White night, Paris (October 3th - October 4th, 2009)Back to the events list
One night of the year when Paris doesn't sleep. As night time slowly creeps in, people start getting out into the streets. The whole downtown area becomes a field for social gathering and entertainment. The motto of Nuit Blanche (White Night, meaning sleepless) – "Let's see Paris from a different angle!"
Many different buildings are opens for visits during this unusual night, and some of them are actually closed on regular days. And even those that are open for the public (theaters, museums, cinemas), not only work during White Night in Paris, they are have free entrance. Some of the Paris pools and fitness clubs work until 2:00AM, and as for the majority of businesses participating in the cultural event, including shops – they are open until 8:00AM. It is understandable that since people are having fun partying, all the restaurants are open all night long; cafes and bars are open as well. Unfortunately, these later places didn't learn to feed and drench people for free. However, authorities allow people to set up picnics in numerous gardens and parks of the French capital city. The beginning of October on the banks of Seine River is called Velvet Season – still warm, but not hot anymore. And people seem to be really taking advantage of the weather, they cook barbeques and drink beer sitting right on the grass.
You could, of course, stay out in the park until the break of dawn, or sleep under a shrubbery somewhere, but its somehow wrong. The "White Night" in Paris is a big cultural happening. You could visit Louvre for instance: people are allowed to go there for free from 6:00PM until Midnight, and even get a chance to see some historical shows, staged by local artists. There is one little problem however: since there are so many people eager to visit Louvre in particular, the museum entrance is blocked by a huge line of people waiting to get in. So, Louvre probably is not the best choice. It would be wiser to go to the Pompidou Center. First of all, there are less people, and the program is not much worse. And second, the street square in front of the Center, hosts a very popular ball among the local Parisians, which lasts till 5:30AM.
You can also ride a nice boat around the Seine River until 2:30AM. And things get even better in regards to transportation, both above and underground. Rides in the Subway, particularly the line connecting the Right and Left banks of the river, are completely free until 5:30AM. Free buses are routed between the train station and the downtown area, and 18 other bus lines are active all night in the city. All those willing to ride a bicycle will be offered one free. And in the morning, all the municipalities of Paris host free breakfasts for all those who held out till the end.
Nuit blanche was first conducted in 2002. That year Christophe Girard, the vice mayor of Paris, offered Bertrand Delanoë to organize a night dedicated to modern art. The event was given a name of White Night and since that day scaled up to incredible proportions. Do not miss the white night in Paris.
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