A Day in Chaillot
Morning
It would be hard to imagine a better start to a day in Paris than going to the
Palais de Chaillot
and seeing the perfect view it has across the Seine to the
Eiffel Tower
. Then tour the fascinating collections of the
Cité de l’Architecture
and, if marine history is your thing, the
Musée de la Marine
, both in the palace. Outside the palace, take a break in the Café du Trocadéro (
8 pl du Trocadéro
01 44 05 37 00) and watch the comings and goings in the square.
Afterwards, head along rue Benjamin Franklin and rue Raynouard, where you will find first the Musée du Vin and the Maison de Balzac. Walk to the far side of the Maison de Radio France building for a brunch or lunch at
Zebra Square
.
Afternoon
Revived, walk back along the Seine towards the
Palais de Chaillot, and head up to the place d’Iéna to the recently
refurbished and much improved Musée National des Arts Asiatiques Guimet for its spectacular Eastern artworks.
By now you will definitely be in need of a rest, so return to the
place du Trocadéro for a coffee at the Café Kléber No. 4 (01 47 27 86
65). End the day in the peaceful Cimetière de Passy before an unforgettable dinner overlooking the Eiffel Tower at the stylish
Café de l’Homme
.
Graves in Cimetière de Passy
Edouard Manet
Born in Paris in 1832, Manet became the most notorious artist in the city when works such as Olympia and
Le Déjeuner sur l’Herbe
were first exhibited. He died in Paris in 1883.
Manet bust
Claude Debussy
The French composer (1862–1918) achieved fame through works such as Prélude à l’Après-midi d’un Faune and La Mer, and was regarded as the musical equivalent of the Impressionist painters.
Debussy’s grave
Berthe Morisot
The
French Impressionist artist was born in Paris in 1841, posed for
Edouard Manet and later married his lawyer brother Eugène. She never
achieved the fame of the male Impressionists and died in Paris in 1895.
Fernandel
The
lugubrious French film actor known as Fernandel was born in Marseille
in 1903 and made more than 100 films in a career that lasted from 1930
until his death in Paris in 1971.
Fernandel’s grave
Marie Bashkirtseff
This
Russian artist became more renowned as a diarist after her death from
tuberculosis in 1884. Despite living for only 24 years she produced 84
volumes of diaries and their posthumous publication created a sensation
due to their intimate nature.
Henri Farman
The
French aviator was born in Paris in 1874 and died here in 1958. He was
the first man to make a circular 1-km (0.5-mile) flight, and the first
to fly cross-country in Europe. His gravestone shows him at the controls
of a primitive plane.
Antoine Cierplikowski
The
grave of this fairly obscure artist of the 1920s attracts attention
because of its immensely powerful sculpture of a man and woman joined
together and seeming to soar from the grave to the heavens.
Comte Emanuel de las Cases
Born
in 1766, this historian and friend of Napoleon shared the emperor’s
exile on the island of St Helena and recorded his memoirs. The Comte
himself died in Paris in 1842.
Gabriel Fauré
The French composer, probably best known today for his Requiem, was a great influence on the music of his time. He died in Paris in 1924, at the age of 79.
Octave Mirbeau
The
satirical French novelist and playwright was also an outspoken
journalist. Born in 1848, he died in Cheverchemont in 1917 and his body
was brought to Passy for burial.
Places to Eat
Le Relais du Parc
The fixed-price lunch menu is a bargain, offering the cuisine of superchefs Alain Ducasse and Romain Corbière.
Le Relais du Parc
La Table de Babette
This
high-class West Indian restaurant is run by star chef Babette de
Rozières. Expect exotic dishes such as stuffed crab with chilies and
bananas flambéed in rum.
Café de l’Homme
Ultra-cool, stylish restaurant serving inventive, fusion cuisine at the top of the Palais de Chaillot.
Café de l’Homme
L’Astrance
Pascal Barbot serves fusion food at its best. Book at least one month in advance.
4 rue Beethoven 75116
01 40 50 84 40
Closed Sat & Mon
No disabled access
Maison Prunier
Fish dishes reign at this restaurant with 1930s decor.
16 ave Victor-Hugo, 75016
01 44 17 35 85
Closed Sun, end Jul–end Aug
No disabled access
Le Scheffer
Superb food, friendly, and reasonable prices, so book ahead. Try the red mullet Provençale.
22 rue Scheffer, 75016
01 47 27 81 11
Closed Sat, Sun, Jul–Aug
Le Petit Rétro
Cosy atmosphere in this 1900s bistro and affordable prices. Blanquette de Veau is delicious.
5 rue Mesnil, 75016
01 44 05 06 05
Closed Sat L, Sun, Aug
No disabled access
Le Bistrot des Vignes
Unpretentious little bistro of the type everyone hopes to find in Paris.
La Table Lauriston
Serge
Barbey believes in the best ingredients prepared simply. La Table
Lauriston is a hit with local gourmets who tuck into his gargantuan
steak and rum-doused baba in the jewel-toned dining room.
129 rue Lauriston, 75116
01 47 27 00 07
Closed Sun, Sat L
Zebra Square
This is a media hang-out as it’s next to France’s public service radio network. Weekend brunches are popular.
3 pl Clément-Ader, 75016
01 44 14 91 91
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Unless otherwise stated, all restaurants accept credit cards and serve vegetarian meals |
