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American-born travel journalist and guidebook author Heather Stimmler-Hall created the Secrets of Paris in 1999 to share the hidden side of the City of Light. Discover what you've been missing:

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Calendar of Paris Events

August 28-October  10
Carnival continues for the fall in the Bois de Boulogne for the annual Fête au Bois, at Porte de la Muette (16th, metro Rue de la Pompe or bus 63). See the big ferris wheel and all the traditional carnival rides.

August 28-September 5
The 9th annual Festival Silhouette features German short films this year, free open-air screenings at the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, Cenquatre, and the Gethe Institute.

August 21-September 12
Attention garden lovers, come vote for your favorite dahlia at the Parc Floral (Bois de Vincennes) through September 12. The 22nd annual International Dahlia Competition includes 72 hybrids from France, Holland, Russia, Germany and Latvia.

Wednesdays through September 15
For the summer and early fall, the Sainte Chapelle is open late every Wednesday night from 6pm-9:30pm (last entry at 9pm)...

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Heather's Lady's Guide to the Sexy City

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Tuesday
Nov242009

A Treeless Place Dauphine 

 

On Friday I was on my way to the Marché aux Fleurs on the Ile de la Cité and decided to pass through the Place Dauphine on the way there. It's usually quite a lovely little square (well...triangle), but I was a bit shocked by this sight:

Here's the view towards the western tip of the island (the statue of Henri IV in the background), showing the bare Place Dauphine. A sign explained that the olf chestnut trees were removed because of disease, and will soon be replaced.

Here's the view towards the Palais de Justice. The trees at the far end are a different variety so they didn't get the dreaded leaflminer disease that has run rampant through the horse chestnuts in the Ile de France region.

Sigh. Let's hope the new trees arrive soon. It's just too sad.

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Reader Comments (2)

My friends and I were passing through this plaza on Friday afternoon and the new trees are already in and the pavers going down.
November 30, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterBridget
Sad to see the square without tress, one of my favourite spots in Paris when I visit
Fortunately I have photos to remember how it was in the past with quite mature tress present

Roy
December 1, 2009 | Unregistered Commenterroy
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