The thing I like doing most in Paris, by far, is roaming the crooked romantic streets of its famous Latin Quarter. This may be the most famous neighborhood on the planet. The Latin Quarter got its name from the Latin-speaking students way back when, when the area was dominated by the Sorbonne.

The best place to start your exploration of the Latin Quarter might be the huge fountain by Davioud at the head of the boulevard Saint-Michel. This is a great spot to find a place to sit or just to lean and watch all the stylish and chic people pass by. It’s also a great meeting place: “Meet me at the fountain!” Then, facing the fountain, begin your wandering east and south into the neighborhood. And if you get lost, so much the better.

Such interesting streets here. The streets aren’t laid out in that mind-numbing way most modern-day developers lay out streets: every street running north and south or east and west to infinity. No, these streets meander. They are crooked. They are charming and narrow, and there is always something photographable to be found around the next bend.

The Musee de Cluny is worth a visit. You will find Gallo-Roman ruins and medieval arts and crafts inside a medieval mansion. Be sure to hunt out the ancient and beautiful churches of the Latin Quarter, Saint-Severin & Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre. I will give you no directions to them; the fun is in seeking them out. Don’t worry, you won’t get lost; but if you do get lost, more’s the fun!

Place Maubert (Metro: Maubert/Mutualite) is a beautiful square. I like to take first-time visitors to Paris there, and lead them from there to Notre Dame; and when we reach the river Seine, they get a great view of the dramatic (and most beautiful) east side of the cathedral, with its pronounced & graceful flying buttresses.

There are plenty of great bookshops to explore. You will also find quick food from many nationalities here. Food vendors will tempt you right on the street as they carve their lamb and beef beneath your nose and before your eyes. So sample whatever you think your stomach can bear.

You might want to end things at the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens, where you can cool off in a shady spot. It’s easy to find. It’s down the boulevard Saint-Michel, just about opposite the Sorbonne. You can’t miss it: just look for greenery, flowers…a palace.

I hope you enjoyed this quick stroll through Paris’ Latin Quarter. See you there again soon!

While staying in a Paris boutique hotel you should get into the spirit of ‘vive le difference’ and check out some of the attractions and locations around the city that are off the well-trodden tourist top ten list of places to see and things to do. Why not experience aspects of life as a down at heel 19th century artist or visit the place where revolution freed the people?

Paris is one of the world’s most beautiful and romantic cities, but there is much more to it than the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. Just by taking a few steps away from the well worn tourist trail you can discover some of the lesser known sites and things to do in the city of love. See the city in a totally different light by staying in a Paris boutique hotel and discovering some of its hidden gems – away from the tourist glare.

Explore the Art

Paris’s ‘other’ art museum is the Orsay Museum, which is quaintly housed in a former train station that dates from 1900. Although the permanent collection is not as large as that of the Louvre, there are plenty of paintings by famous painters from 1848 to 1915. This art museum is home to works by Renoir, Monet and Vincent Van Gogh and a must see for any art lover roaming the city.

Explore the History

If you are a fan of French revolutionary history or Les Miserables, then visiting the site where the guillotine executions of Marie Antoinette, Louis XVI and 3000 others took place during the revolution between 1793 and 1795 may be of interest. Place de la Concorde is located to the west of the Champs-Élysées, which features plenty of Paris boutique hotels to stay in, and boasts an ancient Egyptian obelisk covered in hieroglyphics that dates back to the reign of Ramses II. You can also visit the Conciergerie, the former prison where Marie and Louis were imprisoned along with thousands of others awaiting execution.

Explore the Left Bank

The Left Bank has long been famous as the bohemian quarter of town where down and out artists, authors and poets have lived and created their masterpieces. There is plenty to be seen here, and just wandering the streets is a fascinating experience. While traipsing around this area head to Le Lapin Agile, the Leaping Rabbit in English, which is the city’s oldest cabaret and bar. It was a favourite hang out for Picasso, Modigliani, Apollinaire and Utrillo. Other sites on the Left Bank include the famous windmills of Montmarte and the most famous windmill of all – the Moulin Rouge.

A Paris boutique hotel is the perfect place to stay when you are going off the beaten track in the city. They offer a more personalised Paris experience than regular tourist accommodation can.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roberta_Stuart

There are many tours available to choose from and your choice will depend upon your interests and the time you have available.

PARIS CITY TOUR

A typical city tour will last about 3 ½ hours, with your guide (and a minibus) taking you to visit the major sites of Paris. Your tour will be presented in English (or French if you choose) and the guides are skilled at explaining the history of each destination and landmark – this ensures that your Paris tour is both an enjoyable and an educational experience at the same time.

If you don’t have enough time for the full tour then shorter tours of paris are also available. Usually lasting just two hours you will geta whistle-stop tour of the key highlights.

On the other hand, if you have more time to spare there are tours that will show you all the major sights and then finish with a pre-organised lunch, typically at the Eiffel Tower where your table will be ready for you on arrival – no hassle with reservations or availability.

Cruise the Seine River

There are various cruises available on the Seine River, and these are a very popular way to discover the city. Lovely at any time but perhaps most romantic at sunset or after dark, you will see many of the landmarks from your boat. These river cruises often take about two hours to complete.

I want everything tours!

If you want to have a full day of the tour experience you can book one that combines all the elements above – a detailed tour of the parisian highlights, lunch in a restaurant, and a boat tour along the Seine. A great way to start your visit perhaps, while you acclimatise yourself, settle in, and become familiar with the layout of Paris.

Louvre Museum Guide Tours

The Louvre is one of the greatest and most highly reputed art museums in the world…but it is also rather big! You will perhaps get more from your visit on a guided tour showing you some of the many highlights – and perhaps avoiding some of the 400,000 exhibits that are a little less interesting!

Yes, that’s right folks. One of Paris’s top tourist attractions are the sewers but please don’t get any funny ideas now. The French look at their sewers differently than us mainly due to their historical influence on the city of Paris to this very day.

I find it a bit hard to believe but Paris has opened their sewers to the public as part of their tourism attraction ever since 1867! It was so popular by the end of the 19th century that small mechanical locomotives were outfitted to cater for the growing number of tourists. It was later replaced by boats and trolleys. It was believed that the Paris sewer trolleys gave way to the idea of the subway system now common everywhere in the world.

Nowadays of course, all the past trolleys and boats are all gone and Paris has organized an even better attraction to showcase their historical sewers. The Musée des égouts de Paris or the Paris Sewers Museum! It is located in the sewers (where else!) right under the Quai d’Orsay.

In a sense, I can understand why Paris is so proud of their sewers. It is their personal testimony of success in providing comfort and public health safety to the community. Then again, a sewer would always be a sewer. Don’t expect Paris sewers to be any different than yours back home. They stink! So, enjoy their exotic aromatic heritage while you’re down there.

Article and author credits

Saidul A Shaari is the principal and founder of Sahabatul Ventures Holy CoW!, specializing in providing non-biased reviews on many wonderful places in the world today. An enterprising business individual who turn half ideas into real money making opportunities. Loves traveling all over the world and would very much like to share his thoughts and experiences with anyone on the globe!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Saidul_A_Shaari

Like Venice, Paris has always been a magnet for lovers and their affairs. As Woody Allen put it: “As long as you haven’t been kissed during any of those rainy Parisian afternoons, you haven’t been kissed at all.” Paris is where sleepy marriages are rekindled, the flames of passion ignited, vows renewed, and special someones met. But where will you get the most ardent thrill?

Smooching at a cafe terrace

Somerset Maugham once said: “If the pubs in London had sidewalk tables like Parisian bars, you would drink glasses of rain!” Rich idea. Let’s start with sidewalk cafes. Paris counts a thousand of such cafe terraces, and whichever you pick there will always be lovers sitting nearby. A very good reason to get entrenched, and start sweet-talking your love interest.

One of my favorite cafes is ‘Les Chevaux de Marly’, inside the Louvre Museum, facing the wing where the Da Vinci Code movie was filmed. Les Chevaux de Marly isn’t your typical sidewalk cafes; the place reeks history, and even when you sit outside you are well protected against the elements thanks to the stone parapet.

Another lovely sidewalk cafe stands at St Germain des Pres, just in front of the St Germain Church. The vast terrace of ‘Aux Deux Magots’ is covered by a large awning. During summertime, the cafe adds more chairs outside. ‘Aux Deux Magots’ used to be the writers’ and philosophers’ cafe. It may have lost a bit of its literary touch, but remains a wonderful place to look into each other’s eyes.

More suggestions? Check out the following areas, you’ll find nice cafes: ‘Butte aux Cailles’ (in the 13th district), ‘Place de la Contrescarpe’ (in the 5th district), ‘Place des Abbesses’ (on the Montmartre Hill), and the perennial cafe facing the Pont St Louis, on Ile St Louis, near Quai de Bourbon.

Walking hand in hand

I always advise my friends who take the trip to Paris to discover the city on foot. Walking is the absolute best way to enjoy sightseeing in Paris. And ‘look up’ must be your operative word. Don’t just look at eye level: raise your eyes, and observe what’s above. The ‘upper floor’ scenery is worth it.

For romancing the love of your life, certain places have these very special qualities which will set them apart in your memories of togetherness. I will tell you about three now, and more to come.

My first pick is and always will be ‘Place Furstemberg’. Tucked between St Germain des Prés and the river Seine, this little square has a quiet, ravishing beauty. From the St Germain Church, cross the plaza walking toward the Seine and Rue Bonaparte. Turn right, behind the Church, and follow Rue de l’Abbaye. Take the first short street on your left. It ends up on ‘Place Furstemberg’. Famous French painter Eugene Delacroix had his studio there, and it’s an interesting spot to visit during the day. But ‘Place Furstemberg’ takes all of its romantic quality at night, when the bench sitting under the large trees at the center of the square offers a wonderful halt. The lamp posts lend the ‘Place’ a serene, timeless atmosphere. Simply otherworldly.

My second pick would be the steep flights of stairs leading up to the top of the Montmartre Hill, and the quaint streets below ‘Place du Tertre’. Here again, you would be well inspired to discover the hill during the day, and come back to it in the evening. Montmartre is one of the last areas in Paris to have retained their ‘olden days’ feel. Strolling around the hill at night gives you a whiff of what Paris was like in the late 1800s. Most definitely one of the very best spots to roam hand in hand, stealing a kiss here and there under the quiet glow of the street lights.

The last site I would definitely love you to discover is the tip of the ‘Ile de la Cité’. Ile de la Cité is the larger of the two islands situated at the center of Paris. It is situated downstream of ‘Ile St Louis’, and it’s most notable sights are the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Saint Chapelle. At the western tip of ‘Ile de la Cité’ stands the ‘Pont Neuf’ – the ‘New Bridge’- build there in the 16th century. Beneath the Pont Neuf lies the ‘Square du Vert Galant’, named after Henri the 4th of France. The words ‘Vert Galant’ allude to the king’s unbridled passion for ladies (‘Galant’ refers to his reputation as a smooth talker, and ‘Vert’means the guy was ‘always ready to fire’). The view from the little tree-lined park opens up on the river, and faces the ‘Pont des Arts’ and the Louvre museum. I recommend you to visit it during daytime.

Article and author credits

After 30 years spent in Paris, Phil Chavanne knows the city in and out. As the Senior Editor of http://www.paris-eiffel-tower-news.com/walking-in-paris.html he shares his experience with you to show you Paris from the inside.

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

To my friends who take the trip to Paris I always recommend to ‘look up while walking’. Paris should not be visited at eye level only; there is much to be seen upstairs, just like in New York City.

Climb to an elevated position, and you’ve got yet another view of the French capital. A number of apartment buildings located on the Montmartre hill and in the nineteenth district offer panoramic views from their highest floors, but supply is short and not everyone can secure a temporary dwelling place with a million-dollar view.

So I picked four easy-to-access vantage points from where to admire the Parisian panorama. Some are self-obvious, others are not as well known. All are yours for the enjoyment.

Granted, some of these spots were obvious picks. But I bet you don’t know a couple of them. Here is the story.

The Montparnasse Tower

The Montparnasse Tower is my first pick. As a matter of fact, it is one of the best man-made elevations you can get for the money in Paris.

The construction of the Montparnasse Tower started in 1958 and was completed in 1972 after a much heated public debate. Just like the Louvre Pyramid, and the Beaubourg Museum of Modern Art, the building of the skyscraper sparked two decades of furious controversy. The Montparnasse area used to be a small, quaint village, and the locals didn’t like the idea of having a 210-meter high structure disfigure their landscape.

The huge anthracite structure towers over the Montparnasse train station, and stands at the upper end of Rue de Rennes (Rennes St.). Because it was built off-axis, the Tower gracefully avoids closing the long perspective which connects Montparnasse to the St-Germain-des-Pres district. Thank the architects for their vision.

The Montparnasse Tower counts 59 floors crowned by a terrace which is accessible by helicopter. One of its 25 elevators is the fastest in Europe: it will take you to the top floor in 38 seconds flat. There is a bar on the 56th floor where you can enjoy the view sheltered from the wind.

Eiffel Tower

OK, that one was so self-obvious, it’s puzzling why I even picked it. Never mind, I like this spot as it is undoubtedly the best vantage point to view 360° of Paris.

Just a few facts: the Eiffel Tower is 324-meter high (including flagpole). Its first floor stands at 57 meters above the Seine, its second floor at 116 meters. It is 117-year old, and weighs ‘only’ 10,100 metric tons, concrete footing included.

Two elevators access both floors every 8 minutes. Note that this is without counting the time you spend waiting in line, since the Eiffel Tower is visited by about 6 million people each year (that means, an average 22-minute wait to enter the structure). If you have a taste for sport, take the stairs: 1665 steps to the very top – though this figure is a bit misleading since access to the third floor by stairs is restricted.

The first and second floors are home to two restaurants: Altitude 95, and Le Jules Verne, respectively. Both offer a rewarding dining experience.

Circling each floor, a map points to the monuments around you. I advise you to take a windbreaker with you; there is practically no obstacle on the platforms to shield you from the chilly wind.

Arch of Triumph

This vantage spot isn’t just as well known as Mr. Eiffel’s tower. Yet, it offers a very interesting panoramic view of Paris.

Commissioned in 1806 by French dictator Napoleon the 1st, the Roman-style structure was completed in 1836 under King Louis-Philippe. Its four pillars display the names of French military victories, and its base shelters the final resting place of an unknown French soldier who died on the killing fields of Eastern France during WWI.

The structure is hollow, and can be visited. The ticket booth is located under the plaza on which the Arch is built. It can be accessed at the end of a tunnel opening at the upper end of the Champs Elysees Avenue. Taking the tunnel is a much safer option than trying to cross the traffic-laden plaza on foot.

The entrance door opens into one of the two pillars facing the Champs Elysees Avenue. Several flights of stairs will lead you to the top of the Arch, which towers above the twelve avenues emanating from the star-shaped Place de l’Etoile. Inside the Arch, a small museum describes how it was built.

Telegraph Street, Belleville Park

I bet you didn’t know this one! Who ever heard of the Belleville Highs? Mind you, this area is quite interesting, and it offers a good panoramic view of Paris.

The highest natural elevation in Paris stands at 40 Rue du Telegraphe (40 Telegraph St.), where the Belleville Cemetery has its entrance. The street took its name after French inventor Claude Chappe. He had picked the 128-meter high spot to set up his ‘tachygraph’, a precursor of the telegraph.

Just down from Telegraph St., the nearby neighborhood is dubbed ‘Hauts de Belleville’. Belleville used to be an independent commune built on a hill outside Paris until 1860.

Though the renovation of the district has been underway since the end of the 80′s, Belleville buildings still illustrate the conditions in which the poor and the working class lived in the early part of the twentieth century. Some streets of the area aren’t very safe at night; I advise you to tour the area in broad daylight.

The best vantage point of the district is the Belleville Park which was opened in 1988. This expanse of land is tucked between Rue des Couronnes, Rue Piat, Rue Jouy-Rouve, and Rue Julien-Lacroix. Its grassy slopes extend all the way to the bottom of the hill. The park features The Air Museum, which offers its visitors a full explanation of how pollution affects our daily lives. Tourists can follow the guided tour in English.

A last comment in regards to the Telegraph Road: visit the area on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and you will do your grocery shopping at the local fresh produce market, between 7 am and 2:30 pm.

Article source and author information

Having spent over 2 decades in Paris, Phil Chavanne has become a specialist of the city, and knows its secrets in and out. You can get great stories and useful advices at http://www.Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News.com – a free Paris guide to help you prepare your next trip.

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

There are more than 177 miles of man-made tunnels and disused quarries under the streets of Paris. These cavernous spaces have become a focal point for urban culture and creativity, resulting in a private treasure-house of art, music and writing.

For over 300 years anonymous and illicit visitors have sought to memorialize and comment on events above ground. Hidden in the darkness, and working in uncomfortable conditions, they have created paintings, drawings, graffiti, and sculpture on the walls on the walls of the tunnels as well as ephemeral paper works that are concealed in the stone.

Some visitors have been fugitives, many have simply sought a place to create undisturbed. Their subject matter is varied and often subversive, it ranges from current events and politics to the poetic and downright strange; but whatever the subject, the underground art records history with originality, creativity and style. New material is continually being added, it is rare anything is removed, and after 300 years a riot of imagery and objects have amassed, making a startling and unique environment.

Paris has huge subterranean cavities, built in 2000 years of history for many purposes like quarries, religious hideout, beer cellars, subways and bunkers. Most of the excavations are located at the base of the three “mountains” – Montparnasse, Montrouge and Montsouris. There are approximately 300km of galleries all together, not all of them are connected.

Cataphiles have been illicitly producing art in the underground since the early 1980s and their paintings are found over a large area of the quarry network. It is an atmosphere that has encouraged many artists to look inwards rather than outwards to produce meditative, contemplative and decidedly personal impressions of subjects that are always extraordinary and frequently bizarre – monsters and beasts, phantoms and ghouls are favorites; futuristic topics recur; and politics, religion and sex inevitably find wall space. The dimensions of the kata-art ranges from small mosaics that is no more than ten centimeters in diameter, to large ceramics of two meters high, or huge paintings that are in excess of twenty meters wide.

The Catacombs has many dates on the walls to indicate work done to consolidate the existing quarries, an enormous project to catalogue the location of the many unknown parts of the quarries and shore up their ceilings to allow Paris to grow. It was these efforts that were responsible for linking the entire tunnel system together.

The name catacombs are derived from the usage as graves. This name is sometimes used for all the underground caverns of Paris, but the tourist spot, open to the public, are the graves. They do not really promote them to tourists, but they are open to the public. At the end of the 18th century, the government began converting several subterranean rooms into mass graves. This was necessary to meet desperate overcrowding in the medieval cemeteries in the center of Paris, which also became a hygienic problem. From 1785 to 1786, in 15 months, millions of bones and rotting corpses were transported from the unsanitary city cemetery in Les Halles to this place. It was a colossal project to transport the bones in huge carts at night across the city.

And here they are, in huge piles, arranged as crosses, as faces and in other different configurations. Above the door outside are the words – in French – Stop! This is the empire of death.

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Anil Gupta recommends that you visit http://www.bookings.fr/city/fr/paris.html?aid=305255 for more information on Paris hotels.

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

1. Checkout the Markets — A daily Parisian ritual is to rumble through the open air markets to buy fresh food. A not to be missed market is on Rue Montorgueil beginning at Rue Rambuteau (Metro: Les Halles).

2. Flower Market in Ille de la Cite — There is no better way to make your home feel like yours than with fresh flowers purchased along the Seine.

3. Fauchon — Gourmet Shopping with over 20,000 specialty food items from all over the globe is a guaranteed way to hone your kitchen skills or bring out your inner chef.

4. Roam Montmartre — Yes, it’s touristy and by some standards overrated but it’s still Paris at its best so wander and enjoy the Sacre Coeur.

5. Six Feet Under — Bring flowers and pay respects to legendary Americans who called Paris home or in Jim Morrison’s case died in Paris. The most famous cemetery in the world Pere Lachaise is worth the visit.

6. Stroll the Seine — If you are fortunate to be sharing your apartment with someone, nothing rekindles a romance faster than a stroll along the Seine ANY time of day

7. Tea Time — England is famous for tea but a Parisian Tea Salon is an experience. Visit the Angelina or Bertillion and experience true tea time grandeur not a soggy watercress sandwich.

8. Write the Great American Novel — Thrive on the inspiration from lingering in a café exploring your inner demons and admiring the enchanting Parisians. It worked for Hemingway.

9. Opera — Visit one of the grand opera houses even if you don’t like Opera. The grandeur and people watching in the Bastille and Garnier are wonderful stories you can bring back home

10.Window Shop like a Parisian — The ultra expensive Parisian shops on Fauborg-St. Honore such as Hermes, Dior, LaRoche, Courreges, Cardin and Saint Laurent are a decadent treat…maybe one day

Article source and author information

Rita Borges is Managing Director of Paris Luxe, http://www.parisluxeapt.com , a firm specializing in short term rental of upscale and luxury Parisian apartments. A one -stop solution for first rate quality Parisian apartments, Paris Luxe is an expert partner for non-French speaking individuals, couples, and families looking for Paris apartment.

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Not only is it the capital of France, Paris has accumulated a laundry list throughout history of self-proclaimed and well-worn titles that place Parisians in a class of their own. Paris is a haven for love and romance, the disputed epicenter of cutting-edge fashion, a global culinary capital, the motherland of fine arts and let us not forget the self-given accolade of an elite culture.

The streets of Paris, particularly on spring or summer evenings, are an enchanting mosaic of clanking wine glasses, aromatic espresso and impassioned chatter against a background of softly lit cobblestone. The sprawling metropolis requires careful exploration to properly digest its enticing blend of traditional classy charm and progressive hyper-modernism.

Top to Bottom: Paris at an Angle

An array of sights and attractions offer unique views of Paris from above and, yes, below. The Notre Dame, constructed in the 12th century, offers a spectacular panoramic view of Paris’ skyline from an intriguing, if not distracting, setting situated 387 steps up the north tower. The gargoyles perched around the roof of the cathedral range from haunting and ferocious to contemplative and watchful. In the Montmartre quarter, climb the hill culminating at the Basilique du Sacré Coeur and push through another 234 steps to the top of the cathedral’s dome. This southerly view of Paris is coveted by visitors, locals and artists alike.

While atop Montmartre Hill, stroll through the artists’ sidewalk displays until you come across the entrance to the underground Salvador Dali Museum. Descend the staircase and enter the twisted and fascinating surreal world of Dali’s rarer sketches, sculptures and paintings including a humorous caricature of Picasso, the artist’s contemporary rival.

If musty, dark underground passages and 6 million skeletons don’t faze you, then cross the Seine and descend an unassuming spiral staircase into the Empire of the Dead, the Catacombs of Paris. Most visitors assume the Catacombs are a haunted spiritual shrine of sorts, but this underground burial place was simply Paris’ way of solving a problem of overflowing cemeteries in 1785. Strange patters out of skulls can be found in the arrangements of bones that line the passageways 7 feet high on either side.

A Little Level Ground

Once you’ve come up for air, a refreshing stroll through Champs Elysées may be needed. The beautiful gardens that stretch out from the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe are surrounded by one of the most popular shopping districts in Paris. Lalique Crystal and Louis Vuitton adorn the store windows between decadent chocolate and pastry shops.

At night, venture into the Bastille quarter where swanky lounges and chic bars line the winding avenues. Enjoy a fresh made crepe from a street vendor or sit down in a romantic restaurant for garlicky escargot and tender Steak au Poivre paired with the best house wine you’ve ever had.

Although detractors may sniffle over the Parisian attitude, any display of gratitude and an attempt at French will earn overwhelming hospitality. Embrace Paris with a willing heart and the city of wine and cheese will swallow you whole.

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For more information on international travel and discount airfare to Paris, visit www.cfares.com, your source for cheap airfare on the web.
Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Going to Paris? Sooner or later you may. Once there, steer clear of the typical Parisian landmarks. Follow in the footsteps of Phil, the Senior Editor of a well-known Paris travel guide. Take a peek at out-of-sight places few outsiders know. Amazement guaranteed.

Every Paris travel guide seems to have something to add to the already voluminous information available on such well-known spots as the Louvre and Orsay museums, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Eiffel Tower.

Yet what about discovering the quaint neighborhoods of the 19th century Paris? Or taking pictures of the inn built for the paupers by Nicholas Flamel in the 15th century (yes, that’s the same Nicholas Flamel written about in Harry Potter)?

In my reckoning, there’s a truly interesting way of discovering Paris, and that’s to take the less traveled path. The one I take with my friends when we visit the French capital.

So, let’s assume you are as eager as we are to learn something new about Paris, and let’s take a peek at just two of its less-well-known jewels. The next time you take the trip to Paris, you’ll be the one leading the way!

The Lutece Arena, a return into time

Before Paris became Paris, the city was the capital of the territory occupied by the Parisii, the Gallic tribe after which Paris will take its name in the 4th century A.D. There is some controversy about the original Celtic name of the city, but when the Romans invaded it in 52 B.C. under Emperor Julius Caesar, they called it Lutecia (or Lutetia).

In the 2nd century A.D., the Romans built in its middle an amphitheater of about 25,000 square feet, which could hold about 16,000 spectators. During the next century, gladiator fights and other less palatable games (e.g. offering early Christians for lunch to beasts of prey) were held for the benefit of the local Roman population.

With the fall of the Roman Empire, such games became much less popular, and as Christianity became the State religion, man-eating events ceased to be held altogether.

The arena was demolished during the barbarian invasions of 280 A.D., and the site later became a cemetery. In the late 12th century, the ruins were buried under a large rampart built to defend Paris. They remained forgotten until 1869 when they were unearthed to the greatest surprise of all historians.

At the time, the City Council decided Paris did not have the funds necessary to excavate and preserve the antique discovery, and the development project which had dug out the ruins was green-lighted.

Later on, in 1883, the site was repurchased and rehabilitated under the guidance of French novelist Victor Hugo (author of ‘Les Miserables’). A further rehabilitation project began in 1916 which unearthed the site completely. Vicious attempts at taking over the site and destroying it by unashamed, greedy, low-life real-estate developers were thwarted by the local dwellers in 1980.

How do you get to see this beautiful place which, to this day, still remains ‘stealthy’?

Orient yourself on a map, take the subway to the ‘Monge’ station, and walk to No. 47 Rue Monge. Enter the hallway, walk along the corridor and there you are! Right on the sandy ground of the arena where ghosts of ferocious lions still roam in search for a human prey!

A guaranteed, amazing leap in the past, just short of 2,000 years ago!

The Botanical Gardens and their Alpine Garden

Now on to another amazing curiosity which is sure to tickle the interest of our plant-loving friends.

In 1640 A.D., under the reign of King Louis the 14th (the same king who presided over the development of the Versailles Palace), the Royal Garden of Medicinal Herbs opened its doors ‘to the general public and students’. The project had been green-lighted in 1626 by King Louis the 13th.

The Jardin des Plantes (Botanical Gardens), as it has been called since the French revolution, is actually a collection of individual gardens — each with a peculiar charm and specific plants. It houses several old structures, including the Botanical School and the Magny Mansion (built in 1650). The Botanical Gardens are a huge site with a total surface area of about 2,600,000 square feet.

Each of the individual gardens is unique and deserves your attention for each one is home to specific species of flowers, vegetables, trees, and medicinal plants. On the Botanical School’s plot alone some 4,500 plants are grown. The Rose Garden (La Roseraie) counts some 170 species of roses!

Amongst these beauties, the Alpine Garden stands out. Between the Otter Basin and the Cuvier alley (Cuvier was a famous French botanist), a 40,000 square foot parcel was delineated in 1931 for the growing of a diversity of mountain plant species.

Today, the gardeners of the Alpine Garden tend to the health of plants coming from places as diverse as the United States, China, Japan, the Balkans, Morocco, the Caucasian mountains, Spain, and the Himalaya Mountains! A total of some 2,000 species to look after.

Among the hallmarks of the Alpine Garden is its 18th century Pistachio tree. The Botanical Gardens house several historical trees: the oldest one was directly imported from the Eastern United States and planted here in 1636 (an acacia). Among other ancient trees, you can also admire a Lebanese cedar, which was brought back to France in 1734.

A visit to the Botanical Gardens and its Alpine Gardens is a whole afternoon affair. Ten minutes into the place and its quietness will make you oblivious of the hustle-bustle of the city. You will come out of your stroll absolutely ravished, marveling at the job the gardeners do to maintain this privileged environment in full bloom.

How do you access this temple of Mother Nature? Take the subway to the ‘Gare d’Austerlitz’ station. Walk to the Austerlitz Bridge (Pont d’Austerlitz) and you will find yourself on a semi-circular plaza (Place Valhubert). The entrance to the Botanical Gardens is here. It is open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

” If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.” — Ernest Hemingway

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After many years spent in Paris, Phil Chavanne knows the city in and out. He helps you to prepare your trip to Paris with scores of informations and useful advices at http://www.Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News.com, a free guide on Paris and Paris Hotels.

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