On its 10th anniversary La Nuit Blanche Paris is pulling out all the stops. Translated as Sleepless Night, La Nuit Blanche is something of a cultural extravaganza, running free exhibitions all over the city that are open to all from 7PM on Saturday October 1 through to the following morning at 7AM on October 2. During 12 hours of cultural bliss, around 30 artists from all over the world will show audiences the things that keep them awake at night. They’ve come from places as diverse as Canada, Germany, Japan, Finland and Buenos Aires, and obviously there’s a huge proportion from Paris. Their exhibitions are no less diverse than their origins either, with planned pieces including a magical garden, purple rain and some precariously balanced breeze blocks.

If you are in Paris on October 1 the best thing to do is to take an early afternoon siesta to prepare yourself, then spend the evening wandering the four areas dedicated to this year’s La Nuit Blanche. The areas are first in central Paris around Hôtel de Ville; and then to the north of Paris the areas around Batignoles to Pigalle; La Nouvelle Athènes to Saint-Georges; and Montmartre to Anvers. They have been specially chosen for their atmosphere and ease of access since the metro line number 12 and 14 serve all. These lines will be operating a limited service all night on October 1.

A 2010 exhibition in St. Paul's

Perhaps the best place to start your tour is at the Sacré Coeur. Wander the church or climb to its viewing platform during the day then hang around out front to watch the sun set over Paris. Come night time this space will be transformed by artist Renaud Auguste-Dormeuil into the gardens of heaven with candles orientated like the constellations.

One of our top picks for La Nuit Blanche is without a shadow of a doubt, Purple Rain by Pierre Ardouvin. In the courtyard of the Hotel d’Albret, visitors will be allowed to wander into a space created by Ardouvin that is akin to a film set. ‘But what’s so special about a film set?’ I hear you ask. Well on this film set it’s raining, and the rain (as the name suggests) is purple. Well, more mauve. Thankfully guests will be handed umbrellas to use in this interactive exhibition.

Nearby at Bibliothèque Historique de la Ville de Paris a local artist called Vincent Gavinet will present the previously mentioned precariously-balanced breezeblock sculpture. It may look a little like a Jungle Jim but I wouldn’t swing from it…

For something a little on the strange side to go Pigalle to 64 boulevard de Clichy (8e) to see multi award winning film I Am A Bomb which features a woman dressed up as a panda pole dancing in a piece about female sensuality. If you are more of a casual participant your best bet for La Nuit Blanche is the Grand Image Lab on Rue de Rome, where huge images (more than 5 storeys tall) will be projected onto the side of a building.

A 2009 exhibition in Park des Buttes Chaumont

If you plan on seeing more than one or two of the exhibitions and you can understand a little bit of French, watch out for the launch of the Nuit Blanche application for iPhones and Androids. The app will be very useful on the night with full event listings and up-to-the-minute information on how busy every site is. Since the information will all be provided by visitors, feel free to add your thoughts and impressions to if your French is up to it.

La Nuit Blanche is especially great if you are doing our Dark Heart of Paris tour on the evening of October 1. Learn all about Paris's past and then take a wander around it's future. What could be more lovely?