Our 6 Favorite Hidden Gems in Paris
While Paris is known for its main monuments and attractions, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the Champs-Elysées, it is also home to many lesser-known places of interest. Here are 6 of our favorite hidden gems of Paris.
MONTMARTRE
While Montmartre is known as the home of the Sacré Coeur and the Moulin Rouge, it has much more to offer. Tourists often skip over other parts of the neighborhood that are well worth the visit. Tour the cemetery, an old gypsum quarry where several famous artists are buried. In addition, you can visit the vineyards, covering over 1556 square miles and featuring over 27 varieties of wine.
BERCY VILLAGE
This little spot in the 12th arrondissement features a beautiful collection of shops and cobblestone streets that make you forget you’re even in Paris. Classified as an historical monument since 1986, it is an important cultural center. With over 30 shops and restaurants, a UGC cinema, and easy access from metro stop Cour St Emilion on line 14, it is a popular destination among Bercy locals, but virtually unknown to tourists.
BOULEVARD BRUNE
Located at the southern edge of Paris, this often-overlooked street is bustling with authentic Parisian charm. Explore the many local shops, rent one of the all-inclusive student studio apartments, attend a class at an inexpensive gym, or purchase fresh produce from one of the several stands lining the street on market day. This street is an easy access point to other places in Paris, as it is located in between two popular metro stops, Porte d’Orleans and Porte de Vanves, and has a tram running along it.
PARC DES BUTTES-CHAUMONT
This lesser-known park is a real gem among Paris’s overcrowded main attractions. It is lined with gorgeous waterfalls, bridges and greenery, as well as a rarely climbed mountain offering splendid views of the park and a replica of the Roman Temple of Sibylle at the top.
BEEHIVES
Tucked away in a far southwest corner of the Jardin of Luxembourg lies a grouping of beehives. Producers of local honey, the bees are an unexpected part of Paris’s food production. A visit to the beehives allows you to learn about the honey production process. You can even enroll classes offered twice weekly to try your hand at beekeeping.
PARIS SEWER SYSTEM
Paris’s ancient sewer system has been converted into a museum. Offering a unique look at the long and complex history of Parisian drainage, this fascinating museum allows you to wander the very tunnels used to collect the sewage of the city, seeing the sewage system at work.
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