Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo recently launched her Paris, I Love You campaign to remind the world why Paris still shines as the most desirable destination, despite a difficult period marked by terrorist attacks and high profile robberies. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then this striking video showcasing Paris must be priceless.
INSPIRELLE loves Paris! How can you resist her charm? Paris is a city of neighborhoods, a beacon of light, a cultural feast, a historical treasure and an enviable destination at any age for all seasons. Our writers live and thrive in this exciting city, and our stories are inspired by its vitality and challenges. Our goal is to connect you to the best of Paris and to empower you with information and ideas so you can feel like a true Paris insider.
To mark INSPIRELLE’s first year in publication, we dove into our trove of articles to highlight why it’s so easy to fall in love with the City of Light.
A City of Museums
Did you know there are over 250 museums in around Paris? From the must-sees to the hidden gems, there is a museum waiting for you. Discover the French Masters or Indigenous Art; learn about corks, sewers, and airplanes; admire collections of dolls, weapons or lingerie. You’ll need more than one visit to the Louvre museum, which houses over 35,000 art pieces. For the ultimate visit to France’s most popular museum, sign up for a treasure hunt with ThatLou for a lesson in art history you’ll never forget.
CLICK HERE to get the scoop on this Fall’s exciting arts and culture program.
Love is Always in the Air
You can’t deny it and you can’t fight it. Paris is sexy and terribly romantic. Heather Stimmler-Hall, author of Naughty Paris: A Ladies’ Guide to the Sexy City, shared her secrets on what makes Paris sexy and where to go to get in the mood. Single and new in town? Read about how to find a date in the city of romance from blogger Chloe Martin.
Some people move here for love, like blogger Elizabeth Vincent, who left her friends, family and job to take the Paris plunge with her French boyfriend and walked us through the practicalities of how to get married à la française less than a year later! Want to know what she’s in for? Read 25 Things to Know When Married to a Frenchman!
Feed the Stomach to Win the Heart
How can you resist the French way of life when you can’t get enough of its gastronomical cuisine, fine wine and champagne? Let Hélène Goble teach you how to appreciate good wine. Discover the best cheese shop in Paris, offering the finest collection of the country’s more than 400 cheese varieties. Looking for non-gluten pastry, the best ice cream, the richest hot chocolate or a great spot for Sunday brunch? We’ve got you covered.
If you’re craving something different, remember that Paris is a multicultural city made up of neighborhoods offering a variety of enticing ethnic foods. For the best in Chinese cuisine, check out INSPIRELLE’s top choices here. Or let the connoisseurs lead you to their favorite food and drinking haunts in Paris. Food is a way of life in France, and only the French know how to eat so well and stay so slim.
A Feast for the Eyes to Feed Your Soul
Paris takes your breath away with its sheer beauty, glorious past and modern ingenuity. You will want to climb its Iron Lady, stroll along its rivers, flâner through its 20 neighborhoods and idle in the street cafés to soak in the capital’s greatness. It’s no wonder that 40 million visitors come here each year.
Discover the hidden mysteries of Notre Dame Cathedral with tour guide and blogger Laura Moore. Savor the moments of Parisian neighborhood life which Elaine Sciolino describes in her book, The Only Street in Paris: Life on the Rue des Martyrs.
A City on the Go, Rain or Shine
There’s never a dull moment living in Paris. Check out INSPIRELLE’s curated roundups of outdoor fun and indoor activities to keep the kids and you stimulated. We’ve done the homework for you to find the best after-school activities and weekend holiday ideas.
Need to get out of the house? Find out which local community associations to join, how to make friends in your new town, start a book club or lace up for a Paris marathon. Young or old, single or married, INSPIRELLE has your back. We salute Genevieve Spicer on creating Paris for Seniors to ensure everyone enjoys the city at any age.
French Flair Like No Other
Don’t be intimidated by French style. Embrace it. Fashion Blogger Kirsti Alexandra Reid shows us how to obtain the unobtainable French look, and seasoned traveler Paddy Reagan tells us how to pack for a Paris trip.
Still not sure how to tie that French scarf? Let Closet Guru Michelle Pozon into your dressing room to help you find your right look through the art of mindful fashion. Then treat yourself to some shopping at France’s fabulous outdoor mall, La Vallée Village, with over 110 top French and European luxury brands at discounted prices. Or, let Emily Song find a vintage watch or designer accessory for you. Paris is a fashion capital where you can shop till you drop.
Paris Punch to Shake You Up
Alright, it’s not all fun and games. Once the honeymoon period is over, waking up in Paris can be a rude awakening if you’re not prepared or open to differences. It’s important to learn the language, understand the laws and respect French etiquette. With each hurdle overcome, you’ll feel more settled and empowered to try new things, or even consider reinventing yourself by starting your own business.
INSPIRELLE is packed with stories of reinvention! Look at Mimi Thorisson, a mother of eight children an overnight cooking sensation living in the French countryside. Lee Yanowitch, a former chief TV news editor who abandoned the newsroom to open a bed and breakfast in Burgundy with her cameraman husband. Or lawyer Elizabeth Milovodov, a powerhouse Digital Parenting Coach in Paris helping parents keep their children safe on the Internet. Global mom Melissa Bradford Dalton understands what it means to move her family 20 times. Author and psychotherapist Kristin Louise Duncombe articulates those taboo feelings stemming from an identity crisis when giving up all that is familiar to move to a new city.
