Photographies Hongroises des Romantismes aux Avant-Gardes presents over 100 photos taken by Hungarian photographers at the end of the 19th century. Rugged Tatras mountain landscapes by Karoly Divald contrast with the romantic cosmopolitan images of Budapest circa 1900. To Oct 28, Tue-Sun, 10am to 6pm, Musée de la Vie Romantique, 16 rue Chaptal, 9e, M° St-Georges, tel: 01 48 74 95 38, 30F/20F

Les Ambassadrices du Progrès: Photographes Américaines à Paris, 1900-1901 recreates an exceptional show of 80 works by 29 women photographers that was shown at the Universal Exposition in 1900. This highly successful exhibit organized by the journalist-photographer Frances Benjamin Johnston traveled to Moscow and, by popular demand, was shown twice in Paris! To Nov 30, Tue-Sun, 10am to 6pm, Musée d’Art Américain, 99 rue Claude Monet, Giverny, by train from Gare St-Lazare to Vernon (direction Rouen), tel: 02 32 51 94 65, 35F/20F

Marc Séguin’s seductive series of paintings Les Rosaces evokes the architectual effects of light in cathedral rose windows. More than a study of symbolism, the artist’s theme is a reflection of the history of light in western painting. To Sept 22, Tue-Sat, 10am to 6pm, Canadian Cultural Center, 5 rue de Constantine, 7e, M° Invalides, tel: 01 44 43 21 90, free

Lam Métis is a study of the life and work of surrealist painter Wifredo Lam. This major retrospective examines the impact of Afro-Cuban culture and sculptural forms from Oceania as major influences on the artist’s work. A program of conferences, concerts and dance accompany this fine show. Sept 26 to Jan 20, daily, 11am to 7pm, Musée Dapper, 35 rue Paul Valery, 16e, M° Victor Hugo, tel: 01 45 00 01 50, 30F/15F

Escales, 6 Artistes, 6 Destinations highlights contemporarry pieces created abroad by French artists. Tony Soulié’s monumental works on paper recapture the visual stimuli of a recent trip to the West Indies, while Pascal Lièvre’s collages were inspired by Greek statuary during his stay at the Institut Français de Thessalonique. From Sept 19 to Oct 20, Tue-Sat, 2-7pm, Galerie Christine Phal, 29 rue Mazarine, 6e, M° Odéon, tel: 01 43 29 85 35

Les Journées du Patrimoine offers some exceptional visits to gardens, homes and monuments that are usually closed to the public. On Sept 15 & 16, the Sénat is open to visitors from 10am to 5:30pm. While there, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the Luxembourg Gardens’ greenhouse to view their superb collection of rare orchids. Palais du Luxembourg, 15ter rue de Vaugirard, 6e, RER Luxembourg, tel: 01 40 15 35 71, free

Portes Ouvertes des Ateliers de Ménilmontant garners the participation of over 100 contemporary artists in a series of neighborhood “open studio” multimedia shows that attracts a large following. From Sept 28 to Oct 1. Pick-up information and maps at the CAT Ménilmontant, 40-42 rue des Panoyaux, 20e, M° Père-Lachaise, tel: 01 46 36 47 17, free