It is easy to fall in love with Paris, this planet’s most romantic cliché, and more so in spring. The entire city is charming and quixotic – boulevards lined by trees, bridges floodlit by antiquated wrought-iron lamps, and cafés adorned with idyllic terraces and wicker chairs. The imposing monuments are reminders of its old grandeur and history.
When you are in Paris, it is hard not to see why it is among the most beautiful city on earth or why lovers choose to fall in love here.
Sharing Paris with Other Romantics
Reality check! If you are thinking Paris is bursting with colorful blooms from their winter dormancy and is so romantic at this time of the year, you’re right. That is also what many other lovers and romantics think, which is why coming to the City of Love/Lights can be a very “crowded and touristy” affair. That is how Courtney Traub describes Paris n her blog Paris in the Spring: How to Make the Most of It? for About Travel.
If you’re thinking of booking a trip to Paris in the springtime, you’ll be joining droves of other travelers in search of the idyllic Paris encountered in Hollywood films and iconic photos… While the “real” city is a tad less dramatic as it thaws from its wintery gloom, it certainly isn’t likely to disappoint you, either. Be forewarned, though: you’ll have to be prepared to share.
Some Sights to Remember
While in Paris, make the most of it by traveling around some of its’ wonderful gardens and parks. The Tuileries or the Jardin du Luxembourg will surely come top in your list, but if you want less crowded green spots, the Buttes-Chaumont is one to try. It is quixotic and offers you far-reaching panoramas of Paris, nestled in a sleepy and less-visited place of the northeast. If you have the time to spare, get out of the city – Monet’s garden at Giverny and the spacious and verdant gardens of Versailles are worth your effort.
Spring 2015
Paris hasn’t changed much; it is still romantic and it is still attracting a plethora of tourists visiting with their love ones or traveling alone and looking for love. If you are planning to come this spring and you are wondering what to do aside from the usual sightseeing, this blog by Natasha Edwards of the Telegraph-Travel Section is for you: Paris attractions: what to see and do in spring.
Edwards “offers a guide to visiting the city during the coming weeks, including information on exhibitions, events and festivals.”
She opened the blog with a suggestion to visit the “Gardens and Park of the Château at Versailles.”
“About 30 minutes from Paris by train, the gardens of the renowned chateau are as much reason to visit as the palace itself, stretching from formal designs by André Le Nôtre to the rustic “Hameau de la Reine” – Marie Antoinette’s retreat. Time your visit to see the “Eaux Musicales” fountain displays on Saturdays and Sundays from March 28 to November 1; chateauversailles-spectacles.”
Edwards gave a long list of the spring events slated for March to May, 2015, to wit:
Events and Festivals
Le Salon du Livre/ Paris Book Fair – March 20- 23
Paris Marathon – April 12
La Nuit Européenne des Musées – May 16
Roland- Garros tournament – May 19-June 7
Saint-Germain-des-Prés Jazz Festival – May 21-June 1
Exhibitions
The Tudors at Musée du Luxembourg – until July 19
Bruce Nauman at the Fondation Cartier until June 21
Velazquez at the Grand Palais, March 25-July 13
PAD Paris, March 26-29
Jean-Paul Gaultier at the Grand Palais, April 1-August 3
Keys to a Passion at the Fondation Vuitton, April 1-July 6
Grand Marché d’Art Contemporain 2015 at Place de la Bastille – April 30-May 4
Les Cahiers dessinés: l’art du dessin at Halle Saint-Pierre – until August 14
American Icons: Masterworks from SFMOMA and the Fisher Collection at the Grand Palais –
April 8-June 22
Jeff Koons at the Centre Pompidou – until April 27
Hervé Télémaque at the Centre Pompidou – until May 18
La Passion Selon Carol Rama at the Musée d’Art Moderne – April 3 – July 12.
If you want to get away from the crowd, you can laze outdoors, go on a picnic after a long romantic walk, loiter and hang around in Paris’ talked about “cafe terrace culture.” If you love meeting the locals, there is no better time than spring when the French are all feeling warm and friendlier. Go and have a nice spring in Paris.
