Category Archives: news

citymapper-app

Useful Apps for Navigating Paris like a Local

With plenty of places with free WIFI in Paris, a smartphone can dramatically facilitate life in Paris. You can literally have Paris at your fingertips by downloading and using some of the great Paris apps which are available.  From getting around to going out, here is a selection of the most useful as well as free of charge.

Getting Around

  • Citymapper: Although there’s a designated app for Paris’s transit system, this app provides the best solutions in real time for getting around the city, by métro, RER, tram, bus, bike, car and on foot.
  • Vélib Métropole: The city of Paris’s official bike share scheme, the app allows you to rent a bike as well as find the nearest free bikes and stations.
  • Uber, Heetch and Taxi G7: There are a number of ride-sharing and taxi services in Paris. Of course, Uber is the best known, however, you can often get better deals on Heetch. If you’d like to reserve a traditional taxi, the company G7 has a handy app, plus they have a large fleet of eco-friendly “taxis verts”.
  • SNCF: France’s national rail service also has a handy app for booking longer distance train tickets, checking schedules or downloading your pre-purchased e-tickets.

Flash invaders App

Exploring the City

  • Spotted by Locals: With content provided by expert residents of cities, this site and app aims to show you the local side of the city, from restaurants to curious sites.
  • Culture Trip: A more established site, this app showcases museums, sites, things to do as well as suggestions for going out.
  • GPS My City: This app has a collection of free walking tours of Paris.
  • Street Art Cities and Flash Invaders: Paris is a great city for street art. You can find the best works via the handy Street Art Cities app. For something fun and different, download the Flash Invaders app to track when you spot the famous “space invaders” around the city. Learn more about Paris street art in this post.
  • Super Lachaise: At some point during your time in Paris, you’ll want to visit legendary Pere Lachaise cemetery. Instead of taking a screenshot of the map once you arrive, download this app in advance to avoid getting too lost trying to track down certain graves (but that’s also part of the fun!).

Paris Bouge App

Going Out

  • Paris Bouge, le Bonbon and Time Out: If you’re looking for great restaurants, bars, events or clubs frequented by les parisiens, have a look at either of the apps of thesse trendy websites.
  • La Fourchette (The Fork) and TripAdvisor: to find a restaurant located near you, try either of these apps.  Check on La Fourchette for restaurants offering discounts.
  • Le Fooding and 52 Martinis: For cooler and new restaurants and bars, peruse the suggestions of this noted website and app. Cocktail lovers will want to download the app of local cocktail expert 52 Martinis.

Word Reference App

Practicing Your French

  • Word Reference: The app of this extensive translation website provides translations, verb conjugations, forums and more.
  • Linguee: This app provides examples of vocabulary used in real sentences on the Internet, which can be helpful when you need to choose between two similar words.
  • Duolingo: This popular app is a good way to learn French grammar and vocabulary on the go.

Study abroad in Paris

Meeting People

  • Meetup: This great app has listings for a huge range of events for special interests, from film to veganism.
  • Bumble: There is a variety of “dating apps” in France, this app also offers the option of networking and making new friends.

Managing Money

  • XE Currency: If you are coming from a country outside the Euro Zone, this app can be a lifesaver. In addition to providing real time exchange rates, it also has money transfer services.
  • Wise: This popular service (formerly Transferwise) allows you to transfer money across borders at lower rates than traditional banks.
  • Revolut: This online bank allows you to receive and send money internationally and produces IBAN and bank details in different currencies.
Salle_de_lecture_Bibliotheque_Sainte-Genevieve_n02

Our Guide to Libraries in Paris

There is a wide variety of libraries (bibliothèques) available to you during your studies at the Paris School of Arts and Culture. Whether you are looking for a quiet space to study or searching for specific material for your research, you can find the best venue to suit your needs in this helpful guide.

Bibliothèque Nationale de France

PSAC Library Memberships

As a student of our Paris School you will become a member of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (the National Library of France and France’s premier research library, it is equivalent to the British Library) and the American Library in Paris, where we have a dedicated collection of books which are included on your module reading lists. You will be inducted into these libraries within the first few weeks of your first term. Once you are a member, you can use these libraries as study space as well. In addition to these, Reid Hall has a lovely library, which has workstations and power outlets, which is a tranquil and beautiful place to study, write or read.

Kent’s Digital Library, home to an extensive collection of e-books, e-journals, newspapers, and more, is an extremely valuable resource during your studies. We recommend you attend our Digital Library presentation in order to make the most of these resources for your research.


Bibliothèque Publique d’Information, Centre Pompidou. Photo: Paris Info

Speciality Libraries in Paris

Paris has a number of excellent speciality libraries which you may like to visit depending on your programme. Here are the main ones you may want to use:

Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève Online Pre-Registration Form

Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève

This beautiful historic library (top photo), located next to the Pantheon and in the heart of Paris’ academic centre around the Sorbonne University, is a wonderful place to study. It is free to use the library, however, you first need to register to get a library card. Here are instructions on how to do this:

 

  1. Create an account on the Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève website (see image above for the French-English translation).
  2. Bring ID and student card to the welcome desk within a month of online registration, photocopies are not accepted.

la Bibliothèque du cinéma François Truffaut. Photo: Ville de Paris

City of Paris Public Libraries

There are over 50 public libraries around Paris. They are all free to use and open to anyone. You can use their study spaces without becoming a member, however, to take out material from their collections you need to enrol. You can do this at any one library and your card is valid at all the libraries in the network. To enrol you will need to bring your ID and proof of your Paris residency. Further details in English here.

Top Photo: Salle de lecture Bibliotheque Sainte-Genevieve. Marie-Lan Nguyen / CC

Creative Writing Lecturer Yelena Moskovich Interviewed by BOMB Magazine

Author Yelena Moskovich, lecturer in our Creative Writing MA Programme at the Paris School of Arts and Culture, was recently interviewed for BOMB Magazine by ​Grace Lavery, associate professor in the Department of English at UC Berkeley and general editor of Transgender Studies Quarterly.

Entitled Our First Mask, The Body, in the interview Yelena and Grace discuss the body in relationship to literature, theatre and Yelena’s new book, A Door Behind a Door (Two Dollar Radio), released in May 2021.

Read the full interview at this link.

How to Get Vaccinated in France as a Foreign Student

**Please note that this post is designed for students beginning their studies with us in September 2021**

As an incoming students to our Paris School, you have a lot to do to prepare for your move to Paris. Vaccination procedures have been rolled out differently around the world and you may not have been able to be fully vaccinated before your departure. There is even talk in some countries, including France, of administering third doses of certain vaccines. As of this week, the French Haute Autorité de la Santé now recommends a third dose of the EU-approved vaccines for individuals over 65 years of age and those with underlying health conditions (see the official texts here). The good news for all of our incoming students is that you do not have to be registered within the French national health system/insurance scheme (Assurance maladie) to get a vaccine in France. You do, however, have to be resident and demonstrate proof of residency.

A French social security number is not required to get vaccinated and for free. Foreign students can be vaccinated in France, but will need to prove your residency, in the form of a rental contract, signed letter of being hosted by an individual (attestation d’hébergement) or accommodation booking of three months or more.

Getting vaccinated in France

Here are the steps to follow to sign up for a vaccination appointment:

  • Make an appointment on this designated Vaccination website or Doctolib (In French)
    • On Doctolib a pop-up window will ask you which situation you are in:
      • Vous souhaitez réserver une deuxième injection (second dose)
      • personnes de plus de 18 ans (persons over 18 years old, for ARNm type vaccines)
      • personnes de plus de 18 ans déjà eu la Covid-19 (persons over 18 years old having had Covid-19, for ARNm type vaccines)
  • Clink the appropriate category and proceed with making an appointment at a vaccination centre, doctor’s office or pharmacy
  • You can also try asking directly at a pharmacy to see if they have vaccines available
  • Bring your ID and proof of residency with you to the appointment.

If you encounter difficulties at your vaccination venue and the health professional insists you need to have a carte vitale, it is possible that they are not aware of the rules. You can remind them politely that a carte vitale/social security number is not required. If you have internet on your phone, you can also show them this page on the French government website which clearly states that “un étranger ou un sans-abri peut se faire vacciner en centre de vaccination même s’il ne dispose pas d’une carte vitale.” (A foreigner or homeless person can be vaccinated in a vaccination centre even if he or she does not possess a carte vitale). You can also print out this text before heading to your appointment.

The University of Kent Paris School staff will continue to update you on the accessibility of vaccinations and important health recommendations. Staff cannot, however, advise on individual situations. Information on how to see a doctor in France will be provided as part of our Welcome Week programme.

Chateau de Vincennes

Interesting (and Economical) Day Trips from Paris

With its hundreds of museums, intriguing historic sites and vibrant neighbourhoods to discover, there is plenty to do in Paris. However, it can also be nice to get away from the busy city centre, have a change of scenery or take in some nature. Luckily, Ile-de-France, the greater Parisian metropolitan area, has an abundance of fantastic day trip options, many of which you can access completely free, especially if you have a student transit pass. Here are some of our favourites.

Basilique-Cathédrale de Saint-Denis

Photo: Basilique-Cathédrale de Saint-Denis

Basilique-Cathédrale de Saint-Denis

Although Notre-Dame Cathedral might be the world’s most famous Gothic cathedral, the first built in this style is sitting on the norther edge of Paris. Started in the 1130s, the church was constructed above the presumed grave of one of France’s earliest saints, Denis, who was executed by the Roman rulers of the times in around 270 AD. Over the centuries the church rose in prominence and became the final resting place of France’s monarchs, holding the remains of all but three of kings from the 10th century until 1789. Visitors today can admire the royal tombs while gazing up at the church’s flying buttresses, pointed arches and stained glass windows.

  • Address & Information: Cathedral Website
  • Getting there: 30-40 minute by Métro, line 13 to Basilique de Saint-Denis station. Short walk, follow the signposts. Note: Saint-Denis can be a little sketchy so we don’t recommend veer off the main streets.
  • Cost: Free for EU Nationals under 26 and other students with valid ID.
Bois de Vincennes Paris

Chateau de Vincennes (top) and Bois de Vincennes boat-rides

Château et Bois de Vincennes

A quick jaunt outside the eastern border of Paris will take you to this impressive medieval fortress and sprawling woods. A royal hunting lodge dating back to the mid-12th century, in the 1300s King Charles V added the imposing 52-metre-high donjon, the tallest in Europe and still standing today. Although the royals used it as a residence over the centuries, it was never revamped like castles of Versailles or Fontainebleau. The fortress was eventually converted into a prison, which held some infamous prisoners such as the Marquis de Sade and Louis XIV’s rival Nicolas Fouquet. Pack a picnic and make a day of it by carrying on your explorations in the adjacent Bois de Vincennes. The huge woods has kilometres of pathways, a lake where you can rent out boats, a Buddhist Temple and a botanical garden, le Parc Floral de Paris, which hosts a variety of events including open-air concerts, mostly in summer.

  • Address & Information: Chateau de Vincennes Website
  • Getting There: 30-40 minute by Métro, line 1 to Château de Vincennes, or RER A to Vincennes. Castle right outside Métro station.
  • Cost: Exterior of castle and woods are free, interior is free for EU Nationals under 26 and other students with valid ID. If you wish to visit the Parc Floral it has a small entrance fee.

Chateau de Fontainebleau

Château et Foret de Fontainebleau 

Skip the crowds at Versailles by venturing to this marvellous castle southeast of Paris instead. Another favorite hunting retreat of the royals, King Francois I redesigned the castle in the Renaissance style. It features opulent rooms decked out in elaborately carved wood, paintings, mirrors and more. The castle was also a favourite of Napoléon Bonaparte, who refurbished parts of it in the Imperial style. Behind the castle are beautiful gardens à la francaise, or to better connect with nature, spend the afternoon exploring the forest’s extensive hiking trails. If you visit on Tuesday, Friday or Sunday, before heading to the castle, you can pick up some picnic supplies at Fontainebleau’s food market.

  • Address & Information: Castle’s website. See some suggested hikes here.
  • Getting There: An hour from central Paris, 40 minutes by suburban train from Gare de Lyon (line R) to Fontainebleau-Avon. Castle a short walk from the station.
  • Cost: Castle free for EU Nationals under 26 and students with ID. Forest is free.

Auvers-sur-Oise

Auvers-sur-Oise

While visiting Monet’s home and garden in Giverny can make for a nice art excursion from Paris, there is much more to see, and far fewer crowds, in this charming village briefly inhabited by and the final resting place of Vincent van Gogh. Strolling through town, helpful panels show you the various places the Post-Impressionist painter captured on canvas, copies shown on the boards and many of the originals are displayed at the Musée d’Orsay. You can also visit or have lunch at the inn he lodged at, the Auberge Ravoux, and pay homage to the troubled artist at his grave in the local cemetery. The town has several other sites, including a small castle, various art studios and homes of other 19th century artists and a museum dedicated to Absinthe. On summertime weekends the town often holds art or music festivals.

  • Address & Information: Tourism website. Visit from March to October as many sites are closed in winter
  • Getting There: In summertime there is a direct train on weekend mornings around 9:30 am from Gare du Nord which is only 30 minutes. The rest of the year it’s an hour train ride from Saint-Lazare or Gare du Nord, take a regional train to Pontoise, change here for the trains in the direction of Persan-Beaumont, get off at Auvers station.
  • Cost: Free to walk around, small entry fee for various sites.
provins

Photo: Provins Tourisme

Provins

If you’d like to get a taste of France without going too far, then consider visiting this medieval town east of Paris. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the beautiful hilltop village thrived over the centuries due to its position as a fiefdom of the Counts of Champagne and its popular fairs, which still take place before Christmas. A visit at any time of year will delight thanks to its magical historic centre home to the Tour César fortress, stone churches, narrow lanes and protective city walls.

  • Address & Information: Local tourism website
  • Getting There: Around an 80-minute train journey, Gare de l’Est to Provins. The town is accessible on foot from the station.
  • Cost: Most sites can be visited freely from the exterior.

Photo: Street art by C215, Vitry-Sur-Seine / Paris Tourisme

Contemporary Art & Street Art in Vitry-Sur-Seine

For something more offbeat, considering visiting this close southeaster suburb popular with street artists. The city is home to MAC/VAL, France’s only museum dedicated to contemporary art from the 1950s to today. In the shadow of a towering Jean Dubuffet statue, the contemporary building houses over 2,000 works by both well-established names like Christian Boltanski and Annette Messager, and up-and-coming artists. After visiting the museum, continue your artistic discoveries in the streets of Vitry, where you’ll come across hundreds of works by French and international street artists like C215, Indigo, Kashink, Swoon and Alice Pasquini. This artistic flourishing has earned the city the title of “Capital of Street Art.” You can find the works easily using this helpful map and discover more about Parisian street artists in our article here.

  • Address & Information: MAC/VAL website
  • Getting There: Around a 30-45 minute trip from central Paris by Métro and bus, line 7 to Porte de Choisy then bus 172, 180 or 183 to Place de la Libération.
  • Cost: Free for under 26 and other students with valid ID.

Looking for other interesting things to do in Paris? Carrying on your exploring with these articles:

Phuong Le Film Critic

Graduate Profile: Film Professional & Critic Phuong Le

In the latest in our Alumni Spotlight series we connect with Phuong Le, an alumna of our Film Master’s Programme in Paris. Since graduating from our Paris School of Arts and Culture (PSAC), Phuong has been establishing herself in the film world, now working as the Editorial Coordinator for the streaming website MUBI and as a freelance film critic. Discover how Phuong chose to pursue her studies at our Paris School and how these influenced her career this interview.

Where are you from and what originally brought you to Paris? 

I’m originally from Vietnam, and I went to college in New York. Having graduated with a minor in French and a Film Studies concentration, I saw Paris as the perfect place to be. Not only can I practice the language in an organic way here, I can also enrich my knowledge of cinema history in the very country where the medium was born. The cultural wealth offered by the libraries, the archives, and the numerous cinemas is invaluable.

What attracted you most about studying at PSAC?   

Before coming to PSAC, I was already aware of the great scholars on the film studies faculty, and the opportunity to study and learn from them was absolutely unmissable. Paris is, of course, another incredible attraction. Having previously lived in New York and London, I prefer staying in metropolitan, diverse cities where I rarely feel like an outsider. The academic vigour of the programme and the irresistible charm of Paris proved to be the perfect fit for me.

What were some of the highlights of your experience? 

There were simply too many highlights to count! I will always remember my first time going to the BnF library, to which I had a specific subscription for researchers thanks to Kent. The rather Sci-Fi looking library was unlike any place I had been before. To descend into the research “dungeon,” I had to use several escalators, which took me deeper and deeper into the belly of this futuristic, metallic concrete structure. The feeling was pleasantly overwhelming, as if I was being literally locked in a cocoon of knowledge. Equally pleasurable were my many wanderings from one arthouse cinema to another in the 5th and the 6th arrondissement.

What are you currently doing and how did that opportunity come about? 

I’m currently the Editorial Coordinator for MUBI, a streaming website and distribution company for arthouse and classic films. I’m also a freelance critic, and I regularly write for The Guardian, Sight & Sound, and many other outlets. The job application process was pretty standard, and since film criticism is quite a tough business, I feel very fortunate to able to do what I love.

Do you think that your studies at PSAC helped with your career prospects? 

Absolutely. During my time at Kent, I developed an interest in psychogeography thanks to an engaging seminar on the subject with Professor Vybarr Cregan-Reid. Professor Frances Guerin’s course on Paris and cinema also furthered my fascination with how films represent urban lives. Now, I have a regular column at Sight & Sound where I discuss the relationship between films and geography. Such an opportunity would not have been possible without the many eye-opening seminars I was privileged to attend at Kent.

Would you recommend PSAC to potential students and if so what would you tell them? 

Moving to a new country can be daunting, but from my personal experiences, I would highly recommend everyone to take the leap. As one of the few programmes that allow students to develop their scholarly or creative portfolios in English while living in France, PSAC manages to ensure a degree of familiarity while at the same time widening your horizons.

Merci beaucoup Phuong!

Connect with Phuong here:

Art History Master's in Paris

Touring the Former Villages of Paris

Paris grew from its centre, around the Ile-de-la-Cité, outwards. Once walled, over the centuries the city burst beyond its boundaries and new fortifications would be built. As part of the vast mid-19th century urban renewal of Paris undertaken by Prefect Baron Haussmann and Napoleon III, in 1860 the space between Paris’s last pair of city walls was annexed. Amidst the fields and vineyards of this zone were a number of villages. Remnants of several of these remain and provide a fascinating look into the past. From Montmartre to the Butte-aux-Cailles, these charming village neighbourhoods are the perfect weekend outing.

Maison Rose, Montmartre, Paris

Montmartre

The best known of Paris’s former villages, Montmartre is known for Sacré-Coeur and the nearby artist square, Place du Tertre. However, there’s much more to the neighbourhood. Once a working class village on the northern fringes of Paris, Montmartre started to draw artists in the 1870s thanks to its cheap rent and free-flowing joie de vivre. A visit around its back streets guides you past small houses, windmills and the former residents and art studios of late 19th and early 20th century artists including Renoir, van Gogh, Suzanne Valadon and Picasso.

Belleville Paris

Belleville

The most rebellious of Paris’s former villages, the neighbourhood of Belleville still attracts more alternative Parisians. Its proximity to the gypsum quarries located on this edge of Paris brought in a working class popular. French music legend Edith Piaf spent part of her childhood in the area and famously claimed to have been born on rue de Belleville (instead of in the nearby hospital listed on her birth certificate). Reasonable rents also drew in waves of immigrant communities, including Greeks, Armenians, Tunisian Jews, Moroccans, Vietnamese and Chinese. This has created a vibrant cosmopolitan community peppered with, art studios, inventive restaurants and a laid-back vibe. A popular place with street arts, look out for their creations on your way to the top of the Parc de Belleville, where you can admire one of the nicest views of Paris.

Butte-aux-Cailles

This village on a slight hill (or butte in French) in southeastern Paris developed around a vineyard that the area’s namesake, a certain Pierre Caille, bought in 1543. Today this small town ambiance still exists around a grouping of cobbled streets lined with relaxed bars and restaurants. You can soak up the countryside feel meandering the charming streets, like rue des Cinq Diamants, passage Barrault and rue Moulin des Près. You’ll eventually come to the place Paul Verlaine, the old main square of the village (pictured above). It’s one of the centres for street art in Paris, so look out for this along your way. You can end your stroll with a drink on rue de la Butte-aux-Cailles, its bars popular with students from nearby campuses of the University of Paris.

Passy

Now part of the chic 16th district, found across the river from the Eiffel Tower, this plain used to be owned by the lords of Auteuil and Passy. Villages grew up around both and there are remains here and there in the area. Track down the Maison de Balzac, a cottage turned museum where Honoré de Balzac lived for a time (more on it and other literary residences in this article). Then around the corner you can find rue Berton (pictured above). One of the narrowest streets in Paris and protected by high stone walls, it used to marked the border between the sprawling estates of Auteuil and Passy (the 1731 boundary sign is still posted). Poet Guillaume Apollinaire wrote about the lane in his 1918 book Le Flâneur des Deux Rives, describing it as “one of the most scenic corners of Paris.”

Les Batignolles

Les Batignolles

Until the French Revolution, the northwest section of what is now the 17th district, was one of the hunting grounds for Parisian nobles. In the early 1800s a village began popping up here, around the Place du Dr Félix Lobligeois. It encircles the neo-classical Église Sainte-Marie des Batignolles, built in conjunction with the square, and is fringed on the northside by the beautiful Square des Batignolles. Previously also home to the local town hall, the square can be your starting point for exploring this up and coming area, abundant in small designer shops, buzzing cafés and restaurants.

Charonne

Found to the east of Belleville, the former village of Charonne is one of the most charming relics of pre Haussmann Paris. This can be observed on the old “main street” of the village, Rue Saint-Blaise, and its parish church, the Eglise Saint-Germain de Charonne. The church itself goes as far back as the 12th century, but was remodelled in the 15th and 18th centuries. It sits above the village and also still has its former parish cemetery, only one of two that still exist (the other is next to Saint Peter of Montmartre). A walk down Rue Saint-Blaise, lined with cafés and boutiques, truly gives you a sense of make visiting a small French village.

Interested in exploring other unique places in Paris? Get inspired by these other articles from our blog:

Yelena Moskovich on A Door Behind a Door

Creative Writing Lecturer Yelena Moskovich Interviewed by Los Angeles Review of Books

Author and lecturer in our creative writing programme Yelena Moskovich, was recently interviewed by Nathan Scott McNamara for the Los Angeles Review of Books.

The interview explores Yelena’s latest book, A Door Behind a Door in relation to her previous two books The Natashas and Virtuoso. They are discuss the unique structure and rhythm of A Door Behind a Door as well as Yelena’s relationship to space, geography and language. Read the full article at this link.

Enhance your craft by pursuing our Creative Writing MA programme at our Paris School of Arts and Culture, which is offered both part-time and full-time. Learn more about the programme here.

France’s Updated Covid Regulations & Getting your “Health Pass”

As of 9 August 2021, a pass sanitaire (health pass) is required in France to enter many public places. The French government has made this easier to obtain for foreigners coming to the country. Below are instructions on how you can get your pass either in advance or after you arrive as well as an update on current regulations.

Where the Health Pass is Required

The regulations have been rolled out in various phases. A health pass is required to enter Reid Hall. You will be asked to show your health pass at the following places (non-exhaustive list):

  • restaurants, cafes, bars, nightclubs
  • retirement homes, hospitals and medical providers (except in case of emergency)
  • long-distance forms of transportation (planes, trains, boats and buses
  • cultural events and sites (museums, monuments, cinemas, and theatres)
  • sporting facilities (gyms and swimming pools)
  • festivals, amusement parks, zoos
  • libraries (except specialty university libraries and the National Library (BnF)

A health pass is NOT required for:

  • grocery stores and other food shops
  • small shops under 20,000 m2
  • outdoor free access parks and gardens
  • not required for religious services, but is required for cultural events held at churches
  • to visit an internist or family doctor

Shopping centres larger than 20,000 m2 are regulated by the local prefect and may require passes.

Obtaining your Health Pass

If you have been vaccinated in the EU, you will already have the QR code proving your vaccination record. This acts as your “health pass” and you will not need to apply via the instructions included here. You can simply show the code in electronic (on your phone) or paper versions at the sites which require a health pass.

UK nationals who have been vaccinated in the UK under the normal vaccination scheme should request their digital “NHS Covid pass”, which is accepted in France in the same fashion as an EU Health Pass. This is available through the NHS app.

For non-EU citizens or non-vaccinated EU citizens. The French pass is issued to people who have proof of a negative covid test or those who have been fully vaccinated with a vaccine recognized by the European Medicines Agency or one of the equivalents to these vaccines.

Here are the conditions of being fully vaccinated:

  • 4 weeks after a one-dose injection (Johnson&Johnson);
  • 7 days after the second injection for two-dose vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca);
  • 7 days after the injection if you have recovered from COVID-19 (only one dose is necessary);

You can get a health pass from a health professional in France, including pharmacies and vaccine centres (for free). Some pharmacies are now charging a 5-10 euro fee to create a health pass for foreigners, here are some which have been known to create passes:

  • La pharmacie Monge, 2 Pl. de la Nation, 75012 Paris
  • Pharmacie Les Filles du Calvaire, 2 Bd des Filles du Calvaire, 75011 Paris
  • Pharmacy at 105 rue de Rennes, Paris 75006 (near the Paris School)

You can also apply for one via a new online system in advance. This is a relatively new scheme, and protocols are regularly changing. We will do our best to keep you informed of relevant updates and changes.

We recommend applying for your pass as soon as possible as there could be a delay in receiving your health pass and QR code. 

Prepare the following documents, in electronic format (jpg/pdf):

  1. Your vaccination certificate, stating the type of vaccine used
  2. A scan/image of your passport
  3. Your travel ticket (return ticket)
  4. Your student visa 
  5. Your University of Kent status letter

Proceed to this link and follow the online instructions in english, you will need to create an account for France Connect and then you will be able to apply.

https://www.demarches-simplifiees.fr/commencer/passe-sanitaire-etudiants

Image from Le Parisien. Information sourced from www.diplomatie.gouv.fr

Medici Column

Offbeat Historic Sites to Seek Out in Paris

Paris isn’t only about its world-famous sites like Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower and the Champs Elysées. In fact, the city has dozens, in not hundreds, or curious places which date for different eras of the city and tell its story. From the Medieval towers to the remnants of the Bastille fortress, here are some fascinating sites to take you off the beaten path in Paris.

Medici Column, Bourse de Commerce Paris

The Medici Column

Many people are currently flocking to visit the newly (re)opened Bourse de Commerce, now home to the Pinault collection of contemporary art (more on it here), however, rising behind its dome is a very curious site. The area used to house a palace, the Hôtel de Soissons, which was inhabited by Queen Catherine de Medici after her husband King Henri II’s death in 1559. The Queen was very interested in the occult and she even called Nostradamus to Paris to advise her on the future. She had this 28-meter-high column built in 1575 as a the lookout point for her astrologer Cosimo Ruggieri. While its 145 steps are closed to the public, you can admire it from the ground level. Be sure to look out for its decoration of the royal couple’s emblem of an intertwined H and C as well as cornucopia and broken mirrors.

Address: behind 2 Rue de Viarmes, 75001 Paris

 Tour Jean-sans-Peur

Tucked amidst the buildings of the busy rue Etienne Marcel is an out-of-place ancient tower. A rare medieval building in Paris, the Tour Jean-sans-Peur dates back to the early 1400s and is all that remains of the palace of the Dukes of Burgundy which once stood here. The 21 metre-high tower is also the tallest medieval civic building in the city. It’s open to the public and displays temporary exhibits on medieval themes.

Address: 20 Rue Étienne Marcel, 75002 Paris

Square Henri Galli Paris

Remains of the Bastille

Lots of people who come to Paris exit the Bastille métro station and Bastille fortress is. The symbol of the outbreak of the Revolution, the Bastille was gradually torn down and the smaller artefacts were sold off as collector’s items like pieces of the Berlin Wall. Many of the larger blocks of the fortress were used to build the Concorde Bridge, which crosses the Seine from Place de la Concorde to l’Assemblée Nationale.  In the métro on the platform of line 5, there are relics of where the fortress stood and then there is a regrouping of one of the Bastille’s towers hidden in the shrubs of this little park near the Seine, the Square Henri Galli. Called the “Liberté” tower, it was uncovered in 1899 at the start of rue Saint-Antoine during the construction of the métro line 1 and then moved here.

Address: 9 Bd Henri IV, 75004 Paris

Gnomon, Saint Sulpice. PHGCOM / CC

Gnomon of Saint Sulpice

When Dan Brown published his bestselling book The Da Vinci Code in 2003, this lesser known Left Bank church was thrown into the spotlight. People from around the globe came to see the unusual obelisk he described as marking the Paris Meridian or “Rose Line. Although Brown’s facts weren’t entirely accurate, the object is indeed fascinating and historic. Built in the early 1700s, the or obelisk, or gnomon, was an astronomical instrument used to determine the date of Easter thanks to a shadow cast on the obelisk. When you’re visiting the church, which also happens to be the second largest in Paris after Notre Dame, be sure to view the wonderful paintings by Delacroix found in the chapel on the right of the entrance.

Address: Place Saint-Sulpice, 75006 Paris

Expiatory Chapel

This lesser known site located near the Madeleine Church is one of the most hidden and mysterious sites in Paris. The land around this small square used to hold the Madeleine cemetery. It was here where Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were first buried after their guillotining in 1793 in nearby Place de la Concorde. After the final defeat of Napoleon and the restoration of the monarchy in 1815, their bodies were moved to the Cathedral of Saint Denis (which houses the tombs of most French royals). In 1826 the cemetery was replaced by the Expiatory Chapel, a homage to the tragic royal couple, funded by their daughter, Marie-Therèse and the next king, Louis XVIII. In the crypt there’s a black and white marble altar sitting on the spot where the King and Queen’s remains were found. The chapel can be visited on weekends.

Address: 29 Rue Pasquier, 75008 Paris

Château de la Reine Blanche. Photo: Siren-Com/ CC

Le Château de la Reine Blanche

Called the Castle of the White Queen, this residence was built in 1290 by the Queen Marguerite de Provence, although it was named after her daughter, Blanche de France, who inherited the manor house. It was constructed next to what was Paris’s second river, la Bièvre, which is still flows underground. The small castle is privately owned and but can often be visited on the Journées du Patrimoine (European Heritage Days) held the third weekend in September. If you can’t make it for that event, you can get a good look at the outside of it from the street.

Address: 6 Rue Gustave Geffroy, 75013 Paris

Saint Sergius Orthodox Church and Theological Institute

One of the most curious places of worship in Paris is hidden down a verdant lane near the Buttes-Chaumont Park. Originally commissioned as a German Lutheran church, it was abandoned after WWI and converted into a Russian Orthodox theological centre and church in 1925. The gate is open during the day and so you can pop in to have a look at the exterior, but if you come on Sunday mornings, you can take a peek at the interiors during service.

Address: 93 Rue de Crimée, 75019 Paris. Website

Au Roi de la Bière Paris

Au Roi de la Bière

To finish on a fun note, we’re taking you to look at the most unusually looking fast-food restaurant in Paris. Now a McDonald’s, this building across from the Saint-Lazare train station was built as an Alsatian brasserie in 1892. After Alsace and Lorraine were annexed to Germany at the defeat of the French in the 1870 Franco-Prussian War, many residents loyal to France moved to the Parisian capital. They brought their beer brewing traditions with you, which led to the opening of brasseries across the city and Au Roi de la Biére, or “The King of Beer” in English, was one of these. Designed to look like an Alsatian half-timbered house, and decked out in beer steins and a statue of Gambrinus (the legendary King of Beer), since it was classified as a national monument in 1997 McDonald’s could move it, but had to leave its facade untouched. So if you go here for a Big Mac, order a beer to go with it!

Address: 119 Rue Saint-Lazare, 75008 Paris

Looking to do other exploring in Paris? You may like to discover other interesting places to visit in these articles: