Paris non-tourist places?

Question

I have been to Paris many times, but always to the "usual" spots: Montmartre, Champs Elysee, Louvre, etc

What are some places that people tend not to know about?

Answer 1

You will also find real and favorite "TOP 20" parisian restaurant, on the right of the http://www.thefork.com website.

Answer 2

Hi, I do not want to write you a catalogue of sites, to have a good feeling about the city is more important, is a part of the discovery : the streets, If you want to feel the pulse of this city, walking through the streets, visiting markets, meeting the people who buy in stores, looking at what is in the stores, see the goods there, this is Paris, the Parc de Bagatelle is always forgotten, this is a wonderful promenade (possible with Bus) because roses will be in bloom, I understand well, when we saw once Museums, to feel what the city is you find it in the streets,

Don' forget l'Ile Saint Louis and l'Ile de la Cité, a part of the heart of the City, wonderful  on walking ! You don't need to spend your money, there are much to do "Free", , to have a cafe in a typic bistro, or a glass of wine in a  wine bar, a good pastry in a bakery,  to meet the parisian people is important !

Answer 3

There is lot of "non touristic" spots in Paris you could find interesting.

Le Marais, with the very ancient "Place des Vosges" and "Maison de Victor Hugo" is famous, and less crowded.

"La contrescarpe" is very nice place with plenty of "cheap restaurants", and paved streets."Les Buttes Chaumont", Le pére Lachaise", and the chinese area historically between Porte de Choisy and Port d'Italie are nice place to visit. and there is hundred other like this

Answer 4

1. Ménilmontant and Belleville. I like bars and cafés like Zorba, Folies Belleville... in may, there's an art fair (Les portes ouvertes des ateliers d'artistes de Belleville), j'adore!

2. Les marchés aux puces de Montreuil and Saint-Ouen (enormous flea markets)

3. Rue Saint-Denis (the turkish/kurdish quarter in Paris)

4. Week end afternoons in the Pont des Arts (Bring a bottle of wine!)

5. Saturday and sunday morning in Parc Montsouris...

6. Demonstrations in Paris (Mayday!)

etc

(I recommend you to buy Aladin magazine so you could go to the 2nd hand market... you can have a great time there and see some elements of the life of real parisians

Answer 5

try ...butte chamount or the st martin chanel, u can also go to frecnh china town wich is located in the 13 arondisement, try also le frigo des paris wich was an ancient abatoire now ocupied as lofts for artists...

Answer 6

Loire Valley or in French Valley de Loire! Its where the old kinds and queens used to live. BUNCH OF CASTLES. I am very into  Royalty and Castles, and if you are you will LOVE IT! I honestly think its the best place to visit or even live in France.

Answer 7

Les Buttes Chaumont,

Place des Vosges,

Place Vendome,

Place des Ternes,

Place du Tertre,

Père Lachaise Cemetery, (Jim Morrison ...)

Pont des Arts,

Musée Grévin,

Musée Guimet,

Palais de Tokyo,

Observatoire de Paris,

Mouffetard/La contrescarpe,

Daguerre street,

le Marais,

Bac street,

Grands Boulevards,

bourough of Sèvres Babylone,

are interesting places, so you can see various"faces" of Paris.

Answer 8

Some of the less touristed places might be:

1. Musée des Plans-Relief -  An overlooked museum that is housed over the Army Museum on the Esplanade des Invalides. For years this place was just a garret filled with models of the various fortifications and walled towns in France. Prior to 1950 the public was not admited since some of information that could gleaned from the models was considered a state secret. The collection of models was started by Louis XIV. The oldest model, representing the town of Perpignan, dates back to 1866.

2) Arena Lutetia on the rue Monge. - These are the remains of a Roman arena destroyed in the 3rd century. Completely forgotten during 1500 years they were rediscovered in 1869, when new streets were planned and diggings ordered. It was one of the largest amphitheatres of Gaul and could accomdate at least 15,000 spectators.

3) La Maison du Haut-Pignon at 51, rue de Montmorency, Paris 3rd arr. - This is the oldest house in Paris. It was built in 1407 by the writer and alchemist Nicolas Flamel. Look at the façade and see the inscription: "Ora et labora" (pray and work), which was the motto of the alchemists.

4) Cimetiere de Picpus - This is the burial place of the Marquis de Lafayette which can be found at 35, rue de Picpus. The only way into the cemetary is through an unmarked door in a larger, perpetually-closed gateway. You have to ring the doorbell and turn to the right after you pass through the door and find the entry 'official' who takes your entry fee. An American flag flies over his grave and did so even during the n**i occupation of Paris.

And for some interesting activites:

1) Have dinner with an icon of the Hippie era.  -  Jim Haynes is one of the founders of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and founder of the London Traverse Theatre Company. He started Suck, the sexual freedom newspaper, in Amsterdam in 1969 and taught Media Studies and Sexual Politics at the University of Paris 8.

He throws a dinner party every Sunday night. The crowd will include college professors, artists, the occasional rock star of famous actor. Give him a phone call or send him an email and you'll be invited. Details are on his website at: http://www.jim-haynes.com/index.htm

2)Go Rollerskating - Every Friday night except when there is rain, the City of Paris and the Paris Rollerskating Association organize a skate thru the streets of Paris from about 10 PM till 1 AM.

3) Become a member of the least exclusive club in the world - The Café Metropole Club meets every Thursday after noon. membership is very exclusive...you have to show up. details can be found here: http://www.metropoleparis.com/aclub.html the people who show up are a coolection of expatriates and tourists. A good place to meet some nice people and get some good advice about current events.

Answer 9

Normandy Beach.  I'm definately not really into history, but i just found that to be soo interesting but very sad at the same time.  Just seeing all the white crosses lined up and see everybody that died in the war wow that was some pretty touching stuff right their.  Also i guess some castles.