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The 8th is a very special arrondissement in Paris. A tourist district par excellence, it brings Parisians together to celebrate victories and New Year's Eve on theChamps-Elysées, but it's also the showcase of France, with its luxury brands, numerous embassies and exceptional heritage known the world over.
But how much do we really know about this Parisian arrondissement? In the company of Jeanne d'Hauteserre from Sortir à Paris, the mayor of the 8th district invites you to take a different look at this district of the capital, with its secret nuggets and memorable anecdotes.
My name is Jeanne d'Hauteserre and I've been mayor of the 8th arrondissement since 2014. I've always said that I'd like to turn my arrondissement into a village where people mix independently. When I have a bit of free time, I'm in these places full of life, to listen and exchange.
And it's not just the Champs-Elysées: there's also a lively neighborhood, around the corner from the Madeleine, Mairie and Europe, and a host of museums - the Grand Palais, Petit Palais, Musée Jacquemart André, Musée Cernuschi near Parc Monceau and the intimate, authentic Musée Nissim de Camondo.
And let's not forget the churches: theMadeleine church, which recently benefited from renovation work and which I invite you to rediscover, theSaint-Augustin church, theSaint-Philippe church, and the beautiful Orthodox church on rue Daru. We're exceptionally lucky to have these places in the arrondissement.
It was probably Johnny Hallyday's funeral, something we've rarely seen. It was a national event, with fans from all over France! It happened in the middle of winter, the mass was taking place at the Madeleine and we realized the night before that there were a lot of fans sleeping outside on the steps, with nothing. We had to intervene and ask Protection to bring in survival blankets to protect them.
Johnny was, of course, a legend of French music, who changed lives through his songs. The next morning, I was at mass, and when I left the place, there was a crazy crowd, but also an impressive silence. You can only realize what he meant to the French through those silent gazes. It was a very moving moment.
At least once in your life, if you can, you should attend the ceremony to rekindle the flame of the Unknown Soldier under theArc de Triomphe. It takes place every day at 6.30pm, and is an important moment in the presence of the flame commissioner, who explains the significance of the flame and the Unknown Soldier.
It's a commitment to the soldiers who died for France. Not just French soldiers, either! It's a ceremony that tourists and Parisians alike can attend. As part of our commitment to passing on our history, we regularly bring in children and students from secondary schools, and I can tell you that they're all impressed - it's a surprising and moving experience.
Every year, the Christmas illuminations are something special. On December 31, 1.2 million people flocked to the Champs-Elysées to experience the magic of Christmas. Every year, we also organize a Christmas party for families, in the Rue de la Bienfaisance, with entertainment for children, a Santa Claus and a face-painting stand that the kids love.
We're also fortunate to have the Maison des Associations, next to theEspace Beaujon, which houses a sports center with swimming pool, gym and climbing gym. This very active Maison des Associations brings together 200 to 300 associations offering a wide variety of activities that create a social link that is very important to me.
We have a free Pass Culture for those who work and live in the 8th arrondissement. All you have to do is go to the Town Hall reception desk and ask for it, simply by providing your name. You'll then receive a pass entitling you to preferential rates. A great way to get people out and about!
In the shadow of the Grand Palais, there's also the less talked-about Petit Palais, with its free permanent collection and beautiful hidden garden; the completely renovated Jardins des Champs-Élysées, well worth a visit; not forgetting the exceptional Parc Monceau. We're also going to inaugurate a free space for our dog friends and their owners, following a successful experiment. Starting in September, owners will be able to take their dogs out for a romp.
There's a little restaurant on rue Marbeuf, frequented by a few celebrities: Maître Pierre, an Italian restaurant that has become my canteen, because the value for money is so good. When I invite celebrities there, they keep coming back! I also love the atmosphere at musée Nissim de Camondo, in the heart of a private mansion where everything has remained as it was, as if he had just left it.
From time to time, I visit Musée Guimet, in the 16th arrondissement. It may be a cliché, but there's also the city of Versailles, with its château, its history, our history. I'm very much a heritage person, like my arrondissement after all!
The renovation of place de la Concorde, as well as of the century-old puppet theater in the Jardin des Champs-Élysées, where I'd like to offer shows in English. I also plan to design a facility for our seniors (as the arrondissement has neither a hospital nor a retirement home) conceived as a genuine place to live and share, so that visiting families, especially grandchildren, can enjoy the presence of their elders while nurturing family ties in a setting conducive to lasting memories.
