Before you Go

Paris for adults and teens

video clips

Books

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         documentaries       

games

movies

puzzles

articles

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Video Clips to watch before you go to paris

Why the Mona Lisa is so Famous 5:30

Dark Origins of the Catacombs 4:14

CNN: The History of Notre Dame 10:00

History of Paris 4:49

10 Pieces to See at the Louvre 17:29

Secrets of the Iron Lady. 12:20

Napoleon & The Arc de Triomphe 2:31

The French Revolution 12:00

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Documentaries to watch before you go to paris

  • BBC’s Paris A documentary series that charts the history of France's capital and its emergence as the world's most stylish and romantic city.

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  • PBS: Four part documentary detailing the life of Napoleon’s dramatic rise from obscurity, powerful Emperor of France, and eventual fall.

  • PBS Building Notre Dame Follow an investigation into the centuries-long construction of Notre Dame de Paris.

  • PBS: Eiffel’s Race to the Top Find out about the race to build Paris’ most famous landmark when two men vied to be the first to build a monument 1,000 feet tall.

  • PBS’s The Luminous Years explores the lives and works of various artists, writers, and intellectuals who were part of Paris’ vibrant cultural scene from 1905-1930, developing modern art and literature.

  • The Rise and Fall of Versailles, a three part documentary on the history of Versailles, and the three Kings who lived there.

  • Rde a unicorn into the Middle Ages at Paris' Cluny Museum, get a heavenly look at stained glass in Sainte-Chapelle, go on a tombstone pilgrimage at Père Lachaise Cemetery, and savor the Parisian cafe scene.

  • PBS: Three part documentary on the life of Marie Antoinette

movies to watch before you go to paris

  • Moulin Rouge follows young Christian, who moves to Montmartre in turn-of-the-century Paris in search of freedom, beauty, truth and love.

  • Les Miserables tells of Jean Valjean, whose theft of a loaf of bread condemns him to an unjust prison sentence and a life on the run.

  • Amélie, a romantic comedy, about a 20-something girl who lives in Montmartre, and spends her days making the lives of those around her better.

  • A spectacle-filled action epic that details the checkered rise and fall of the iconic French emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte. Click here for trailer.

  • The retelling of France's iconic but ill-fated queen, Marie Antoinette. From her marriage to Louis XVI at 14 to her reign as queen at 19 and to the end of her reign as queen, and ultimately the fall of Versailles. Click here for trailer. .

  • The true story of a wealthy quadriplegic who hires an immigrant as a caregiver. You will laugh and cry as this comedy/drama features awe-inspiring shots of the French world. English subtitles. Click here for trailer.

  • This Oscar-winning biopic tells the tragic story of famed French singer Edith Piaf and her rise to fame.

  • Full of French nostalgia, a successful screenwriter, Gil, visits Paris and is astonished as he travels back to 1920s Paris at the stroke of midnight each night to meet his literary idols. Click here for trailer.

  • A sequel to Before Sunrise, this film starts nine years later as Jesse (Ethan Hawke) travels across Europe giving readings from a book he wrote about the night he spent in Vienna with Celine (Julie Delpy). After his reading in Paris, Celine finds him, and they spend part of the day together before Jesse has to again leave for a flight. They are both in relationships now, and Jesse has a son, but as their strong feelings for each other start to return, both confess a longing for more.

  • A murder occurs inside the Louvre, and clues in Da Vinci paintings lead to a religious mystery protected for two thousand years, which could shake the foundations of Christianity. This film provides an impressively comprehensive tour of Paris. Click here for trailer.

  • A young woman tries to save her father's reputation by stealing back his forged statue from a Paris museum. She hires a professional burglar to help get the job done. What she doesn't realize is that he's a detective in disguise who has set her up

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  • An impromptu road trip takes Alec Baldwin and Diane Lane through France, capturing the French imagination and beautiful scenery. Click here for trailer.

articles to read before you go to paris

Rick Steves: Daily Dose Blog Paris

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Conde Nast Traveler

Guardian:Politics & Current Events

Lonely Planet: Everything Paris

Books to Read before you go to paris

  • Marie-Laure and her father flee Nazi occupy Paris carrying a valuable and dangerous jewel. In a mining town in Germany, Werner Pfennig, an orphan, uses his skills building crude radios to help the French Resistance. Against all odds, their lives interweave, as they form a bond, surviving WWII. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize.

  • Two women join the French Revolution. Claire Lacombe and Pauline Leon both come from poor families. Claire, an actress who performs at lavish homes for aristocrats, and Pauline, a laundress who works for those same nobles, become determined to change society.

Cover of The Nightingales

  • Two sisters, separated by years and experience, each embark on her own dangerous path toward survival in German-occupied France―a heartbreakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women.

  • Rutherford takes the reader on a journey that spans centuries, tying together the histories of several families as they make their impressions on the very heart of Paris..

  • Convict Jean Valjean, imprisoned for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread is a hardened and streetwise criminal upon his release, but softens, becoming a successful mayor. He is pursued relentlessly by the police inspector Javert and eventually gives himself up for the sake of his adopted daughter, Cosette.

  • Blending memoir, travelogue, and history, The Seine is a love letter to Paris and the river that determined its destiny.

  • When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved Library. Odile joins the Resistance with the best weapons she has: books. But when the war finally ends, instead of freedom, Odile tastes the bitter sting of unspeakable betrayal.

  • Alice’s grandmother, Adalyn, just passed away, and she left Alice an apartment in Paris – one that’s been locked up for more than seventy years – she’s determined to find out why her grandma never mentioned the family that she left behind when she left France during WWII.

  • Dickens' gripping tale shows the pathos and horror of the French Revolution.

  • A historical and cultural guide revealing the French approach to land, food, privacy, language, and more and how globalization led France to become one of the unlikeliest influential countries in the world.

  • Bookseller Laurent Letellier comes across an abandoned handbag on a Parisian street. The bag contains no money, phone or contact information. But a small red notebook with handwritten thoughts reveals a person that Laurent would very much like to meet. With only a few of her possessions, how is he to find one woman in a city of millions?

  • At the beginning of the 17th century, Paris was known for isolated monuments and was still emerging from its medieval past. But in a mere century Paris was transformed into the modern and mythic city we know today.

  • A story of ambition and betrayal that captures the love affair between Ernest Hemingway and his wife Hadley, set in the glittering 1920’s of Paris.

  • The dramatic story of the Allied liberation of Paris. Is Paris Burning? reconstructs the network of fateful events--the drama, the fervor, and the triumph--that heralded one of the most dramatic episodes of our time.

  • This book, buy David A. Bell, provides a concise, accurate, and lively portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte's character and career, situating him firmly in historical context.

  • The Greater Journey is the enthralling, inspiring—and until now, untold—story of the adventurous American artists, writers, doctors, politicians, architects, and others of high aspiration who set off for Paris in the years between 1830 and 1900, ambitious to excel in their work.

games to play before you go to paris

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  • Explore Paris in the 19th century. Discover its renowned architecture and obtain the most eminent buildings in the right districts to achieve victory.

  • You are a painter participating in a friendly competition between several painters in a workshop in Montmartre, Paris. This is a good opportunity to become famous, following the path of Cézanne, Toulouse-Lautrec, Monet, or Renoir.

  • In Trekking the World, race to visit famous landmarks and collect souvenirs, including in France. The game spotlights 48 real-world destinations.

  • Build the most valuable art collection by trading famous works. The player with the highest-value collections wins..

  • Become a restauranteur in Paris. Win by opening restaurants, expanding these restaurants by building terraces, winning majorities, and completing objectives.

  • Light up the streets of Paris and give the city its magic with this 2-Player board game, where strategy and glamour walk hand in hand.

  • Gather your friends, and best detectives, for a mysterious evening in Paris! Includes everything you need to serve up the perfect murder mystery party!

  • Experience the glamour of 1920s Paris in this fast-paced Ticket to Ride edition, racing to visit iconic locations.

Puzzles to do before you go to paris

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  • A 500-piece puzzle of Paris, featuring famous landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and the River Seine

  • As you assemble the Eiffel Tower, you’ll discover the rich history and culture of Paris, making this more than just a model—it's an educational journey through one of the world's most romantic cities

  • Piece together the world of Impressionism in this puzzle depicting the Paris of the day with historical figures and famous artists! 1000 pieces

  • As you assemble the Eiffel Tower, you’ll discover the rich history and culture of Paris, making this more than just a model—it's an educational journey through one of the world's most romantic cities

  • 1000 piece Paris city scape, highlighting the main sites. Perfect family activity for elementary ages and above.

  • Highly detailed LEGO Paris skyline, featuring the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre, and more.

  • Springtime in Paris at the Grand Bassin Pond in front of the Luxembourg Gardens. This puzzle is just the right level of challenge for the whole family!

  • 1000 piece puzzle of Vincent Van Gogh’s art presented in the Muse d’Orsay.

recipes to make before you go to paris

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  • A typical Parisian breakfast is simple, with breads, pastries, jams and a cup of coffee. Of course the most popular pastry is the croissant. Click here to better understand the French breakfast.

  • Parisians love quiche for lunch, and it can be found throughout the city. This vegetarian quiche recipe features caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms and roasted cherry tomatoes.

  • Coq Au Vin Blanc, a favorite Parisian dinner, is a succulent chicken stew made with white wine. Each forkful melts in your mouth and is so fragrant and flavorful.

  • The Paris-Brest was created to celebrate the cycle race between Paris and Brest, which is the reason behind its shape. This famous pastry has become a symbol of French culture and history, and its rich flavors also show the creative minds of French pastry Chefs.