An emblem restored
Our resident snail is en vacances – do you know where he is?
WIN!
A surprise selection box of six gourmet French products
If you know the name of the Plus Beau Village that Serge is visiting, send the answer, plus your name and address, to editorial@ francemag.com or write us a postcard (address on page 6) and you could win a surprise selection box of six gourmet French products courtesy of Bonjour French Food (www.bonjourfrenchfood.com). Deadline for entries is 7 May 2014.
The winner of the March competition is Mrs S. E. Wild, from Barton-Under-Needwood, Staffordshire, who correctly identified the town of Bonifacio on the island of Corsica.
HELPING HAND Looking for self-catering accommodation in France can sometimes be a time-consuming affair, so GîteSearch aims to make the process as simple as possible. Its website features hundreds of self-catering options, ranging from rural hideaways such as the Dordogne gîte (pictured above) to seaside retreats, so there is something for all budgets and tastes. If you’re not sure which area of France to visit, GîteSearch has a guide to the regions and the attractions on offer. www.gitesearch.com
An emblem restored The Carreau du Temple in the Marais district of Paris nearly made way for a car park, but has now been transformed into a cultural centre
S
ince 1863, the cast-iron edifice known as the Carreau du Temple has lorded it over the Square du Temple as an indelible fixture of the Haut-Marais, now considered one of the most desirable pockets of Paris. The glass-panelled structure, flanked by the mairie of the 3rd arrondissement and a stable of coffee shops and restaurants, has undergone several incarnations since its construction. In 1904, the building was selected to host the first International Paris Trade Fair (Foire de Paris), then provided the training grounds for tennis clubs and, later, roller-skating clubs from 1920 to 1933. Following World War II, the space was given over to a covered clothing market, welcoming at its peak around 1,000 vendors. However, its popularity was waning by the mid-1970s and the building faced demolition by the local
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authorities, which wanted to replace it with, of all things, a car park. Just as the property was about to become a cultural footnote, locals banded together to campaign for its future as a protected monument historique. It received this coveted status in 1982, removing any risk of destruction. Still, its purpose and future remained uncertain. Mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoë (who is not standing for re-election in the May 2014 elections) made it his mission to breathe dynamic life into the Carreau du Temple and got locals of all ages to vote on three projects proposed by different design firms. Grass-roots democracy had spoken
and the wheels of an exciting new Parisian destination were set in motion. After a four-year renovation project, the 6,500 square-metre space over two levels was due to be officially inaugurated on 25 April as a cultural centre. Dance classes, arts exhibits, fashion pop-ups, trade shows, concerts, theatrical shows and sports events will be held under one, luminous roof – a new must-visit on Paris itineraries. Lindsey Tramuta Le Carreau du Temple 4 Rue Eugène Spuller, 75003 Paris Tel: (Fr) 1 83 81 93 30 www.carreaudutemple.eu
FRANCE MAGAZINE 17
WIN!
A surprise selection box of six gourmet French products
If you know the name of the Plus Beau Village that Serge is visiting, send the answer, plus your name and address, to editorial@ francemag.com or write us a postcard (address on page 6) and you could win a surprise selection box of six gourmet French products courtesy of Bonjour French Food (www.bonjourfrenchfood.com). Deadline for entries is 7 May 2014.
The winner of the March competition is Mrs S. E. Wild, from Barton-Under-Needwood, Staffordshire, who correctly identified the town of Bonifacio on the island of Corsica.
HELPING HAND Looking for self-catering accommodation in France can sometimes be a time-consuming affair, so GîteSearch aims to make the process as simple as possible. Its website features hundreds of self-catering options, ranging from rural hideaways such as the Dordogne gîte (pictured above) to seaside retreats, so there is something for all budgets and tastes. If you’re not sure which area of France to visit, GîteSearch has a guide to the regions and the attractions on offer. www.gitesearch.com
An emblem restored The Carreau du Temple in the Marais district of Paris nearly made way for a car park, but has now been transformed into a cultural centre
S
ince 1863, the cast-iron edifice known as the Carreau du Temple has lorded it over the Square du Temple as an indelible fixture of the Haut-Marais, now considered one of the most desirable pockets of Paris. The glass-panelled structure, flanked by the mairie of the 3rd arrondissement and a stable of coffee shops and restaurants, has undergone several incarnations since its construction. In 1904, the building was selected to host the first International Paris Trade Fair (Foire de Paris), then provided the training grounds for tennis clubs and, later, roller-skating clubs from 1920 to 1933. Following World War II, the space was given over to a covered clothing market, welcoming at its peak around 1,000 vendors. However, its popularity was waning by the mid-1970s and the building faced demolition by the local
www.completefrance.com
authorities, which wanted to replace it with, of all things, a car park. Just as the property was about to become a cultural footnote, locals banded together to campaign for its future as a protected monument historique. It received this coveted status in 1982, removing any risk of destruction. Still, its purpose and future remained uncertain. Mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoë (who is not standing for re-election in the May 2014 elections) made it his mission to breathe dynamic life into the Carreau du Temple and got locals of all ages to vote on three projects proposed by different design firms. Grass-roots democracy had spoken
and the wheels of an exciting new Parisian destination were set in motion. After a four-year renovation project, the 6,500 square-metre space over two levels was due to be officially inaugurated on 25 April as a cultural centre. Dance classes, arts exhibits, fashion pop-ups, trade shows, concerts, theatrical shows and sports events will be held under one, luminous roof – a new must-visit on Paris itineraries. Lindsey Tramuta Le Carreau du Temple 4 Rue Eugène Spuller, 75003 Paris Tel: (Fr) 1 83 81 93 30 www.carreaudutemple.eu
FRANCE MAGAZINE 17
