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Visitors to Philadelphia can celebrate their inner Francophile by discovering Philadelphia's many French Connections this spring.
(Photo credits clockwise from top: B. Krist for GPTMC, courtesy Parc, G. Widman for GPTMC)

With the smash-hit Philadelphia International Flower Show, a marquee Marc Chagall exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the first-ever Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (which kicks off this Thursday, April 7!) both themed around Paris this year, Philadelphia continues its longstanding love affair with all things French.

Inspire your inner Francophile by exploring the Philadelphia region’s many cultural, gastronomic, architectural and fashion French connections.

Here’s how to explore the City of Lights right here in the City of Brotherly Love:

Fabulous Façades

• Benjamin Franklin Parkway: Paul Philippe Cret, an émigré from Lyon, planned this wide avenue lined with statuary, trees and museums, while French landscape architect Jacques Greber designed it. Constructed from 1917 until the 1930s, much of the Ben Franklin Parkway was modeled after Paris’s Champs-Elysees, creating a grand boulevard that once overlapped with several gritty neighborhoods.

• Beaux-Arts and Art Deco Walking Tours: The Preservation Alliance offers guided walking tours highlighting noteworthy buildings and architecture styles. Beaux-Arts and Art Deco tours focus on gems like the flamboyant WCAU Building, the majestic Van Rensselaer mansion and the intimate residences along Rittenhouse Square.

• City Hall: A hallmark of French Second Empire-style, City Hall (the largest municipal building in the country) includes design features of the Louvre and the Parisian Palais des Tuileries. Visitors can tour the interior City Hall by meeting at room 121, Monday through Friday, at 12:30 p.m. for $10; admission to the observation deck for a stunning city view is just $5.

• Free Library of Philadelphia: Just off the Ben Franklin Parkway, the Free Library and the Family Court building near Logan Circle are reminiscent of the twin palaces on the Place de la Concorde in Paris.

• Rittenhouse Square: Originally a wild tangle of trees and brush, Rittenhouse Square was gradually fine tuned by French-born architect Paul Philippe Cret in 1913. The central plaza of the park holds the dramatic Lion Crushing a Serpent — created in 1832 as an allegory of the French Revolution — by French sculptor Antoine-Louis Barye. Today, the square is the centerpiece of an inviting neighborhood filled with brownstones, offices, shops, hotels, restaurants and cultural institutions.

Tons more, below, on French dining, shopping, art and hotels in Philadelphia.

Oh La La Art

• The Barnes Foundation: The creation of early 20th-century art collector Albert Barnes, The Barnes Foundation holds the finest collection of 19th- and 20th-century French paintings in the world. Including hundreds of works by Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masters such as Van Gogh, Matisse, Gauguin and Renoir, the collection is housed in Barnes’ estate in Merion on the Main Line, until it opens in its new permanent location on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in 2012. Currently, the top-floor galleries are closed for the conservation process before the move. The Merion location will close completely on July 1, 2011. Reserve tickets in advance.

• La Salle University Art Museum: This gem of a museum on the La Salle University campus includes an impressive number of 18th-, 19th- and 20th-century French paintings from artists such as Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, Eugène Fromentin and Labert Gleizes. La Salle is the only university in the Philadelphia area to own a permanent display of paintings, drawings and sculptures from the Renaissance to the present.

• Philadelphia Museum of Art: Philadelphia’s premier art museum counts significant works by French masters among its 225,000 works of art, from lush paintings by Renoir and Matisse to Monet’s many scenes set in the French countryside. French decorative arts are also represented in the collection. The museum anchors the west end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Jacques Greber’s Champs Élysées-inspired cultural and arts corridor.

• Rodin Museum: The greatest collection of Rodin’s work outside of Paris — 124 sculptures, studies, books, drawings and prints — is housed in the striking museum on the Parkway designed by the Parkway’s creators Paul Cret and Jacques Greber. A rejuvenation project is in the works to restore the museum’s neoclassical Beaux Arts exterior and create a formal garden in the spirit of the architects’ original vision.

• Rosenbach Museum & Library: Housed in an 1860s townhouse on Rittenhouse Square, the Rosenbach’s collection of rare books and letters includes copper miniatures painted by French artists and significant holdings in French literature—from an illuminated manuscript of Guillaume de Deguilleville’s Trois pélerinages (1437) to manuscripts by Emile Zola and Anatole France.

Bon Appétit

• A la Maison: This Old World Country-style bistro in suburban Philadelphia focuses on French comfort food, including coq au vin, steak frites and onion soup gratinee. The restaurant also allows patrons to bring in their favorite wine or spirits.

• Amuse: Le Méridien’s Amuse is a chic new bar and brasserie, featuring sophisticated, French bistro fare such as onion soup gratinée, escargots, frisée aux lardons, sautéed skate, raw bar selections and salad niçoise — not to mention the extraordinary steak frites.

• Bakers on Broad: Owned by Raphael de Bussy, a native of Soissons, France, and his wife Linda, this cozy French bakery serves up artisan breads, along with pastries, pies, tarts and more.

• Beau Monde: Sweet and savory Breton crepes are served in this charming Queen Village Beaux Arts-style bistro. Head upstairs to L’Etage for cabaret and dance music.

• Bibou: A labor of love for husband-and-wife team Charlotte and Pierre Calmels (former executive chef at Le Bec-Fin), this cash-only bring-your-own-bottle (BYOB) spot serves up seasonal, rustic French bistro fare in South Philadelphia.

• Bistrot La Minette: Chef Peter Woolsey, who studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, and his wife Peggy, who hails from Dijon, preside over this charming and authentic bistro. Try the mustard-braised rabbit with homemade tagliatelle and Gateau l’Opéra for dessert.

• Bistro St. Tropez: With its spectacular views of the Schuylkill River and the Cira Centre, Bistro St. Tropez offers a warm, South of France vibe and a creative take on classic dishes from chef/owner Patrice Rames’ childhood home.

• Cochon: From its name, which means pig in French, to its menu of rustic bistro specialties, including escargot and pork belly, this family-owned BYOB in Queen Village is a French favorite.

• Georges’: Georges Perrier’s country French-style outpost in Wayne on the Main Line draws a well-heeled crowd for New French flavors and a friendly bar scene.

• Gilmore’s Restaurant: Chef/owner Peter Gilmore channels the finest Parisian fare at this West Chester restaurant that’s so authentic a dinner may be tempted to pay in Euros.

• Lacroix at The Rittenhouse: A deluxe hotel like The Rittenhouse deserves a deluxe restaurant, a fitting description for Lacroix, named “Restaurant of the Year” in 2003 by Esquire magazine. The creative French menu changes with the season and the wine list is excellent and extensive — thanks to the 4,000-bottle wine cellar.

• Le Bec-Fin: Although he recently considered closing his legendary restaurant, chef/owner Georges Perrier has recommitted to his temple of fine French cuisine, partnering with executive chef Nicholas Elmi. The duo has plans to remodel the mezzanine level and Le Bar Lyonnais in late summer 2011. Guests can select from both a degustation and a la carte menu for a truly elegant lunch and dinner experience.

• Le Petit Mitron: This French bakery across from the train station in Narberth serves the best croissants, pastries and tortes this side of the Left Bank.

• Liberte: This new restaurant and lounge at the Sofitel that opened in October 2010 serves contemporary, French-inspired food and hand-crafted cocktails in an urban chic setting. Featuring a flavorful menu from Executive Chef Kevin Levett and extensive beverage selections from head mixologist Marc Yanga, Liberté has become one of Center City’s hottest destinations.

• Miel Patisserie: Gourmet desserts, sophisticated sweets and artisan chocolates line the cases at this gourmet Center City sweets emporium. Patrons can indulge in everything from chocolate-covered caramels to the sensual Rouge et Noir, a vanilla, chocolate, raspberry and cocoa cake.

• Parc: Restaurateur Stephen Starr created this ode to the bustling French brasserie, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Enjoy the likes of duck confit, bouillabaisse and trout amandine, or when the weather is fine, on the cafe overlooking Rittenhouse Square. Don’t miss the profiteroles for dessert.

• Rouge: The first French bistro on Rittenhouse Square offers sidewalk seating and an intimate, sexy ambiance that draws a fiercely loyal crowd. Chef Michael Yeamans offers creative twists on French classics.

• Savona: Originally a historic inn dating back to 1763, Savona features chef Andrew Masciangelo’s inspired cuisine, capturing the culinary spirit of the French Riviera and focusing on the use of local and seasonal ingredients. Plus, there are more than 1,000 wines on the restaurant’s extensive list.

• Spring Mill Café: Tucked away in Conshohocken, this atmospheric restaurant serves up French Provençal specialties like boeuf bourguignon and rabbit stew, along with a hefty serving of charm and romance.

• Zinc: Experience this romantic New French restaurant specializing in seafood from chef/owner Olivier Desaintmartin, whose Canard à la presse delivers one of the most unique food experiences in town. Locals love the restaurant for its intimate vibe, creative cuisine and sexy bar.

Trés Chic Galleries & Shops

• Arcadia Boutique: This Northern Liberties boutique puts the emphasis on socially responsible, sustainable and green lifestyle fashions. It’s also the only U.S. outlet for Article 23, a French fashion line that employs disadvantaged garment workers in Mumbai, India under fair-trade conditions.

• Calderwood Gallery: This gallery attracts an international clientele for its French Art Deco and Modernist furnishings.

• Contessa’s French Linens: Owner Laura DiFrancesco sells cloth table linens and other assorted items imported from France at this popular Reading Terminal Market stall.

• Kellijane: Create a sensual bedroom sanctuary, a dazzling table setting or a sumptuous bathroom with imported French linens, bedding and tablecloths, bright with the colors of the south of France.

• Lisa M. Reisman et Cie: Owner Lisa Reisman Halterman offers an intriguing collection of original Art Nouveau and Fin de Siècle poster, drawings and watercolors, fine French crystal jewelry and scented candles from Rigaud Paris at her feels-like-a-fine French-department-store shop.

• Third Street Habit: This chic clothing boutique offers fashions by Isabel Marant, a French contemporary women’s line that has a cult following and is hard to find this side of Paris.

Bonjour, Bonsoir

• Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia: This gracious European-style AAA Five Diamond Award-winning hotel includes the Fountain Restaurant, a sophisticated restaurant rooted in fine New French and contemporary cuisine. Consistently Zagat-rated number one for food, service and ambiance, the Fountain Restaurant offers romantic views of the Parkway’s Swann Fountain.

• Le Meridien Philadelphia: This Euro-centric brand, founded by Air France in 1972 and now owned by Starwood, is located in a striking 10-story Georgian revival-style building that once housed a YMCA. Just steps from the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the contemporary Le Meridien includes Amuse, a chic bar and brasserie featuring lusty French bistro fare.

• The Rittenhouse Hotel: This AAA Five Diamond hotel overlooking Rittenhouse Square includes Lacroix at the Rittenhouse, an elegant modern French restaurant with park views. Afternoon tea is served in the Impressionist-themed Mary Cassatt Tearoom and Garden, a tranquil setting once painted by the Philadelphia-born French-inspired painter.

• Sofitel Philadelphia: The Philadelphia outpost of the French hotel company blends French elegance with American amenities and convenience. The hotel’s sexy new Liberte restaurant and lounge, awash in French silk draperies and imported crushed velvet, serves modern French cuisine from chef Kevin Levett, last of the Mayfair in London.

Crème de la Crème Events

• Something French, a local art exhibition on display along the first and second floors of City Hall’s northeast corner, is on view through May 20 weekdays 10 a.m.-4 p.m., in conjunction with an architectural exhibition in City Hall entitled City Hall: The French Connection (same dates and times) in Room 116.

• Paul Philippe Cret’s Influence on Design in Philadelphia , a lecture (April 8, 3:30 p.m.) by Athenaeum of Philadelphia Curator of Architecture Bruce Laverty, also includes an opportunity to visit the Athenaeum’s Haas Gallery to view the exhibition From the Bastille to Broad Street, the Influence of France on Philadelphia Design, which will feature several original Cret drawings.