Bastille Market and other Paris, France Things to Do Tips

Open Thursdays and Sundays (even Easter Sunday to my surprise), this open air market located amidst the Place de la Bastille hosts several boulangers, bouchers and everything in between. You'll find every cheese imaginable alongside every cured meat possibleall within the confines of this thriving market. Taste regional wines, sample organic fruits, buy handcrafted toys, watch entertainers juggling while buying freshly roasted rabbit. Absolutely the best way to experience the Parisian pace.

My suggestion: buy a great baguette, some meat, cheese and a great bottle of wine. Then walk the few blocks to Place des Vosges and have a picnic. Fun!

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Website: http://www.geobeats.com/videoclips/france/paris/bastille-market

Considering this is located in one of the most historic landmarks in Paris, the Palais de Chaillot, this is somewhat an "off-the-beaten-path" museum. Masterfully crafted miniatures of French naval history fill this exciting museum where real boats from the 17th and 19th centuries are anchored. As you enter the exhibit, you will see a lavish golden dinghy built for Napoleon in 1810. So much can be learned about one of the most brilliant navies in history in this must-see museum.

Exciting. Informative. Historically essential.

For art lovers, historic sea battles are captured in oil as commissioned by King Louis XIV among others.

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Address: 17 Place du Trocadero 75016
Directions: Immediately to the right of Musee de L'Homme
Website: www.musee-marine.fr

Rue des Rosiers is the center of Paris' Jewish quarter. This lively street is scented with the freshly baked goodies seeping out of the kosher boulangeries and pattiseries. Hamentaschen. Knoshes. Challah bread.

You'll also find what each vendor claims to be "the Best Falafel in Paris" as well as the Parisian interpretation of a New York Jewish diner. Being a New York resident, I immediately searched the menu for matzoh ball soup to warm me from the rather chilly day and was disappointed when it was nonexistent. You won't find it here. Nonetheless, this place is unique from the rest of Paris and is must for any food lover.

I left with two loaves of freshly baked Challah bread and my stomach stuffed with a little bit of everything. Cheesecake, knish...

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Directions: Rue des Rosiers is located in the Marais, 3me.

I think the most interesting thing about this landmark which oozes with history and drama is that it was built by Louis XIV as recovery area for all "old and wounded officers and soldiers." Royal, grand, and spacious indeed. If you can somehow mentally remove all the exhibits and place yourself in the era in which it served, there is something peculiarly haunting yet noble about this grand monument.

Napoleon's tomb, which consists of six concentric coffins, can be viewed from a round balcony above it -- forcing everyone to bow down to the emperor even in his death. This delighted Adolf Hitler.

Within the confines of this architectural masterpiece one can view three museums: Musee de l'armee which celebrates French military history, Musee des Plans-Reliefs, and the Musee de l'ordre de la Liberation with tells the story of those who fought for the liberation of France during WWII.

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Address: Esplandes des Invalides 75007
Directions: Metro: Invalides
Website: www.invalides.org/

This indoor market in Saint Germain is not as impressive and exciting as its outdoor counterpart in the Bastille area. It's shares the same roof as several clothing stores and from my understanding, is much more commercial than it was in the past. Commercial indeed. Quite different from what it was in the 19th and 20th century when it was an open market, it only boasts about 20 vendors. Even so, if you're in the area - and only if you're in the area - swing by to see what the vendors have to offer. Frankly there isn't anything you won't find in whichever neighborhood your staying in -- unless of course it's Saint Germain.

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Directions: The market itself lies within the area enclosed by the rues Lobineau, Mabillon, and Clément; Métro: Mabillon

The Palais de Chaillot was built in 1937 highlighting French last colonial exhibition. At that time, the French colonial empire was the second largest in the world after the British empire. The Palais de Chaillot was named after the Chaillot hill on which it is built. The Chaillot hill on the right bank dominates the Seine river and spectacularly faces the Eiffel tower on the left bank. (Adolf Hitler has a famous photograph taken here with the tower behind him).

The Palais de Chaillot is also named the Trocadero as a reminder of the French victory in Spain. A

The Palais de Chaillot houses the Navy museum (see this on my Things to Do), the Mankind museum and the 1200 seats TNP theater.

The architecture of the Palais de Chaillot is representative of 1937 modern architecture. Two large pavilions are separated by a large terrace providind spectacular views on the Eiffel tower.

The centerpiece of the gardens is a rectangular pool bordered by stone and large bronze fountains, lit by night.

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Address: Place du Trocadero
Directions: Metro:Trocadero

Located in what has become one of my favorite areas in Paris - Montmartre - Place du Terte is full of artists and portrait painters. Historically interesting. Physically beautiful. Inundated with tourists. Nonetheless, the vibrant colors and the festive theme-park-like atmosphere begs for several photos.

The square is lined with eateries should the trek to this area induce hunger.

Plenty of "I've been to France" t-shirt stores.

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Address: Metro: Abbesses
Website: http://www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com/

No trip to Paris would be complete sans a walk up the Avenue des Champs-Elyees. It is one of the 12 symmetrical avenues that radiate from the huge rotary of pl. Charles de Gaulle-Etoille and is a legendary epicenter of chic. Chain restaurants and shopping venues line the avenue which used to be the home of the most affluent in Paris. Needless to say, this symbolic landmark is quite touristy and thus quite pricey. It tends to get more crowded as you draw closer to the Arc where you'll find several fellow visitors taking pictures of the monument as a backdrop.

If you're careful and somehow make it to the median without getting hit by car you can take a picture of the Arc de Triomphe behind you.

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Directions: The Champs runs from the pl. Charles de Gaulle-Etiole southeast to the pl. de la Concorde

What the Great Wall is to China, the Statue of Liberty is to New York and the Coliseum is to Italy, the Tour Eiffel is to Paris. All these historic landmarks aren't only symbols of the countries and cities in which they reside but structures which represent the capability of man. Tourist or traveller, no Parisian experience would be complete without - at the very least - at glimpse of this structure. Romance, femininity, boldness and structure packaged into one quintessential experience.

Though the tower offer three levels from which to view the city it overlooks, the second level is optimal in that Paris is a very low-built city. Monuments and buildings are still discernible while still providing you with a bird's eye view of the city and how it's laid out.

The tower lights up from sunset to 1 or 2am depending on the season with a 10 minute light show at the beginning of every hour. In the evening look for the light beams which draw attention to this spectacle.

Best views/photo ops:

Underneath: you can truly experience the scale of this architectural landmark
Trocadero: an elevated view, perfectly centered (Hitler had a picture taken here)

For updated rates and information visit the site below.

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Address: Trocadero
Website: http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/uk/pratique/a_voir/page/phare.html

The Mona Lisa was stolen on August 22, 1911. On September 7, French poet Guillaume Apollinaire, who had once called for the Louvre to be "burnt down", was arrested and put in jail on suspicion of theft. His friend Pablo Picasso was brought in for questioning, but both were later released. At the time, the painting was believed lost forever. It turned out that Louvre employee stole it by simply walking out the door with it hidden under his coat. The theft was master-minded by Eduardo de Valfierno, a con-man who had commissioned a French art forger to make copies of the painting so he could sell them.

The cutoff point for the Louvre's collections is 1848; the Musee d' Orsay has art between 1848-1903 and the Pompidou has art starting in 1904. As relief after walking through its massive interior, the Tuileries and Carrousel gardens provides a spacious area for relaxing in the park or by two ponds.

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Directions: Métro: Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre