What’s on in Paris this July?

28 June 2016

Discover Haute Couture, Cheer on Tour de France Cyclists and Attend a Photography Expo During a Summer Stay at Hotel de Vigny

This summer, the beautiful city of Paris abounds with leading events in sport, fashion and culture. Following on from the excitement of Euro 2016, sports fans in Paris can watch Tour de France’s nail-biting final stage on the Champs-Elysées. While, on a more elegant note, Haute Couture brands will be revealing their brand new creations during Fashion Week, and art lovers can see 80 years of black and white works by photographer Louis Stettner at the renowned Centre Pompidou. With three outstanding events and exhibitions to attend, guests can look forward to an unforgettable stay in the City of Light this July.

Tour de France, Final Stage

24^th July

For over a century, Paris and the Champs-Elysées have hosted the last stage of Tour de France, offering an outstanding ending to this one-month competition for both contestants and its loyal spectators – whether they’re watching live or from their sofa. After climbing the Alps highest passes, racing against time and cycling 3519 km of France’s steepest roads, the 22 teams competing will cover the last meters of this incredible contest surrounded by the capital’s historical monuments.

They will leave from Chateau de Chantilly, a castle located in the northern suburbs, and cycle up to the “most beautiful avenue in the world” for a final sprint. Make sure to find a spot next to the arrival point, at the Arc de Triomphe, to cheer on the athletes and discover who the winner of the all-important Yellow Jersey will be.

Fashion Week Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 16

From 3^rd July until 7^th July

The elegance of French style is renowned all over the world. Chanel, Christian Dior, Elie Saab… These big names in the fashion industry are part of French heritage and work all year round to create intricate dresses, coats and accessories that some regard as “works of art”.  

This July, la crème de la crème of clothing designers will be presenting their Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 16 collections to attentive fashion editors, celebrities and customers. The shows will be displayed in some of the most beautiful monuments and buildings around the capital, setting an enchanting décor for Fall 16’s next big trends. Last year, Dior built a colourful structure in the gardens of Musée Rodin, mixing glass panels with iron frames and vibrant, citrus hues. Chanel transformed the Grand Palais into a huge casino, in which models and faces of the brand not only walked around, but also stopped to play blackjack. Meanwhile, Maison Margiela kept it minimalist with a large, blue runway to enhance its bold creations.

If you’re not going to the défilés, make sure to pass by catwalk locations to catch the latest streetwear trends, off-duty models and famous guests going in and out of shows… 

Louis Stettner at Centre Georges Pompidou

From 29^th June to 19^th September

In the heart of Le Marais, Centre Georges Pompidou overlooks the 3^rd arrondissement with its glass and iron structure, decorated with colourful pipes. The venue is one of Paris’ major destinations for modern art. On 29^th June, its bright-hued, high-ceilinged interiors will host an outstanding exhibition of photographer Louis Stettner’s work.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1922, Louis Stettner has spent his life travelling from the United States to France, capturing daily life in black and white photographs. He’s well-known for the pictures he took in Paris in the 50s, and in New York during the 60s and 70s.

On the walls of the Parisian gallery, you’ll see portraits of Parisians having their coffee at a snowy terrace on Ile Saint Louis, children wearing berets and walking home from school down a cobbled street, and construction workers building skyscrapers in mid-century New York.

A poetic exhibition, this retrospective will showcase the work of one of the last great American photographers still active of this generation …

From the Tour de France to fashion and photography, there’ll be an outstanding event or exhibition to appeal to every taste in Paris this July.