Sources: Paris Convention and Visitors Office, Paris Mayor's Office
Festivals and Seasonal Events
- May 18th: Museum Night-- As part of the global Museum Night event, Paris museums will open their doors free of charge to visitors until 1 am. Special events and illuminations await in many of Paris' major museums.
- May 26th-June 9th: The 2013 French Open at Roland Garros-- Tennis fans should not miss one of France's most exciting and important tournaments. Tennis greats like Steffi Graf made their debuts at Roland Garros, and the French Open continues to host some of the world's unforgettable matches. Procuring tickets, however, can be quite a feat, so try to snag much-coveted spots at the matches several months ahead.
- Through May: Foire du Trone (Annual Fair)
Parents and kids can look forward to the annual Paris fair (Foire du Trône), which runs through the end of the month and delivers all the traditional fun of a county fair, with ferris wheels, roller coasters, and cotton candy included.
- May 16th-June 3rd: Saint-Germain-des-Prés Jazz Festival
The city's most famous annual jazz festival will take the St. Germain neighborhood by storm for the 11th year running this month. Enthusiasts of the genre should reserve a day or two for this popular event.
Metro: St. Germain des Prés
- May 24th-27th: Artists' Open House in Belleville Galleries-- This annual event provides an exceptional opportunity to get to know some of Paris' contemporary artists and their work, as well as getting a glimpse of Parisian life from the inside. Over 200 artists living and working in the edgy, urbanite Belleville neighborhood open their doors to show off their work and spaces every day from 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
Noteworthy Exhibits in May
- Marc Chagall, Between War and Peace
The Luxembourg Museum is placing a spotlight on one of the twentieth century's most singular artists, Marc Chagall, showcasing some 80 paintings, drawings and engravings. Chagall, a Russian-born Jew, placed an emphasis on the grand themes of love, death and loss in his borderline-surrealist imagery, and this exhibit examines some of his haunting works produced across two tumultuous World Wars and the period of peace in between. Expect crowds and book tickets early for this one.
Where: Musee du Luxembourg
When: Through July 21st, 2013
- "Autour du chat noir": Arts and Pleasures in Montmartre
The quaint Musee de Montmartre, dedicated to the history of the historic and artistically rich neighborhood, has extended the dates for its very popular exhibit focusing on some of the artists and works that made the area so famous. Bask in works from Toulouse-Lautrec (including his famous "black cat"), Vuillard, and paintings from the famed Nabis and Symbolist movements.
Location: Musee de Montmartre
12/14, rue Cortot, 18th arrondissement
Metro: Lamarck-Caulaincourt or Abbesses (line 12)
When: Through June 2nd, 2013 .
- Trompe l'oeil (Tricking the Eye)
A show which opened last month at Paris's Arts Décoratifs museum celebrates the "trompe l'oeil" technique and the complex art of deception. The exhibit features over 400 works, from paintings and sculpture to textiles, highlighting techniques of trickery originating in ancient Greece.
Location: Musee des arts decoratifs
107 rue de Rivoli,1st arrondissement
Metro: Louvre-Rivoli or Palais Royal
Tel: +33 (0)144 55 57 50
When: Through November 2013
Visit the official website
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- Marie Laurencin
Marie Laurencin is an important and influential painter of the early twentieth century, but is today under-recognized (except in Japan, where she's maintained significant fame). Working somewhere between fauvism and cubism, Laurencin joined the famed Paris school when Picasso introduced her to some of its more important members. A unique retrospective at the Musee Marmottan-Monet brings together some 90 works from Laurencin, which should hopefully earn the artist a renewed place in the western popular imagination.
When: Through June 30th, 2013.
Where: Musee Marmottan-Monet
