CELEBRATING CHOPIN – Cite de la Musique

Music lovers shouldn’t miss the amazing Cite de la Musique, located in the La Villette quarter, on the eastern side of Paris. A spectacular architectural structure, the museum covers five floors of exhibit halls, including a concert hall, the museum of French instruments, and the National Conservatory of Music.

For the 2010 Chopin Bicentennial, the museum presents an exhibition: Chopin in Paris, the Composer’s Workshop, which commemorates the 18 years he spent in France. Visitors can view original music manuscripts, and hear his favorite piano played at concerts held every Saturday afternoon in May.

Cite de la Musique • 221Avenue Jean-Jaures
Hours: Tues. to Sat. 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Sun. 10am to 6pm

Tip: Don’t skip the instrument museum… Put on the infrared headphones and, as you walk through the various rooms, you can hear music played on the beautiful old instruments on display.