Tips 1 - 10 of 23 Paris Off The Beaten Path
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Off The Beaten Path: An Ancient Passageway
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One afternoon after walking up rue de l' Ancienne Comedie to the intersection of Blvd. St. Germain, I turned left on the boulevard. Just around the corner I spied an ancient cobbled walkway with shops and restaurants. This is the Cour du Commerce-St.-Andre. It is the oldest (circa 1776, as old as the US) passage in Paris, older than the other passages-covered with glass and steel-such as Galerie Vivienne and Galerie Colbert to name a couple of them. Cour du Commerce-St.-Andre is so old that the cobblestones are huge and very misshapened due to the passage of time. In many cases the stones are so worn that there are huge gaps in between them. Be really careful how you step as they can cause you to trip. The passageway is both famous and infamous. Halfway down the passageway and to one side of it is the Cour (Courtyard) de Rohan, part of which is the site where Dr. Guillotin, inventor of the guillotine, would practice on sheep before using it for real on humans. And if you continue straight down the passageway to your left you will find the rear entrance to Le Procope, Paris's oldest cafe. Benjamin Franklin, Balzac, Victor Hugo, and Oscar Wilde were some former clientele of the cafe.
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Visiting Paris? Read reviews about Paris Hotels Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
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Is anyone here interested in chess? It's a top European sport if not a very popular one in the US. Well, if you are interested, Paris boasts a local chess community that meets in the Luxembourg Gardens daily. It's no surprise really that chess is popular in Paris as the FIDE (Federation Internationale des Echecs) or the world chess federation is headquartered in France. It's not too easy to find the chess players' venue in the Luxembourg Gardens unless you know it beforehand. Even the gendarme did not know where it was and had to ask his colleagues in the park when I asked! As the garden is huge the easiest way to find the chess players is to take the rue de Vaugirard entrance which is near to the tennis courts and children's playground. Just across the tennis courts and under the trees you'll see these young and old men sitting on the green metal chairs, chessboards propped up on another chair in between them. Shh, don't be noisy because it's not nice to create noise when they are thinking of some highly intricate strategy to out the other guy. If it rains the chess games go on but they are under played an awning. If you are a chess enthusiast, don't hesitate to join a game if it's possible. If you speak French, you can ask the players or just motion to them that you want to join. When a game is finished, another opponent takes a turn playing against the winner of the previous game. You don't need to speak French to know chess. All you need to know is how to play as chess strategies and theories are universal.
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Along the banks of the Seine between the Pont des Arts and Pont Neuf you will find lots of bouquiniste stalls. They sell second-hand books, posters, and different objects. Nowadays they sell lots of souvenirs as well. You can walk from stall to stall checking the offerings.
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Pont St. Louis connects Ile St. Louis with the mainland, Ile de La Cite. On Sundays the bridge becomes a stage for street musicians. They're very good and draw a large crowd.
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Off The Beaten Path: Animals and Plants Galore
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This place is really not off the beaten path literally. It is actually right in the city center just one long block from La Samaritaine department store: The Quai de la Megisserie. But it is very unique. This whole block is packed with plant nurseries and pet stores. The plants are great if you live in Paris and want to do some interior decorating. However, the pet stores will appeal to everyone who loves pets. And there are all types of pets, from many varieties of fishes to common and exotic birds, rabbits, minks (as in mink coats),cats, dogs, chicks, hamsters, and my nightmare-reptiles! You can easily spend at least one hour going from one store to the next making friends with all the pets. In fact, I fell in love with a King Charles Spaniel puppy who looked like he wanted to come home with me. I seriously wished I could have brought him home too! I love dogs!
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Other Contact: Location is near the Pont Neuf
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In between the Eiffel Tower and the Champs Elysees is the Alma Tunnel. It's located at a busy intersection at Place de l'Alma across the Pont de l'Alma. It is in this tunnel that Diana, Princess of Wales, was killed in a horrific car crash in August, 1997. The Place de l'Alma is above the tunnel and long before the Princess's death a replica of the Statue of Liberty's flame was erected here. After the Princess's death the Liberty flame became a sort of memorial to her. It is a golden sculpture, not huge, but it seems fitting as a memorial to Diana somehow. As you view it you will notice flowers and notes placed there by grieving admirers. On the barrier wall located across from the sculpture other admirers have written their sentiments about the Princess. All in all it is a touching tribute and you will most likely be moved by what you read.
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- Hotel de Lille
40 rue de Lille 7 Arr, Paris
- Mercure Grand Hotel Paris
20 Avenue Charles Lindbergh, Paris
- Best Western Jardin De Cluny
9 rue du Sommerard 5th Arr., Paris
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27 Rue De La Tour D'Auvergne, Paris
- Etoile Park
10 Avenue Mac Mahon 17 Arr., Paris
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23 rue du Faubourg Montmartre (formerly Quality Hotel), Paris
- Montaigne Hotel
6 ave Montaigne 8th Arr., Paris
- Comfort Hotel Place Du Tertre (16 Rue Tholose )
16, rue Tholoze 18th Arr., Paris
- Napoleon (Standard)
40 Avenue de Friedland 8th Arr., Paris
- Courtyard By Marriott Paris-Cdg Apt
1 Allee du Verger, Paris
- Saint Dominique Hotel
62 Rue Saint Dominique, Paris
Destinations near Paris- Île de la Cité, 1.22 km / 0.76 miles
- Clichy, 4.43 km / 2.75 miles
- Neuilly-sur-Seine, 5.21 km / 3.24 miles
- Asnières, 6.64 km / 4.13 miles
- Courbevoie, 7.12 km / 4.42 miles
- Boulogne-Billancourt, 7.12 km / 4.42 miles
- Suresnes, 7.3 km / 4.54 miles
- Puteaux, 7.3 km / 4.54 miles
- Issy-les-Moulineaux, 7.39 km / 4.59 miles
- Bois-Colombes, 7.39 km / 4.59 miles
» See all locations nearby» Popular Île-de-France locations» Popular France locations» Popular Europe locations |
Comments for CALSF about Paris | | | | |
holly39 Sun May 3, 2009 17:42 UTC im going to paris in march of 2010. Was there in 2005 but twisted ankle kept me from getting all the joys of the city. Next time try the duquense eiffel hotel. | Robmj Sat Jan 17, 2009 09:42 UTC Nice info, I recall being up the top and being amazed at the traffic chaos below | toonsarah Sat Jan 10, 2009 16:47 UTC What a comprehensive page! You seem to have put all your VT energy into it ;-) I agree about the Orsay, and your tip about the Memorial des Martyrs de La Deportation is beautifully expressed | breughel Sun Nov 30, 2008 12:35 UTC Excellent practical tips. |
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