Top Cultural Events in Paris for Fall 2021

By Richard Nahem Sep 1, 2021 9:34am

The fall cultural season in Paris kicks off in the beginning of September and 2021 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in years. Here’s a list of our top picks which are worthwhile enough to book the next flight to Paris.

Christo Wraps the Arc de Triomphe

French artist Christo has left his artistic mark over a period of 50 years by wrapping monuments and sites in fabric across the globe. Although Christo unfortunately died last year, his last project, the covering of the Arc de Triomphe, will be realized this month. The neoclassical style arch, commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte and standing 164 feet tall at the west end of the Champs-Élysées will be covered in 270,000 square feet of silver-blue, recyclable fabric with almost 10,000 feet of red cord to tie it together.

Hôtel Barrière Le Fouquet's off the Champs-Élysées is offering a special package for the viewing of the Christo wrapped Arc de Triomphe, which includes a Prestige-category room, two tickets for the event, an Arc de Triomphe cake designed by their pastry chef, breakfast in bed, two-hour access to the Spa Diane, and dinner at Le Joy restaurant, with their "Discovery" menu featuring exclusively French food products. Cost for the package is €1,190 (approximately $1,410) and is available between September 19, 2021 and October 3, 2021.

Dates: September 18 to October 23, 2021

Travel advisors may contact Loanna Del Giudice, director of sales - The Americas and U.K., at [email protected]. For more information, visit www.paris-arc-de-triomphe.fr and www.hotelsbarriere.com.

Florae at Van Cleef and Arpels

Celebrated jeweler Van Cleef and Arpels has given the Japanese art photographer Mika Ninagawa carte blanche to take photos of their floral-inspired jewelry. Nature in the form of flowers has been a longtime hallmark of Van Cleef’s jewelry collections and over hundred vintage and current pieces of jewelry will be on display with Ninagawa’s animated and colorful photos complementing the collection. Ninagawa especially captures the beauty of dahlias, roses and cherry blossoms in the large-scale photo murals.

Dates: September 10 to November 14, 2021

For more information, visit www.vancleefarpels.com. Admission is free but you must reserve your place online; you can do so at www.weezevent.com.

Don Quixote by Rudolf Nureyev

Fun fact: The legendary dancer Rudolf Nureyev was also a choreographer towards the end of his career. He choreographed a highly acclaimed version of "Don Quixote," and it has become a popular staple in the repertoire of the Paris Opera Ballet company. The three-act ballet will be performed this fall season with flamboyant Spanish style costumes by Elena Rivkina.

Dates: December 9, 2021 to January 2, 2022

Visit www.operadeparis.fr.

Botticelli Collection

The great Italian Renaissance painter Botticelli is celebrated with an exclusive exhibit at the gem of a museum, the Jacquemart-André. Forty of Botticelli’s master works will be on display, along with a selection of other paintings of his Florentine peers and students from the same period. The most prestigious galleries and art institutions in Europe, including the Vatican Museum and Library, Bargello National Museum and Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence, and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam have lent works for the exhibition.

Dates: September 10, 2021 to January 24, 2022

To learn more, visit www.musee-jacquemart-andre.com.

A Taste of Paris

Foodies who love French food will have a chance to sample the best food in Paris under one roof at A Taste of Paris. The four-day event is where the top Parisian chefs offer tastings of their cuisine at a fraction of the price than in their restaurants. There are also demonstrations by top chefs such as Stéphanie Le Quellec from La Scene Restaurant, Amary Bouhours from Le Meurice, Mohamed Cheikh, winner of "Top Chef 2021," and Nadia Sammut from Hôtel Auberge La Fenière. In addition to the tastings, there’s an artisan food marketplace with over 100 vendors offering the top artisanal products of France.

Dates: September 16 to September 19, 2021

Visit paris.tastefestivals.com.