Sources: Paris Convention and Visitors Office, Paris Mayor's Office
The below calendar applies to December 2009.
Festivals and Seasonal Events
- Holiday Lights and Decorations in Paris
Starting in late November, Paris is bathed in sparkling holiday lights displays.
- Ice-skating rinks: Every winter, ice-skating rinks are set up at several locations around the city. Admission is free (not including skate rental).
Where: (2009-2010 locations):
- Hotel de Ville (Metro Hotel de Ville): from December 18th, 2009 through March 6th, 2010.
Mon.-Fri: 12pm-10pm; Friday: 12pm-midnight; Saturday: 9am-midnight; Sunday: 9am-10pm.
- Montparnasse (Metro Montparnasse Bienvenue): from December 18th, 2009 through March 6th, 2010.
Place Raoul-Dautry[br] Mon-Fri: 12pm to 8pm; weekend: 9am-8pm.
- Hotel de Ville (Metro Hotel de Ville): from December 18th, 2009 through March 6th, 2010.
- Paris Christmas markets: Bring in the holiday cheer in Paris with special Christmas treats, vin chaud (hot wine), decorations, and gifts.
Get more info on Christmas markets in Paris here
Arts and Exhibits
- Renoir in the 20th century
The Galeries Nationales du Grand Palais is hosting a show exploring a little-known period from French artist Pierre Auguste Renoir: his last one. Decorative paintings, drawings, sculpture and other works show how Renoir's influence extended well into the 20th century.
When: Through January 4th, 2010.
Where: Galeries Nationales du Grand Palais
- Pierre Soulages
The National Museum of Modern Art at the Centre Georges Pompidou is running a retrospective on the work of contemporary French painter Pierre Soulages, considered by many critics to be one of the more important contributors to abstractionist painting in the post World War II period.
Through March 8th, 2010.
Location: Centre Georges Pompidou
Metro: Rambuteau
- Venetian Rivalries: Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese
A temporary exhibit at the Musée du Louvre takes a look at three painters from Venice's "golden" 16th century, exploring their breakthrough techniques and mutual influence.
Through January 4th, 2010.
Location: Musée du Louvre
Metro: Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre
- Louis XIV: The Man and the King
The first-ever major exhibit dedicated to the life, times and personal tastes and idiosyncrasies of France's "Sun King" will give visitors a chance to explore one of Europe's most powerful monarchs within the confines of the palace he commissioned. Personal effects and treasures from the king's royal collection make the exhibit especially intimate.
Through February 7th, 2010
Location: Chateau de Versailles
RER: Versailles Rive Gauche (Line C)
- Fauvists and Expressionists from Van Dongen to Otto Dix
The Marmottan Monet museum is hosting a temporary exhibit showcasing 50 groundbreaking works from the fauvist and expressionist movements in painting, on loan from the Von der Heydt museum in Germany. Seminal works from Edvard Munch, Georges Braque, Otto Dix and Oskar Kokoschka are among the highlights at the show.[br] Through February 20, 2010.
Location: Musée Marmottan-Monet
2, rue Louis-Boilly, 16th arrondissement
Metro: Muette (line 9)
Tél: +33 (0)1 44 96 50 33
More on Visiting Paris in December: December Weather and Packing Guide
