IN PICTURES: The true magic of Christmas in Paris

With Christmas just around the corner, Paris has had its annual makeover of brilliant lights and festive garlands. Countless fairy-lights seem to reflect off the cobblestones and the classic Paris scenes have somehow become even more picturesque.

In last week’s newsletter we asked if you wanted a closer look at the city’s Christmas scenes and the answer was a resounding yes. So we sent our fantastic photographer, Augusta Sagnelli, to try to capture it so you can enjoy it from home.

Here’s what she came up with.

Note: You can click on the images to see them up close and hone in on all the Christmas details.

Paris Café scenes

Cafes all around the city have taken on a festive sprucing with their decor. Those iconic red Parisian awnings make for an easy transition to Christmas cheer.

Market street rue Cler

This famed market street in the 7th arrondissement has garlands lining the shops, butchers and brasseries. And along the street (and some nearby streets), Christmas lights are suspended the shoppers and tourists, hanging between the buildings on both sides.

Christmas at night

Of course, the most famous lights are surely along the Champs-Elysees avenue. But there’s a lot more to Paris evenings at Christmas than just this.

The city’s luxury stores have gone all out, for example. The flagship boutiques in the first arrondissement are particularly spectacular, with Chanel and Dior dazzling passersby. Tip: Walk along rue Saint Honoré and into the Place Vendôme if you want Christmas lights on steroids.

The Ritz Hotel

It’s no surprise that the luxury hotel The Ritz creates an elegant Christmas scene. Anne Vitchen, who is the Dame des Fleurs at the iconic hotel, made what is surely the most brilliant Christmas tree in the city.

“I wanted to create a gourmet tree that recalls childhood, our grandmother’s ovens with gingerbread, balloons and the petit train that we took to go and visit the family,” she told us.

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Well that’s it for now. We’re working on some Christmas videos and a post about the city’s Christmas markets. Watch this space. Thanks again to Augusta Sagnelli for the wonderful photos and to all the newsletter subscribers who requested them.

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