For these reasons, the merchant was able to help indigenous works from Africa, the Americas, and Oceania transform from objects of anthropological study to art objects in the 1930s. From that point on, they would then progress to being considered masterpieces in the 1960s, especially in France and the United States.

From June 25 until September 22, 2013, the Musée du Quai Branly will highlight the vision of this insightful art collector in an exhibition called ‘Charles Ratton, the Invention of the Primitive Arts.’ Ratton’s connection with the contemporary art movements of his time, such as surrealism, will also be emphasized. Such links provided the credibility that enabled Ratton to influence the art scene in the ways that he did.

The exhibit will allow visitors to discover the context and nuances of Charles Ratton’s tastes for both indigenous objects and more well-known art like surrealism. Unusual for the time, Ratton devoted his efforts to championing the former while the latter served merely as a hobby. Guests staying at the Hôtel de la Tour Maubourg can explore Ratton’s vision for themselves by visiting the Musée du Quai Branly, which is located just moments from their rooms.

From June 14 until July 9, 2013, guests staying at the Hôtel de la Tour Maubourg will be able to hunt for one of these unmistakable pianos during their trip to Paris. Created by Englishman Luke Jerram in 2008, the ‘Play Me I’m Yours’ concept has been taken to cities across the globe, enabling novices and professionals alike to tickle the ivories as they please.

In addition to offering free access to 60 pianos throughout the city, Play Me I’m Yours is also organizing 40 mini concerts for spectators to enjoy. Locations where pianos can be found include the Galerie Vivienne, Montmartre, numerous parks and gardens, and the Forum des Halles. Of course, half the fun is discovering a piano in a place that you did not expect.

Other activities have also been planned for this event, like a ‘living workshop’ at the Forum des Halles on June 14 and 18 that will enable members of the public to add their own artistic touches to a few decorated pianos. Plus, at the foot of the Pont de Suffren next to the Seine, musicians will gather on the occasion of the Fête de la Musique on June 21 in order to show what they can do with these pianos.

Whether visitors want to play themselves or simply admire the musical talents of others, Play Me I’m Yours is a one-of-a-kind collaborative musical event that has already conquered the hearts of Parisians.

Although little is known about Giotto’s exact path from farm boy to master painter, it is clear that, as an adult, his works garnered the adulation of his peers. Responsible for many frescoes in Italian places of worship, Gitto contributed to the development of art in diverse ways.

One of his most significant contributions was his break with the traditional Byzantine depiction of human figures in order to illustrate people who looked more realistic. For this reason, Giotto is considered to be a trailblazer who helped pave the way for the Italian Renaissance.

As the artist’s renown spread across the country, apprentices from various Italian cities would accompany him as he traveled to create his works. This group of apprentices became known as Giotto’s ‘compagni,’ and it is the work completed with their assistance that is the subject of a current exhibition at the Louvre.

‘Giotto e compagni‘ will run at the Louvre until July 15, 2013, so guests staying at the Hotel de la Tour Maubourg have time to discover it during their stay in Paris. Approximately 30 works from both French and international collections will be presented. The exhibition highlights the innovative nature of Giotto’s achievements and also explores his creative process and the mechanisms behind his notoriety.

Taking its name from the French word for garden, the Jardins, Jardin event is known for celebrating the trends and innovations currently taking the gardening and landscaping world by storm. It is meant to be enjoyed by both professional gardeners and landscapers as well as the general public. This means that guests staying at the Hôtel de la Tour Maubourg can enjoy a beautiful, sunny day surrounded by flowers and greenery.

In addition to celebrating its 10th edition this year, the event will also be paying tribute to André Le Nôtre, the famous landscape architect responsible for the entire exterior design of the Palace of Versailles, in addition to many other well-known gardens and parks, including Fontainebleau and the path that would later become the Champs-Elysées. This year marks the outdoor artist’s 400th birthday, and Jardins, Jardin will be taking place in the very same garden that Le Nôtre redesigned and gardened in himself during the 17th century.

To celebrate the legacy of Le Nôtre, the organizers have collaborated with the Louvre in order to present an event dedicated to the theme of ‘garden walks’ starting on May 25. Then, on May 30, visitors can enjoy an educational walk through the Tuileries Gardens, which will reveal Le Nôtre’s favorite plants as well as his gardening secrets.

Other activities include seeing numerous live examples of the most beautiful gardens, terraces and balconies created by professional landscape artists. There will also be an innovation competition bringing together the most creative minds in the industry who will try to come up with the next new discoveries and methods in gardening.

Jardins, Jardin
Tuileries Gardens
Place de la Concorde, 75001

May 31 through June 2, 2013
From 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. each day, except June 2 from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Tickets: €12

However, that is slowly starting to change and one frozen yogurt shop — again, located in the Marais — is contributing to the “fro yo” takeover of Paris. This new shop is called Yogurt Factory and its trademark red paper bowls are used to house a myriad of frozen yogurt desserts.

The young and dynamic team behind the Yogurt Factory come from Marseille, where they opened their first shop. This experiment was such a success, that the creators decided to try their luck in Paris. The appeal of a treat that is lower in fat than ice cream but just as delicious should be irresistible in the warm summer months.

In addition to choosing from either the original plain-flavored yogurt or the flavor of the month, customers can also select a variety of delicious toppings to dress up their desserts. From fruit to candy pieces, nuts to brownies, cookies and caramel syrup — you can be as disciplined or as decadent as you want. One of the best parts about Yogurt Factory is the uniqueness of their toppings, and here the muesli cohabitates side-by-side with gummy bears and kiwi.

Another great thing about this shop is that it will be open late during the warmer months — from the beginning of May until the end of September 2013 — allowing visitors to satisfy their frozen yogurt cravings from noon until midnight every day of the week. As a result, guests of the Hôtel de la Tour Maubourg can make a pit stop at Yogurt Factory whenever they like during their stay in Paris.

Yogurt Factory
3 rue Saint-Merri, 75004
Metro: Hôtel de Ville / Rambuteau

For guests staying at the Hôtel de la Tour Maubourg who are unfamiliar with the Breton culture, a carnival is being organized at the Jardin d’Acclimatation that is dedicated to Brittany. The Jardin d’Acclimatation is a beautiful park, zoo and fairgrounds that also features a small museum, and it is located in the 16th arrondissement of Paris.

Each year, the Jardin d’Acclimatation creates a special fair honoring a French region or foreign country, and this year it is Brittany’s turn. For the occasion, a Breton village decorated in the traditional style will be established so that Breton artisans can come and show off their wares. Along with crafts and commercial products, visitors will be able to enjoy a selection of delicious Breton food specialties — including biscuits, cakes, crepes, caramel, meats and seafood.

There will also be live performances by Breton bands called ‘bagads,’ which are made up of wind instruments, bagpipes and drums. This kind of band is unique to Brittany, so visitors will see something that can cannot experience in many other places. More than 25 bagads will perform during the carnival, which takes place from April 27 until May 20, 2013.

In addition to bands, dancers will also take the stage to perform for the Jardin d’Acclimatation. Visitors who want to learn some Breton dance moves can take part in basic dance lessons covering how to dance in a circle and in a chain, as is the custom in Brittany. This way, visitors can immerse themselves in a full cultural and social experience.

Demy’s themes manifested themselves in a colorful cast of characters who were displayed in impressive musical explosions that appeared onscreen with meticulous precisions. All of this is accented by a magical mise-en-scene that became one of Demy’s trademarks. In fact, Demy was known as one of the biggest perfectionists of French film, always striving to get the perfect take.

What’s more, he was one of the few French filmmakers to question and participate in the future of the movie musical. Now, the fairies, blue-collar workers, twins and dreamy artists of Demy’s world are coming to the Cinémathèque Française from April 10 to August 4, 2013. Guests staying at the Hôtel de la Tour Maubourg can see the exhibition dedicated to Jacques Demy during their stay in Paris.

The filmmaker’s torrent of jazzy rhythms, emphasized by the magnificent effect of the French language, were interpreted by some of the most talented performers of the time. The exhibition recreates a multicolored atmosphere that plunges visitors straight into scenes from Demy films.

Although Demy’s career slowed down in the 1970s, his legacy has lived on and influenced directors who came after him. Demy died in 1990 but not before being captured on film himself, in a documentary called ‘Jacquot de Nantes,’ created by his partner Agnès Varda.

From shows to concerts, from conferences to exhibitions, the Festival de l’Imaginaire offers something to intrigue anyone spending time in Paris. Several landmark institutions — like the Louvre and the Musée du Quai Branly — are participating in the festival, giving visitors a great reason to check out the offerings of these cultural spaces.

The festival focuses on the peoples and civilizations of the contemporary world as well as the way in which these civilizations express themselves. Special attention is given to the most rare and least well known forms of expression, providing an atmosphere of discovery. Young creators and grand masters in the domains of music, dance, theatre and ritual performance can therefore take center stage before an engaged audience.

The themes of this year’s festival include Indonesian shadow theater, the Uyghur music of Xinjiang, the mask outings of Dogon and Bagdad maqam. For 2013, the Festival de l’Imaginaire is also offering the chance to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

As a result, guests staying at the Hôtel de la Tour Maubourg can learn about and enjoy the music, spectacles and cultures of faraway lands in a way that demonstrates the diversity of the major cosmopolitan city that is Paris.

Princess Elisabeth of France was the youngest sister of King Louis XVI. At the height of the French Revolution, her loyalty to her family led to her execution in Paris 1794, during the Reign of Terror. The princess, and her tragic destiny, will be the subject of an exhibition at the Palace of Versailles from April 27 to July 21, 2013.

During her lifetime, Princess Elisabeth was one of the most emblematic figures of the royal court and of the village of Montreuil, where she had her own home. Never married, the princess was always by the side of the royal couple. In fact, her reason for resisting marriage was that she did not want to stray too far away from her brother and Marie-Antoinette.

The exhibition will take place, appropriately, at the Domaine de Madame Elisabeth, her residence at the Palace. There, visitors will be able to look at her clothing, her perfumes and her furniture. In this way, they can get to know Madame Elisabeth, the princess who is often left out of the story.

Known for her love of mathematics as well as her acts of charity, the princess was even given the nickname ‘The Good Lady of Montreuil.’ Despite her kind gestures, she was not spared during the Reign of Terror, and her life was cut short by her determination to stand beside King Louis XVI. Now, guests staying at the Hôtel de la Tour Maubourg can discover Madame Elisabeth and her story at the Palace of Versailles from late April until late July.

In the 7th arrondissement, these culinary talents are on display, and guests staying at the Hôtel de la Tour Maubourg can take advantage of their central location by visiting several different restaurants throughout their trip. One interesting culinary opportunity can be found on the Rue Surcouf, quite close to the hotel, at a restaurant called Le Clarisse.

Le Clarisse can be described as a ”restaurant gastronomique,” which means that diners should come prepared to taste gourmet dishes that will challenge, surprise and delight them with flavors and combinations that they may have never experienced before. Particularly, this restaurant also incorporates a touch of Japanese influence, so fans of Asian cuisine will feel especially satisfied.

At Le Clarisse, all of the food is prepared from fresh, in-season products, so diners know that they are getting the best ingredients sourced from around the world. What’s more, Le Clarisse is the only restaurant in France that proposes a selection of sake for each one of its dishes.

Speaking of dishes, diners can begin with starters that include soy-sauce caramelized fois gras and goat cheese mousse with salmon tataki. For the main course, dishes include scallops with caramel and orange sauce and shoulder of lamb candied with spices and served with mashed potatoes in an emulsion of coconut and green curry. To finish off the meal, diners can indulge in desserts such as a chocolate tart with ginger ice cream or cheesecake made with East Asian citrus fruit and bergamot orange.

No matter what diners choose, a meal at Le Clarisse provides a great example of how the French culinary tradition is influenced by the multiculturalism of Paris.

Le Clarisse
29 rue Surcouf, 75007
+33 (0)1 45 50 11 10

Open Monday to Friday from 12:15 p.m. until 2 p.m. and then from 7:15 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Open Saturday from 7:15 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.