Page 69 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Paris

P ARIS THROUGH THE Y EAR  67

Average Monthly Rainfall Rainfall
August is the wettest
MM Inches
300 12 month in Paris. In
August and September,
240 you may get caught in
9
storms. Sudden
180 showers, sometimes
6 with hail, can occur
120 between January and
3 April – notoriously in
60
March. There is
0 0 occasional snow
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec in winter.
Winter
Paris rarely sees snow; winter
days tend to be invigorating
rather than chilly. There are
festivals, candlelit Christmas
church services and much
celebrating in the streets
over the New Year. After New
Year, the streets become
slightly less congested and
on bright days the quays are
a rendezvous for strollers
and lovers.
December
Christmas Illuminations
(until Jan) In the department
store windows of the Grands
Boulevards, Avenue Montaigne, Snow in the Tuileries, a rare occurrence
Opéra, Champs-Elysées and
Rue du Faubourg St-Honoré. Paris International Boat Public Holidays
Christmas Markets All through Show (1st fortnight), Paris
the month, sip mulled wine Expo, Porte de Versailles. New Year’s Day (1 Jan)
and do some holiday shopping Easter Monday varies
at one of the many outdoor January Labour Day (1 May)
Christmas markets, on the Fête des Rois (Epiphany) (6 VE Day (8 May)
Champs-Elysées and elsewhere. Jan). The boulangeries are Ascension Day (6th Thu
Salon du Cheval (1st fortnight). full of galettes des rois. after Easter)
Equestrian trade show, Prix d’Amérique (end Jan). Bastille Day (14 Jul)
Assumption (15 Aug)
exhibitions and competitions. Europe’s most famous trotting All Saints’ Day (1 Nov)
race at the Hippodrome de Remembrance Day (11 Nov)
Vincennes. Christmas (25 Dec)
February
Carnaval (weekend before Mardi
Gras), Quartier de St-Fargeau.
Cultural groups, dance troupes
and local unions don costumes
for a cheerful, musical parade.
Floraisons (all month), Parc
Floral de Paris, Bois de
Vincennes (p249) and Parc de
Bagatelle, Bois de Bou logne
(p247). Say farewell to winter
with these colourful and
impressive displays of crocuses
Christmas market stall and snowdrops. Eiffel Tower Christmas decorations

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