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Paris offers more for the senses and the mind than any other city in the world. Here is a guide to enjoy all this culture for free.

FREE CONCERTS FOR CLASSICAL MUSIC LOVER'S

Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris.

The prestigious music school offers more than 300 concerts each year, 99% of them free and the quality is always top notch. It is like listening to concerts with prestigious conductors or famous musicians among the students at the Julliard School of Music in Manhattan. Another plus: the concerts span the whole spectrum of music, from Middle Age to contemporary jazz. 209 ave Jean-Jaurès. 75019. Tel: 01 40 40 46 46

Église Americaine.
Mostly classical music, but always with top talents. Free even though a voluntary contribution might be asked at the end. 65, Quai d'Orsay.Tel: 01 40 62 05 00

Église de la Trinité.
Sacred or classical music. After the concert, you can have a coffee with the musicians when they have the time. Thu. 12:45pm-1:30pm Place d'Estienne d'Orves. 75009. Tel: 01 48 74 12 77.

Forum Saint Eustache et Cerise.
Beautiful Schubert-Schumann festival with chamber music recitals. Sometimes some jazz and always a great atmosphere.

  • Forum Saint Eustache. 1, rue Montmartre. 75001. Tel: 01 42 21 43 25.
  • Cerise. 46, rue Montorgueuil. 75002. Every Wed., from June to October. 6:30pm-7:30pm
Conservatoire Superieur de Paris.
During the school year, public auditions of the students of the famous classes. Twice a month, free concert in the auditorium at 7pm with reservations. 18, rue de Madrid. 75008. Tel: 01 44 70 64 00 Auditions, usually 12:30-6:30pm  web site
Église Saint Roch.
All kinds of concerts (chamber music, solo, etc.). Often Vivaldi and Bach concerts. 296, rue Saint Honore. 75001. Tel: 01 42 44 13 20. Every Tuesday 12:30-1:15pm
Église Saint-Merri.
One hour of classical music with young musicians, often piano works. 78, rue Saint-Martin. 75004. Tel: 01 42 71 40 75. 9pm on Sat, 4pm on Sun.
École Normale de Musique.
The next generation of music teachers perform in public for free. 78, rue Cardinet. 75017. Tel: 01 47 63 85 72. October through April, Tues and Thu, 12:30-1:30pm in the "Salle Cortot". web site
Église Saint Julien.
Le Pauvre. The Sunday mass for the beauty of its choir. 79, rue Galande. 75005. Tel: 01 43 54 52 16

FREE EVERY SUNDAY 10AM-1PM
Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris. 11, ave du Pdt Wilson. Tel: 01 53 67 40 40
Musée de la Mode et du Costume.
Palais Galliera. 10, ave Pierre Ier de Serbie. 75016. Tel: 01 47 20 85 23
Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris.
Petit Palais. Avenue Winston Churchill. 75008. Tel: 01 42 65 12 73
Musée Carnavalet.
The museum of the history of Paris. 23, rue Sévigné. 75003. Tel: 01 42 72 21 13
Maison de Balzac.
The house that the genius built in a charming neighborhood of the city. 47, rue Raynouard. 75016. Tel: 01 55 74 41 80 Metro: La muette or Passy
Musée Bourdelle.
The museum is in the house of the great sculptor. The sculpture garden is one of the oasis of the city. 16, rue Antoine Bourdelle. 75014. Tel: 01 49 54 73 73
Musée de la Vie Romantique.
A lovely pink house in an even lovelier garden. This is Chopin's lover, the great writer George Sand's house. 16, rue Chaptal. 75009. Tel: 01 48 74 95 38
Musée Zadkine.
Near the Luxembourg garden, the house where the artist lived. Over 100 of his sculptures but also great temporary exhibitions. 100 bis, rue d'Assas. 75006. Tel: 01 43 26 91 90 Metro: Notre-Dame des Champs
Maison de Victor Hugo. 6, place des Vosges. 75004. Tel: 01 42 72 10 16.

FREE THE FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH
Musée du Louvre. 99, rue de Rivoli. 75001. Tel: 01 40 20 51 51. www.louvre.fr
Centre George Pompidou. Place G. Pompidou. 75001. Tel: 01 44 78 12 33. web site
Musée d'Orsay. 1, rue de la Legion d'Honneur. 75007. Tel: 01 40 49 48 84. web site
Musée du Moyen Age de Cluny. 6, place Paul Painlève. 75005. Tel: 01 53 73 78 00

FREE EVERY WEDNESDAY 5pm-8pm
La Maison Européenne de la Photographie.
The temple of photographie. The collection has over 15,000 prints and 25,000 books. They are accessible to anyone without a fee. 5-7 rue Fourcy. 75004. Tel: 01 44 78 75 00 web site

FREE MUSEUMS
Pavillon de l'Arsenal.
Everything you've always wanted to know about Paris' architecture and urban history. It always shows great exhibitions. 21 Blvd Morland. 75004. Tel: 01 42 76 33 97 web site
Musée des Collections historiques de la prefecture de police.
You can see artifacts from famous criminal trials and mementos from great criminals like Ravaillac who stabbed king Henri IV, or Landru, one of the country's most notorious serial killer. 1 bis rue des Carmes. 75005. Tel: 01 44 41 52 50
Musée Librairie du Compagnonnage.
Since the Middle Ages, craftsmen from every metier had to do a tour de France and learn their craft by working with "maîtres". At the end of this initiation, they would create something called their "chef-d'oeuvres". Some are presented in this museum. 10, rue Mabillon. 75006. Tel: 01 43 26 25 03
Fondation Mona-Bismark.
No contemporary art, but works from 18th century watercolor artists, African masks, art created by North American Indians. One of the most interesting and unknown art foundations in the capital. 34 ave de New York. 75016. Tel: 01 47 23 38 38
Drouot.
Two spaces share this name, Drouot Montaigne and Drouot Richelieu. These are the two "branches" of the huge auction house system in Paris. Every "commissaire priseur" (auction house) shows the objects before the sale. It is free and open to anyone to wander from one room to the next, to watch the auctions and even to bid, of course. You can see great art at small (and big) prices. Exhibitions change daily. You can see Picassos, Rembrandts, Modiglianis, Titians, Van Goghs before they are sold and bought. You can visit the 16 different galleries. Objects are shown to the public the day before from 11am to 6pm and the day of the auction between 11am and 12pm. The best place to go is Drouot-Richelieu. Richelieu Drouot, 9, rue Drouot. 75009. Tel: 01 48 00 20 20.

THEATER
Centre National du Théâtre.
Each month, the center features readings, lectures, programs about theater. It is often an opportunity to meet great playwrights. For example, British playwright Edward Bond was recently at the center for a lecture; the director of one of his plays in Paris was invited the next day to talk to the audience, and actors were also invited. A very special place for theater lovers. Centre National du Théâtre. 6, rue de Braque. 75003. Program and reservations: Tel: 01 44 61 76 67.
Académie Experimentale des Théâtres.
One of the most amazing places in Europe for theater fans. All the great stage directors have given lectures here - Giorgio Strelher, Tadeusz Kantor, Bob Wilson, Ariane Mnouchkine, among others. The Académie, open to anyone, is a sort of lab/university, workshop, lecture hall for artists, students, "masters" from all over. Tel: 01 42 56 85 89

CINEMA FOR FREE

The 'Centre culturel suedois' regularly presents free films and documentary films. 11, rue Payenne. Tel: 01 44 78 80 20

Goethe Institute. Often has documentaries about great artists, intellectuals. 17, ave d'Iena. 75016. Tel: 01 44 43 92 30. Metro: Iéna  www.goethe.de/fr/par

Institut Cervantes.
A great program of films. Free most of the time. Centre culturel espagnol. 7, rue Quentin-Bauchart. 75008. Tel: 01 40 70 92 92. Metro: Alma Marceau

Centre Culturel Suisse.
Great shows. 32, 34 rue des Francs Bourgeois. 75003. Tel: 01 42 71 44 50 Metro: Saint-Paul web site
Institut Polonais.
Films almost every night (French subtitles.) On Thursdays, concerts of all genres (free). A beautiful space. 31, rue Jean-Goujon. 75008. Tel: 01 53 93 90 13

At the wonderful Forum des Images.
In the Halles, you can see four films among the masterpieces of the 7th Art presented that day, for 30F + 2 two films of your choice + a 30 minute Internet connection.


CULTURAL CENTERS
These are centers funded by countries to present their arts, intellectual life. They are always offering a great diversity of exciting events.
Centre Culturel Canadien. The center has a great interest in the visual arts and new technologies, with a very active video program. 3, rue de Constantine. 75007. Tel: 01 44 43 21 90.
Institut Finlandais.
A very rich program of films (20F) and very frequent jazz and chamber music concerts. 60, rue des Ecoles, 75005. Tel: 01 40 51 80 09
Centre Culturel Calouste-Goulbenkian.
This magnificent 18th century hôtel particulier is teeming with free events: splendid concerts, great exhibitions, poetry recitals (in Portuguese). 51, ave d'Iena. 75116. Tel:01 53 23 93 93.
Maison de la Culture du Japon.
The shows of the films of all the great Japanese directors (with French subtitles) are one of its many attractions. 101 bis, quai Branly. 75015. Tel: 01 44 37 95 00. www.mcjp.asso.fr
Institut du Monde Arabe.
The IMA is the window of 22 Arab States. It offers a great variety of shows, exhibitions, concerts, dance festivals. The view from the top is the best in Paris and the building by French architect Jean Nouvel is one of the most interesting. 1, rue des Fosses Saint Jacques. 75005. Tel: 01 40 51 39 60. www.imarabe.org

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