Where better than Paris to get away this Valentine’s season? This beautiful French city is one of the most romantic in the world. Home to spectacular historical sites, museums, architecture, parks, and restaurants, Paris offers a world of possibilities.
The unusual historical destinations are part of what makes Paris interesting. A huge part of French history is the French Revolution. La Conciergerie was a prison during La Revolution where Marie Antoinette and Robespierre awaited their trip to the guillotine. Before that, it was a royal palace during the Middle Ages. Les Catacombes are another historical site touched by the Revolution. It is one of the creepiest albeit most popular attractions in France.
The French are known for their intriguing museums. A great one in Paris is the Musée d’Orsay. It used to be a train station before it became an impressionist museum. Housing paintings, sculptures, furniture, and photography from artists such as Cézanne, Monet, Degas, Renoir, and Van Gogh, make the museum unique and are definite highlights.
The beauty of Paris can be witnessed everywhere, but its architecture speaks volumes. One architectural landmark is the Sacred Heart of Paris. The Basilique du Sacré-Coeur is the crown on Montmartre. This Romano-Byzantine style church contains one of the largest mosaics in the world, Christ in Majesty, and features French nationalist-themed architecture. Sacré-Coeur has symbolism in its famous three arches, its statues, its bell, and more.
A more natural approach to seeing the Paris charm is through its lovely parks. The Parc Monceau is made up of gorgeous gardens originally owned by the Duke d’Orléans, who was a secret revolutionary in the late eighteenth century. The park is over twenty acres in the eighth arrondissement. The Parc Monceau, which is the focus of at least five of Claude Monet’s paintings, is a wonderful place to visit.
There are places on every street corner in Paris advertising great food. Known for their croissants, Parisian cafés are brimming with atmosphere. Le Loir dans la Théière, meaning the dormouse in the teapot, is a cute café known for its giant slices of pie and is located on the popular Rue des Rosiers.
Another restaurant favorite is Le Pétrelle. One of their signature dishes is a pot of silky cream with lavender. La Rotonde in the Montparnasse Quarter has a long history dating back to over a hundred years ago and is still operating today with good food and a warm environment. Loved by famous artists and intellectuals, La Closerie des Lilas is stunning and an experience in itself. Hemmingway and Stein were frequent customers at La Rotonde and La Closerie.
With so much to do in Paris, it would take a lifetime to uncover all of its hidden gems. The Vedettes du Pont-Neuf is a river cruise that takes you along the Seine. In the process you get a great view of riverside Paris. The best time to go is at night for a lit-up vista of the shining city of lights.
For the very motivated adventurers, there are hundreds of bike tours. The more common Champs-Élysées is also nice for an evening stroll starting at the Place de la Concorde and ending at the Place Charles de Gaulle with the Arc de Triomphe alight.
Paris is perfect for vacation as it has classic sights as well as new hot spots. There is something for everyone with a plethora of mystery, intrigue, beauty, and romance. The City of Lights and Love, Paris has magic like no other city.
