2. Hi guys,
It’s already been two months since you arrived in France and discovered how life is in the
capital. You are starting to know pretty well the different boroughs and famous monuments
in Paris. But you think you still have things to learn about France! You want to know more
about the most famous cities in our beautiful country? IS is there for you! In our November
edition of the Cultural Newsletter, we try to share with you the best events to attend and
places to be in our different cities of origin!
This month, you should absolutely not miss the reservation of your train ticket to attend the
fabulous Festival of Lights that will take place in Lyon! If you are staying during a long
week-end on campus, why not having a day or two in Chartres, which is only one hour away
from Paris? You want to understand what it means to celebrate Christmas in France? Join the
IS team for two extraordinary events: Disneyland and the trip to Colmar! And, as we know
you still love walking in the streets in Paris, we also wrote a few things about the best events
and place to be in November, without forgetting the outing organized by the Cultural Pole: a
guided your of the Conciergerie as well as of the Père Lachaise Cemetery!
Enjoy your reading!
IS Cultural Pole
3. I) PARIS
-
Bars and restaurants
Exhibitions
II) LYON AND THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
-
The Festival of lights (La Fête des Lumières)
III) CHARTRES, A NICE PLACE TO SPEND YOUR WEEK-END
IV) IS EVENTS IN NOVEMBER
-
Disneyland ParIS
Visit of the Conciergerie and the Père Lachaise Cemetery
IS trip to Colmar
4. BARS AND RESTAURANTS
- Experimental Cocktail Club
37 rue Saint-Sauveur, Paris II
This tiny place is hidden behind a black curtain,
but it is well-known among tasteful Parisians. If
you are tired of Classics (Mojitos, Caipi, …) then
this bar will make you try new experiences. Of
course, the drinks are expansive but well, you are
in Paris: you will have to pay between 10 and 13
euros, but the chilling jazzy atmosphere and the
delicate taste of your drink is totally worth it
(prepared just in front of your eyes with fresh and
quality ingredients).
5. - L’Escale
34, rue de Clignancourt
This bar is well-known to fulfill the dream of every young
human being: it provides STRONG delicious cocktail for the
ridiculous price of … 5 euros, which is very rare in Paris,
especially in the touristic area of Montmartre. We recommend
you to try it if you had a tough week, and want to chill without
caring for your finances. But careful: the secret has spread, and
the place quickly becomes busy and uncomfortable on Saturday
nights, so come early to enjoy it fully.
- Le Relais de l’Entrecôte
Le Relais de l’Entrecôte is where you will taste
the best French Fries in town… and probably
the best of the world! In this place, no menu:
you sit, and a delicate waitress will ask you
directly “how do you want it” – “it” meaning
your ENTRECOTE, of course. Served with
an extraordinary sauce, you will remember
the unique taste of this entrecote for the rest
of your life!
http://www.relaisentrecote.fr/
3 spots in Paris:
Paris VI: 101, boulevard du Montparnasse
Paris VIII: 15, rue Marbeuf
Paris VI: 20, rue Saint-Benoit
6. EXHIBITIONS
- “Surrealism and the object”
30 October 2013 - 3 March 2014
Galerie 1 - Centre Pompidou, Paris
Between 9 and 13€
Late-night openings until 11:00 p.m (last
entrance at 10:00 p.m) every Thursdays evening
If you’re looking for original decoration for your room in HEC, why don’t you come and find
inspiration in the new exhibition of the Centre Pompidou? You will discover very VERY odd
objects produced by the extraordinary imagination of the Surrealists of the 1930’s. If you are
ready to set your mind free, you will really enjoy this walk into the depths of the unconscious.
My favorite example:
Poetry in the streets?
In Rue de Rambuteau, just next to Centre Pompidou, you will find a very peculiar boutique: a
man has decided to settle his desk, and his writing machine in the street… and to present
himself as a “urban poet”: he looks at you, and the inspiration hits him. He is able to write a
poem about you, or about how you make him feel in a few minutes. After all, you are in the
city of the greatest poets of French Litterature…
7. THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS (LA FÊTE DES LUMIERES) 6th to 12th of December
In 1643, Lyon was struck by plague. The
legend tells that out of an act of
desperation, the city councilors
promised to pay tribute to Mary if the
town was spared. Mary heard their
prayers and put an end to the plague.
Ever since, a solemn procession makes
its way to the Basilica of Fourvière on
this day to light candles and give
offerings in the name of Mary. Tradition
now dictates Lyon citizens to put
candles on their on windowsills each
year, on the night of 8th December, as a
remembrance of this miracle.
8. Meanwhile, other city councilors decided to make a festival out of this tradition.
Nowadays, the « Festival of Lights » is one of the key moments in Lyon, when the buildings of
the city are illuminated with these pretty little candles but also with gigantic light effects the
city worked on with artists during the year. It is a great opportunity to go out with your
friends, walk through the city and have some mulled wine.
The festival lasts 4 days and attracts more and more people each year (more than one million
in 2012). For the occasion, transport is free and there are a lot of fun events to attend!
So if you want to go to Lyon in this very period, which is very recommended, book now
because everything in the city is going to be completely full really soon!
9. Looking for ideas for your weekends? Here is one: Chartres
Chartres is a nice town, only 1
hour far from HEC. It is well
known for its amazing cathedral,
registered on the UNESCO
World Heritage list, but it’s also a
very pleasant city for the
everyday life.
So if you are wondering what to
do during the next weekend,
don’t hesitate anymore and take
the train to Chartres.
10. What we suggest you is to get started with a visit of the
cathedral, and if you dare to climb the 300 steps of the
tower in order to enjoy a great panoramic view. If you
want to learn more about this masterpiece of gothic art
or plan a guided tour, you will find many useful details
on the following website: http://www.monumentsnationaux.fr/en/
Then there are a few interesting things you can do:
- Visit the International Stained-glass Center and learn
everything about stained-glass windows.
- Walk through the historical center, along the river,
enjoying the calmness of the bridges, washhouses
and old buildings.
- Buy “macarons” at the Chocolaterie on the Place
Marceau, you won’t regret it.
- Take a look at the “Hotel des Postes” which was
recently converted in a multimedia library. Don’t
hesitate to go to the fifth floor to enjoy a nice view
on the city.
11. But also…
If you want to exercise a little bit, go to the aquatic center! It’s one of the biggest in
Europe, with training pools, water slides, a current river, etc. If you feel like an
adventurer, you can also try the big ice-skating rink… which becomes an ice-skating
dance floor at night !
If you want to find out more about
Chartres, you can visit the website of the
tourism office, which is nicely made:
http://www.chartres-tourisme.com/en
Finally, this web app also offers a nice
way of discovering the city:
www.chartres.unjoura.com
How to get there?
Take the RER C to Versailles Chantiers
(6minutes), and then take the TER
Centre to CHARTRES (about 1 hour).
Price of the regular ticket: 12.80€
12. DISNEYLAND PARIS Sunday, 17th of November
You've been waiting for it impatiently... And it's finally
there!! We are taking you to Disneyland Paris, the
biggest amusement park in Europe, for a day of fun
and wonder!!
Come join us on Sunday, November 17th and dive in
the Disney magic with us!
Departure: 9:15am (meeting at the bus stop in front of
building L1). Return: 11pm.
Price: €36 (including entrance for both the Disneyland
Park and The Walt Disney Studios Park, an offer not
to be missed!)
BE CAREFUL! THE SPOTS ARE LIMITED TO
53!!! So hurry up if you want to get a spot on Mybee!
13. VISIT OF THE CONCIERGERIE AND THE PÈRE LACHAISE CEMETERY
Saturday, 23rd of November
The Cultural Pole brings you to Paris for a
magical guided tour at the Conciergerie,
former royal palace and prison in Paris,
where Marie-Antoinette spent her last days
before being executed on the guillotine.
Then, we’ll have a visit of the Père
Lachaise Cemetery, a very calm and
charming place, where many famous
artists are buried, just like Oscar Wilde,
Honoré de Balzac, Georges Bizet, Frederic
Chopin, Molière, Rossini and many others!
Don’t miss this unique event on Saturday,
23rd of November. More information
coming soon.
14. IS TRIP TO COLMAR 29th of November to 1rst of December
Join the IS off-campus team to discover the enchanting universe of Christmas in Alsace,
through an unforgettable week-end to Colmar. The program includes free times in the
Christmas market in Colmar, French cooking courses for a limited number of participants,
dinner in an Alsatian restaurant, a morning at the ice skating rink for the most acrobatic of
you and a visit of Kaysesberg, one of nicer Alsatian village with an authentic Christmas
market. This will be the opportunity for you to offer many typical French presents to your
family and your friends back to your home!
We will leave the campus on Friday, te 29th of November around 5pm and we will be back
there on Sunday evening around 10:30pm. More information coming soon.
