Paris – Tartempion

Originally uploaded by Añelo de la Krotsche

Tartempion restaurant is located in Montmartre on Rue du Mont Cenis which is just off the famous Place du Tertre. It’s one of the many restaurants which are in the area and around the square. Like many occasions during short Paris breaks when there’s not much time to choose, it can be difficult to decide where to eat from the many options available. In any case, I’d definitely recommend Tartempion, especially if you like duck salad.which is what I ordered. It’s a combination of duck leg and smoked duck served with fresh salad, bread and washed down with a nice glass of wine. I’ll be back!

Paris, 4* Holiday Inn Paris La Villette, 2 nights from £139.00pp
Available on selected dates, address :

216 AVE JEAN JAURES PARIS, 75019 FRANCE

The Holiday Inn Paris La Villette is a modern hotel located opposite the museums of music, science and industry and La Grande Halle (theatre and convention hall) and within direct reach of the main historical monuments, cultural and shopping areas of Paris by metro. The hotel has 182 air conditioned bedrooms with many facilities including a TV with in-house movies, minibar, safe, hairdryer and telephone. There’s also a fine restaurant and a mini gym. Great for Paris breaks with familiar comforts.

Holiday Inn Paris breaks

Within walking distance is a unique complex associating the Science and Technology complex, the Music complex, the Grande Halle and the Zénith venue.

The “Porte de Pantin” underground metro (line 5), situated only 50 m from the hotel will quickly take you to Notre Dame de Paris (20 min), the Eiffel Tower (30 min) and the Louvre Museum (20 min) .

Paris breaks in the 19th Arrondissement

Today, Paris visitors come to what was once the village of La Villette to see the angular Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, a spectacular science museum and park built on a site that for years was devoted to the city’s slaughterhouses. Mostly residential and not at all upscale, the district is one of the most ethnically diverse in Paris, the home of people from all parts of the former Empire. A highlight is Les Buttes Chaumont, a park where kids can enjoy puppet shows and donkey rides.

The move aims to boost consumer spending in the busy summer period throughout France and attract more visitors on Paris breaks from the UK, offsetting the slightly weaker Pound Sterling against the Euro.

The 1867 Universal Exposition brought to Paris some of the most celebrated and important people in the world – heads of state, artists and all kinds of French and foreign personalities. On June 7th, the Café Anglais hosted perhaps the most extraordinary dinner ever held, “The Dinner of the 3 Emperors”, which contributed so greatly to the restaurant’s success and renown.

The guests were Alexander II, Czar of All the Russias, his son and namesake the Tsarevitch, the King of Prussia, Wilhelm I and the Prince of Bismarck. Rarely has a restaurant seen so prestigious an assembly brought together around a single table, not for a state summit, but simply for their pleasure. A glance at the menu suggests that their pleasure might be seen today as a little over-the-top.

An interesting footnote: on leaving the restaurant, Czar Alexander II complained that he had not had the opportunity to taste foie gras, a typically French delicacy. Claudius Burdel, a loyal servant of gastronomy, explained: “Sire, it is not the custom of French gastronomy to serve foie gras in June. If you can wait until October, you will certainly not regret it.” Faithful to his word, Burdel sent a terrine of foie gras to each of the three emperors in the autumn. This specially prepared foie gras was later known as the “Foie Gras des Trois Empereurs”

Another top restaurant associated with a railway station – le train bleu is at Gare de Lyon, boulevard Diderot, 75012 Paris. Tel.: 01 43 43 09 06 or 08 26 10 07 86

The decor is “Belle Epoque” with gilded arches and ceiling, all decorated with beautifully painted scenes from the French regions which are served by the mainline station.

The original blue train was a luxury express which took British aristocrats from Calais to the Mediterranean Cote d’Azur ( Calais-Mediterranee Express ) with blue sleeping cars.

The Musee D’Orsay is a favourite destination for short Paris Breaks, especially if you’ve never been there before. There are three attractions.

The Museum contents

Art, sculpture, great expressionists, art nouveau furniture and classics to say the least.

The building itself.

One of the most impressive railway stations ever built, comparable with King Cross St Pancras, Paddington or Grand Station Central. And it hasn’t been spoilt at all by the conversion into a museum when the trains from Orleans and the West stopped arriving here.

The restaurant

In a beautifully decorated grand setting, with an affordable but classy menu.