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IntervalWorld.com INTERVAL WORLD n Issue 1, 2017 47 46 INTERVAL WORLD n Issue 1, 2017 IntervalWorld.com
FORMAL TO FORAINE
The famous Tuileries Gardens, commissioned by Catherine de
Medici in the 16th century and designed in the French formal style,
have long provided Parisians with an elegant setting for respite. But
from June to August each year, the atmosphere shifts to one of
pure amusement as La Fête Foraine summer festival takes over the
grounds. The massive funfair presents more than 60 attractions,
including trampolines, climbing walls, rides, and games, as well as
plenty of carnival foods. Attractions and rides charge a fee, but entry
is complimentary.
POP-UP PLAGES
For those who aren’t spending their vacation on one of the country’s
glorious coasts, the plage (beach) comes to Paris each summer. From
mid-July to mid-August, two stretches along the River Seine, and
a third on the Bassin de la Villette canal basin, are transformed into
full-fledged beaches, complete with sand, lounge chairs, umbrellas,
food vendors, and, depending on the location, volleyball nets, tai chi
classes, and water sports. The hugely popular (and free) sites draw
Parisians and visitors alike to sunbathe, relax, and play in the ambiance
of a seaside resort — in the middle of the city.
SUMMER SOLDES
Shopping in Paris, with its grand department stores and stylish bou-
tiques, can be an impressive, and potentially expensive, affair. Which
is why the six-week-long soldes d’été (summer sales) can be a
fashionista’s dream come true.
Retailers in France have sales only twice a year, with one of the
nationwide promotion periods starting at the end of June and lasting until
the beginning of August. During this highly anticipated event, shoppers
can find drastic discounts of 50 percent or more, even on designer labels,
with prices getting progressively lower over the course of the sales period.
Babak Tafreshi/Getty Images; REUTERS/Alamy Stock Photo
CHAMP DE MARS PARK NEXT TO THE EIFFEL TOWER
By Wendy Long
As Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and numerous
others have asserted in song, I, too, love Paris in
the springtime, in the fall, in the winter, and yes,
even “in the summer when it sizzles” (although,
according to the city’s Convention and Visitors
Bureau, average high temperatures top out in
the high 70s). In the summer, the days are long,
and things slow down. Many residents are on
vacation and leave the city, and those who stay
tend to assume a more leisurely pace.
Parisis always artistic and glamorous and
romantic. But in the summer, it’s also laid-back
and fun. Here are five of my favorite reasons to love
Paris in the summer.
PARIS:
JeT’aime
SUMMER SALES