The current economic climate means that there will be no fireworks to celebrate the end of the year in Paris. AGAIN! Meanies…

photo by Yle is dreaming used under cc licence

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If you don’t have a car, it’s pretty expensive (although not impossible) to go and see the chateaux of the Loire valley from Paris.

But did you know that not far from our lovely capital there are some magnificent chateaux you can see, less than an hour away on public transport? We went to Gare de Lyon, hopped on a train, and 40 minutes later a different world awaited us…

photos: JasonW

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You still have a few days left if you want to sign up for this slightly crazy street fashion-inspired event: last year, 700 people walked down the red carpet!

Paris street looks. Photo by Matthew Kenwrick used under cc licence

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Now celebrated in over fifty countries , the Journées du Patrimoine (as we call them here) have a theme each year, and for 2011 it’s The Heritage « Voyage », with – as always – some exceptional places to see for just that weekend…

photo: Wikipedia

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It’s going to to a couple of weeks more before the next HPRG newsletter is sent out, but can you guess which Parisian place we’ll be showing you this month? Here are two photos to give you a hint…

photo: JasonW

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All the info about the 2011 14th July fireworks display by the Eiffel Tower. And did you know there’s even a fireworks exhibition on in Paris at the moment?…

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All the info about the parade and the following army PR push called Les Franciliens accueillent leurs soldats, (« The people of the Paris area greet their soldiers »), an odd event with male and female soldiers to talk to and military vehicles to fondle (I wouldn’t try the contrary…)

photo by Rafael Garcia-Suarez used under cc licence

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It’s the best guide to the Bastille Day balls you’ll find on the web, giving you the best chance of fireman-related fun around Bastille Day.

Fifteen fire stations will be open on the night of the 13th July 2011, but only seven will still be partying the following night, on Bastille Day itself. We give you the rundown, area by area, with maps to show you quickly where the party’s startin’…

photo by Franck Torralba used under cc licence

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Juliette Récamier is – of course – the main personality that inspired La Belle Juliette, but some of the people that marked her life have also marked the hotel. The whole of the third floor, for example, is dedicated to Chateaubriand, and that’s partly why we decided to go and visit his home, dubbed the Vallée-aux-Loups (the valley of the wolves!), just outside of Paris.

It turned out to be a wonderful adventure that included crossing the amazing Parc de Sceaux and encountering a number of other fantastic surprises…

photos: JasonW

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Although this museum is just outside the Paris city limits, it’s quick and easy to reach with public transport, and you won’t regret taking the time to go. We returned mightily impressed… with nearly 200 photos! (lire la suite / continue reading)