Paris Hidden Attractions, Away from the Crowds
Small Parisian Museums & Undiscovered Sights in the French Capital
Jun 27, 2009
Ideal for a holiday, a week end break or a stop over on a grand tour of Europe, Paris is one of the world’s most visited capitals.
The main tourist sites attract huge numbers of visitors year round but just a few steps away, the French capital is full of hidden attractions, still largely undiscovered. Those in the know stroll along the Canal St Martin, explore La Villette or the colourful district of Belleville, birth place of Edith Piaf, or look out for the Arts Viaduct or the small Parisian museums.
Small Parisian Museums and Arts Viaduct
Paris has lots of famous museums but to get away from the crowds now and then, it’s worth seeking out some of the smaller unusual venues. They’re all listed in the official guide but favourites include museums dedicated to Magic, Wine, Perfume, Fairground, Romantic Life and unsurprisingly, Erotic Art in Pigalle.
On Daumesnils Avenue in the 12th district, the Arts Viaduct is a fascinating spot where the old pink archways have been converted into craft and workshops, full of painted furniture, restored antiques and theatre costumes. The disused railway track on the top is now a hanging garden, scented with lavender and roses, with a 5km long footpath stretching all the way to the Bois de Vincennes.
Paris Hidden Attractions, La Villette and Canal St Martin
Close to the Gare du Nord, the Canal St Martin has a shaded waterside promenade where Parisians love to relax. There are cyclists and fishermen, joggers, Tai Chi enthusiasts, canoes, footbridges and locks and seasonal boat trips which take on an air of rural France.
The canal skirts the Parc de la Villette, a vast open space with elevated walkways, bright red structures and a quiet bamboo grove tucked in a hollow. The giant sphere of the Géode houses an equally giant screen and the park is also home to the Cité des Sciences, the Cité de la Musique and a cattle shed turned into a concert hall.
Paris Belleville District, a Colourful but Undiscovered Sight in the French Capital
Paris has many vibrant markets but Belleville claims one of the best, with hundreds of stalls strung along the boulevard, mirroring the diverse ethnic groups of the local community. Asian fabrics and beads mingle with sunglasses, spicy sausages, fresh mint and coriander, exotic fruit, perfumes, mouse traps and much more. The fragrance of Oriental and African cooking lingers all around and it’s hard to resist a tasty lunch under the trees.
Number 72, rue de Belleville, recalls the great singer Edith Piaf, who was born on the doorstep, while the nearby rue de l’Ermitage still boasts its old wash houses and springs. The hilltop Park has great views of Paris and a vineyard on its southern slope.
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