"The charm of Paris stays in its History" a Paris Travel Page by GUYON

In August 1995, we decided to spend our holiday in Paris. Odd idea. We live at 8 Km from Paris and our daily job was in Paris.

It was a way to discover our Capital with other eyes.

Generally, the tourists visit the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Sacre Coeur, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre, Versailles,...

I agree, they are marvellous. But there are other places in Paris which are less known but interesting too. For example, do you know there is a 8 meters high Statue of Liberty in Paris ? Do you know there are no parisian (except waiters, painters and pickpockets) on Place du Tertre : they prefer to stroll in la Butte aux Cailles or at the Parc de Bercy, more beautiful and less touristy. Do you know there 400 gardens in Paris ? The world largest hanging gardens are in Paris, you know.
These attractions are often the "promenade" of Parisian people because they are less crowdy, more typical.

If you have time : follow the tracks of the Parisians, go out the touristy ghettos and discover the true Paris

For this purpose, I choose to mainly present the Paris attractions unknown abroad or at least, less known. You will find all the information you want about the classical ones on the other VT pages.

9 millions tourists each year. 2,6 days as average stay (not enough to see the unmissible). 22% are (were)Americans.

Almost each Sunday, we go to Paris for a visit and I do not know completly the city. My program is different according to the month :

- JANUARY : weather cold but often without snow. Few tourists and the Parisians stay at home because they have spent all their money for Xmas and NYE. Consequently, short lines, so we visit Louvre (freely the 1st Sunday) and Versailles.
We do not miss the Winter sales which begin early in the month.
A good period to go in one of the numerous theatres of the capital.
The free skate rink of Hotel de Ville is available (only to watch).

- FEBRUARY : cold too, but generally the first days are nice (it is my anniversary).
Time to go in Jardin du Luxembourg and drink a hot chocolate at the coffee shop within the garden and to make a short cruise on the Seine (no line to go on the boat).
Visits to some streets markets (Mouffetard, Montorgueil,Ternes,...) or covered makets (St Germain, St Quentin).
Visit of Musee d'Orsay a bit less busy on February.

- MARCH : can be rainy.
So visit of museums and our annual visit to the Book Market place Georges Brassens.
An occasion to go to the Marais (rue des Francs Bourgeois) and to the Quais de la Seine to see the level of the river.
Semi-marathon of Paris (not as a competitor).

- APRIL : some nice days during this month but I keep my umbrella.
Visit of some of the 400 Paris gardens at Spring.
Marathon de Paris.
Salon du Vin of Spring (Porte de Champerret) : I buy some bottles and I can taste freely several wines (my wife drives).

- MAY : several holidays during this month and a real chance to have sunny days.
The first visit of the year at Parc Floral de Vincennes to see the flowers and at the Bois de Boulogne (which is 50pct larger than NY Central Park).
A visit at Christian and his accordion rue Mouffetard (more typical than the Moulin Rouge and free) : see the photograph
Paris Fair in Porte de Versailles.

-JUNE : the days are long and the weather is warm.
21 June : music festival in all the arrondissements (our preferite place : le Marais).
Time to walk along the Bvd St Michel and in St Germain des Prés.
Visit to the Paris Chinatown and to the acrobats in Front of Centre Georges Pompidou (Les Halles). A quick look to the automaton clock close to the Centre.

-JULY : often not too hot but sometime rainy.
Paris is transformed into a huge amusement park and the tourists are everywhere. We enjoy Paris Plage (begins mid July) with a pick nick on the bank of Seine.
If we are in Paris, we do not miss the Bastille Day firework on the Seine between the Trocadero and the Tour Eiffel.
We go to the Butte aux Cailles (like Montmartre but unknown by tourists and cheaper).
Summer sales, since the 1st week to the end of July.
We are often on vacation in July (in USA, Italy or elsewhere).

- AUGUST : like July generally not too hot but sometime rainy.
A third of the shops are closed but it remains enough to enjoy Paris.
Time to go in the parks which have large lawns : Luxembourg, Montsouris.
Paris Plage lasts until mid-August.
A new visit to the Parc Floral of Vincennes which organizes free jazz concerts since July.
Also a visit at the Pere Lachaise Cemetary (on my advice, too humid the other seasons) to meet the "grands hommes".

-SEPTEMBER : beginning of Fall. The weather is still warm.
Third week end of the month : "les Journees du Patrimoine" which allow to visit freely some forbiden buildings (palais de l'Elysee, Hotel Matignon, Assemblee Nationale).
Visit of the Parc des Buttes Chaumont & the Parc Monceau (the most Romantic Paris park) which are very beautiful in Fall.

- OCTOBER : weather often rainy.
Come back to the museums and spectacles.
The Montmartre harvest : the grape of the last Paris wineyard is harvested during a festival.
Nuit Blanche a Saturday of October : the transports work all the night and there are free entertainements.
31 October Halloween in Champs Elysees.

- NOVEMBER : the weather becomes colder and it is rainy.
Time to walk along the Champs Elysees and the "Grands Boulevards" to enter in a "passage" (Verdeau, Panoramas, Jouffroy, Point Show, etc) when it rains.
2nd Salon du Vin of the year (Porte de Versailles).

- DECEMBER : cold, generally without snow. Some sunny days when the weather is dry and cold.
Salon Saveur (Porte de Champerret) : an opportunity to taste FREELY wine, delicatessen, cheese, chocolate, cakes, candies, etc...
All the stores are adorned for Xmas. We go to the department stores (Galeries Layette & Le Printemps) which are illuminated and of which frontwindows are decorated by automatons.
Visit to the largest mall of Paris : les Quatre Temps at la Defense and at some Xmas Markets (near Fontaine des Innocents - Les Halles, place de l'Hotel de Ville, La Defense)
For Xmas : a spectacle at the theater + a gorgeous dinner at home.
For NY Eve : we stay at home because there is too much people outdoor.
For me : the worst month to go to Paris : too much people.