Top 10 Unusual Places in Paris
Besides the obvious landmarks the city of Paris holds some rather unusual experiences for its visitors. For a break from the traditional Paris Tour, check out these top 10 unusual places.
1. Flea Market Clignancourt
This market does not resemble any usual flea market and definitely has a justified spot in this list of top 10 unusual places. If you want, you could say it’s a luxury flea market with antiques and beautiful paintings waiting for a new owner. In between all the shops you can find great little restaurants to enjoy a nice lunch when tired from shopping. It is also the right place to find souvenirs for friends and family at home.
99, Rue des Rosiers 93400 Saint-Ouen
2. Book Stores on the Seine
When you feel like strolling along the river Seine make sure to check out the typical Parisian bookstands. One the docks of the Seine you will find men and women selling books, postcards, posters, and old fashion magazines from their little green boxes. When going through the different books it happens to find some real gems in many different languages.
3. Giant Thumb at La Défense
“Le Pouce” on Place Carpeaux is 12 meter high and weights 18 tons. The artist César Baldaccini created this sculpture of his own thumb using the 3-D pantographic technique. It’s a great place to take cool pictures and see a bit of the modern, business district of Paris.
4. Museum History of Medicine
Its collection is the oldest in Europe and holds different operating tools, rare medical, and surgical bags as well as physiology tools from the 18th and 19th century. One of the more exceptional objects in the museum is a table that was made by the Italian doctor Efisio Marini who gifted it to Napoleon III. It is made from petrified brains, bile, liver, lungs, blood, 4 ears, and a foot. Check it out if you dare.
Le Musée d’Histoire de la Médecine – 12, Rue de l’Ecole de Médecine 75006 Paris www.univ-paris5.fr/CULTURE/Musee-d-Histoire-de-la-Medecine
5. Rue Crémieux
For a change from the beautiful Haussmann-buildings of Paris, the Rue Crémieux offers some colorful distraction. The beloved Instagram scenery is situated in the 12th district close by the Place de la Bastille is definitely worth a place in the list of top 10 unusual places in Paris.
Rue Crémieux, 75012 Paris
6. Passage Brady
In a narrow passage close to the Gare de l’Est you can discover the tastes and traditions of India. Nicknamed “Little India” the shops and restaurants in this passage offer you exotic fruits and vegetables, fragrant bags of rice, oriental oils, teas, costumes, jewelry, and DVD’s straight from Bollywood.
Passage Brady 75010 Paris
7. Prison Cell of Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette the former Queen of France lived a lavish life outside of Paris in the Versailles palace but during the French Revolution the whole royal family was captured and condemned to a death sentence. If you are interested in the fall of the prestigious Queen you should definitely stop by her prison cell in which she lived with her children before her execution. It is quite the difference to the pompous life she knew at the court of Versailles.
Conciergerie – 2, Boulevard du Palais 75001 www.paris-conciergerie.fr
8. Dog Cemetery
Paris has a few famous cemeteries like Père Lachaise, Montmartre, and Montparnasse but it also has one for its many dogs and pets next to the Pont de Clichy just outside the city. So if you have never seen a thing like this before you should pass by when you have the chance.
Cimetière des Chiens et Autres Animaux Domestiques – 4 Pont de Clichy 92600 Asnières-sur-Seine
9. George Washington Statue at Iéna
Most Americans are surprised when they find the statue of George Washington close by the Iéna metro station. It was given by the Committee of American Women of the High Society in 1900.
Equestrian Statue of George Washington 7, Avenue d’Iéna 75116
10. Automata Museum
More than 100 automata are exhibited in this museum and every single one of them can be brought to live by visitors. Don’t forget to also check out the museum of magic in the same building.
Musée des Automates / Musée de la Magie – 11, Rue St Paul 75004 Paris www.museedesautomates.fr
Related posts:
