le 24 Avril 2026
Bonjour, Your weekly Paris Postcard is here—bringing a bit of springtime in Paris into your life. This iconic season—April in Paris, chestnuts in blossom—is coming to a close, and for a brief moment, the city feels suspended between seasons.
There is a quietness to Paris right now, and it feels almost intentional.
The spring exhibitions have opened and are settling into their rhythm. At Musée d’Orsay, Renoir is in full bloom. The Grand Palais has welcomed Matisse back into the spotlight. At Musée Carnavalet, Madame de Sévigné offers a window into Paris of yesteryear, while Fondation Louis Vuitton brings the bold movement of Calder into the present. And at Palais Galliera, the elegance of 18th-century fashion quietly reminds us that Paris has always understood style.
All of these exhibitions have been featured on the Paris Postcard in recent weeks (you can revisit them via the drop down on the site), and if any are still on your list, the time to see them is now!
I have always thought of late April as the calm before the storm. A low-key and pleasant pause before the merry month of May arrives—and with it, the full force of the season (and its visitors).
Aside from visiting museums, it is also a great time of year to visit parks across the city. Temperatures are hovering around 70 degrees, with generous doses of sunshine, and the gardens are coming into their own. Here’s a roundup of the main attractions:
- Jardin des Plantes — a botanical garden in the truest sense, with winding paths, labeled plantings, and a sense of quiet study beneath the spring bloom
- Parc Monceau — effortlessly elegant, with its curved paths, classical follies, and a distinctly local, residential feel
- Jardin des Tuileries — the grand promenade, where Paris puts itself on display between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde
- Jardin du Luxembourg — chairs pulled into the sun, children sailing boats in the basin, and that perfect Left Bank balance of beauty and ease
- Parc des Buttes-Chaumont — a bit wilder, with its dramatic cliffs, suspension bridge, and sweeping views across the city
Not to mention the dozens—if not hundreds—of smaller, more intimate gardens tucked quietly into neighborhoods across Paris, often discovered by chance and remembered long after.
There is no urgency this week. No need to rush, no need to secure the impossible reservation. Just enjoy the week!
#ICYMI
Earlier this week, The Paris Guide went live! After years of notes, saved places, and recommendations shared again and again, it is incredibly satisfying to see it all gathered in one place—34 pages of the addresses, experiences, and detailed notes.
Even for me, there is something wonderful about having so much information consolidated—thoughtfully organized, easy to reference, and ready for those moments when you simply want to know: where should I go and what is truly worth it? If you’re planning a trip—or even just beginning to dream—The Paris Guide is designed to be the resource I wish existed.
To get your copy, send a $25 payment via Venmo to @jeannine-bergeron or use this link to my Venmo profile or scan the QR code below.
In the notes section, please include your email address in the notes section. This ensures I can email the guide to you, which usually takes place immediately or within a few hours.
For a bit of nostalgia, I thought it would be fitting to share a post from May 2009—about Les Fêtes de Mai.
At the time, I called it the merry month, and I remember writing with a sense of wonder about how quickly the city transforms when April gives way to May. It’s so interesting to look back at these old posts and see see how consistent that feeling remains years later. The details change, but the essence does not.
xoxo, Jeannine
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