With about 42 million visitors a year, Paris is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. There are many famous attractions that draw tourists again and again to this romantic and cultural capital.
Not many people leave without at least a few snaps of the Eiffel Tower and the Champs-Élysées, a look around Notre Dame Cathedral or a peek inside The Louvre. But next time you plan a trip to Paris why not add some of the more unknown sights to your itinerary? Here are just a few of the less-visited sights awaiting you in Paris.
Paris is the greenest city in Europe so you will not have to walk far before you come across a pretty park or garden. Designed by Noguchi, a Japanese-American sculptor, the Japanese Peace Garden at the UNESCO World Headquarters is one attraction not to miss. It’s design is based on traditional Japanese style with some western twists. One notable features is a stone angel that was donated to UNESCO by the Japanese government in 1976. The angel itself miraculously survived the atomic bomb in Nagasaki and was the only remaining piece of a Catholic church after the destruction.
Street markets are very common in Paris and there are a lot of delightful markets to choose from. You can find vendors selling everything from fresh fruit and vegetables, books, flowers, cheese and fresh meat. One of the oldest and most authentic street markets can be found on the charming pedestrian street, Rue Mouffetard, in the 5th arrondissement. It is not completely off the tourist track so you will see other visitors meandering around but this market is popular with the locals too. It is normally bustling with activity and the scents and sounds of the Parisian farmers stalls. After a morning of browsing, you could treat yourself to an elegant lunch just round the corner at La Truffiere restaurant, 4 rue Blainville.
Another lesser known green sanctuary of the city is the Promenade Plantée (the Planted Promenade) built on the site of an old above-ground railway line. Without a doubt, the best time to take a look is in the springtime when the three-mile stretch bursts with colourful blossoms, trees, vines and spring flowers. You can enter the promenade from Avenue Daumesnil at Bastille and take a relaxing stroll all the way to the famous Bois de Vincennes.
As a tourist, the Montmartre district is a great place to stay. Whilst on your wanderings around this bohemian center of Paris, you can also stumble across the unusual sculpture of the Parisian writer, Marcel Aymé. Based on a character from his short story, Le Passe-Muraille (The man who could walk through walls), the bronze portrait in the Place Marcel-Aymé depicts the writer appearing from inside the wall. It’s a fun and quirky monument to the author and his work.
This impressive and beautiful Art Nouveau jewelry store dates back to 1901 and was designed by Alphonse Mucha, the man responsible for creating the Nouveau style. Inside the Carnavalet Museum in the 3rd arrondissement at 23 rue de Sevigne (also worth the visit), you can see the elegantly decorated shop in its entirety. For anyone who appreciates the Art Nouveau style, this is a must-see.
There are many great reasons to visit Paris so now you hopefully have a few more things to add to your ‘to see’ list.
Photo credits
The corner of Rue Mouffetard - LPLT
The Premenade Plantée - Agateller