ISP PTA Paris Handbook 2020 For new parents, written by parents isparis.edu/about/pta SECTION ONE: SECTION SIX: Living Kids 03 The parks of Paris 32 Zoos and aquariums 05 Day trips from Paris 32 Amusement parks 07 Useful blogs and websites 33 Indoor play 09 Smart phone apps 34 Performing arts 10 Guides 35 Sports 10 Pamper yourself 37 Birthday party resources 11 Pets 12 Learning the language SECTION SEVEN: Parents SECTION TWO: 39 Parent organisations and services Transportation 40 Arts and culture 14 Public transports 40 Other 16 French driving licence 41 Fitness clubs 17 Low-cost airlines 42 Cooking 17 Cheque writing SECTION EIGHT: SECTION THREE: Medical Repairs 44 Pharmacies 19 Useful contacts 45 Medical services Contents 45 Doctor listings SECTION FOUR: 52 Medical tips Food 21 Supermarket chains SECTION NINE: 22 Specialty stores A year in Paris 23 Local street markets 54 Yearly calendar 24 Butcher’s cheat sheet SECTION TEN: SECTION FIVE: Thoughts and tips Shopping 57 Miscellaneous 26 Malls 58 And when it’s time to go… 27 Major department stores 27 Markets SECTION ELEVEN: 29 Book stores Emergency contacts 29 Fabric / curtain / decor stores 60 Emergency numbers 30 Opticians 30 Souvenirs 30 Amazon ISP PTA Paris Handbook 2020 / 1 SECTION ONE: Living 01ISP PTA Paris Handbook 2020 / 2 The parks of Paris We asked some ISP Paris parents for their favourite Jardin des Tuileries parks in and around the city and we got some “The Tuileries gardens have to be a contender for one great suggestions: of the most elegant parks in Paris. The manicured trees and flowers are exquisite. Those instantly recognisable Jardin du Ranelagh green chairs around the water! Happy memories from “This is our local! Situated very close to the Primary when our kids were a bit younger and they loved the campus, these lovely, open gardens are a hang-out carousel, the trampolines and the playground.” for ISP families. The scene of many an ISP picnic, the Jardin du Ranelagh is a firm favourite.” “We could never tire of the Tuileries! The beauty, but also the Orangerie Museum which is home to Monet’s Bois de Boulogne waterlilies and also the Jeu de Paume photography museum. And don’t forget the Musee des Arts “A green space very local to ISP, the Bois de Boulogne is Decoratifs and its restaurant Loulou with one of the a huge ‘green lung’ on the western edge of Paris. There nicest terrasse in the city.” are cycle trails, lakes and woods, plus some special gardens. It contains the Jardin d’Acclimatation, a 20 “Don’t forget to pay a visit to WHSmith English acre amusement park popular with Primary aged kids. bookstore when you’re at the Tuileries – it’s just outside That in turn houses the Fondation Louis Vuitton, a the gardens on rue de Rivoli at the Concorde end.” cultural hotspot housing great art exhibitions within a stunning Frank Gehry building.” Jardin du Luxembourg “If you are wandering around the Bois de Boulogne, do “The Jardin de Luxembourg, an elegant, Parisian classic not miss the Parc de Bagatelle, a lovely 18th century on the borders of the 5th and 6th arrondissements is park and chateau. Also, we love the Pre-Catalan for many the ultimate Paris park. The beauty of the gardens which are home to the Jardin du Shakespeare, place enchants most people. A Sunday family stroll, an outdoor theatre.” wooden toy boats on the little lake, pony rides, the sound of tennis balls and smaller children in the rose Parc Andre Citroen garden sandboxes. Pure Paris!” “Those of us living in the 16th can sometimes forget “If you’re at the Luxembourg, pay a visit to Penelope about the wonderful Parc Andre Citroen, which is just a who runs the lovely Red Wheelbarrow bookstore just stroll over the river in the 15th. It’s a very modern park, outside the gardens. And maybe lunch at Treize au built on the former Citroen car plant. It’s a refreshing Jardin? Or Bread and Roses on rue Madame, very close change, with its more modern design, water jets that to the park?” kids love, the chance to see Paris from its hot air balloon. Give it a try!” ISP PTA Paris Handbook 2020 / 03 Jardin des Plantes Parc Montsouris “The Jardin des Plantes used to be a herb garden for “The Parc Montsouris is a down-to-earth, lovely family the French royals and now it’s a lovely botanical garden, park. You can walk and picnic on the grass. There are with museums and a mini-zoo within its borders. It’s a ponies that you lead around yourself. It’s set in the great option for a family stroll and never gets as busy as family-friendly neighbourhood of the 14th and just its more famous cousins, the Luxembourg and Tuileries. makes a refreshing change from the city’s more Also it positions you perfectly for exploring the 5th manicured spots.” arrondissement. Don’t forget to stop for tea and cakes at the nearby Mosque tea room, which is open to all.” Bois de Vincennes “Over on the east side of Paris, the Bois de Vincennes is Parc de Buttes Chaumont the other green lung of Paris, rather similar to our more “Now the Buttes Chaumont is a total change from the local Bois de Boulogne. But there are attractions to elegant Tuileries! The Buttes Chaumont has a big draw you over there, including the beautiful Parc Floral personality. It’s quirky and dramatic. And you can sit on and the Chateau de Vincennes. Our family is less keen the grass!” on the Paris Zoo which is also over there – after an expensive renovation, it remains an uninspiring place.” Parc de Belleville “Definitely worth the trip up to the 20th Parc de Sceaux arrondissement to the Parc de Belleville. It slopes up “Ok, it’s not technically in Paris, but Parc de Sceaux is a and when you reach the top, you get wonderful views of beautiful place and it’s really not far by car or RER. Our the city! Long water feature and kids’ playgrounds add favourite time there is the spring for the blossoms but to the appeal.” it’s beautiful all year round.” Parc de la Villette Jardin Albert Kahn “You either love it or hate it, but our family loves the “I am always shocked that so few families have made more urban feel to this park in the north-east of the it to the Jardin Albert Kahn in Boulogne. It is so close city. The Parc de la Villette is the third biggest park in to the 16th and such a special place. The museum is Paris and houses Cite des Sciences (the science currently being renovated and we can’t wait to see the museum) as well as Cite des Enfants and the new restaurant once it opens. But the gardens are the Philharmonie, which has great family music events. main event and it is such a special voyage through the There are the themed gardens and a favourite with kids English, French and Japanese sections!” is the dragon slide. A visit to this park also leaves you perfectly positioned to stroll on the Canal d’Ourcq.” Parc Monceau “The pretty Park Monceau is on the border of the 8th and 17th arrondissements and is a lovely spot. It’s designed in the English style and so is not as formal as some other Paris parks. Winding paths, a venetian bridge, a pyramid and a Chinese pagoda, carousels and playgrounds attract the rather beautiful local families of this neighbourhood. Don’t forget to pay a visit to the Musee Jacqumart Andre which is very close by.” ISP PTA Paris Handbook 2020 / 04 Day trips from Paris We asked ISP parents for some of their favourite Giverny family day trips from Paris: “Clearly this is a must-do trip out to Giverny to see what was Claude Monet’s house and garden for 40 Chantilly years and where he created his famous Waterlily “Our trip to Chantilly was one of our favourite days paintings. Just a 45 minute train ride from Gare St from Paris. Even the beautiful grounds are worth the Lazare in Paris to Vernon and then a shuttle bus – visit, before you even go into the chateau. Our kids timed to meet each train and bring visitors to the loved the maze and The Children’s Hamlet – two play Monet house. It’s a special experience.” areas, one for 3 – 6 year olds with a huge snail-shaped play area covered in grass, mini wooden houses and farm animals on springs. The other is for children PTA TIP aged 8 to 12, with a play structure on which bigger Before you visit, do think about introducing your children can climb and jump from. There is also the kids to Monet and his Waterlilies through a visit Petit Parc with sheep and kangaroos and from April to the Orangerie museum inside the Tuileries to November, a mini train.” gardens in Paris. You can also find some in our local museum, the Marmottan which is located very close to the Ranelagh Primary campus. PTA TIP There are also many picture books for children On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays you such as Katie and the Waterlily Pond and The can take a coach out to Chantilly from rue des Magical Garden of Claude Monet that are great Pyramides in central Paris run by ParisCityVision introductions for 3 – 7 year olds. Also, be sure to An alternative however, is to take the train from but advance tickets.