Unusual

Monuments in great shape: an introduction to period dance at this Yvelines château

On May 30–31, 2026, the event "Monuments en (pleine) forme" returns to turn our heritage into an unconventional training ground. The Château de Maisons-Laffitte invites young and old to swap their routines for an introduction to historical dance.

Duels at the Conciergerie: the sporting event returns; discover fencing inside a Parisian monument

La Conciergerie transforms into a duel arena for the weekend of Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 May 2026: come watch fencing bouts and give the sport a go in a majestic setting.

Montmartre Museum's vegetable garden workshops: learn how to grow your own garden in the city

The Renoir gardens at the Musée Montmartre, just a stone's throw from the Sacré-Coeur in the 18th arrondissement, are one of summer's must-see spots. Now you can learn how to grow your own vegetable garden in these exceptional gardens.

You, Roof, My Roof: the free rooftop festival perched on the rooftops of Seine-Saint-Denis and Paris

What if we climbed onto the roofs? From June 12 to 14, 2026, Seine-Saint-Denis unveils its peaks at the free festival "Toi, toit, mon toit!", featuring guided tours, workshops, aperitifs, and brand-new panoramas of the region!

Ink & Beer: tattoo sessions and craft beers at a château in Essonne

On May 16 and 17, 2026, the Château de Dourdan sheds its centuries-old quiet for the fourth edition of Ink & Beer. This unconventional festival transforms the medieval grounds into a temple of urban culture, where top tattoo artists and piercing specialists set up shop amid free activities and tastings of craft beers.

Did you know? The oldest basketball court in the world is in Paris.

In the 9th arrondissement of Paris, at the heart of the YMCA’s historic site, the gym on Rue de Trévise houses the oldest basketball court in the world kept in its original condition. Opened in 1893, this heritage site chronicles the beginnings of basketball in Europe.

Songkran Festival 2026: Thai New Year at Wat Thammapatip, this Sunday in Seine-et-Marne

Heading to Moissy-Cramayel in Seine-et-Marne to celebrate Songkran at Wat Thammapatip, an incredible Buddhist temple. This vibrant Thai New Year festival will be held on Sunday, April 26, 2026.

These remains of a Gallo-Roman sanctuary concealed a nymphaeum in the Yvelines.

At the heart of the Vaucouleurs valley, the village of Septeuil conceals a rare relic from Roman Gaul: a monumental nymphaeum. Erected to honor a sacred spring, this ancient sanctuary offers an exceptional testimony to water-related devotional rites in Île-de-France.

Join a human-sized green ribbon in support of organ donation, set against the sparkling Eiffel Tower.

On June 22, 2026, the Pont d'Iéna is set to mark National Organ Donation Day with a citizen-led mobilization. Help create a life-sized green ribbon at the foot of the Eiffel Tower for a powerful visual and symbolic performance!

Spring Live Magazine: follow an investigation and a live, real-time diary from the Grand Rex

Forget your screens and the endless stream of social media: on May 11 and 12, 2026, information takes shape on the storied Grand Rex stage. The Spring Live Magazine offers a unique experience where journalists, photographers, and artists come to deliver stories in the style of a fleeting, living newspaper — not something you read, but something you feel.

Yvelines: do you know this temple of love, the romantic kiosque bridge tucked away in a verdant setting?

In the Yvelines, at the heart of the Bonnelles pond nature reserve, a charming bridge-kiosk nicknamed the “Temple of Love” still bears witness to an 18th-century parc à fabriques—an elaborate garden of follies. Open to the public for discovery in 2026.

Gatsby Nights at the Ritz Paris, we tested the dinner-show to dive into the Roaring Twenties.

To mark the centenary of The Great Gatsby, the Ritz Paris brings the Roaring Twenties back to life at Salon Vendôme, on Place Vendôme. An immersive dinner-and-show blending jazz and gastronomy, on Thursday evenings: March 5, April 9, and May 14, 2026.

The House of Fishing and Nature, explore the underwater life of Levallois (92)

Can you fish in the Paris Region? What fish live in our ponds, rivers and streams? How do you learn to fish? The Maison de la Pêche et de la Nature answers all these questions in its museum and aquarium, or by introducing you to fishing with a fishing course. The perfect family outing for young and old alike!

Bonheur Garden 2026: the garden and nature festival, with free activities in Levallois (92)

Jardin Bonheur is the nature festival organized every year by the city of Levallois-Perret. For its 20th edition, the event goes all out with a Mexico-inspired theme and plenty of free activities for kids and adults alike. Meet us at Parc de la Planchette for the weekend of May 29–31, 2026.

It's your turn to become an artist with these participatory projects for Nuit Blanche 2026.

Become a one-night artist: several creators invite Parisians to participate in their creative project, which will be showcased for Nuit Blanche 2026 on Saturday, June 6.

Unusual: European Championship and Beerpong tournament at the Paris Fair and at Boom Boom Villette

In France, there are championships for everything, and even for beer pong—the American party game that relies on a ping-pong ball, plastic cups, and players who aren’t exactly sober. This year, the European Championships roll into the Paris Fair on May 2–3, 2026, with a warm-up tournament to tune up at Boom Boom Villette!

Unusual: a nighttime Velib' race arrives on the walkways of Paris's Parc Floral

The iconic Parisian bike trades the pavement for competition! On Saturday, April 25, 2026, Parc Floral will host the first-ever night-time criterium, where endurance meets the unexpected in a Vélib’ race along the park’s avenues.

A Parisian square in the 6th arrondissement hides benches shaped like books under the shade of cherry trees.

Under the shade of the Institut de France’s dome, a small garden offers a sculpted homage to the literary soul of the 6th arrondissement, through striking limestone benches where you can read in the shadow of the cherry trees. A little secret that only reveals itself to passersby who aren’t in too much of a hurry.

Espace Rambouillet: a forest and wildlife park to reconnect with nature

Nestled within 250 hectares of forest, explore a one-of-a-kind site in Île-de-France dedicated to European wildlife—animals that are currently found in France or once part of its fauna: red deer, fallow deer, roe deer, wolves... You’ll also discover its bird-of-prey center, home to more than 200 raptors with live flying demonstrations. Don’t miss the 1,500-square-meter of giant trampolines suspended among the trees, or the Forest Mission playground. An offering sure to delight families, nature lovers, and anyone looking to reconnect with what truly matters: the living world.

Cone, the Saint-Michel counter serving coffee- and chocolate-flavored ice cream cones

Cone, that’s the name of this tiny coffee counter in Paris’s 6th arrondissement, just outside the Saint-Germain-des-Prés metro exit, where you can sip a cappuccino or hot chocolate from an artisanal cone. We tried it, and here’s the full story.