Bienvenue! Welcome to the France pavilion, a fabulous tribute to the entire country (but mostly Paris). The mansard roofs. The beautiful fountains. The parterre gardens. All evoke the romantic spirit of La Belle Epoque, the "Beautiful Age."
The main attraction here is the spectacular film Impressions de France, presented in the Palais du Cinema. Modeled after elements of the Chateau de Fontainebleau, the Palais also includes some unique details of its own. Take a look at the relief sculpture in the pediment, and you'll find depictions of the traditional masks of comedy and tragedy.
To visit the France pavilion is to experience art. The art of architecture, of the cinema, of gardens and of food. The restaurant Les Chefs de France holds a prominent spot at the front of the pavilion.
The restaurant gets its name from three famous French chefs - Paul Bocuse, Gaston LeNotre, Roger Verge - partners in the ownership of Les Chefs de France and the creation of its menu. Today, Les Chefs is managed by Bocuse's son, Jerome. The restaurant has also recently played host to another famous chef, Chef Remy from Ratatouille.
For art in the more traditional sense, look no further than the park near the river. Here is a kiosk plastered with posters, a common sight in the city. Closer inspection reveals, however, that all the ads on this kiosk promote the work of well-known French artists.
Over by the water's edge, the work of unknown French artists appears to be on offer from a street vendor, along with postcards and other souvenirs of "Gay Paree."
There's lots of detail here, but some of the best is actually just over the wall. Along the quais by the Seine, the little stories of unseen Parisians are told through props and staging. There's a rowboat lifted from the water, perhaps awaiting a young couple. Nearby, someone is fishing, and around the corner, a hopeful artist is practicing his craft. Take a close look. You may be seeing the beginnings of the next great master... or maybe just the clever work of an Imagineering set designer.
