Paris for Free: The Cognacq-Jay Museum in the Marais

A hidden treasure in the Marais: the Cognacq-jay museum
Cognacq-Jay Museum in the Hotel Donon
Cognacq-Jay Museum in the Hotel Donon – Paris Marais

One of my B&B owners has just introduced me to a very secret and charming museum in Paris located in the heart of the Marais only one block away from the Picasso Museum and nevertheless off the beaten track and hardly ever visited: the Cognacq-Jay Museum. This Museum is specialized in the 18th Century and shelters a lot of beautiful works made by famous French painters such as Boucher, Fragonard, Greuze, or Italian ones: Canaletto, Guardi, … The entrance is free and the collections are exhibited in a superb ‘Hôtel Particulier’ of the Marais area, the Hôtel Donon: Two more reasons to visit the Cognacq-Jay Museum!

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Best Places to Visit in Paris on the European Night of Museums 2015

The 11th edition of the European Night of Museums is taking place next Saturday (16 May 2015) in more than 3,000 places all over Europe. In Paris and the Ile de France more than 130 Museums will exceptionally be open until Midnight on that day and most of them have created special shows or cultural events on this occasion. An opportunity not to be missed to discover for free at an unusual time and in unusual ways some of the most beautiful Parisian museums!

Here is my Top Five for your night visits: The first Three should not be too crowded ; the remaining Two, the Musée Picasso and the Musée du Quai Branly, may attract more visitors as they are more famous, but their programme for the European Night of Museums is really appealing! All the museums will be open until midnight on 16 May 2015 (10pm only for the Palais Galliera).

The Musée des Arts et Métiers
Musee des arts et metiers Paris
Musee des Arts et Metiers – Paris Marais area

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Top Five Flower Shops in Paris

Paris counts more flower shops than days in the year and the flower arranging has more and more success all over the country. As you may know, on the 1st of May it is a tradition in France to offer a sprig of lily of the valley as a lucky charm. And if by chance your sprig counts 13 bells, the luck will be even more outstanding! I take advantage of this time of year to introduce you to five of my favourite flower shops in Paris, all located in the very heart of the city.

The most intimist: odorantes

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