The French Open; a great sporting extravaganza

Why not take advantage of your stay in the capital to attend the French Open tournament at the Stade Roland Garros, a key event for all tennis lovers? In 2016 the action will take place from May 16th to June 5th (including the qualifying matches), enabling you to admire the athletic prowess of the greatest tennis players in the world today.  French Open Paris - Roland Garros

A renowned sporting event

While it is particularly followed in France, the Internationaux de France de Roland-Garros is famous throughout the world. Of course, as is often the case with such a prestigious event, there is often as much to be seen in the stands as there is on the courts, with movie and TV stars, singers or politicians turning up as spectators at the Stade Roland Garros to cheer on their favourites.

Remember, you can get to the tournament very easily when you stay at the Hotel Marais Bastille, since you simply need to take Metro line 5 from Bastille station to the Gare d'Austerlitz, and then line 10 to reach the Porte d’Auteuil station. From there it will take you just a few minutes of walking to get to the stadium that has played host to the greatest champions of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

Hosting exceptional players

It was in 1925 that the French Championships were thrown open to international competition and became the tournament we now know. Today it is one of the four Grand Slam events of the tennis year, along with Wimbledon, the American Open and the Australian Open, but remains the only one of these to be played on clay. Over the years the red hued courts have seen astonishing displays of tennis talent from the likes of Björn Bjorg, Ivan Lendl, Yannick Noah, Michael Chang and Andre Agassi. On the women's side, the French Open witnessed the supremacy of Steffi Graff, Jennifer Capriati and Justine Hénin. More recently, the Roland Garros crowds have cheered on the Williams sisters, Novak Djokovic, and nine-time winner Rafael Nadal, the King of Clay.

Whatever match you choose to attend, you are guaranteed thrilling sporting moments and an exceptional show. Don’t miss the famous VIP hangout, the village, and the Tennis Museum, which traces the history of this legendary venue and the greats who have played there.

A tasty repast at Nana Restaurant

There are plenty of restaurants and bars around the stadium, so you'll have no trouble finding a place for lunch or for a drink after the game. Another good idea is to return to the vicinity of your hotel to enjoy the lively Bastille neighbourhood, where you can become acquainted with the Na/Na restaurant. Located at 10 Rue Breguet, this fine establishment offers delicious house dishes made from fresh, seasonal ingredients. This refined and comfortable setting is also the ideal place to fill up with a hearty breakfast before heading to the Stade Roland Garros, or to enjoy an excellent lunch, savour a creative, gourmet dinner or just enjoy passing the time with a cup of tea and an assortment of sweet treats.

******

Learn more: • French Open • French Tennis Federation • Grand Slam  

Hotel Marais Bastille, a 3 star Design hotel in the heart of Paris.