The holiday season has officially arrived in Paris, with a Sunday ceremony on the Champs-Élysées inaugurating the festive illuminations. Tony Estanguet, the president of the Paris 2024 Olympic committee, had the honors of serving as the “godfather” of the event this year. In line with the city’s efforts on energy efficiency, the lights adorning the avenue’s trees are 100% LED, and the illuminations are turned off at night to save energy (the hours are 5 pm- midnight, except for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, when they’ll sparkle all night). What’s more, the Champs-Élysées is also home to the city’s tallest Christmas tree this year, soaring 13.5 meters high.
Christie’s auctioned off a painting looted by the Nazis last week in Paris. Nicolas de Largillierre’s Portrait d’une femme, à mi-corps was recovered at the end of WWII by the Monuments Men, the Allied unit in charge of tracking and returning stolen works of art. (Don’t miss our article about unsung heroine Rose Valland, spy and art curator at the Jeu de Paume during the war, who embarked on a daring mission of espionage to rescue art stolen by the Nazis.) France 24 describes the work as “a symbol of Nazi-looted art…best known for appearing in one of World War II’s most celebrated photographs.” Taken at Germany’s Neuschwanstein Castle, the May 1945 photo depicts US soldier Anthony Terra Valim holding the painting at the bottom of a flight of steps. For more on the painting’s history, check out the France 24 article here.
Tennis legend Rafael Nadal, newly retired, was honored by Nike with a video projection at the Place du Trocadéro esplandade in Paris. Enormous photos of the star were reflected opposite the Eiffel Tower, showcasing his career highlights and 14 French Open victories. As reported by Tennis.com, “The clip show ended with a snapshot of Nadal from this year’s Roland Garros tournament, where he bid Court Philippe-Chatrier adieu after losing in the first round to Alexander Zverev, and a slogan that the brand developed in honor of Nadal’s famous dedication, passion and drive: ‘Greatness. It only takes everything.’” Check out the video below.
Last week the Paris City Council approved its “bioclimatic” local urban development plan (Plan local d’urbanisme, or PLU), to steer the city’s course in achieving carbon neutrality while addressing social issues. As reported by France 24, “The plan’s focus on green spaces, social housing and tighter rental regulations has drawn both praise for its sustainability goals and scepticism over its feasibility.” It was the result of “four years of intensive discussions and more than 50,000 public proposals.” Equally important is promoting local business and preserving heritage. “One of the plan’s flagship initiatives is the creation of 300 hectares of new public green spaces. Currently, Paris offers only 8.6 square metres of green space per resident, falling short of the World Health Organization’s recommendation of 10 square metres.”
Les Mis has come home. As reported by The New York Times, “The most famous French musical has never been popular in Paris. A major new production hopes to change that, reworking it for a contemporary French audience.” Now playing at the Théâtre du Châtelet, the musical adaptation of Victor Hugo’s famous novel has been adapted and tweaked with 300 brand-new costumes and a more diverse cast. Running through January 2 at The Châtelet, Les Misérables is nearly sold out. “In France, the homecoming of “Les Misérables” follows the newfound popularity of American- and British-style musicals, which have drawn larger and larger audiences over the past decade.”
Lead photo credit : Inauguration of the illuminations on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Photo: Ville de Paris Instagram