Prodigious Paris

Each time we visit Paris we discover new secrets to share and living in the Saint Germaine area for a week brought an array of delightful encounters across the city.

Galeries Lafayette rooftop – This monstrous shopping store with an incredible painted glass dome is sumptuous. But you have to go to the rooftop for a great view of the city. Located right behind the Paris Opera House, you can shop, grab a coffee, or just observe.

25 Rue de la Chau d’Antin

 

 

Luxembourg Gardens Medici Fountain – We wandered through this divine garden in the past, but I didn’t know that there was a Medici Fountain! It is hidden in the northeast corner – go find it. It was one of my favorite spots to sit and write in the green metal chairs.

 

 

Pont Alexandre III Bridge – Still my favorite bridge with the gold lions and turn of the century lanterns. And this is a great location to watch the Eiffel Tower light up the sky at 10 pm and begin the flickering at 11 pm.

 

Musee Jacquemart Andre – A wonderful stop which doesn’t get enough attention. This museum contains works by Boticelli and Rembrandt.

158 Bd Haussmann

Musee de l’Orangerie – Another museum worth stopping in which features Monet paintings

Au Vieux Paris Auberge depuis 1594 – Great food served in a 16th-century townhouse with antiques, stained glass & a striking decor which lends itself to fabulous photos

24 Rue Chanoinesse

Jardin Tuileries by the Seine River

Bouillon Chartier Montparnasse – This eatery dates back to 1896 and is a lovely photo op if you are in the area

59 Bd du Montparnasse

Sacre Cour – Although this is not an old building, the white marble situated on the Montmartre hill is just lovely and worth every step to the top. We enjoyed a picnic on the grass just below the entrance.

 

Roman Wall – Rome was expansive in its day and the remnants of the ancient wall are found here.

Rue des Jardins-Saint-Paul

Place de la Concorde – There is a marker here for the 1793 site where King Louis 16th was guillotined

Rue Bossy d’Anglas

Rue Mouffetard – This street was a favorite on our last trip, but this time it looked a bid tawdry. Too many souvenir shops and crepe shops.

Cafe des Deux Moulins – This is where Amelie works in our favorite movie, Amelie.

15 Rue Lepic

 

Van Gogh home – Van Gogh lived here

54 Rue Lepic

Montmartre Cemetery – Edward Degas, the painter, is buried here. And, although there is a map at the entrance, we could not find his plot.

Pantheon – We have walked past this beautiful domed building but had never gone inside. And we were treated to the burial sites of two favorite authors, Victor Hugo, who wrote Les Miserables, and Alexander Dumas, who wrote The Count of Monte Cristo.

 

Place du Tertre – This lively square in Montmartre just to the left of the Sacre Cour is home to a dozen artists plying their trade in the portrait painting business. Cute cafes and stores line the area. We truly like this region.

Musee d’Orsay – Built in an old train station, this iconic museum was a stop for the moody clock photo. But we love this museum which is home to a huge selection of Europe’s 19th and 20th century art. As well as dozens of sculptures.

1 Rue de la Legion d’Honneur

 

Musee Rodin – Although this museum is small, the grounds are lovely and you get to pose under Rodin’s Thinker statue. You can get the ticket for the Rodin when you purchase a ticket at the d’Orsay for only a few euros more.

77 Rue de Varenne

 

Coulee Verte Rene Dumont – This is Paris’ rendition of the New York Highline. Created on an old train track, it is a nice walk above the streets of Paris if you are in the area.

Les Deux Magots – Hemingway and Picasso ate here at this grand eatery that is over a 100 years old.

6 Place Saint Germain des Prés

 

Le Caveau du Huchette – This is the bar where Sebastian plays the piano in the movie, La La Land.

5 Rue de la Huchette

 

Bistrot La Renaissance – This is the cafe where Shosanna meets her nemesis over coffee in the movie, Inglorious Basterds.

112 Rue Championnet

 

Theatre de l’Athenee – This is the theater where Hugo watches some of the old George Melies movies in the movie, Hugo.

5 Square d l’Opera Louis

Rue Cler – walk this wonderful street full of local produce and bakeries and then go have a picnic under the Eiffel Tower which is close by.

Musee Melies – This museum in an out of the way location had so many old movie projectors from George Melies in 1895, along with costumes he used. He was one of the first filmmakers in the business.

51 rue de Bercy

 

La Maison Rose – Picasso and Stein convened here for coffee and dinner. Beautiful building and photo op!

2 Rue de l’Abreuvoir

 

Vins des Pyrenees – This lovely restaurant dates from 1905 and we enjoyed a tasty French meal of pork and potatoes in this vintage building.

25 Rue Beutreillis

 

Moulin Rouge – We assumed that a show here at the Moulin Rouge would be a bit tawdry, but we were wrong! Thirty women and 12 men danced in a dozen different extravagant outfits featuring headdresses and boas. And they featured three cirque du soleil style acts which thoroughly entertained us. Pay to get the drinks and you get seated closest to the stage. And it’s not just a drink. The waiters bring out a silver ice bucket with your own bottle of champagne. We drank it all!

 

Au Lapin Agile – Edith Piaf sang La Vie en Rose here!

22 Rui des Saules

 

Au Marche de la Butte – Amelie shops here in the movie, Amelie.

56 Rui des Trois Frères

 

Hemingway House – Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley, rented a two room flat on the third floor here in January 1922.

74 Rue du Cardinal Lemoine

 

Paris Opera House – This opulent theater had us searching for the Phantom as we wandered the corridors.

La Grande Epicerie Paris – This is just a lovely grocery store in Paris. We thoroughly enjoy shopping for all food when we travel and find the craziest foods.

lagrandeepicerie.com