IS’ CULTURAL

NEWSLETTER

November 2013 edition

Hi guys,

It’s already been two months since you arrived in France and discovered how life is in the

capital. You are starting to know pretty well the different boroughs and famous monuments

in Paris. But you think you still have things to learn about France! You want to know more

about the most famous cities in our beautiful country? IS is there for you! In our November

edition of the Cultural Newsletter, we try to share with you the best events to attend and

places to be in our different cities of origin!

This month, you should absolutely not miss the reservation of your train ticket to attend the

fabulous Festival of Lights that will take place in Lyon! If you are staying during a long

week-end on campus, why not having a day or two in Chartres, which is only one hour away

from Paris? You want to understand what it means to celebrate Christmas in France? Join the

IS team for two extraordinary events: Disneyland and the trip to Colmar! And, as we know

you still love walking in the streets in Paris, we also wrote a few things about the best events

and place to be in November, without forgetting the outing organized by the Cultural Pole: a

guided your of the Conciergerie as well as of the Père Lachaise Cemetery!

Enjoy your reading!

IS Cultural Pole

I) PARIS

- Bars and restaurants

- Exhibitions

II) LYON AND THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

- The Festival of lights (La Fête des Lumières)

III) CHARTRES, A NICE PLACE TO SPEND YOUR WEEK-END

IV) IS EVENTS IN NOVEMBER

- Disneyland ParIS

- Visit of the Conciergerie and the Père Lachaise Cemetery

- IS trip to Colmar

BARS AND RESTAURANTS

- Experimental Cocktail Club

37 rue Saint-Sauveur, Paris II

This tiny place is hidden behind a black curtain,

but it is well-known among tasteful Parisians. If

you are tired of Classics (Mojitos, Caipi, …) then

this bar will make you try new experiences. Of

course, the drinks are expansive but well, you are

in Paris: you will have to pay between 10 and 13

euros, but the chilling jazzy atmosphere and the

delicate taste of your drink is totally worth it

(prepared just in front of your eyes with fresh and

quality ingredients).

- L’Escale

34, rue de Clignancourt

This bar is well-known to fulfill the dream of every young

human being: it provides STRONG delicious cocktail for the

ridiculous price of … 5 euros, which is very rare in Paris,

especially in the touristic area of Montmartre. We recommend

you to try it if you had a tough week, and want to chill without

caring for your finances. But careful: the secret has spread, and

the place quickly becomes busy and uncomfortable on Saturday

nights, so come early to enjoy it fully.

- Le Relais de l’Entrecôte

Le Relais de l’Entrecôte is where you will taste

the best French Fries in town… and probably

the best of the world! In this place, no menu:

you sit, and a delicate waitress will ask you

directly “how do you want it” – “it” meaning

your ENTRECOTE, of course. Served with

an extraordinary sauce, you will remember

the unique taste of this entrecote for the rest

of your life!

http://www.relaisentrecote.fr/

3 spots in Paris:

Paris VI: 101, boulevard du Montparnasse

Paris VIII: 15, rue Marbeuf

Paris VI: 20, rue Saint-Benoit

EXHIBITIONS

- “Surrealism and the object”

30 October 2013 - 3 March 2014

Galerie 1 - Centre Pompidou, Paris

Between 9 and 13€

Late-night openings until 11:00 p.m (last

entrance at 10:00 p.m) every Thursdays evening

If you’re looking for original decoration for your room in HEC, why don’t you come and find

inspiration in the new exhibition of the Centre Pompidou? You will discover very VERY odd

objects produced by the extraordinary imagination of the Surrealists of the 1930’s. If you are

ready to set your mind free, you will really enjoy this walk into the depths of the unconscious.

My favorite example:

Poetry in the streets?

In Rue de Rambuteau, just next to Centre Pompidou, you will find a very peculiar boutique: a

man has decided to settle his desk, and his writing machine in the street… and to present

himself as a “urban poet”: he looks at you, and the inspiration hits him. He is able to write a

poem about you, or about how you make him feel in a few minutes. After all, you are in the

city of the greatest poets of French Litterature…

In 1643, Lyon was struck by plague. The

legend tells that out of an act of

desperation, the city councilors

promised to pay tribute to Mary if the

town was spared. Mary heard their

prayers and put an end to the plague.

Ever since, a solemn procession makes

its way to the Basilica of Fourvière on

this day to light candles and give

offerings in the name of Mary. Tradition

now dictates Lyon citizens to put

candles on their on windowsills each

year, on the night of 8th December, as a

remembrance of this miracle.

THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS (LA FÊTE DES LUMIERES) 6th to 12th of December

Meanwhile, other city councilors decided to make a festival out of this tradition.

Nowadays, the « Festival of Lights » is one of the key moments in Lyon, when the buildings of

the city are illuminated with these pretty little candles but also with gigantic light effects the

city worked on with artists during the year. It is a great opportunity to go out with your

friends, walk through the city and have some mulled wine.

The festival lasts 4 days and attracts more and more people each year (more than one million

in 2012). For the occasion, transport is free and there are a lot of fun events to attend!

So if you want to go to Lyon in this very period, which is very recommended, book now

because everything in the city is going to be completely full really soon!

Looking for ideas for your week-

ends? Here is one: Chartres

Chartres is a nice town, only 1

hour far from HEC. It is well

known for its amazing cathedral,

registered on the UNESCO

World Heritage list, but it’s also a

very pleasant city for the

everyday life.

So if you are wondering what to

do during the next weekend,

don’t hesitate anymore and take

the train to Chartres.

What we suggest you is to get started with a visit of the

cathedral, and if you dare to climb the 300 steps of the

tower in order to enjoy a great panoramic view. If you

want to learn more about this masterpiece of gothic art

or plan a guided tour, you will find many useful details

on the following website: http://www.monuments-

nationaux.fr/en/

Then there are a few interesting things you can do:

- Visit the International Stained-glass Center and learn

everything about stained-glass windows.

- Walk through the historical center, along the river,

enjoying the calmness of the bridges, washhouses

and old buildings.

- Buy “macarons” at the Chocolaterie on the Place

Marceau, you won’t regret it.

- Take a look at the “Hotel des Postes” which was

recently converted in a multimedia library. Don’t

hesitate to go to the fifth floor to enjoy a nice view

on the city.

If you want to find out more about

Chartres, you can visit the website of the

tourism office, which is nicely made:

http://www.chartres-tourisme.com/en

Finally, this web app also offers a nice

way of discovering the city:

www.chartres.unjoura.com

How to get there? Take the RER C to Versailles Chantiers

(6minutes), and then take the TER

Centre to CHARTRES (about 1 hour).

Price of the regular ticket: 12.80€

But also…

If you want to exercise a little bit, go to the aquatic center! It’s one of the biggest in

Europe, with training pools, water slides, a current river, etc. If you feel like an

adventurer, you can also try the big ice-skating rink… which becomes an ice-skating

dance floor at night !

DISNEYLAND PARIS Sunday, 17th of November

You've been waiting for it impatiently... And it's finally

there!! We are taking you to Disneyland Paris, the

biggest amusement park in Europe, for a day of fun

and wonder!!

Come join us on Sunday, November 17th and dive in

the Disney magic with us!

Departure: 9:15am (meeting at the bus stop in front of

building L1). Return: 11pm.

Price: €36 (including entrance for both the Disneyland

Park and The Walt Disney Studios Park, an offer not

to be missed!)

BE CAREFUL! THE SPOTS ARE LIMITED TO

53!!! So hurry up if you want to get a spot on Mybee!

VISIT OF THE CONCIERGERIE AND THE PÈRE LACHAISE CEMETERY Saturday, 23rd of November

The Cultural Pole brings you to Paris for a

magical guided tour at the Conciergerie,

former royal palace and prison in Paris,

where Marie-Antoinette spent her last days

before being executed on the guillotine.

Then, we’ll have a visit of the Père

Lachaise Cemetery, a very calm and

charming place, where many famous

artists are buried, just like Oscar Wilde,

Honoré de Balzac, Georges Bizet, Frederic

Chopin, Molière, Rossini and many others!

Don’t miss this unique event on Saturday,

23rd of November. More information

coming soon.

IS TRIP TO COLMAR 29th of November to 1rst of December

Join the IS off-campus team to discover the enchanting universe of Christmas in Alsace,

through an unforgettable week-end to Colmar. The program includes free times in the

Christmas market in Colmar, French cooking courses for a limited number of participants,

dinner in an Alsatian restaurant, a morning at the ice skating rink for the most acrobatic of

you and a visit of Kaysesberg, one of nicer Alsatian village with an authentic Christmas

market. This will be the opportunity for you to offer many typical French presents to your

family and your friends back to your home!

We will leave the campus on Friday, te 29th of November around 5pm and we will be back

there on Sunday evening around 10:30pm. More information coming soon.