When a colleague asked me recently to translate the French word rentrée, I struggled. It basically means “back-to-school”, but it’s much wider than that. In a country where three-week summer vacations are the norm, the beginning of September is about more than just school. Paris empties out in August, with many restaurants closing for a month or more. Doctors disappear. Politicians leave their posts. In September, it’s all over. This year’s rentrée was even more abrupt than usual....| Fabric of Paris
Back on track: how two of the Paris region's old railway lines became modern tramways| fabricofparis.com
As is customary in January, Fabric of Paris is looking back at the previous year, and ahead to the year to come, to see what’s new in the world of transport. Last week, we reported on the new tramways of 2023, the major metro and RER extensions of 2024, and much else besides. But we only briefly touched on an important subject: how we pay for it all. Let’s clear up what can be quite a confusing subject, and talk about what’s changing. As in most cities, transport in the Paris region is ...| Fabric of Paris
Last year, we began a new seasonal tradition: an annual Paris quiz, with one question for each of the city’s 20 arrondissements. Today, we continue that tradition. Like last year, I’ve gone low-tech, letting you calculate your own score. The answers are at the bottom of the page, but if you prefer to reveal the answer after each question, there are links to help you jump between the sections. I’ve left ample gaps so you can avoid spoilers. I don’t expect the quiz to be easy, but I do ...| Fabric of Paris