Image by Frédéric Moussaïan

Everyone knows the Eiffel tower, the symbol of Paris and of France. In a way, Eiffel Tower (1889) is symbolic of the « iron civilization », characteristic of the second part of 19th century, when Paris regularly organized Industrial Expositions, in which were presented all international technological new trends.

But 45 years before the tower, a very less famous construction – but not less interesting at all – inaugurated the « age of iron »: the church Saint-Eugène Sainte-Cécile, located in the working-class Faubourg Poissonnière.

Built in 20 months only, in ogival style (it’s an example of Gothic Revival in Paris), it is the first church in France with a fully metallic structure (except the 4 main walls, built in masonry), as you can check if you knock one of the numerous slender and coloured columns… The use of metal not only reduced considerably the costs, but also its strength allowed the columns and walls to be thinner, which increases the impression of space and lightness when you get inside, and made unnecessary the use of flying-buttresses, those structural elements typical of Gothic Art, that you can see at Notre-Dame or Saint-Séverin…

Many elements of the decoration (stained glass windows, organ, spiral staircases at the angles…) are also worth a look: they were all presented at the first Paris Expo in 1855, at the time of Haussmann’s Renovations of Paris.

Last but not least, the church is often empty and quiet.

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Eglise Saint-Eugène | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
6, rue Sainte-Cécile | Grands Boulevards | +33148247025
Mon 18:00 – 20:00, Tue – Fri 09:30 – 20:00, Sat 09:00 – 14:00, Sun 09:00 – 13:00 & 18:00 – 20:00

Image by Pierre BISMUTH

If you go to Paris, you’ll be obliged to visit the Opera district, not the one in Bastille, but the Garnier Opera, the original, just because it is at a footstep from the famous Department Stores, Galeries Lafayette and Printemps.

And, when exhausted by the kilometers you will walk, trying to find the perfect suit or the right skirt, you will end up to get very hungry! Unfortunately, in this area of Paris, there are plenty of restaurants, but often very expensive, and often very bad! I know it, as I worked in the neighborhood for some time.

So, if you want to have a real good lunch from Brittany, or just a snack, you can try this “creperie”, run by the wife of a friend of mine, who of course comes from Brittany !

With 2 menus, starting at 9.50 euros, you will have some really good French pancakes, very tasty and very fresh as your meal is made right in front of you.The salted pancakes are crispy, light and not dry, but the sugared ones are soft and tasty, just as we like them!

You have the choice to be seated or to take away, if you just want a snack. Surely a good place to know if you want to eat good and well cooked pancakes, cheap and in the heart of the shopping district of the City.

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KREP | Snacks, Restaurants (Pancakes) | 2 pancakes & drink € 11
11, rue Lafayette | Grands Boulevards | +33148783987
Mon – Fri 9:00 – 19:30, Sat 11:00 – 19:00

Image by Pierre BISMUTH

If you visit the Grands Boulevards Quarters, you can start from the Place de la Concorde, and then take the Rue Royale to the Madeleine Church to arrive at the Pinacothèque Museum.

But, just behind Madeleine Church, there is a shopping street called Rue Tronchet, which leads to the Printemps Department store. And, on this street, between “Comptoir des Cotonniers”, classy clothes for women, and “La Carpe”, where you can find anything for your kitchen, there is a shop you have to know if you want to buy wallets, bags or suitcases at a discount. This store is La Maroquinerie Parisienne.

LMP, created in 1947, has the particularity to offer a discount between 10% and 20% depending on the brands, just because the main shop is at the second floor, and there is no lift. But you can already try the first shop on the street level and ask if it is necessary for you to go up. The shop contains more than 20.000 articles and sells the most known French and international brands. It’s a fantastic place to find presents or to change your style. 

I have to be perfectly honest with you, the saleswomen are typical from Paris, that is to say that are sometimes not very nice to people, as they are in hurry. But this little inconvenience is largely compensated by the prices they offer! 

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La Maroquinerie Parisienne | Shopping
30, rue Tronchet | Grands Boulevards | +33147428340
Mon 13:00 – 19:00, Tue – Sat 10:00 – 19:00

Image by Pierre BISMUTH

This is a very difficult subject to treat on this blog as the opinions on the restaurants of the Place du Marché St-Honoré can really vary depending on the restaurants we talk about. Let’s talk about the good ones, among them you’ll find Razowski, which claims to make the best burgers in the City. And it is probably true. At lunch, it is not really expensive, as you can eat for less than €15, but do not try the double cheese burger, unless your jaws are stretchable.

If you are looking for French cuisine, you have to go to “L’absinthe“, which is the “bistrot” of the 2 Michelin Star chef, Michel Rostang. This restaurant is excellent, and the prices are affordable for this kind of quality. Try the soft shell crab, or the fish and taste the roast potatoes, just unbelievable.

You can also have a brunch in “Le Pain Quotidien”, a spot you can find in several places in Paris, and which I find okay for a brunch even if you can think that it’s expensive for what you eat. 

Finally, you will find a lot of wine bar just around the place ! Cheers !

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Place du Marché St-Honoré | Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Various) | Main meal from € 15
Place du Marché St-Honoré | Grands Boulevards
24 hours daily

Image by Pierre BISMUTH

I have already told you about my work and the invitations I received from lots of companies. So last week, I was invited to a marvelous restaurant you have to try if you are in Paris: Alain Senderens.

If you are familiar with this blog, I’m sure you tried his cuisine in the superb Mama Shelter Hotel, as he created the dishes. But here, in La Madeleine, is the historical restaurant, formerly 3 star Michelin Lucas Carton now called after the Chef. Indeed, this restaurant is only 2 star rated but the prices were divided by 3.

Nevertheless, I will not lie to you, this kind of restaurant is very expensive and will cost you at least 120 euros per person, but you’ll never be able to cook what you’ll eat there. For example, I had salmon and vegetable makis as a starter, and another salmon cooked in clay as a main dish, which was just wonderful.

Nevertheless, if you think it is too expensive, especially if you are on vacation, you can have a similar quality in the second restaurant run by Senderens and located just behind the first: it is called Bar Le Passage, and the access is in the Passage de la Madeleine. This place serves a menu for “only” 36 euros and you will be able to find the essence of the art of this reference in the french gastronomy. 

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Alain Senderens | Restaurants (French) | Main Meal € 150
9, place de la Madeleine | Grands Boulevards | +33142652290
12:00 – 14:45 & 19:30 – 23:00 daily