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Europatreffen 2011 Program
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Dinner at "La Bonne Franquette"
Come start your program with a dinner in a typical Parisian restaurant located in the heart of Montmartre
It is in the heart of the old Montmartre that you will find this more than four centuries years old house. Until last century, this was the meeting place for artists. Among others, you could easily meet over there Pablo Picasso and his friend the poet Max Jacob, writers Dorgelès Roland, Francis Carco and André Salmon, or even Sisley, Cézanne, Toulouse-Lautrec, Renoir, Monet, Zola ...
The garden is worth it and belongs to history! Vincent Van Gogh, who lived with his brother Théo rue Lepic, painted in this garden in 1886 his famous painting "Listening Comprehension", exhibited at the Louvre now.
"Aimer, manger, boire et chanter" (Love, eat, drink and sing)
The motto, which stands at the entrance of the restaurant, evokes the philosophy of the house. The kitchen is part of the French culture: beef bourguignon, onion soup, duck confit...
To accompany your dishes, the restaurant offers a wide and complete wine list, some of the wines are classified "Grands Crus".
You will not only come to this place to eat, but also to discover the charming hill of Montmartre and see amongst others...
- The sloping streets and the amazing view on Paris rooftops!
- The Sacred Heart Basilica and its gardens
- famous "Place du Tertre" with its numerous painters, portrait drawers and cartoonists
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Practical information - Dinner includes appetizer, starter, main dish, cheese, dessert and wine, soft drinks, coffee. A 5 minutes walk from the restaurant will enable us to enjoy a beautiful view of Paris from the square of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.
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180 km away from Paris, the Loire Valley gathers castles which were built under the French Renaissance, at a time when the royal power was located on the banks of the River. During the day, you will discover two emblematic Châteaux of the Loire Valley.
Discovering the castle of Chambord
 Chambord: Castle of extravagance and master piece of the French Renaissance (16th century) located in the Loire Valley
Chambord castle is considered as the most majestic Champagne castle in the Loire Valley. This finial of the Renaissance period was built on François I’s whim for a hunting pavilion. He finally occupied it for a mere 42 days within 32 years of reign.
The castle, featuring 365 fireplaces, 440 rooms, 84 staircases and 800 columns will give you an overview of the extravagance of this period of history.
The main highlight is the spectacular double-helix staircase
 Designed by Leonardo da Vinci, two people can walk up and down the stairs simultaneously without ever meeting each other. Centerpiece of the castle, the double-helix staircase enables the visitor to reach the main terrace, also inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, which offers a wonderful view on the chimneys that surround the dungeon. The staircase is easily recognized by its lantern-tower above it.
The second floor is also breathtaking with its vaulted hallways ornate with symbols of royalty, among them Louise de Savoie’s (François I’s mother). Some monograms on the stairs, visible from the terrace, are written in reverse to enable God, "from the Heavens to witness the extent of the King’s power"!
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Practical information - The visit is guided and will last 1h30.
Visiting the castle of Cheverny
The most magnificently furnished of the Loire Valley castles
The Cheverny castle is famous for its splendid Louis XII style interiors. The castle, owned by the Hurault family since its construction, has maintained its elegance since the 12th century.
Did you know that Hergé, author of Tintin, was inspired by Cheverny when creating Moulinsart, the most famous castle in comic book history?
 The kennels - Cheverny is also famous for its hunting history
A short distance away from the castle, the kennels are occupied by a pack of 90 hounds, all bred by a cross between the British foxhound and the French Poitevin. Feeding time is always an interesting moment as it reveals the hierarchical relations within the pack.
The pack hunts bi-weekly from October until the end of March. The kennel also houses one hundred French tricolor hounds, with the V for the city of Vibraye clearly noticeable on the right flank of every hound.
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Practical information - After the guided visit of the castle, which will last roughly 1h30, we will head to the kennels for the famous "dog soup". |
Orsay Museum
Come and visit one of the most fascinating museums of Paris!
 The Orsay museum is not only internationally renowned for its rich collection of impressionist paintings but also for the rich diversity of artistic creation of the Western world dating from 1848 to 1914: from paintings to architecture, as well as sculptures, decorative arts and photography.
You will also be impressed by the beauty of the place: the museum, inaugurated during the Universal Exhibition in 1900, is a former railway station redecorated with palace allures. It has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1978.
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Practical information - No-queue ticket and free access so that everyone can focus on what interests him. The Museum offers plans museum guides in 7 languages.
Green walk in Paris
 We have organized a short walk in Paris, going from the majestic "Place des Vosges" to the very unique library "Bibliothèque Nationale de France". Off the beaten tracks, this itinerary is an unusual way of discovering Paris; you will definitively take an architectural jump in Paris’ greenbelt!
The itinerary we will use follows the "Coulée Verte" of the East side of Paris. On the way to the Bibliothèque François Mitterrand, we will go through Bercy gardens and cross a bridge that will surprise you by its originality.
 Departure Place des Vosges
Place des Vosges is the oldest planned square of Paris right after Place Dauphine. Originally named "Place Royale" (Royal Square), its construction on the "Hotel des Tournelles" site dates back to 1605 under Henry IV. It was finally inaugurated in 1612 to celebrate Louis XIII’s engagement with Anne of Austria.
Surrounding the square, you will notice several "Hôtels Particuliers" (pavilions) with magnificent architecture. In the middle of the square, the trees, the grass and the statues all are a witness of the History of the square.
Practical information - From the Place des Vosges to the Bibliothèque François Mitterrand, this 5 km walk will last 2 hours and presents no difficulties. |
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This day trip will take us to the city of Reims, located 140 km east from Paris, in the Champagne-Ardenne region, which gave its name to the famous Champagne wine.
Visiting Champagne Pommery Cellars
 A mythic domain for Champagne
Started in 1868, ten years of hard labor were necessary to build the magnificent Domain of Pommery.
A beautiful staircase of 116 steps enables visitors to reach, 30 meters below ground level, a genuine cathedral made of chalk: the Pommery Cellars.
120 chalk-pits were dug out by the gallo-roman 2000 years ago. Later, Mrs. Pommery had the ingenuity to link the chalk-pits with 18 kilometers of galleries to stock bottles of Champagne. Each gallery was then named in homage of its international clients. The cellars now house 25 million bottles of Champagne, among which the oldest vintages of the company are kept in a dedicated Enoteca.
How to serve Champagne
Refresh the bottle in a bucket full of water and ice for roughly 30 minutes or lay the bottle in the bottom of your fridge for 4 hours.
Serve it fresh, not frozen, between 7 and 8 °C, and follow these steps:
- Hold the bottle in one hand and remove the cork wire with the other hand
- Slightly incline the bottle and turn it while strongly maintaining the cork
- Remove the cork slowly so as to prevent the "pop" noise
Fill the glasses only halfway so that the wine is able to release its fragrance.
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Practical information - The guided visit will last roughly 1h30. Champagne testing is included.
Restaurant "Les 3 Brasseurs"
After the visit of the Pommery domaine, it will be time to have lunch and enjoy some beers at the restaurant "The 3 Brewers", a beer factory built during the early 20th on the Place d’Erlon (Erlon Plaza).
 The blond beer
Light, thirst-quenching and delicious.
 The amber beer
Thicker, balanced, mellow and hearty.
 The scotch beer
Brown beer, ebony colored, mixes sweetness, roundness and bitterness.
And more to discover!
Visit of the city of Reims
 In the afternoon, free time to walk in the city of Reims and discover the Erlon Plaza, the Cathedral, the Tau palace, just next door.
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Practical information - You are free to visit the city and the cathedral the way you want (about 2 hours). |
Meeting with the Eiffel Tower
Contemplate Paris from the second floor of the world-famous Eiffel Tower
 The end of the 19th century saw a considerable number of inventions that have changed our lives, from the telephone to racing cars and the vaccine against rabies. At that time, Jules Verne was writing his futuristic novels, France was building a colonial empire, trade was prosperous and the industrial revolution was in full swing.
Things were moving, everything was changing. This era sometimes called "the spring of technology", was a time of creative effervescence, crowned by Gustave Eiffel’s "Grand Iron Lady". The "A" over the Champ-de-Mars symbolized the beginning of a major movement that has continued to this very day.
The Eiffel Tower is an iron lattice tower located on the Champ-de-Mars that has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. The Eiffel Tower, which is the tallest building in Paris, is also the most popular monument in the world, visited by millions of people every year. Named after its designer, the engineer Gustave Eiffel, the tower was built as the entry arch for the 1889 World's Fair. The tower stands 324 m (1,063 ft) tall and has become the symbol of Paris.
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Practical information - An elevator will take you to the second floor of the Tower. Everyone will be able to stay as long as he wishes on the Iron Lady platform. In coming or leaving, do not hesitate to cross the Place du Trocadero to enjoy the view over the Tower!
Welcome Party
The week will smoothly bring us to this welcome evening on a moored boat, in the middle of the week. Welcome drinks, dinner and dancing, should lay way to a wonderful evening with Paris as a background. Bienvenue to the "Rendez-vous in Paris" welcome dinner.
 We encourage you to benefit from the localisation of the Concorde Atlantique Boat to visit the famous Place de la Concorde, only a few minutes walk from the place where the welcome evening party will take place.
The Place de la Concorde
The Place de la Concorde is the largest square in Paris, situated between the Tuileries Gardens and the Champs-Elysées.
The centre of the Place is occupied since 1836 by a giant 3,300-year-old Egyptian obelisk coming from Luxor Temple and decorated with hieroglyphics, exalting the reign of the pharaoh Ramses II. It is a 23 meters (75 ft) tall monolith in pink granite and weighs approximately 230 tons.
The obelisk is flanked on both sides by majestic fountains on the theme of rivers and seas. At each corner of the octagon formed by the Place are statues representing 8 French cities.
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Open bus tour in Paris
    A perfect occasion to discover various monuments of Paris with a panoramic view of the various charms of the "City of Lights"
You will be able to roam through the city in an open bus to enjoy the more famous monuments of our city. Come and admire Paris just by "turning your heads" and take pictures from the bus.
A historical city
On the tour, you will see among others the Louvre Museum, once a medieval castle, the palace of French Kings, the courtyard of Napoleon and the Glass Pyramid built by Pei and inaugurated in 1989.
A cultural city
Paris has always been at the center of cultural activities, with its numerous museums, its concert halls, its theaters and operas.
The architecture is also state of art: the best examples are Opera Garnier and Opera Bastille. The architecture of the Opera Garnier is typical of the second Empire period. Built in 1860, it will entice you with the opulence of its golden architecture. The Opera Bastille will charm you, on the other hand, with is modern facade made of glass and charcoal grey marble.
The greatest avenue in the world
What would Paris be without its "Champs-Elysées"? We will of course drive through this famous avenue surrounded by numerous stores, movie theaters, and restaurants.
The Triumph Arch (symbol of the Napoleon period) dominates the avenue from the top, and the Place de la Concorde glorifies it at the bottom. From here, you will have a wonderful view on the National Parliament, Madeleine’s Church, and the Tuileries Garden.
These are just some of the monuments to be seen on the tour...
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Practical information - This two-floor bus tour (upper deck open) lasts two hours. Each person will have individual audio guides (comments in 8 languages are available).
Photograph your own personal Paris!
 We decided to organise a Pictures Rally to make your own personal photo album!
This rally, entitled "Take your own pictures of Paris" will be a guided walk. This will allow you to explore Paris at your convenience. You will be able to discover the historical heart of the city, its most recognisable sights, the best panoramic points of view and most of all, its hidden facets.
We will organise several groups around various themes. Theses themes will be the common link of the tour (history of Paris, unusual points of interest, and so on). Each group will have the objective of taking 10 pictures linked to their theme. 25 different themes are waiting for you on the "Ile de la Cité" and "Ile Saint-Louis", or in the "Saint-Paul Village", or the "Marais" area, in the "Pantheon" area or in the "Jardin des Plantes". Each of area is full of surprises!
You will be given your theme on the day of the rally. The only information that we can reveal is meeting point: in front of the "Cathedral Notre-Dame" and the finish will be in one of the biggest gardens of Paris.
Exhibit your pictures on the Europatreffen2011 website
The nicest pictures from each team will be presented on the European Convention website and the best pictures will be rewarded during the Gala evening.
An original way of discovering Paris and sharing your souvenirs with your friends!
Practical information - Disposable cameras will be given to you at the start of the rally. It should last roughly 3 hours.
 Paradis Latin Cabaret
Come and enjoy a unique experience: a show in a typical Parisian cabaret with its colorful parade!
Built in 1889, the cabaret has become notorious ever since for its shows, concerts and ballets. The main hall, classified cultural heritage of the city of Paris, has the same metal architecture as the Eiffel Tower’s and was also built by Gustave Eiffel during the same period. The Paradis Latin is today the oldest cabaret in the world.
A magical show
  With color, joy and good spirit! A magical garden where each dancer transforms to transport you into a farandole of scenes full of surprise and gaiety. An enchanted carrousel, a masked ball, Paradis à la Folie is a fabulous cocktail of musical comedy, lavish fanfare and modern ballets in the purest tradition of Parisian cabarets, with of course, the famous French Cancan!
Beautiful and sexy women, charming young men, and a Parisian master of ceremony will make your evening a dream in the Garden of Paradise.
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Practical information - Two options are available for this activity:
• Dinner and show starting at 8:00 pm (the meal includes ½ bottle of Bordeaux wine, ¼ bottle of Champagne and ½ bottle of water)
• The show only starting at 9:30 pm (with ½ bottle of Champagne)
Dancing Evening from 23h15 to midnight. |
Visiting the Palace of Versailles
 
Official residence of the French Kings for centuries, the Palace of Versailles opens the doors to the King and Queen’s personal apartments, a few kilometers away from Paris
Classified for more than 30 years among UNESCO’s World Heritage of Humanity, the Palace of Versailles is one of the beautiful achievements of French 17th century. One the hunting lodge of Louis XIII, his son, Louis XIV, transformed it into a magnificent site which would house the court and the government in 1682. Until the French Revolution, the French Kings lived there, each contributing to enhance the castle.
Discover the sumptuous Hall of Mirrors
During the 1670’s, Louis XIV refurbished the King and Queen’s main apartments. The Hall of Mirrors was meant to be a display of ostentation for the King’s visitors.
Stroll in the gardens and enjoy the fountains
In 1661, Louis XIV requested André Le Nôtre to design the gardens of the Palace of Versailles.
 
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Practical information - From Paris by coach. The ticket includes an audio guide (10 languages available) and access to the gardens. Free lunch in Paris after the return journey
Private tall clothing and shoes Sale
 French fashion at your right size!
This Private Sale will gather some fashion designer and some french clothing distributors all specialised in tall sizes (men an women).
This fair has been organised for you, where the Gala Ball will take place for more convenience. It will be open in the afternoon and at the beginning of the ball.
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Practical information - The Private Sale is located within the Novotel where the Gala Ball will take place at night. Doors will open at noon. We suggest you jump over on your way back from Versailles or at your arrival at the Gala Ball.
Gala Ball
  44th Europatreffen closure evening
Like every year, the traditional Gala Ball will prestigiously end our annual meeting. Authentic finale of the week spent together, this evening will mark up the end of this "Rendez-vous à Paris".
Festive and delighted atmosphere is guaranteed
To meet French gastronomy standards, the Gala dinner will be served at table and accompanied with wine for your own pleasure.
Regarding entertainment, we have prepared a couple of animations for you, some of them are typically French. Please note that the ceiling height is above 5 meters... this shall allow some extravagance! We will also have the opportunity to award those of you who took the nicest pictures of Paris during the Pictures Rally taking place in the city the previous day.
An unforgettable souvenir!
Gentlemen, put on your most beautiful black-ties and Ladies, dress your most beautiful attire and most prestigious jewels! And let the festive and harmonious atmosphere of the evening carry you, this will smoothly ends this exceptional week.
Practical information - The Gala Ball will take place at the Hotel Novotel Paris Est (Porte de Bagnolet) from 7 pm to the end of the night. Some drinks (water and 1/3 bottle of wine) are included in the price. A formal wear is required. |
Goodbye at the Gare du Nord train station... and see you in Finland!
A last rendez-vous before we leave
 After a week full of souvenirs and emotions, we cannot leave you without a real "au revoir". We suggest sharing a drink or a meal with the French Orgateam of this Europatreffen before leaving.
This will be the last occasion to exchange emails or information for another stay in Paris in a close future! You will also be able to give us your feedback on this 2011 edition.
Thus, we give you the last "Rendez-vous à Paris" in the "Brasserie L'Alizé" within Gare du Nord train station. This restaurant is located on the first floor, on the mezzanine which gives access to the Eurostar. Here are the instructions to reach the meeting point: once you are inside the train station, follow the "Trains Grandes Lignes" direction signs, then go upstairs using the escalators located close to platforms 14 and 15.
See you again in Finland in 2012 (Tampere, from June 10th to June 17th)!
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Practical information - We will wait for you at "L'Alizé", within Gare du Nord train station, between 10 am and 2 pm. You can have there just a drink or a snack or enjoy the buffet before leaving.
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