Page 68 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Paris

66  INTRODUCING P ARIS

Average Monthly Temperature Temperature
The chart shows the
°C °F average temp eratures for
30 90 each month. It is hottest
25 80 in July and August and
coolest between
20 70
December and Feb ruary,
15 60 though Paris is rarely
freezing cold. Tempera-
10 50
tures are pleasant in the
5 40 spring when the number
0 30 of visitors peaks, and also
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec in autumn.
October
Nuit Blanche (one Sat in Oct).
Art installations around the city
spice up night-time strolls.
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
(1st week), Longchamp. An
international field competes
for the richest prize in
European horse-racing.
Salon de l’Automobile (1st
fortnight, alternate years), Paris
Expo, Porte de Versailles.
Commercial motor show,
alternated annually in even
years with a motorcycle show.
Foire Internationale d’Art
Autumn in the Bois de Vincennes Contemporain (FIAC) (last
week), Paris Expo, Porte de
glittering opportunities arise Versailles. Paris’s biggest
Autumn
for Parisians to indulge their international modern and
September sees the start of great love for the cinema. contemporary
the social season, with gala French and Hollywood stars art fair.
performances of new films, often make appearances at
and parties in big houses on premieres staged on the November
the Ile St-Louis. Paris is the Champs-Elysées. BNP
world’s largest congress centre Paribas
and there is a rush of shows September Masters
in September, ranging from Festival d’Automne (usually early
gifts to leisure and music. à Paris Nov), Palais
The pace barely slackens in (mid- Sep – Omnisports de
October and November when end Dec), Paris-Bercy.
throughout Prestigious
Paris. Music, dance indoor men’s
and theatre (pp338–9). tennis tournament
La Villette Jazz Festival (pp350–51).
(mid-Sep). Jazz artists Mois de la Photo
gather and blow their (Oct–Nov, every two
horns with gusto years, in even years).
through out the Cité de World-class tennis, Numerous
la Musique (p238). BNP Paribas Masters photography
Journées du Patrimoine shows, film
(2nd or 3rd week Sep). screenings and
Many historic buildings, public discussions.
monuments and museums are Beaujolais Nouveau (3rd
open free to the public for two Thursday Nov). Bars and
days, following a raucous all- cafés are crowded on this
International artists at the La Villette jazz night party to kick off day, in a race to taste the
festival proceedings. new vintage.

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