Are you planning a city trip or holiday to Paris soon with your loved one, friends or family? Then you definitely want to prepare your visit well and know what there is to do and where you can go. In this article we have included the best activities, events, holidays and exhibitions. Art and museum lovers in particular can indulge themselves during these months thanks to Blanche Nuit and Museum Night. Read on for all the tips!
Muguet de Mai: celebrate spring with flowers
Date: May 1, 2024
If you love flowers, you’ll want to be in France on May 1st. We’ll be celebrating Muguet de mai, a French version of May Day. Everywhere on the street you can buy flowers (Lily of the Valley) and then give it to a good friend as a tradition. It is a sign of appreciation and symbolizes the beginning of spring.
But that is not the only thing that is celebrated on May 1. It is also Labor Day, an official holiday in France. It can be extra busy in Paris, because the residents themselves are free and demonstrations are often organized for labor rights and other issues. A number of attractions, such as the Louvre, are closed on May 1. So check carefully in advance where you want to go, so that you don’t find yourself standing in front of a closed door!
Fête de la Victoire: remembering the end of WWII
Date: May 8, 2024
Another bank holiday in France takes place on the 8th of May. The end of the Second World War in France is commemorated throughout the country. Parades and ceremonies take place, for example on the Champs-Élysées with the French president and veterans present. Although it is an official holiday, many museums, landmarks and other sights are open on this day.
The Met au Louvre
Date: February 29, 2024 to September 28, 2025
Discover a unique dialogue between the New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) and the Louvre in Paris. The art department at the Louvre is temporarily exhibiting 10 major works from the MET as their Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art is closed for renovation. And it goes further than just exhibiting. Centuries-old objects are brought together for the first time, while other objects connect to each other, providing a glimpse into the course of history. If you are interested in old Central Asia and Mesopotamia, this exhibition at the Louvre is a must see for you.
Discover Paris at night during Nuit Blanche
Date: June 1, 2024
Discover Paris in a different light, or rather, in the dark! During Nuit Blanche, all kinds of exhibitions, performances and creations will be organized in various places in Paris that will introduce you to contemporary art. Museums and other cultural institutions also open their doors to visitors all night long. It’s really nice that public transport also remains open all night, so you can travel safely everywhere and back home.
Night of the Museums
Date: May 18, 2024
Can’t get enough of Paris at night? Nuit des Musées, or Nights of the Museums, will be organized on May 18. A large number of museums and monuments in Paris also open their doors in the evenings, including free admission! In previous years, for example, the Center Pompidou, Musée Rodin and Musée Yves Saint Laurent participated. All kinds of activities are organized, including workshops, guided tours and more. A fun way to get to know the cultural institutions in Paris, without having to pay extra.
Virtual reality and Impressionism in Musée d’Orsay
Date: March 26 to August 11, 2024
We already talked about this exhibition in our last post about What to do in Paris in March & April 2024, but this unique activity deserves a second mention. Haven’t you been to the virtual reality impressionism exhibition at the Musée d’Orsay yet? You still have a chance until August 11 of this year. During this virtual adventure you will discover Paris in the second half of the 19th century. Walk along the Boulevard des Capucines and enter the old studio of photographer Nadar. At this time, he was hosting a “Salon des Refusés”, i.e. exhibition of rejected works. Enjoy works by Claude Monet, Paul Cézanna, Edgar Degas, and other masters as if you were actually there.
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