In a jittery world and with an uncertain economy, France and especially Paris remains one of the most visited places on the planet. Travelers, of course, come to revisit Paris's glorious past, as reflected in its art and architecture, but they are also intrigued by The City of Light's cutting edge in cuisine, style, and fashion. Here are some of the latest developments in an ever-changing world metropolis:
Getting There
In 2004 Air France acquired control of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, creating Air France-KLM (www.airfrance.com), which in terms of revenue is now the biggest airline in the world. Look for many changes during the life of this edition as the two airlines coordinate their schedules and fares. Industry spokespersons are predicting lower fares and better connections between flights.
Accommodations
A trend-setting minimalist hotel, Murano Urban Resort, 13 bd. du Temple, 3rd (tel. 01-42-71-20-00; www.muranoresort.com), was created out of abandoned buildings and a parking garage. Taking as its theme the art of Murano glass, the hotel attracts movie and advertising people to its chic precincts.
Le Général Hotel, 5-7 rue Rampon, lle (tel. 01-47-00-41-57; www.legeneralhotel.com), has opened in the increasingly tuned-in district of counterculture between Place de la République and rue Oberkampf. In a neighborhood growing more gentrified, the seven-story hotel is not fabulous, but it is affordable.
Dining
Within the swanky Four Seasons Hotel George V, av. George V, 8e (tel. 01-49-52-70-00; www.fourseasons.com), is Le Cinq, its deluxe restaurant, which has been awarded three coveted Michelin stars (the highest rating) in only three years, a rarity. Today it's one of the hottest dining addresses in Paris. The menu changes frequently, based on the best shopping for seasonal ingredients, and the cuisine is sublime.
Alain Dutournier's stylish and pricey Carre des Feuillants is one of the most expensive and sought-after restaurants in Paris. Today he's opened a more affordable bistro, Pinzo, in the Plaza-Paris Vendôme Hotel, 9 rue Alger, 1er (tel. 01-40-20-72-00). This restaurant showcases the savory cuisine of southwestern France and does it exceedingly well in an elegant setting.
Attractions
More and more outfitters are making it easy and much more fun to see Paris, including the amusingly named Fat Tire Bike Tours, 24 rue Edgar Faure, 15th (tel. 01-56-58-10-54; www.fattirebiketoursparis.com), a Texas-based company that conducts the best English-speaking bike tours in the City of Light.
The first audio-guided tours of Paris have been launched by Audio Visit (tel. 04-78-29-60-72; www.audiovit.com), which are available at several locations throughout Paris. These helpful commentaries in English guide you through all the grand districts.
In a surprise development, the City of Paris now allows visitors to go ice skating inside the Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, 7e (tel. 01-44-11-23-23). Skating takes place on an observation deck 57m (188 feet) above ground, with panoramic vistas over the rooftops of Paris.
In a bizarre twist that made headlines around the world, the heart of the 10-year-old heir to the French throne, Louis XVII, was laid to rest at Saint-Denis Basilica, 2 rue Strasbourg, in the suburb of St-Denis (tel. 01-48-09-83-54) near the graves of his executed parents, Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI. DNA genetic testing centuries later determined that the heart was actually that of the doomed child prince. A doctor saved the heart when the boy died of tuberculosis in 1795, the rest of his body having been dumped into a common grave.
Shopping
The hottest new parfumerie to open in Paris is lunx, 48-50 rue de l'Université, 7th (tel. 01-45-44-50-14), which takes you on an "olfactory journey" testing more than 60 fragrances.
Side Trips From Paris
In Royal Versailles, the French government has earmarked expenditures of $455 million into the grand restoration of the Château de Versailles (tel. 01-30-83-78-00), an ambitious program that will stretch over 17 years began in 2005. The good news is that one of the most visited attractions in Europe will remain open while the work is in progress. Among new developments to be seen now is the opening of Les Grandes Ecuries (the Stables), where the horses and carriages of the various kings used to be housed. Visitors can also watch hour-long riding demonstrations in these historic stables.