Paris en mars

Yes, there is really a National Cheese Day in France. March 27 is the holy - or holey - day, where cheese makers, tasters, movers, and shakers proudly emerge from their smelly dungeons and celebrate all things cheese. And, for a country that boasts around 1600 cheeses to its name, fromage fans will be in for quite the treat. 

In Paris, you’ll find markets practically taken over by cheese. The historic Marché des Enfants Rouge has got you covered like a fancy fondue, and will keep you covered from the potential March rain. If you fancy something sweeter with your cheese, head to Rue Montorgueil for bread and chocolate to back up your cheese addiction.

Of course, the chance of you chancing upon new and smelly things is pretty high, so keep an eye out for any pop-up cheesiness or new events happening before you travel. 

Just a week before National Cheese Day is Macaron Day. Yes, there is also, really, a Macaron Day. Surprisingly having no relation to the sitting French president, March 20 invites people from all around the world to come and see what all the macaron fuss is about. Thankfully, in Paris, you have a wealth of high-end patisseries to visit and indulge.  

But indulgence isn’t the only thing on the menu. Macaron Day is unique in that, each year, a charity is chosen to represent the celebration. And, across the county, a portion of each macaron sale goes to said charity. Guilt-free sweet treats? Sign us up. 

Head to any patisserie worth its salt, and you’re sure to find colorful displays of these little wonders. And, since it’s for a good cause, you’d be silly not to get involved.

With spring well on its way, fingers crossed you get some sun on your March visit to Paris. Green spaces aren’t hard to come by within the city limits, which detour around the Bois de Boulogne to the west and Bois de Vincennes to the east. Both provide expansive spaces to take in the new growth of spring.

Further out still lies the Palace of Versailles and its gardens. The main residence of the kings of France until the French Revolution, its gardens remain renowned for their spurting fountains and formal planting regimes. Meanwhile, the palace’s interiors, including the likes of the Hall of Mirrors, have become bywords for elegance, decadence, and sublime style. Closer to the center of the city, the flower beds of the Champ de Mars will be bursting with color from early spring bulbs. 

Paris’s cherry and magnolia trees are another much-loved part of late March and early April. To capture them at their very best, head to the viewing platforms of the Eiffel Tower. If you can, avoid getting caught up in The Vertical, a race that sees competitors tackle the tower’s 1665 steps to reach the finish line.

Although the weather in March is steadily improving, the month still sees its fair share of rain. Showers aren’t by any means unheard of, so keep your umbrella close at hand or slip into any of the French capital’s epic museums.

The Louvre speaks for itself. Arguably the most famous museum on the planet, both its interior and exterior design demand to be camera-captured. Featuring over 400,000 artifacts and artworks, including the likes of the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, the Louvre is a pretty good excuse to duck out of a downpour. 

Alternatively, the Musée d'Orsay is an impressionist’s wonderland, with the largest collection of works from the likes of Van Gogh, Cézanne, and Monet on the planet. Across three floors, you could easily spend an unexpectedly wet afternoon strolling and snapping some of the greats. 

To discover some of the greats of French history, you only need to go as far as the Panthéon. This grand would-be church is the final resting place of 80 people without whom the world would be a very different place. Some of the best-known names outside of France are Voltaire, Marie Curie and Josephine Baker – the first black woman to receive what is perceived to be one of France’s highest honors.