Oooh how romantic! "Noel a Paris" sounds so lovely with a French accent :-)
Winter time, cold days, being rugged up in warm clothes. When I first moved to Paris, it was the first time ever I'd had winter at Christmas, I'm from Australlia so we are more used to Christmas Day being very hot and going for a swim.
I wondered how I would feel having a cold Christmas in Paris, and I must admit I was thrilled when it snowed just a little bit. It was like all those Christmas cards with snow on them had finally come to life for me.
There are so many great things to do around Christmas time, and here are just a few I'd like to share with you.
Paris France Christmas Lights
Illuminations de Noël
For years you've probably dreamed of spending Christmas in Paris, walking down the Champs Elysees all rugged up for winter, with the Christmas lights helping to make your adventure surreal ...
Here is a list of where to see the best Christmas lights:
Avenue des Champs-Elysées
Champs-Elysées/Musée du Louvre (PARIS 08) From 26th November 2007 to mid-January 2008
Top of la Butte Montmartre
Montmartre/Pigalle/Trinité (PARIS 18), Metro Abbesses From 1st December 2007 to the end of January 2008
Avenue Montaigne
Champs-Elysées/Musée du Louvre (PARIS 08) From November 25 2007 to January 07 2008
Place Vendôme, rue de la Paix, rue de Castiglione et rue Saint-Honoré
Marais/Les Halles | Champs-Elysées/Musée du Louvre | Opéra/Grands boulevards (PARIS 01) From November 22 2007 to January 07 2008
rues Lepic, Abbesses
Montmartre/Pigalle/Trinité (PARIS 18) From 1st December 2007 to mid-January 2008
Christmas in Paris France
So - what's so special about Christmas in the City of Love, the City of Lights? Walk down the Champs Elysées any evening around Christmas time and marvel at the gorgeous lighting displays along this avenue, truly delightful and will definitely get you in the Christmas mood!
Christmas windows in the big stores
Vitrines de Noël des grands magasins
You really should make one of your Paris events a trip to see the marvellous big store Christmas windows.
Printemps / Galleries Lafayette
These two stores create marvellous Christmas light designs on the sides of their buildings.
Au Bon Marché
If you'd like to see animated dolls and puppets in a Christmas display, you simply must check out these windows.
BHV : Bazar de l'Hotel de Ville
Le BHV (Bazar de l'Hôtel de Ville) celebrates Christmas Marais/Les Halles (PARIS 04) From November 10 2007 to December 24 2007 52, rue de Rivoli 75004 PARIS Metro : Hôtel de Ville tel: 01 42 74 90 00 http://www.bhv.fr
Where to attend Christmas Mass : Messes de Noël
Messes de Noël à l'Eglise de la Madeleine Champs-Elysées/Musée du Louvre (PARIS 08) From December 24 2007 to December 25 2007 1, place de la Madeleine 75008 PARIS Metro : Madeleine / RER : Auber / SNCF : 171 http://www.eglise-lamadeleine.com
Festival d'Art Sacré de la Ville de Paris
This is an annual sacred music festival held in churches and other venues in the suburbs of Paris. To listen to wonderful music composed by Mendelssohn, Messaien, Handel and Poulenc head over to St-Roch and St Eustache, and the Musée dArt et d'Histoire de Judaisme.
You can buy tickets for 10 Euro.
http://www.FestivalDArtSacre.new.fr
Paris France Christmas Shopping
If you want to get all your shopping done on time, you might want to spend some time in the Christmas markets dotted throughout Paris, where you're sure to buy something gorgeous or unusual, and just perfect for those special people in your life.
Avenue Montaigne
Messes de Noël à l'Eglise de la Madeleine