Paris is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the planet, and with good reason. The city is home to some of the world’s most spectacular attractions, including the Arc De Triomphe, the Louvre and Notre Dame. However, there are a number of lesser known attractions that should be on your bucket list.
If you plan to take advantage of the abundance of cheap flights to Paris currently available, as well as seeing all of the big hitters, why not take the opportunity to explore some of Paris’ hidden gems too?
The Palais Royal Gardens
The Palais Royal is one of the most impressive buildings in Europe. Located just a stone’s throw from The Louvre, which is worth a visit in its own right if you’re in the area, it is its beautiful gardens that really shine, especially on a warm summer’s day. Filled with beautiful bright flowers, impressive foliage and even a resident birdman who has a flock of feathered friends following him around, it is a truly magical place in the heart of one of the most impressive European cities.
The Promenade Plantee
If you like to do your exploration to be on foot, you’re going to want to visit the promenade Plantee during your next trip to Paris. This raised park is located on an out of use viaduct high above the streets of Paris. Running from Bastille to Vincennes, it’s the perfect place to take a leisurely afternoon stroll on a warm Parisian afternoon.
Pershing Hall
Pershing Hall is located close to the Champs Elysees, and it is probably the best place in all the city to have drinks late in the evening. Having been built in the 1700s by the Count of Paris, as you would expect, the five-star hotel is incredibly luxurious. The star of this building’s show is absolutely its living wall, which is 30 metres high and brimming with over 300 different species of tree and plant life. You could literally spend all night in awe of it and never get bored.
The Musée Zadkine
Another great Parisian Museum, the Musée Zadkine is one of the city’s most intimate attractions. If you’re looking to enjoy modern art in relative peace and quiet, this is the place to visit. The onetime home of Ossio Zadkine, a famous cubist sculptor, it boasts some of the most interesting pieces you are ever likely to see. Not only that, but the building itself, with its high glass ceilings and dark wooden beams, is a beautiful place to be.
The Café du Cinéma Studio 28
Paris and cinema go hand in hand. Some of the past centuries greatest auteurs, including Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut, took inspiration from the city when creating great films like Breathless and The 400 Blows, so when you’re in Paris, you really should take the time to catch a film or two. If you’re going to see a film, the only place to do it is at the Café du Cinéma Studio 28, which is located in the Abbesses area – a hip part of the city. The cinema regularly shows inspiring art house movies in its beautifully romantic and grand building.
Have you discovered a hidden gem in the heart of Paris? Tell us about it below.
