Every year, Parisians celebrate the Epiphany on January 6th by selecting a delicious pastry known as the ‘galette des rois’ from any number of famous — and not so famous — city bakeries. The galette des rois is a flat, flaky pastry that is about the size of a cake and filled with a delicious almond paste called frangipane. Within each galette there is a small figurine, and the person who ends up with the figurine is named the king for the day — roi is the French word for king.

Although associated with the Epiphany, the tradition of eating the galette des rois now goes beyond a one-day celebration and is celebrated for all of January, giving guests staying at the Hôtel Louvre Marsollier a whole month to discovery this tasty French custom.

Come January, almost every bakery in Paris will be offering the galette des rois, leaving visitors with some tough decisions to make regarding where they should purchase their own heavenly treats. For the more adventurous experimenters, there are even galettes filled with chocolate or fruit in addition to, or instead of, the classic frangipane. The following bakeries represent just of few examples of what Paris has to offer to those in search of the best galettes des roi, which can be translated as the ‘cake of the kings.’

One such example is presented by a pastry shop called Jean Millet. Located in the 7th arrondissement at 103 Rue Saint-Dominique, this gourmet pastry maker has been around since 1963. The galettes at Jean Millet can come either with or without a delicate whipped almond cream on top.

Another example of an exceptional galette des roi is made by Eric Kayser, a bakery with several locations throughout the city of Paris. One thing that makes Eric Kayser’s galettes special is the set of special figurines placed inside their cakes. These figurines all represent ‘great men’ in French history, with each figurine comprising a famous citation about bread. This allows the galette to be both delicious and educational.

Other famous Parisian pastry shops and bakeries include La Durée, Lenôtre, Dalloyau, Stéphane Louvard and Christophe Roussel, so visitors have a myriad of choices when it comes to celebrating with a galette des rois in 2013.

Since the month of October, a temporary bar called the Club Royale by Terrazza — the younger sibling of the Terrazza Martini Cannes and the Terrazza Martini Champs-Elysées — has sat atop the mezzanine of its location at 34 rue Marboeuf, in the 8th arrondissement.

This temporary bar was meant to close sooner, but it has been a huge success, so the organizers have decided to keep it open until January 26, 2013. That gives guests staying at the Hôtel Louvre Marsollier plenty of time to stop by for a drink during their trip to Paris.

Whether enjoying the outdoor terrace or the 1930s-inspired art-deco interior, patrons of the Club Royale by Terrazza Martini can spend a luxurious moment in one of the swankier Paris neighborhoods. In order to gain access to this exclusive spot, you will need to cozy up to someone who is already a member as entry is for members only. However, the trouble will be well worth it once you experience the variety of expertly prepared martinis, the specialty of the house. Patrons can also dance the night away on a giant dance floor from 12:30 a.m. until closing on Fridays and Saturday.

Even for those who do not get the opportunity to go inside, the neighborhood of the Pavillon Champs-Elysées, where the bar is located, is worth seeing just for itself. The rue Marboeuf is situated just off of the Champs-Elysées, which is home to many major shops that fans of fashion and luxury will adore.

If window shopping is your dream, then you need not look any further than this upscale area. And if you manage to get invited to the Club Royale by Terrazza Martini, then that’s even better! Otherwise, a number of trendy bars and restaurants near the Champs-Elysées can also make for a lively night.

Now that most of Paris has been illuminated for the holidays, guests staying at the Hôtel Louvre Marsollier can enjoy the sights of Christmas almost everywhere they visit. However, if visitors to Paris really want to be dazzled, then a trip to the Galeries Lafayette department store is a must.

Year-round, the Galeries Lafayette is known as one of the top shopping destinations in the city. And now that Christmas is here, the store has organized some truly spectacular window and store decorations that will impress shoppers of all ages. Visitors can check out the decorations from now until January 8, 2013, so they have plenty of time to get in on the holiday spirit of this Parisian mainstay.

Eleven different window displays have been orchestrated by the famous French luxury designer Louis Vuitton. The windows celebrate a theme entitled “The Ball of the Century” (“Le Bal du Siècle”), which takes visitors on a journey to discover magical beings and creatures who spend their nights dancing and having a great time. Fairies, penguins, polar bears, flamingos and pandas come together in an extraordinary interaction that has to be seen to be believed.

In addition to these wonderful window displays, visitors will also find a huge Christmas tree, which is 21 meters high, inside the department store. Right in the middle of the extravagant boutiques, stands a majestic pine tree, decorated with more than 5,000 sparkling Swarovski crystals. It is clear that, for anyone who wants to discover the glamour of a Parisian Christmas, the Galeries Lafayette should be the first stop. Until January 5, 2013, children can have their pictures taken with Cinderella and her magical carriage. And, of course, Santa Claus will be making an appearance until Christmas Eve 2012.

Summer is here, and that means Paris Plage is once again coming to the city. Paris Plage is an event that transforms the right bank of the Seine into a fun beach with roughly 3,000 tons of sand. This event is well known in Paris, and many people cannot wait for its annual arrival.

From July 20 to August 19, 2012, guests staying at the Hotel Louvre Marsollier can grab a bathing suit and a towel and soak up the sun with thousands of Parisians. Along with a sandy beach allowing visitors relax right next to the Seine, the Paris Plage event also provides a number of other activities for friends and families to enjoy. The atmosphere is both laid-back and lively, with a friendly ambience and something to entertain everyone.

Visitors can choose among activities like miniature golf, a dirt-bike obstacle course, free concerts and play areas for children. Plus, Paris Plage will also present a marathon photo contest that encourages amateur photographers to race around the neighborhood taking great pictures. There is even a temporary library set up near the festivities for beach-goers who want to sit down with a good book.

Like every year, Paris Plage visitors will have access to refreshment stands, petanque terrains (petanque is a traditional but casual French game in which players throw metal balls around a small sandy area), foosball, tai chi sessions and dance lessons. The more adventurous can also try their hand at boating, rowing, kayaking and surfing on artificial waves.

For those who just want to relax, Paris Plage supplies full-length lounge cushions — although you might have to want to get a free one.

This event takes place at the Seine, between Pont Neuf and Hotel de Ville. Paris visitors should not miss their chance to see the event that everyone gets so excited about in July.

The French film “The Artist” recently took the world by storm, but many people do not realize that the film’s protagonist was actually based on a real-life silent film star. The name Max Linder may not ring any bells, but in the early 20th century, this French actor was internationally renowned. He is still well-known in his home country, and with the release of an award-winning film that features a character based on his persona, Max Linder might just be making a comeback around the world.

Although the Louvre is generally not the first destination that visitors think of when they want to see a film, it is at the Louvre that a special cycle of films dedicated to Max Linder will be shown from Friday, June 15th until Sunday, June 17th, 2012. This makes it the perfect outing for guests staying at the Hotel Louvre Marsollier.

Max Linder wrote, directed and acted in hundreds of films between the years 1900 and 1925. Much like Charlie Chaplin with his “tramp” character, Linder created his own “Max” persona — a suave and elegant young man — and embodied him in almost all of his films. Because Linder’s films are silent, visitors who do not speak French will still be able to completely enjoy them. Plus, the Louvre is projecting the films with full piano accompaniment, just like when they were originally shown.

The films to be projected include “Max Virtuoso,” “Love Unconquerable,” “Max Sets the Fashion” and “Entente Cordiale.” The cycle will also feature conferences and a documentary on the life of Max Linder, but it should be noted that these other events will be in French.

Unfortunately, “The Artist” has a much happier ending than that of Max Linder’s story, which ends quite tragically with his career decline and death at the age of 41. However, the Louvre is giving visitors the opportunity to see Max at his happiest, entertaining film audiences from across the world.