If you’re staying in Paris this summer and want to know the best places to chill out between events and visits, here are a couple of great suggestions. You can enjoy a temporary beach resort ambience right in the heart of the city with Paris Plages, or relax amidst the elegant green space known as the Jardin du Luxembourg; the choice is yours.
Enjoy a temporary Parisian beach on the Quai François Mauriac
The arrival of the warmest days of summer sees various parts of the capital transformed into sandy beaches offering all the attractions and distractions you could wish for in a beachside resort. The banks of the Seine in front of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, for example, have sand and sun-loungers to add to the sunshine. It’s totally amazing to be lulled into blissful drowsiness by the warmth of the sun while absorbing a seaside vibe, yet actually be on the sand-strewn Quai François Mauriac in the heart of Paris...
To reach these amazing ephemeral urban beaches from your Hotel Best Western Quartier Latin, you need only wander along the Seine to the Port de la Gare, famed for its year-round nightlife.
Many bars and restaurants join in the fun by offering menus with a distinct seaside resort touch. Seafood certainly adds to the atmosphere!
You don’t have to leave the beach to enjoy refreshments, though, as various stalls are set up on the temporary beaches to offer lemonade, sangria, fresh fruit juices, cocktails and beers.
This is the perfect opportunity to get to know the ‘new 13th arrondissement’, a district with modern buildings and a feel distinctly its own.
The verdant freshness of the Jardin du Luxembourg
When the hot weather hits Paris, rather than seeking out a temporary beach on which to top up your tan, you might prefer the verdant coolness and dappled shade of the city’s green spaces. If you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy calm elegance, exquisitely designed gardens and sparkling fountains, we suggest you head for the second closest park (after the Jardin des Plantes) to your Hotel: the Jardin du Luxembourg!
Here, by Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter, is a rich botanical heritage. The orchard has more than 1000 trees, many being old apple varieties, and there are plane trees that are over 200 years old. Among the botanical collections, the most admired is probably that of the orchids, open to the public during the Heritage Days.
Created in the early 17th century, the park also offers a wealth of history. It’s famous for the 106 statues, fountains and monuments scattered throughout the grounds. Don’t miss the gorgeous Italian Renaissance grotto-style Medici fountain, built in 1630!
The Luxembourg often presents various photographic exhibitions at the outer gates of the park, and in summer the bandstand plays host to many concerts.
******
Copyright : Dinkum
Learn more:
Luxembourg Garden
~oOo~
Best Western Quartier Latin Panthéon Hotel, a 3 star hotel in Paris