Santa Sunday

 Santa traded in his sleigh for a vélo and was caught red-handed sneaking in some after-dark boutique pit stops before the big night.

 

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Que cette saison des fêtes vous apporte joie, paix, et magie.

May this holiday season bring you joy, peace, and magic.

À bientôt! - BPJ 

 

- FocusOnParis returns after Christmas -

 

 

  

Treeful Tuesday

Swirling ribbons of red beneath the dome at Galeries Lafayette, Haussmann.

 

Market Monday

Christmas magic takes over Place de l'Hôtel de Ville.

 

 Best Christmas Markets 

 Marchés de Noël 2025 

 

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 Right now, Christmas markets dot the capital and here, in front of the main City Hall, as joyful children carouse on the carousel of the “Forêt Enchantée," it's surreal to imagine that long ago this very spot in front of Place de l'Hôtel de Ville - once the infamous Place de Grève - was for centuries the stage of gruesome public executions. Despite cozy twinkling lights, merry music, crêpes, arts and crafts, roasting chestnuts and pure festive cheer, Parisians have not forgotten (nor will they let you forget!) the echoes of its grim history. From molten lead to mulled wine, Paris, you’ve come a long way. - BPJ

 

Place Vendôme

 

Christmas lights light up Place Vendôme.

 

Peace on Earth

 

May this Christmas be blessed with great happiness, health, prosperity and peace on earth.

 Above: magnificent crèche de Noël inside the church of Saint Paul

Below: the Christmas tree 

 

 

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Some of the best Nativity-scene hopping in Paris right now:

Basilique du Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre

Église de la Madeleine

Église Saint-Pierre du Gros Caillou

Église Saint-Eustache

Èglise Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois

Èglise Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre

Notre-Dame de Bonne Nouvelle

Église Saint-Leon

Église Saint-Francis-Xavier

Église Notre-Dame de Nazareth

Église Saint-Joseph Artisan

Paroisse Sainte-Marie des Batignolles

Paroisse Saint-Paul Saint-Louis

Tower Tuesday

 

 

This year's Christmas decorations at Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche are all about the Eiffel Tower.

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 Below: breathtaking dance performances

 

Ends December 31, 2024

 

CIRQUE LE ROUX:

Entre Chiens et Louves

Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche

24 rue de Sèvres 75007

 

 

 

Wine Wednesday

 

 

Rue des Martyrs in SoPi (South Pigalle) has been renamed Rue des Bulles, Street of Bubbles, through Sunday, December 31st. Celebrations, live music, Père Noël....

 

- See Nouveautés for more -

 

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"All Champagne is sparkling wine, but not all sparkling wine is Champagne"

 

Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte

 🍾🍾🍾

 

 

 

Treeful Tuesday

Giant Christmas tree of ever-changing colors under the cupola at Galeries Lafayette.

 

Floral Friday

It really is this red.

Wistful Wednesday

 

 

Large teddies, leftovers from le confinement, can still be seen at some restaurants and cafés all over the city.

 

Above: outside a café in the Latin Quarter

Rue du Nil

One of the prettiest back streets in Paris over the holidays.

Bûches de Noël

Traditional Yule Log cakes along with candied chestnuts are starting to fill bakers' shelves.