Paris in Color: A Guide to Colorful Venues in Winter

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Paris in Color: A Guide to Colorful Venues in Winter
George Orwell remarks in his 1933 novel, Down and Out in Paris and London, that in Paris, “the sky was like a vast flat wall of cobalt, with roofs and spires of black paper pasted upon it.” Indeed, when Baron Haussmann redesigned Paris’ architecture in the mid-19th century, he was sure to adhere to a neutral-toned limestone aesthetic, with such design uniformity being upheld by the Architectes de Bâtiments de France to this day. While visiting Paris from December to February might be an ordeal of darker skies, woolen layers and bleak surroundings — it doesn’t have to be. Notoriously painted with a grey brush, Paris still houses pockets of exploding color between the black papier-mâché skies and bland building façades, waiting to be found by all those in search of the city’s unique vibrancy. La Maison Rose in Rue de l’Abreuvoir, Butte Montmartre. Photo: Britchi Mirela / Wikimedia commons La Maison Rose Tucked away on the sloping rue de l’Abreuvoir in Montmartre, La Maison Rose is true to its name in its soft terracotta pink shade. The French restaurant began as a small house purchased by Ramon Pichot in 1905, who had hoped to turn the building into his own personal painting studio. Three years later, Pinchot’s newly married wife insisted that they paint the outside walls pink, transforming the venue into a rose-coloured restaurant that is instantly recognisable today. La Maison Rose has hosted notable names over the years, from artists such as Picasso and Albert Camus to performers Alain Delon and Dalida, also being featured in Netflix’s show Emily in Paris more recently. Location: 2 Rue de l’Abreuvoir, 18th Maison Serge Gainsbourg. Photo: Sophie Farmer Maison Gainsbourg Having just finished Jane Birkin’s Munkey Diaries, it is clear how important Serge Gainsbourg’s property was in the lives of the Gainsbourg-Birkin family. A personal sanctuary, artist’s studio and even a “brothel” in Gainsbourg’s own jovial words, 5 bis (also referred to as “Rue de Verneuil” by Jane B) had many lives from 1969 until the couple’s separation in 1980, where Serge stayed on at his property until his death in 1991. Now a museum hosting tours to the general public, the venue remained untouched 32 years later in the hands of the couple’s daughter, Charlotte Gainsbourg. Decorated with patches of graffiti outside the home, Gainsbourg-Birkin fans have given the entrance its own lick of color as an acting shrine, continuing to reinvent the property in the 21st century and to commemorate its former inhabitants. The historical landmark, with its colorful etchings, stands out against the muted bourgeois exteriors of the surrounding residences, much like the man himself who refused to conform or contain his outward artistic sensuality, which was not always well received during his fruitful career. Location: 5 bis Rue de Verneuil, 7th Moulin Rouge. Photo: Sophie Farmer
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Lead photo credit : House of Serge Gainsbourg, Rue de Verneuil. Photo: Nate Bolt /Wikimedia commons

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Sophie is a freelance writer who spends her time between London and Paris. An English Literature graduate from Durham University, Sophie also studied at the Sorbonne where she found a new love for France’s language, culture and arts. Sophie has recently finished her debut fiction novel (set in France), but when she is not writing, Sophie enjoys vintage shopping and exploring France’s natural beauty through the lens of her camera.