10 Places in (and around) Paris
Ah, Paris the incomparable! For us itâs soaked in romance. Whether youâve suddenly found yourself with travel brochures in your hand or you prefer to travel from your armchair, Paris is one of those cities with wide open arms. (Cue Maurice Chevalier singing âParis sera toujours Parisâ or Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong âApril in Parisâ or maybe Kurt Elling or Sarah Vaughan.) Your mind swirls with images of the once nearly forgotten photographs of EugĂšne Atget, with stories youâve read about Place Pigalle and Montparnasse, with the seductive nuttiness of Ninotchka, or the many other great movies (Rififi, Blue, Funny Faceâname your own favorites) set in Paris the beautiful. Add to that baguettes (traditional-style for us, thanks), croissants, Nutella crepes, champignons, everything there and just so. Where to begin your visit? Well, we have a few suggestions. Take that mind full of Parisâyour Paris or oursâand head out when the sun is coming up. You wonât regret it! (Non, je ne regrette rien.)
Versailles
Is it all about me, Louis, or all about you, I wonder? From (relatively) humble origins as a hunting lodge and grounds under Louis XIII, the buildings and land at the Palace of Versailles were transformed into an extravaganza of exclamation points and excess: it is extraordinary! A place that combines the best and worst of Baz Luhrmann, Liberace, and, well, Louis XIV. One glance at the Hall of Mirrors says it all. (And donât get us started on the formal gardens.)
PĂšre-Lachaise
If youâre drawn to cemeteries (and letâs face it, almost all of us eventually are), this is one you must not miss. Its walks are well-groomed and tree-lined. Favorite luminaries whose remains are within include Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, Gertrude Stein (and Alice B. Toklas), Colette, Simone Signoret (and Yves Montand), Balzac, Delacroix, Proust, IngresâŠneed we go on? Virtually everybody who was anybody rests there. Not only does a ramble here give you time to catch your breath, but you can reflect on any number of things: the role these individuals played in your life, the changes in mortuary architectural styles, andâif you want to go that farâmortality, too.
Louvre
Many people glaze over when you talk about museums, but you knew where we were headed, didnât you? This is one of the top 10. Wear sensible shoes, keep hydrated, and know what you want to see. First pause before I.M. Peiâs entrance pyramid. If that doesnât float your boat, it may not be seaworthy. The Mona Lisa may not be your cup of tea, but we recommend at the very least The Raft of the Medusa, Cy Twomblyâs ceiling painting, Liberty Leading the People, and the magnificent Winged Victory of Samothrace.
Tuileries Gardens
After a few hours at the Louvre, nothing refreshes like a stroll in the Tuileries. If you see some open chairs, have a seat. This is perhaps a good time to open a nice St.-Joseph wine and sample a bit of cheese you bought from the nearby marketâand a fresh baguette? If youâve a mind to, you can watch children pushing their sailboats around on a large pool. Stretch out a bit. Feeling better now? As though you can go on after all? You have to walk only as far as the next bench.
Eiffel Tower
The only thing that could make you avoid a trip to examine this symbol of Paris modernism close-up is the fear of heights. Weâll grant that itâs spectacular even at ground level, but weâd recommend that you step up and get in line for the aerial view. The perspective from any of the towerâs eateriesâespecially at sunset or at nightâwill make it worth your time and effort. And, if needed, Dutch courage is readily available.
Promenade Plantée
Exercise and shopping too! The Promenade PlantĂ©e was the worldâs first elevated park and the first âgreen spaceâ constructed on a viaduct. The former rail line was opened in 1859 for travel between the Place de Bastille and the VarenneâSaint-Maur suburbs, southeast of the city. Train service on that line was discontinued in 1969, and the viaduct was abandoned. Precursor to New Yorkâs High Line, the Promenade PlantĂ©e provides varied plantings and vistas all along its 3 miles. An additional feature is the high-end shopping available at street level in a number of artisanal stores built within the graceful arches.
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MusĂ©e dâOrsay
If you can do without artâalthough we doubt anyone canâweâd recommend that you walk inside this museum. The light inside is worth your attention. Once a train station (the Gare dâOrsay), the MusĂ©e dâOrsay has been repurposed and is now a pleasing, skylit wonder with Postimpressionist paintings and more to suit most tastes.
The Seine
All you have to do is decide which bank you prefer, Left or Right. Each has its distinct pleasures. Those who fancy culture might prefer the Left Bank, thick with cultural references and the ghosts of artists, writers, and revolutionaries. (We recommend Women of the Left Bank to construct your own walking tour.) The Left Bank holds all the cafĂ©s youâve read about, which are still a good place to rub elbows with other pilgrims while you imagine meeting your hero or heroine. But consider too the Right Bank, notably the Marais, an excellent place in which to meander. It too hides many a gem, including the Picasso Museum.
Rodin Museum
You may not be all that hot on museums. But think about Rodin and his legacy. Could you imagine Dobie Gillis without Rodin? Could you imagine young love without The Kiss? What makes this museum doubly attractive to the âfair sexâ is that it contains a room dedicated to Camille Claudel, the sister of poet Paul Claudel and also a sculptor, who allowed her life to be ruined by Rodin. And thereâs no place like the grounds of the museum to examine the shadows and highlights of the large sculptures of the Master.
Giverny
Located about 45 miles (75 km) from Paris, this village is the site of one of the most breathtaking spots in France: the home of the late artist Claude Monet. It is as if youâve stepped into one of his paintings, Japanese bridge painted a perfect blue-green, water lilies in bloom below. Perfectly positioned and color-coordinated flowers planted in the ground, just so. A warm peach-pink brick house, carefully trimmed with green. The whole scene is designed to please the eye. Even the vibrant interior shows a painterâs eye. Each window has an exquisite view. Whatever you do, donât miss this place.