Paris Guide^©
Mel & Judith Croner

Day #4

Garnier Opéra and la Madeleine, 2e. Métro: Opéra. Walk in the direction of Boulevard Haussmann to l'Opéra. The exterior of L'Opéra Garnier has just been cleaned and restored to its Second Empire state. Work has recently begun on the restoration of the interior. At l'Opéra, you'll be just around the corner from Galeries Lafayette, les Magasins au Printemps, and many other delicious places to spend lots of money. Try the food halls of Galeries Lafayette. Enter on Boulevard Haussmann.  You might want to try lunch at one of Galeries Lafayette's several specialty food counters.

From au Printemps, cross Boulevard Haussmann and turn left on rue Tronchet. Rue Tronchet runs into La Madeleine. It's worth a walk around la Madeleine to view the classic reproduction of a Greek temple. There are regular Sunday concerts at la Madeleine. Check the music section of PariScope. At la Madeleine, be sure to stop at Fauchon, a charcuterie like no other. You can even eat on the lower level of the main store or in the Fauchon Brasserie. Near la Madeleine are such well know French boutiques as Ralph Lauren and Cerutti. Also, check out a wonderful home accessories shop, La Maison de la Famille.

Tour Eiffel, 7e. Métro: Trocadero. Visit the tower, then cross the Pont d'Iéna to le Palais de Chaillot. Walk up to the terrace, and, if nothing else, watch the kids doing the slalom on roller skate and roller blades. You may want to visit the Museum of Mankind before it closes for renovation. (It's funky but interesting.) With the Eiffel Tower at your back, the Musée d'Art Moderne (le Palais de Tokyo) is down the hill to your right. Check a current edition of PariScope to see if there is an exhibition that interests you. On Wednesday and Thursday mornings, there is an open air market (marché), Cours La Reine, on Avenue Président Wilson between rue Debrousse and Place Iéna. It's fun just to see this portable super market. You can pick up excellent produce, flowers, bread, pastries ... even a sandwich. Even Parisians shop there!

Musée du quai Branly is a newly constructed museum that houses the collection of the now closed «Musée de l'Homme (Museum of Man)».  Designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, this unique building is located at 37, quai Branly - portail Debilly, 75007 Paris.  It is very near the Eiffel Tower.  Téléphone: 01 56 61 70 00.  Open Mondays through Sundays from 10h00 to 18h30; Thursday evenings until 21h30; closed Mondays. 

Champ de Mars and École Militaire, 7e. Métro: École Militaire. If you have lots of energy, return to the Eiffel Tower, and walk in the other direction across the Champ de Mars to the École Militaire. There is no need to visit. [See note on UNESCO.]

Le Musée de Jacquemart-André, 158, boulevard Haussmann, 8e. Métro: Miromesnil or take the N° 43 bus to the Haussmann-Courcelles stop. Le Musée de Jacquemart-André is a unique museum of grand bourgeois life in Paris at the end of the 19th century. The museum was the town house of M. Jacquemart-André. It's furnishings, art, and objects d'art, including paintings by Reubens and Rembrandt, provide a glimpse of the life of the rich in France at the end of last century. The acoustiguide is a must for your tour of this special home.

Send your suggestions to: mel@croner.biz