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Nuit Blanche in Paris: The events not to miss (including a liquefied Eiffel Tower)

The French capital's all-night arts festival known as "La Nuit Blanche" (sleepless night) is back and this year the focus is on highlighting the city's monuments. These are the events you won't want to miss out on.

Published: 5 October 2018 16:18 CEST
Nuit Blanche in Paris: The events not to miss (including a liquefied Eiffel Tower)
Photo: AFP

The 17th edition of the annual Nuit Blanche, which translates as “sleepless night” is set to take place this weekend (October 6th and 7th).

This year's event which sees museums and galleries open all night, has been curated by French artist Gaël Charbau and as usual there will be a huge range of events taking place across the French capital. 

For those who want to focus on one particular area, there will be artistic ‘constellations', where lots of different events will be taking place at Invalides, La Villette, L'Ile Saint-Louis and Porte Dorée. 

Here's a selection of some of the best evens Nuit Blanche 2018 has to offer. 

Scandinavian electro party at Les Invalides
 
Get set to take a step into the future as Scandinavian DJs take over one of the city's most prestigious tourist spots, Les Invalides.
 
Norwegian DJ Lindstrøm and Swedish DJs Axel Boman and Kornél Kovácswill be wowing audiences with their electro sets long into the night, with their tracks set to be accompanied with a light show specially designed for electro concerts, consisting of geometric shapes lit by LEDs.
 
This event is part of the Les Invalides 'constellation'.. 
 
Price: Free 
When: Saturday, October 6th from 10 pm to 4 am
Where: Esplanade des Invalides, Rond-Point du Bleuet de France, 75007 Paris. 
 
 
The Eiffel Tower…liquefied 
 
If you'd like to see Paris' most famous monument as you've never seen it before, then be sure to head there late on Sunday night. 
 
French street artist, ZEVS, who is known for his liquidation technique, is set to put on a show entitled 'Eiffel Phoenix' from midnight – 7 am which will make the tower look as if it could be poured right into a glass. 
 
Price: Free
When: Sunday October 7th, midnight – 7 am 
Where: The Eiffel Tower
 
Metro line 1 to turn into a jungle
 
To many commuters who have to face line one of the Paris Metro on a daily basis this might sound more like reality than art. 
 
But on Nuit Blanche, it will have more of the literal jungle about it, with ferns and ivies set to fill the carriages of the Metro's swishest line. 

 
Thanks for Nothing at Pont Alexandre III 
 
For one night only one of the most famous bridges in the whole of the French capital will be pedestrianized… and renamed. 
 
On Saturday night from 7 pm to 2 am the Pont Alexandre III will be known as the “Pont des Echanges” (Bridge of Exchanges). 
 
And instead of sharing the bridge with cars, visitors will find a programme of performances, readings and screenings on the themes of art and sharing by the Thanks for Nothing collective. 
 
Price: Free
When: Saturday October 6th, 7 pm to 2 am
Where: Pont Alexandre III 
 
 
Fashion shows at Hotel de Ville
 
Want to see models strut through the grand surroundings of the Hotel de Ville? Well, now you have your chance. 
 
On Saturday night, the French capital's City Hall will turn into a catwalk for fashion shows that combine everyday looks with pop culture and if you like what you see, the clothes will be available on classified ads website Le Bon Coin afterwards.
 
Price: Free
When: Saturday October 6th, 7 pm to 3 am 
Where: Hotel de Ville

 
 
As many of you will know, Nuit Blanche in the French capital isn't just about quirky twists on everyday life, it's also a chance to enjoy the city's cultural offerings after hours. 
 
And with that in mind, visitors will be able to see concerts at the Paris Philharmonic from dusk till dawn at an all-night event with performances including a clarinet/organ duo, orchestral pop and music by some of Fance's greatest composers.  
 
Find the complete programme HERE. 
 
Price: Free
When: Saturday October 6th, 7 pm to 6 am 
Where: Paris Philharmonic
 
 
 
Paris Zoological Park will be taking part in the Nuit Blanche for the very first time this year, offering visitors a musical walk around the park which aims to immerse the public in the dreamlike world of Jules Verne, author of Around the World in 80 Days.
 
Price: Free
When: Saturday October 6th, 8 pm to 4 am
Where: Paris Zoological Park, Avenue Daumesnil, 75012 Paris.

 
Culture vultures become night owls at Paris' museums 
 
The French capital's major museums are set to stay open long into the night and entry will be free. 
 
The Musée du Luxembourg will be open to everyone from 7pm to 1am, at the Musée de l'Orangerie visitors will be able to enjoy Monet's stunning water lilies alongside classical musical performances from 7 pm to 4 am. 
 
On top of that the “Miró” and “Dazzling Venice” exhibitions of the Grand Palais will also be open to the public from 8 pm to 1 am.
 
Price: Free
When: Saturday October 6th (times vary, check individual websites)

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EVENTS

How Cologne is preparing for the start of Carnival on Friday

Dressing up, singing, and drinking: On Friday, countless Jecken (revelers) in Cologne will once again celebrate the start of the Carnival session.

Published: 9 November 2022 10:29 CET
How Cologne is preparing for the start of Carnival on Friday

Dubbed Germany’s “fifth season” by locals, the event starts every year on November 11th at 11:11 am, and typically stretches into February or March, when colourful parades spill into the streets.

Carnival stronghold Cologne in particular is preparing for the onslaught of tens of thousands of people who will flock to its Altstadt (old town), and especially to the student quarter, starting early Friday morning. 

READ ALSO: 10 unmissable events in Germany this November

“Far too many people want to celebrate in far too small a space,” city director Andrea Blome told DPA. “We can’t stop anyone from coming to Cologne now.” 

More security this year

In the popular Kwartier Latäng student quarter, there have been regular bouts of drinking by young partygoers in the past, who crowded into a confined space, leaving litter everywhere and publicly peeing on the corners of buildings. 

Google Maps shows the location of the so-called Kwartier Latäng part of Cologne.

But with a new security plan, the city and police hope to keep the situation under control.

Several checkpoints and road closures have been set up to secure the safety of the revelers and relieve the burden on worried residents, according to Blome. Visitors will only be able to enter the closed-off area around Zülpicher Straße via a single access point. 

On Friday, Cologne is also set to send a total of 150 employees from the Ordnungsamt (public order office) onto the streets, who will be supported by 520 private security guards. 

A glass ban will again apply in the celebration zones, and several hundred toilets will be set up at the hotspots, “which nevertheless will probably not be used by all visitors,” Blome predicted.

READ ALSO: 10 words you need to know at Cologne’s Carnival

Up to 1,100 police officers are expected to be on duty on the day – about 200 fewer than last year, said head of operations Rüdiger Fink. But he expected to keep the situation “under control with a new security plan.”

What to expect

On Cologne’s Heumarkt, there will be a stage program all day with bands such as the Bläck Fööss, the Paveiern and Brings. 

Google Maps shows Cologne’s Heumarkt along the Rhine River.

According to the Willi Ostermann Society, about 10,000 tickets were sold in advance for the event, which will be aired by German WDR for several hours.

Meanwhile, in Düsseldorf, the day will start at 11:11 a.m. with the “Hoppeditz Awakening” in front of City Hall. 

According to a spokesman, the police will be adequately prepared for the start of the season, with a particular focus on the Altstadt, where there will certainly be celebrations.

“But 11.11. is a very different event here in Düsseldorf than in Cologne,” he said, referring to a more orderly start and fewer guests.

READ ALSO: What you need to know about celebrating Carnival in Germany

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