 2022’s must-see exhibitions in Paris is Impressionism – At the Source of the Water Lilies hosted by the Musée de l’Orangerie. This group show takes a deep dive into Impressionism via 80 works by Cassatt, Cézanne, Degas, Manet, Monet, Morisot, Pissarro and Renoir, some never previously seen in France. Jardin des Tuileries, Place de la Concorde, 75001

Antoni Gaudi (1852 – 1926), Jardinière tripode de section triangulaire, 1905, Paris, Musée d’Orsay (Photo © RMN-Grand Palais / René-Gabriel Ojéda)

Gaudi

Musée d’Orsay (12 April–17 July 2022)

Gaudí is the first major show of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí’s work in Paris in 50 years, honoring his maverick Art Nouveau buildings. Exhibited at Musée d’Orsay, it delves into his love of space, decoration and color, captured in his extraordinary palaces, parks, hotels and churches such as the iconic La Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona. It’s also a rare chance to see some of Gaudi’s furniture designs, never before shown in France. Esplanade Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, 75007

Gallen-Kallela, Myths and Nature at the Musée Jacquemart-André. LEFT: Lake in the Wilderness, 1892 (Photo: The Gösta Serlachius Fine Arts Foundation, Teemu Källi) / RIGHT: Self-Portrait at the Easel, 1885 (Photo: Aivi Gallen-Kallela-Sirén)

Gallen-Kallela, Myths and Nature

Musée Jacquemart-André (11 March–25 July 2022)

Known for dreamy paintings of wild Nordic nature, following the seasons, Finnish artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865–1931) is the subject of this striking show at Musée Jacquemart-André. Gallen-Kallela, Myths and Nature includes around 70 lyrical works, depicting forests, lakes and snow, charting his shift from naturalism to symbolism. 158 boulevard Haussmann, 75008

Atelier des Lumières – Cezanne, The Lights of Provence (Photo: © Culturespaces)

Cézanne, The Lights of Provence

Atelier des Lumières (18 February 2022–2 January 2023)

Kids will adore immersive digital art space Atelier des Lumières in the 11th arrondissement, where vibrant images of artists’ work are projected around a cavernous former foundry, with videos and music combining to dazzling effect. Offering a “journey from light to color,” exhibition Cézanne, the Lights of Provence explores the life and work of French Post-Impressionist painter Paul Cézanne. Stay on after for a shorter, 10-minute tribute to dynamic Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky, titled Kandinsky, the Odyssey of Abstraction. 38 rue Saint Maur, 75011

Note: Dates for these Paris art exhibitions may change – visit the museums’ own websites for the latest details, opening hours and entry conditions.

The post The Best Paris Art Exhibitions in 2022 appeared first on Paris Perfect.

The spectacular finish to the 2020 Tour de France on the Champs-Élysées (Credit: A.S.O./Pauline Ballet)

All eyes will be on Paris as the Tour de France reaches its grand finale in the capital on Sunday, July 18th. Whether you’re lucky enough to be in town – or watching the epic race on TV at home – here’s our guide to all the action.

Americans have the Super Bowl, Brits have Wimbledon and the French have the Tour de France. When the world’s most exciting bicycle race sweeps into Paris for its final, high-speed sprint stage, it will be the culmination of three weeks and 2,121 miles of thrilling adventure. But there is so much more to Le Tour than just a bike race. The Tour de France really is the most beautiful sporting event of them all.

Passing by Saint-Etienne Cathedral in Bourges, Tour de France 2021 – Stage 7 (Credit: A.S.O./Charly Lopez)

This year’s race has twisted and turned from the gorgeous green coastline of Brittany to the epic slopes of the Alps, the barren moonscape summit of Provence’s Mount Ventoux, and the vertiginous descents of the Pyrenees. Along the way, it has passed through jaw-dropping landscapes, back dropped by magnificent châteaux, ancient fortresses, breathtaking bridges, sparkling rivers and fields of lavender and sunflowers. The route of the 21-stage men’s race changes annually, taking in dazzlingly different regions of France, allowing viewers to get a taste of its local heritage, architecture, food and wine.

The awe inspiring Gorges de Saint-Jean, Tour de France 2021 – Stage 14 (Credit: A.S.O./Pauline Ballet)

To understand the Tour de France, you have to understand its special place in the country’s heart. It’s a touchstone of history, culture, heroism and emotion that’s at the core of French identity. Established in 1903, the Tour began life as a marketing stunt for French sports newspaper L’Auto. In the harsh early years, riders had to carry equipment to repair their own bikes on unpaved roads, stopping off to grab food from cafés or swig down a beer. The race ran every year except for two breaks during wartime, and featured national teams at one point, before reverting to trade teams. Originally it was a European affair, with famous names including Frenchman Jacques Anquetil, Belgian Eddy Merckx and Frenchman Bernard Hinault, but now competitors are increasingly international. A huge hit, the race attracts around 10 to 12 million spectators lining the roads, cheering the riders on and even running beside them on the mountain trails (an eccentric in a devil costume is a regular fixture). A massive global TV audience also tunes in to catch the drama, passion and intrigue.

Jonas Vingegaard, Nairo Quintana, Tadej Pogačar and Mark Cavendish, Tour de France 2021 – Stage 14 (Credit: A.S.O./Charly Lopez)

Trust the French to have an eye for sporting fashion! The jerseys worn by the Tour’s best riders indicate four key races within the race. Most coveted is the yellow jersey (maillot jaune), worn by the rider who reaches Paris in the shortest time, calculated across all the stages. This “golden fleece” is fought over by the General Classification (GC) riders, all-rounders who can handle the big ascents. The polka dot jersey is for the pure climbers dreaming of being crowned King of the Mountains, the green jersey for the fastest sprinters, and the white jersey for the best young rider. Individual stage hunters, working together in breakaways, often hope to thwart the main peloton and snatch a surprise win. The last placed finisher is dubbed the red lantern (lanterne rouge), a symbol of suffering, although cyclists sometimes compete for this infamous title.

Tadej Pogačar and Mark Cavendish, Tour de France 2021 – Stage 12 (Credit: A.S.O./Charly Lopez)

2021’s compelling Tour – the 108^th edition – has spawned spectacular mass crashes and incredible solo efforts. Look out for young Slovenian hotshot Tadej Pogačar, expected to hold the famed yellow jersey all the way to Paris. The biggest story, though, was comeback star Mark Cavendish, a veteran British sprinter who returned from illness and near-retirement to dominate a fistful of adrenaline-fueled sprint wins. Securing his status as the best pure sprinter of all time, he also equaled Eddy Merckx’s legendary record of 34 stage wins in the Tour de France. If he survives the grueling mountains, Cav will have the chance to go one or two better, and gun for sprint glory on the Champs-Élysées.

Final stage of the 2020 Tour de France passing by the Louvre (Credit: A.S.O./Alex Broadway)

Those in Paris on Sunday are in for a treat. The final day is partly ceremonial – a quirky tradition means most of the jerseys are settled the previous day, allowing teams to relax, chat and sip Champagne as they pedal past Versailles into Paris. However, the fast men in the green jersey competition will still sprint for a highly prized victory at the end of the course. The riders pass by the iconic Pont Neuf bridge, Louvre Pyramid, Tuileries Garden, Rue de Rivoli and Place de la Concorde before racing eight circuits around the cobble stoned Avenue des Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe. Luckily, Paris Perfect has stylish vacation rentals nearby, including luxe apartments at Place Dauphine. See Stage 21 race timings here. Turn up early to grab a free spot behind the barriers, watch the champion crowned at sunset and shout “Vive le Tour!”

The post Why the Tour de France is the World’s Most Beautiful Race appeared first on Paris Perfect.

If you love art and culture catch the best museum exhibitions in Paris this year. Treat yourself to an inspiring trip in 2020, with a chic Paris Perfect vacation apartment on the side. Here are 10 of our must-see exhibitions.

Paul Cézanne, La Montagne Sainte-Victoire, vers 1890

Cézanne and the Master Painters. Dream of Italy

Get a fix of French art with an Italian twist at the Musée Marmottan Monet. Exhibition Cézanne and the Master Painters. Dream of Italy compares French artist Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) – the forerunner of Cubism – with Italian masters from the 16^th to 19^th centuries. On from 27 February to 5 July 2020, it includes works by Italians Tintoretto, Giordano and Morandi, Frenchman Poussin and Spaniard El Greco.

2 rue Louis-Boilly, 75016 (closed Mondays)

 Peter Lindbergh, August 2009 © Peter Lindbergh (courtesy Peter Lindbergh, Paris)

Harper’s Bazaar. First in Fashion

To mark the reopening of its fashion galleries, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs presents major exhibition Harper’s Bazaar. Premier magazine de mode. On view from 28 February to 14 July 2020, it chronicles 152 years of fashion history celebrating the US magazine’s influential editors, art directors and creative contributors, from Carmel Snow, Alexey Brodovitch and Diana Vreeland to Man Ray, Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol and Richard Avedon. Couture and ready-to-wear pieces from the museum’s collection illustrate the show, alongside iconic dresses. Follow-up exhibition Luxes explores global luxury (23 April to 6 September 2020).

107 rue de Rivoli, 75001 (closed Mondays)

Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Le Moulin de la Galette

Monet, Renoir… Chagall, Journeys around the Mediterranean

Former foundry Atelier des Lumières, near Père Lachaise Cemetery, hosts monumental digital experiences using multiple video projectors and an immersive sound system. One of the most family-friendly museum exhibitions in Paris is Monet, Renoir… Chagall, Journeys around the Mediterranean (28 February 2020 to 3 January 2021). From Impressionism to Modernism, it charts the link between creativity and coastal colors and light. Masterpieces by 20 artists including Monet, Renoir, Matisse, Dufy and Chagall are projected from walls to floors and ceilings, with seven sequences lasting 40 minutes. On show in parallel is 10-minute work Yves Klein: infinite blue.

38 rue Saint-Maur, 75011

Jumièges’, Joseph Mallord William Turner, c.1832 | Tate

Turner

A collaboration with Tate Britain, this must-see Turner retrospective at the Musée Jacquemart-André pays homage to the work of famous English artist Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851). Running from 13 March to 20 July 2020, it features 60 watercolors and 10 oil paintings, showcasing his eye-catching experiments with light from landscapes to cityscapes and seascapes.

158 boulevard Haussmann, 75008

Jacques Joseph Tissot

James Tissot’s ambiguous modernity

Fascinating French artist James Tissot (1836-1902) is the subject of one of 2020’s museum exhibitions in Paris, on at Musée d’Orsay from 24 March to 19 July. Born in Nantes, he studied in Paris but spent time in England, where his romantic paintings of lover Kathleen Newton captured her frail charm and dreamy dresses. After her tragic death in 1882 he returned to France, where his series Women of Paris featured women from all stratas of society and their fabulous fashion statements. Paris Perfect stay Morgon is a stroll away.

1 rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 75007 (closed Mondays)

Giorgio De Chirico (1888-1978), Il Ritornante

Giorgio de Chirico. Metaphysical painting

Architects love the paintings of Greek-born Italian innovator de Chirico (1888-1978), with their flair for interiors, buildings, perspective and style. Catch exhibition Giorgio de Chirico. Metaphysical painting at Musée de l’Orangerie from 1 April to 13 July 2020 and discover how the man who influenced the Surrealists was inspired by Germany, Italy and avant-garde Paris.

Jardin des Tuileries, Place de la Concorde, 75001 (closed Tuesdays)

Cindy Sherman, Untitled #92, 1981 Courtesy of the artist and Metro Pictures, New York 2019 Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman

American artist Cindy Sherman is famous for her personal transformations, casting herself as film stars, historical figures and even clowns in photographic self-portraits. Cindy Sherman at the Fondation Louis Vuitton is the most substantial exhibition of her work to be shown in Europe for a decade. The career-spanning show at the foundation features 170 artworks from 1975 to 2020, focusing especially on pieces created since the early 2010s, plus unseen works. It’s on from 2 April to 31 August 2020 at the spectacular Gehry-designed contemporary gallery, an Instagram favorite.

8 avenue du Mahatma Gandhi, Bois de Boulogne, 75116

Noir et Blanc

One of this year’s most striking museum exhibitions in Paris is Noir et Blanc: a photography aesthetic, a homage to black and white photography. Running from 8 April to 6 July 2020 at the Grand Palais, it tells the history of this bold modern art form, curating over 200 photos from 30 countries from the 19^th century to today. Big names on show include French icon Robert Doisneau and Americans Man Ray and Diane Arbus. Book online tickets here. You can also visit digital exhibition Pompéi (25 March to 8 June 2020).

3 avenue du Général Eisenhower, 75008 (closed Mondays)

Man Ray et la Mode

Fashionistas should make for Man Ray et la Mode, an exhibition devoted to the US photographer’s groundbreaking fashion images. At the Musée du Luxembourg from 9 April to 26 July 2020, after debuting in Marseille, it examines groundbreaking beauty, advertising and fashion imagery by the renowned Surrealist talent active in Paris between the wars. Expect original and large-size contemporary prints revealing Man Ray’s work for couturiers Poiret, Schiaparelli and Chanel as well as Vogue, Vanity Fair and Harper’s Bazaar magazines.

19 rue de Vaugirard, 75006

Sandro Botticelli

Botticelli

Autumn brings an inspiring Botticelli exhibition to the Musée Jacquemart-André, sharing the work of the Italian Early Renaissance master from 11 September 2020 to 25 January 2021. Born in Florence, Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510) crafted beautiful portraits and religious and mythological scenes under the patronage of Lorenzo de’ Medici. This showcase follows his personal development and influence, bringing together paintings, drawings and objects.

158 boulevard Haussmann, 75008

Our reservation team is available to help with your 2020 Paris plans. Give us a call at 1-888-520-2087 from the USA or email reservations@parisperfect.com.

The post 10 Museum Exhibitions in Paris to See in 2020 appeared first on Paris Perfect.

Credit: 2017 Warner Bros. Entertainment

We watched the movie Dunkirk with our kids recently and the discussion afterward may be familiar to many of you moms. It definitely posed an unanswerable question for me: How to show a father and son that although they have 180 degree opposed views, they are alike when it comes to maintaining a completely immovable stance. The example was Christopher Nolan’s movie Dunkirk. For those of you who haven’t seen it, here’s a look.

Never one for half measures, my husband dislikes some of Nolan’s movies. (“They always start with the letter ‘I’ and I can’t remember the names. Anyway, I don’t like them.”) So Dunkirk had counts against it before it began. My son, Olivier, sees Nolan as a genius and in Dunkirk appreciated Nolan’s decision to portray the historic event on a personal level. He captured how confused and frightening a time it was for the individual soldier and for everyone. Our daughter Alexia and I agreed with him.

Credit: 2017 Warner Bros. Entertainment

However, my husband had some excellent points. He’s not only a history buff, but he also knows Dunkirk from a personal standpoint. He grew up in this region of France surrounded by the history, and his father, Pierre, was a soldier in the Belgian army when the Germans started to invade Europe.

Pierre had a choice to join either the French or Belgian Army, and an influential uncle helped him to join a Belgian regiment. The Germans attacked Belgium, but his troop escaped on May 10, 1940 – the day Belgium was invaded by German forces.

Pierre in his uniform fighting for Belgium during WWII.

Imagine the confusion of war Pierre experienced. During the Nazi blitzkrieg, troops were escaping but no one knew where they should go. The French hadn’t surrendered, so they crossed into France and headed along the coast for Dunkirk to join the French army and to fight the Germans from there. Unfortunately, his troop was captured by the Germans a few miles from Dunkirk – at Bergues.

Credit: 2017 Warner Bros. Entertainment

My husband studies history for pleasure, but he is especially knowledgeable about Dunkirk (Dunkerque in French) from his father.

Credit: Puttnam (Mr) and Malindine (Mr), War Office official photographer/Imperial War Museums

There were literally hundreds of thousands of English and French soldiers stuck on the beach in need of evacuation from the invading German army.

British prisoners at Dunkerque, France, June 1940.

All the while, German Messerschmitts strafed the beaches constantly. One my husband’s biggest issues is that the movie didn’t portray very well the enormous crowds of over 300,000 young men, sleeping on the beach, hungry and cold.

In the movie. Credit: 2017 Warner Bros. Entertainment

The evacuation.

He was upset that Nolan showed only a few orderly lines of English soldiers, some confusion – but nothing that was reflective of the immensity of the evacuation.

Credit: 2017 Warner Bros. Entertainment

Alexia and I felt both had valid points – that the individual level of war was well portrayed, being lost, frightened and not knowing if you were going to make it out alive.

Troops evacuated from Dunkirk on a destroyer about to berth at Dover, 31 May 1940. Credit: Puttnam (Mr) and Malindine (Mr), War Office official photographer/Imperial War Museums

But hearing the full story, we also agreed that it was a shame not to have done a better job showing the thousands of English boats rescuing hundreds of thousands of soldiers on a beach. There, that’s how you compromise.

As with most families, they grumpily agreed to disagree. However, my husband continues to send Olivier every negative review of Dunkirk he can find!

The post The Movie Dunkirk: Family History and Age-Old Father-Son Arguments appeared first on Paris Perfect.

La Seine Musicale, Paris’s newest concert hall. Credit: Nicolas Grosmond

From romantic snow in winter to sun-kissed spring, Paris is wonderful at any time of year. So when you’re planning your next trip, why not take into account the city’s packed year-round calendar? Its fab festivals, exhibitions, and events could prove a handy hook for a blissful break. Paris Perfect can help you work out what’s on or take your cue from these 2018 monthly highlights. We’ve selected some hot events through June below.

Our charming Saumur is located on famous food market street Rue Cler.

Need a stylish stay to match? Paris Perfect has gorgeous, central holiday apartments for rent, ideal for exploring the city on foot. Breakfast on your balcony at pretty studio stay Saumur, which sleeps two, on famous food market street Rue Cler. Also in the 7^th, Left Bank lovely Viognier sleeps five with unbeatable views of the breathtaking Eiffel Tower. Bon voyage!

January

Malick Sidibé ‘Mali Twist’ at Fondation Cartier (until 25 February 2018)

‘Mali Twist’ at Fondation Cartier. Credit: Luc Boegly

A visit to dramatic contemporary art space Fondation Cartier in the 14th, by architect Jean Nouvel, is always a pleasure. Even more so when the exuberant photography of African talent Malick Sidibé, who died in 2016, is on show. Current exhibition ‘Mali Twist’ is a retrospective of his iconic black-and-white works and vintage shots from the Sixties and Seventies. Known as ‘the eye of Bamako’, Sidibé captured youth culture in Mali’s vibrant capital, from dance to music and fashion. On display are more than 250 photos including studio portraits, pool parties and picnics on the shores of the Niger. Inspired to snap up some fresh style looks yourself? The Paris Winter Sales are on until 20 February. Fondation Cartier, 261 Boulevard Raspail, 75014

February

Seal at La Seine Musicale (8pm, 28 February 2018)

The striking modern venue, La Seine Musicale. Credit: Olivier Ravoire

For two thrills for the price of one, catch honey-voiced singer Seal at La Seine Musicale, Paris’s newest concert hall. The British soul and R&B talent is best known for the Nineties hits “Killer” and “Crazy”. Here, he’ll share tracks from recently released 10^th album “Standards”, covering classics by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Nina Simone. The striking contemporary venue occupies a former industrial island at the city’s western edge, redesigned by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban. Look out for the sail of solar panels rotating around the music and performing arts center’s glass dome. La Seine Musicale, Ile Seguin, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt

March

“Delacroix (1798-1863)” at the Louvre (29 March-23 July 2018)

Delacroix (1798-1863). Photo credit: Louvre

The Louvre’s big-hitter spring show is dedicated to one of France’s most influential artists. Inspired by Flemish and Venetian artists, painter Eugène Delacroix was the leader of the French Romantic school. “Delacroix (1798-1863)” will gather over 180 works by this passionate talent. Expressive brushstrokes, color and light were key to his dramatic art, which included iconic 1830 painting “Liberty Leading the People”. It shows Parisians taking up revolutionary arms, fighting under the tricolor banner in defense of liberty, equality, and fraternity. Religious and landscape works also feature. Musée du Louvre, off Rue de Rivoli, 75058

April

PAD Paris at Tuileries (4-8 April 2018)

Credit: PAD Paris

Art and design devotees should make a beeline in April for PAD Paris, a must-see event for aficionados and collectors. Set in a pavilion in the elegant Tuileries Gardens, it’s an exclusive gathering of French, European and global galleries. The eclectic showcase spans modern art, tribal art, historical and contemporary design, decorative objects, ceramics, and jewelry. Snap up a ticket and shop for super-special souvenirs. The four-day event includes a VIP opening night, followed by a late-night opening, so get your glad rags on. PAD Paris, Jardin des Tuileries, facing 234 Rue de Rivoli, opposite Rue de Castiglione, 75001

May

The French Open at Roland-Garros (27 May-10 June 2018)

Snag some tickets to the French Open.

Spring in Paris may be for lovers, but it’s also for lovers of tennis. As the French Open hits town, the world’s best players descend on Roland-Garros for the year’s second Grand Slam. In 2018, King of Clay Rafael Nadal will look to defend his crown. Get up close and personal with courtside seats; tickets are cheaper for the qualifying and early part of the competition. You’ll also find sports bars and pop-ups across Paris sharing the games. Tickets go on sale online from March. Stade Roland-Garros, 2 Avenue Gordon Bennett, 75016

Monet’s glorious house and garden.

For more Paris inspiration see our new fully escorted ‘Secrets of Paris‘ tour, available to book for 5-12 May 2018. We have partnered with Mary Ann Grisham of Enchanted Traveler, to provide our guests with a fascinating small group experience. The tour offers VIP access and expert-led experiences beyond the well-worn tourist path including a visit to Monet’s glorious garden in Giverny, an intimate concert at St. Chappelle and a private French cheese master class – led by expert fromager Pierre Brisson.

June

We Love Green Festival at Bois de Vincennes (2-3 June 2018)

Listen to music in leafy Bois de Vincennes park.

June is great for live music in Paris, with summery weather encouraging outdoor concerts. Expect plenty of free gigs, from jazz to classical and world music. Don’t miss We Love Green Festival, a fab two-day weekender in the 12^th’s leafy Bois de Vincennes park. Held on Plaine de la Belle Étoile, 2018’s festival is headlined by Icelandic superstar Björk. Book quickly as tickets are on sale already. The line-up includes young and established names, including French hip-hop/rap artist OrelSan, and indie, electronica, and folk. Hidden mini-dancefloors, a banquet, talks, art paths and design installations add to the fun.

For more inspiration see our other blog post on fabulous Must-See Events in Paris in 2018. If you’re catching the February sales, we’ve also got a handy shopping guide to Designer Outlet Malls near Paris and read our list of other February events. Remember our Countdown Sale is also on now, with up to 25% off selected apartments for five-night stays from now until 28 February 2018. Definitely a bargain! 

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Planning a trip to the French capital? Why not line up your holiday to tie in with some of the must-see events in Paris this year? From major art shows to key sports dates and cultural festivals, there’s always something fabulous going on.  Check out five of our hot tips for Paris in 2018 below.

Perfection at Pommard.

For a stylish rental apartment to match, peruse Paris Perfect’s selection of stays, handily located in desirable neighborhoods. Travelling solo or in a couple? Then elegant central stay Pastis near Saint-Germain-des-Prés sleeps two.

1. Sophie Calle and her invited guest Serena Carone’s exhibition ‘Beau doublé, Monsieur le Marquis!’ at Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature (10 October 2017–11 February 2018)

Portrait of Sophie Calle. Credit: Yves Géant

Insider-secret private museum the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature is devoted to hunting and nature. Displays within the ornate pair of historic mansions blend taxidermized animals and natural history specimens with cutting-edge modern art. This year’s exhibition stars French conceptual/installation artist Sophie Calle, who will make over the fabulous rooms with her curious works. It’s the artist’s biggest show in France since her 2003 Centre Pompidou retrospective, revisiting themes of detective surveillance, tracking and the pursuit of love. Calle presents old and new works, alongside real and fantastical animals. Guest artist Serena Carone’s strange beasts interact with the space, making for surreal scenes and enchanting oddities. Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature, 62 Rue des Archives, 75003.

2. ‘Being Modern: MoMA in Paris’ exhibition at Fondation Louis Vuitton (11 October 2017–5 March 2018)

Installation by Giorgio de Chirico at the Fondation Louis Vuitton. Credit: Martin Argyroglo.

Calling all culture vultures! Some art shows are worth traveling for and you won’t regret scheduling a trip to catch ‘Being Modern: MoMA in Paris’. It’s a major draw at the architecturally alluring, Frank Gehry-designed Foundation Louis Vuitton. A collaboration with New York’s prestigious Museum of Modern Art, it showcases the MoMA’s unrivaled contemporary collection. Expect more than 200 renowned, multi-disciplinary masterpieces, plus less familiar works. Europeans in the frame include Pablo Picasso, Paul Cézanne, Constantin Brancusi, Gustav Klimt, Henri Matisse and René Magritte. American talents span Edward Hopper, Alexander Calder, Roy Lichtenstein, Walker Evans, Diane Arbus, Andy Warhol and Cindy Sherman. Fondation Louis Vuitton, 8 Avenue du Mahatma Gandhi, Bois de Boulogne, 75116.

3. Tour de France final stage on the Champs-Élysées (29 July 2018)

The world’s biggest annual sports event reaches a thrilling climax as the Tour de France wheels onto the Champs-Élysées at sunset on 29 July 2018. Although the overall winner’s yellow jersey is already decided, the final green jersey competition across the cobbles is the race’s most highly prized sprint finish. Take up position along the famous 2km-long avenue, which loops from Place de la Concorde to Arc de Triomphe. Riders do multiple circuits before ending the day’s 115km stage. Top sprinters include Marcel Kittel, Peter Sagan, Mark Cavendish and André Greipel. Arrive early to grab a barrier spot, or watch the peloton from one of the bars and cafes screening it in the area. The winners’ presentations make a stunning spectacle against the iconic landmarks. Vive Le Tour! Avenue des Champs-Élysées, 75008

4. Maison&Objet Paris furniture fair (7-11 September 2018; also 19-23 January 2018)

Le Salon Maison et Objet. Credit: XXX1010

Lovers of contemporary interiors flock to Paris twice a year for this huge trade fair. Maison&Objet is the city’s most influential homewares event, held twice a year in January and September. It showcases top French and global brands, sets trends, and shares emerging and established talents. From furniture to lighting, textiles to accessories, there are cavernous halls of gorgeous designs to suit every taste. Industry folk needs to book tickets early – and bag that Paris Perfect apartment! Decor devotees will also find inspiring launches and cocktail parties open to the public around town, with Paris Design Week hosting multiple events in the city during the same period. 2018’s dates and districts aren’t yet confirmed, but usually, include central areas like interiors-friendly Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Stylish shops participate, so you can snap up favorite finds. Address/dates to be confirmed

5. Nuit Blanche festival (6 October 2018)

Hotel de Ville on Nuit Blanche. Credit: Piero d’Houin

2018’s much-loved Nuit Blanche – or White Night – festival date has been confirmed, so pop Saturday 6 October in your diary. Begun in Paris in 2002, this popular event has since spread to nearly 30 global cities, including Melbourne, Singapore, and Kyoto. It’s a night of illuminations and revelry, with digital art, installations and light shows animating the city. Stay up all night, with participating museums and galleries open late, and architectural facades given over to projections. Follow the website and social media nearer the time to discover what’s going on when in the festival’s diverse, dedicated areas. It’s a brilliant way to experience cutting-edge contemporary art while celebrating autumn’s crisp, magical evenings. City-wide venues

Louvre Museum Small Group Tour. Credit: David Phillips

Paris Perfect has a host of handy Museum and Gallery tours, which will help you make the most of your time in Paris, from small-group tours and behind-the-scenes access to skip-the-line opportunities. For more details of what’s on in Paris in 2018, see our annual guide. Check out our current apartment sale with up to 50% off some Paris homes, contact us today to make a reservation. Mark your calendar now for 2018!

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Credit: Andrea Izzotti

The City of Light is a famously seductive spot for ringing in the New Year. Expect iconic backdrops including the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe to light up to welcome 2018 in vibrant color. Many of Paris Perfect’s chic rental apartments boast stellar Eiffel Tower views, such as the Beaujolais, Bergerac, Chablis, Margaux, and Merlot apartments, where you can make magical memories by raising your champagne glass at the stroke of midnight.

The enviable views from Margaux.

To arrange a stylish stay just contact the Paris Perfect reservations team, who can also help you line up special tours. Here are five unforgettable ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Paris…

1. MOULIN ROUGE NEW YEAR’S EVE CABARET

What’s more Parisian than ringing in the New Year beneath the famous red windmill? Celebrate at the legendary Moulin Rouge with a glittering dinner-show featuring the iconic “Féerie” revue. You’ll be welcomed from 6:45pm and seated for a gourmet festive menu accompanied by live orchestra. After dinner, the curtain rises at 10pm for two hours of high-energy spectacle. Plumes, rhinestones and the French can-can before the countdown and a DJ-led dance party that runs into the small hours. Your evening includes a welcome glass of rosé champagne plus premium champagne or wine at the table. Joyeux Nouvel An! Moulin Rouge, 82 Boulevard de Clichy, 75018.

2. DINNER AND CHAMPAGNE AT BACCARAT CRISTAL ROOM

For a touch of glamour, lovers of the finer things in life should head to French crystal house Maison Baccarat. Its gorgeous Cristal Room restaurant/bar boasts marble and gold interiors, with vibrant furniture. Naturally, the historic building drips with chandeliers and jewel-bright Baccarat glasses. A special five-course New Year’s Eve dinner menu takes inspiration from the house’s heritage. Think refined French dishes named after associated artists and intellectuals including Man Ray, Salvador Dali, and Luis Buñuel. The restaurant also serves a regular lunch and à la carte dinner menu and pours top-notch local champagne and wine. Baccarat Cristal Room, 11 Places des États-Unis, 75116.

3. NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER CRUISES

Is there anything dreamier than a gourmet dinner cruise along Paris’s River Seine? Join us and float along the scenic waterway with your loved ones on New Year’s Eve! Guests can enjoy romantic drinks and dinner under a glass canopy, ideal for taking in the fabulous city views. Landmark sites include Notre-Dame Cathedral, Place de la Concorde, and the Eiffel Tower. Choose between Elegant, Privilege or Premier Service experiences, with champagne, wine, a tasty appetizer, starter, two mains, cheese, and dessert. Check in from 7.30pm for a 9pm departure, with cruises wrapping up after midnight. Bon voyage! Depart from River Seine stop (address provided on booking).

4. COCKTAILS AT LE GEORGES

Credit: Paris Tourist Office

For cocktails with an enchanting view of the illuminated Eiffel Tower, it’s hard to beat iconic restaurant, Le Georges. Perched atop the city’s premier modern art gallery the Centre Pompidou, it’s located in the heart of Les Halles. The fluid, futuristic interiors, featuring curvy metal and hits of pastel pink, are by local architects Jakob + MacFarlane. The vistas are the star, though, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a large open-air terrace overlooking the rooftops of Paris. The cuisine is Mediterranean with Asian accents, while drinks span creative cocktails and wine. Cheers! Le Georges, Level 6, Centre Pompidou, Place Georges Pompidou, 75004.

5. DANCING AT REX CLUB

Credit: Paris Tourist Office

The city’s New Year’s Eve festivities usually include street parties on the Champs-Élysée, besides the Eiffel Tower and in atmospheric Montmartre. Think fireworks, lights, and excitable crowds. But if clubbing is more your scene, then bag tickets to Rex Club, where you can get your groove on. Popular for its techno, house, and electronica, its NYE bash is “One More: Mandar” (Lazare Hoche, Malin Genie, and S.A.M). The countdown to midnight is on! Rex Club, 5 Boulevard Poissonnière, 75002

For your next stay in Paris, our friendly reservations team is on hand to help you select one of our stunning vacation rentals.

The post 5 Fab Ways To Ring In The New Year In Paris appeared first on Paris Perfect.

Photo courtesy of ©Emma Summerton pour Christian Dior Couturier du Rêve

If you’ll be in Paris anytime this year, the brand new Christian Dior exhibition at the Musée des Art Décoratifs is the one show you must not miss. Arriving hot on the heels of the recent sell-out Vermeer presentation at the Louvre, this retrospective celebration of Dior’s 70^th birthday has become the hottest ticket in town – with good reason.

It’s been 30 years since the last Dior exhibition in Paris, and it’s definitely been worth the wait. Be warned though, as the queues to buy tickets on entry stretch right down past the Tuileries gardens, so be sure to book your tickets in advance …

Audrey Hepburn is famously reported for suggesting that “Paris is always a good idea”. Catch a photographic glimpse of her at this lavish display of the life and times of Christian Dior, alongside a sweeping overview of his illustrious successors, including Yves Saint Laurent, Gianfranco Ferré, and John Galliano. There’s also a fabulous taste of the evolution of the brand, with examples of dresses fashioned by the first-ever woman at the helm of the company. Maria Grazia Chiuri’s nomination as Artistic Director last year, with her great attention to detail, suggests exciting times ahead.

The “Couturier du Rêve” theme takes the visitor on a colorful discovery of over 300 haute couture gowns and more than 1,000 accessories, stretching from the first creations in 1947 to present day. One of the most stunning sections of the show is entitled “Colorama”; Dior believed that a touch of color could transform a look, and the exhibition sets out to prove this beyond a shadow of a doubt. Tiny dress samples and life-size accessories sit side by side, demonstrating a series of tightly-packed breathtaking chrome clusters, from emerald scarves to royal blue gloves, and from purple bonnets to bright red stilettos – it’s a non-chronological yet ingenious feast for the eyes, right across the ages.

As if that weren’t enough, the entire compilation is embellished by a wide-ranging display of personal and celebrity photographs, film extracts, documents, and works of art from the gallery that Dior opened in 1928 before embarking on his adventures into the world of fashion. In addition to the set pieces, look out for original gowns juxtaposed with iconic photos by Richard Avedon and Cecil Beaton – remember that Dior dress worn by Princess Margaret for her 21^st birthday?

There are masterpieces by Vigée Le Brun, Monet and Renoir artfully placed throughout the exhibition; Salvador Dalí makes an unexpected entrance with a baguette-bearing bust, and an entire section is devoted to the Trianon containing original furniture pieces that just take your breath away.

One of the most spell-binding rooms is the one devoted to the Dior Gardens. Stepping into this part of the exhibit, you can almost smell the flowers. The designer’s love for all things floral and recollections of his family home in Normandy conveyed into his haute couture as well as the fragrances he created: feast your eyes on full corolla-shaped skirts and waist-cinching calyx-like bodices, culminating in the display of the dress worn by Natalie Portman for the Miss Dior campaign.

‘Muguet’ lily of the valley dress from 1957

Top tip: be sure to leave yourselves enough time for two absolutely wondrous sections towards the end of the exhibit. Dior was quoted as saying “Mes robes font de chaque femme une princesse”, and you’d be hard pressed not to feel like royalty as you step into the brilliantly lit ‘atelier’ room with its cleverly designed mirrored ceiling. It is an absolute joy to observe the meticulous and flawless prep work carried out by the seamstresses over the decades since 1947.

As for the grande finale, it is everything it promises to be and the ultimate of all ballrooms. Crowds gather at the video screens to witness the rolling credits of a never-ending stream of VIPs and film stars who have been privileged enough to slip into a Dior number. From Marlene Dietrich and her infamous “No Dior – no Dietrich!” quip aimed at Hitchcock, to Elizabeth Taylor wearing nothing else at the Oscars in 1961 and Princess Diana snapped endlessly by the paparazzi clutching her fairytale Lady Dior bag, it’s virtually impossible to tear yourself away – until you take in the sheer magnificence of the triple-decker vitrine at the opposite end of this final room. Hats off to the curators and a special nod to genius scenographer Nathalie Crinière for what can only be described as a dream of an exhibit. Don’t miss it!

Practical information: the exhibition is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 11:00 to 18:00, with Thursdays staying open later until 21:00. (closed on Mondays).

All pre-purchase tickets are now unfortunately completely sold out, due to popular demand. Queues are reported to be at least 2 hours long, depending on the time of day.  A note for all intrepid visitors : we recommend you plan to arrive as early as possible and advise warm clothing!  

There are two distinct parts to the exhibit, so be sure not to miss the second half on the opposite side of the staircase! Note of warning : it is very warm once you are in the museum, so be sure to come prepared.

After your visit, consider a pitstop or sitting down for lunch or dinner at the adjoining Loulou restaurant, with its modern French and Italian Riviera style menu. Open every day from 12:00 noon until 2:00 in the morning, it offers a bar, an indoor restaurant and a fabulous terrace for fair weather days.

The Musée des Arts Décoratifs is just a 20-minute stroll from our amazing Clos Jolie property, making it the perfect place to stay in Paris for your enchanting visit.

Photo credits : Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Richard Avedon, Cecil Beaton.

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