Birds are tweeting, the clocks are going forward and those lovely lighter evenings are encouraging everyone to come out of hibernation as they start to see the world through rested and rejuvenated eyes.
The spring is definitely one of the best seasons for spreading the good vibrations and although there’s a lot to be said for making the most of life no matter where you are, it has to be Paris that just about pips the rest of Europe when it comes to sublime springtime settings.
Perhaps it’s the lack of crowds, the reasonable temperatures or just all those iconic landmarks that make the French capital the place to be come the end of April and if you’re looking for any more excuses to visit then read and vive la France!
“He who contemplates the depths of Paris is seized with vertigo. Nothing is more fantastic. Nothing is more tragic. Nothing is more sublime.” Victor Hugo
Romance
There’s just something about strolling along the Seine accompanied by the strains of an organ that never fail to hit the right chord when it comes to setting the scene for springtime amour and if you’ve never fallen in love, Paris is the ideal place from where to do so. The architecture, the language and the flower festooned parks and gardens all help to add to what is essentially the world’s most romantic capital city and if you’re visiting during the spring then be prepared to discover a warm breeze that seems to carry that extra bit of something special.
Gastronomy
Love and food go together in the perfect marriage of the senses and there’s no finer chapel than Paris from where to tie the knot in the springtime. Traditional fine dining, secret hidden cellars and no end of enticing boulevard bistros all go to make a trip to Paris in the spring a real joy to behold and if you’re hoping to combine local produce with culinary expertise then this place never fails when it comes to sustenance. What with the warmer evenings there always plenty to be cheerful about and if you can find a crusty baguette, hunk of fromage and bottle of vin rouge then who’s to say you haven’t prepared the perfect spring picnic.
People watching
One of the quintessential reasons to visit Paris during the springtime is for the people and if you’re looking to observe the locals in their natural habitat then plonk yourself down at an al fresco café with a beer or two and prepare yourself for a mesmerising treat to savour. The characters, be them beautiful, bold or beige, always provide a never ending merry-go-round of entertainment and there’s just something about the change of season that never fails to bring out the peacocks in all their finery. Rue Abbesses, Rue Vielle du Temple and the Latin Quarter, wherever you find yourself in Paris during the spring there’s always time to watch the world pass by.
Landmarks
The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and the Arc de Triomphe are all, of course, ‘must see’ landmarks to experience whilst visiting Paris no matter what the season. However, in the spring, there are less crowds, fewer queues and the locals haven’t quite worked up to their full level of disdain for tourists so making your way to one iconic landmark after another is a much more enjoyable experience all round.
Art and culture
Of course, although the spring is renowned for the lighter evenings and the warmer temperatures it also offers its fair share of showers too and equipping yourself with an umbrella or pac-o-mac is definitely something to remember whilst travelling. Better yet, at the first hint of a pitter patter of raindrops, find the nearest art gallery or museum and dive for cover. There’s no better way to spend a rainy day in the capital of France other than holing yourself up in the Louvre or the Musee d’Orsay and if you can plan your trip to incorporate at least one or two undercover spots then you’re bound to have discovered exactly why springtime in Paris still has it all.
