For those Parisians and visitors who can’t escape to the seaside this July and August, the 10th annual Paris-Plages should come as welcome relief. Curl your toes in the sand, laze on a chaises longue with the latest thriller or bodice-ripper, relax under the shade of palm trees, build sandcastles, play beach volleyball — right on the banks of the Seine. Bertrand Delanoe, Paris’ mayor, first instigated Paris-Plages in 2002, and it proved a resounding success with an estimated 4 million visitors in 2007.
This year Paris-Plages will take place from July 21 to August 21 in three locations (see maps below):
Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville
Beach volleyball, children’s pedal boats (everyday from 13:00-20:00) and free concerts during the Fnaclive Festival (July 21, 23, 24). Click here for full schedule and times.
Metro: Hotel de Ville
A 1-kilometer long beach along the Seine, right in the heart of the city. Activities will include classes in tai chi, ballroom dancing and Afro-Carribean dancing. There will be 9 pitches for petanque, a swimming pool, racket sports and more.
On site will also be a special children’s area where they can throw their own parties, conduct scientific experiments and more, conducted by various sponsors. A 5-meter high recreation of Sleeping Beauty’s castle, built on the initiative of Disney, will also be built here. During the first two days of Paris-Plages the public can assist the sculptors, and on July 23 the castle will be completed. Disney will also organize sandcastle competitions every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
Metro: Louvre-Rivoli, Pont-Neuf, Châtelet, Hôtel-de-Ville, Saint-Paul, Pont-Marie and Sully-Morland. RER: Châtelet-les-Halles
Bassin de la Villette
Bassin de la Villette in the 19th arrondissement will also host events for this year’s Paris-Plages. Children’s pedalboats, art workshops, fairground rides, table football, petanque and more. On the large man-made lake you can participate in dozens of nautical activities from canoes to… surfing. Probably a first in the City of Lights, this year in the Paris-Plages of Bassin de la Villette, everyday from 13:00-19:00 at 68 Quai de Loire, you can surf a wave simulator.
Metro: Jaurès, Crimée and Laumière
Paris Plages sites are open everyday from 8:00 to midnight. All activities are free.
Visit the official Paris Plages site for more information.
Photo: gelinh
Tags: paris plages
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