A few years ago, after visiting Picasso museums in Spain and Switzerland, my husband and I set out to find Picasso in Paris. Spanish born, Picasso came to Paris as a young man at the dawn of the twentieth century where he influenced the art world for more than fifty years. As a young man, …
One of the most interesting museums in Paris, a city filled with great museums, is the Musée National du Moyen-Age Thermes de Cluny in the Latin Quarter. The two important sites on the grounds are the 15th century mansion (the Cluny) with its collection of medieval art, and the 3rd-century Gallo-Roman baths (the Thermes). The Cluny’s …
The Opera Garnier There really is a lake beneath the old opera house in Paris, just as The Phantom of the Opera says. No phantoms are boating on it, however, as far as anyone knows. The “lake,” which is more like a water-filled hole, has a more mundane purpose; it’s a reservoir used by the …
For many reasons, Paris’ Quai Branly has caused much controversy among the French and international visitors. Despite (or perhaps because of) this continued controversy, it has become hugely popular since it opened on June 23, 2006. The Musée Quai Branly contains an impressive collection of over 300,000 artifacts from Africa and Oceania that was previously displayed …
One of my favorite things to do when visiting Paris is to see a play, whether at the illustrious Comédie Française or at one of Paris’ many independent theaters. The French have an approach to theater that will seem different to Americans (even theater buffs). Each season, French directors, set designers and costumers strive to …