The City of Festivals

Paris is the world's most striking city. The chic Maraisprogram of standard classical works. The festival has
and St. Germain, the romantic stairway streets ofcommissioned a new work entitled Tentation d'Istanbul
Montmartre, the majestic grandeur that sweeps westby Turkish musician Mercan Dede. Created specially
from the Louvre to the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffelfor the Saint-Denis Basilica, Tentation d'Istanbul was
Tower shining brightly as ever. But the magic isinspired by Fatih Akin's film Crossing the bridge.
dispersing, especially to the north and east of theAnyone planning a visit to Paris, and wanting to take in
Bastille. The student and artistic types are infusing newcity or local festivals, would do well to check for
vivacity into old working-class quarters, turning aschedules pertaining to the time of their trip. There is a
disused train station into a club, a hardware store into awide variety of events to satisfy almost any taste, at
bar, a railroad into a garden walkway, old workshopsalmost any time of the year.
into atmospheric restaurants."Singin' In Paris" is a 62-hour series of musical
Paris offers abundance choice and a wide variety ofpresentations in a luxurious 17th century mansion in the
lively festivals. Among these are the free, city-wideMarais district. There is a wide variety of programs
Fête de la Musique which is held on 21 June, thenfocusing on songs about Paris as well as featuring
the the Festival du Film de Paris held in early April andsongs in French that are famous around the world.
the biennial Festival d'Automne held during SeptemberParisians also commemorate the impending summer
to December which comprises of contemporaryseason on a grand scale, usually in the latter part of
dance event. One can also visit free concerts whichJune. The Fête de la Musique has its official
are held within the city's churches, during the Festivalschedule of events usually a free concert generally
d'Art Sacré in the weeks preceding Christmas.held on the Place de République, also including a
Classical concerts are listed in the monthly Le Mondepublic spirited plethora of improvised shows and
de la Musique.concerts that take place in venues large and small.
The Paris Autumn Festival was fashioned in 1972 byParis has its portion of parades like the French Mardi
Michel Guy, Georges Pompidou's Minister of Culture.Gras type, Techno Parade. This sparkling, costumed
The Festival d'Automne quickly became a junction forvariety of techno music winds its way through the
avant-garde and forward-looking artistic creation. Theeast section of Paris, generally in mid-September. The
Festival draws large audiences and motivates wideparticipants and audience are generally of the younger
public interest.generation.
Festival de Saint-Denis is a festival of a rich and varied