Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
13e; gallery adult/child €6/4, tour & gallery €10/4;
gallery 11-6pm Tue-Sun, guided tours 4pm Tue-Fri
& Sun, 2.30pm & 4pm Sat; Les Gobelins)
The Gobelins Factory has been weaving
haute lisse
(high relief) tapestries on specialised
looms since the 18th century along with Beauvais-style
basse lisse
(low relief) ones and
Savonnerie rugs. Superb examples are showcased in its gallery; factory visits (1½ hours), by
guided tour, take you through the
ateliers
(workshops) and exhibits of the thousands of car-
pets and tapestries woven here.
Buy tickets in advance from
Fnac
or turn up well ahead of time for same-day tour tickets.
PARK
PARC MONTSOURIS
8am-9.30pm summer, shorter hrs rest of yr;
Porte
d'Orléans or RER Cité-Universitaire)
The name of this sprawling lakeside park - planted with horse-chestnut, yew, cedar, weep-
ing beech and buttonwood trees - derives from
moque souris
(mice mockery) because the
area was once overrun with rodents. Today it's a delightful spot for a picnic, and has endear-
ing playground areas such as a concrete 'road system' where littlies can trundle matchbox
cars (BYO cars).
The park neighbours the groundbreaking 1920s-built Cité Universitaire (student halls of
residence).
