The movies under are usually accessible solely to members of the Secrets and techniques of Paris Neighborhood. For a restricted time, we’re making a small choice from the member video archive public. They mirror the vary of content material we publish for members: knowledgeable interviews, sensible steerage, and on-the-ground reporting in Paris.
Uncovering the Secrets and techniques of the Louvre with Creator Elaine Sciolino
I sat down with journalist and writer Elaine Sciolino, former Paris Bureau Chief for The New York Instances, to speak about her e-book Adventures within the Louvre: How you can Fall in Love with the Best Museum within the World. Along with sensible visiting recommendation — the best way to keep away from traces, footwear suggestions, and the worth of getting misplaced — we additionally mentioned upcoming modifications on the Louvre, together with plans for the Mona Lisa and the next ticket worth to see her. (This dialog was recorded earlier than the latest heist.)
Watch to the very finish for a quick lesson within the right Italian pronunciation of Elaine’s identify.
Christine Bacoup-Tidas Solutions Questions About Shopping for Property in Paris
I spoke with Christine Bacoup-Tidas, a French-American lawyer and the founding father of Tomette Paris, a real-estate company in Paris that works completely for consumers. On this one-hour dialog, she solutions frequent questions concerning the variations between home-hunting within the US and France, essentially the most frequent pitfalls when shopping for property in Paris, and the way she guides purchasers via the method, from securing financing and choosing the proper visa, to working with contractors, inside designers, and property managers.
Cara Black on Researching and Writing Crime Fiction Set in Paris
I spoke with Cara Black for an in-person Secrets and techniques of Paris E book Membership dialog about her Aimée Leduc thriller sequence, starting with Homicide within the Marais. We talked concerning the inspiration behind her Paris-based crime novels, her analysis strategies, and the historic layers of the Marais. The dialog additionally touches on the writing course of, authenticity in depicting Nineties expertise and police work, and her newer historic thrillers set throughout and after the Second World Battle.
Visiting the Reopened Towers of Notre Dame Cathedral
I visited the renovated bell towers of Notre Dame shortly after they reopened to the general public in September 2025 to see how the brand new go to expertise works, accompanied by Lisa, Philip and Roleeda. As this video reveals, the renovation work targeted on making the climb as snug and informative as doable, regardless of the 424 steps and the absence of an elevator!
The music heard all through the video comes from the organ live performance on the cathedral’s reopening ceremony in December 2024 (Saint-Saëns, Symphony No. 3). On the summit, the music is Edith Piaf’s rendition of La Marseillaise.
Swimming within the Seine on Opening Day
Fred and I wakened early to go to the Quai des Célestins, one of many three designated swimming spots on the Seine the place Parisians had been in a position to swim legally for the primary time in a century as a part of Paris Plages. After weeks of heatwave temperatures in Paris, it was a cool, overcast morning — about 19°C/66°F — once we arrived simply after 8:30am, which felt chilly when considering a swim. Actually, the water was hotter than the air, and as soon as in, it was surprisingly nice to paddle round and take within the views. And no, I didn’t put my head underneath.
Three Methods to Tie a French Silk Scarf
Designer Junhee Kim of Mont Kiji confirmed me a number of methods to tie a French silk scarf throughout a go to to Rendez‑Vous des Designers, a cooperative boutique in Saint-Germain-des-Prés she based to showcase work by impartial, Made-in-France designers. We filmed this on website, so when you’ve got bother listening to our dialog over the background music, English closed captions can be found. Merci to Fred for the digicam work and enhancing!
Paris is an distinctive metropolis in some ways, however it’s also a metropolis like every other, with its strengths and its flaws. As an alternative of telling guests what they “should” see or do, Secrets and techniques of Paris is constructed round correct, first-hand journalism that provides readers the knowledge they should make their very own knowledgeable selections. The web site and publication concentrate on reported articles primarily based on in-person visits, interviews, and first-hand analysis; sensible info that’s checked, up to date, and clearly defined; and context for modifications affecting each guests and residents, from museum costs to public transport modifications.
This work — and the extra, extra private materials proven right here — exists due to the assist of the Secrets and techniques of Paris Neighborhood. Membership retains the location and publication ad-free and impartial, and provides members entry to behind-the-scenes updates, unique movies like those above, in-depth neighborhood guides, invites to meetups, and ongoing documentation of life in Paris that I don’t share with most of the people.
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