5 must-see places in Paris
The Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, the Champs Élysées… you know all the must-sees in Paris?
How about discovering the hidden places and unusual spots the city has to offer?
Follow us as we take you on a stroll of unsuspected discoveries!
The Je t’aime wall
Can you say I love you in 2 languages? 3 ..? 4 perhaps?
At the foot of Montmartre, come and discover 311 ways of saying “Je t’aime” in over 250 different languages! If you’re visiting the city of love, this is a must-see! What’s more, it’s a great idea to remember that here, walls don’t separate us, but on the contrary bring us together.
The Wall of Je t’aime
Square Jean Rictus,
14 Place des Abbesses – 75018 Paris
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
The Deyrolle cabinet of curiosities
Stroll among butterflies, insects, shells and mammals of all kinds in the heart of Paris. Welcome to the Cabinet de Curiosité Deyrolle. Since 1831, this museum-shop has been collecting stuffed and fossilized animals, old teaching boards and other objects as rare as they are unusual.
A true Parisian institution, it’s a must-see at least once in your life! (Rest assured, none of the animals on display have been killed: all have been recovered from natural causes).
Cabinet Deyrolle
46 rue du Bac – 75007 Paris
https://deyrolle.com/
The Lavirotte building
In the 7th arrondissement, a very special building stands out from the rest: the Lavirotte building.
Sandwiched between two Haussmann façades, it stands out for its unique Art Nouveau architecture, immediately reminiscent of Gaudi.
With its ceramics, columns, moldings and ornate balcony railings, the façade of the Lavirotte building is an architectural treasure trove (which will certainly give you a stiff neck from admiring it so much). The building’s centerpiece is undoubtedly its wood-carved door, which instantly catches the eye of the curious (yes, yes… that’s an inverted phallus you’re looking at!).
Lavirotte building
29 avenue Rapp – 75 007 Paris
Collège des bernardins
Located in the heart of the Latin Quarter, this former college is one of the oldest medieval buildings in Paris. Formerly used as a monastic center, a prison, a fire station and even a boarding school, it is now a cultural venue, open to the public and free of charge. In the nave, you’ll even find a surprisingly affordable café-restaurant.
Its white stone, vaulted ceilings and alcoves bring an inexplicable serenity to the place.
Collège des Bernardins
20 rue de Poissy – 75 005 Paris
The arenas of Lutetia
If you stroll through the 5ᵉ arrondissement, just behind the Jardin des Plantes, you may come across the oldest monument in Paris (just after the Concorde obelisk): the Lutèce arenas.
This Gallo-Roman amphitheatre dates back to the 1st century!
As there were thousands of them in Gaul’s heyday, this amphitheater hosted theatrical performances and gladiatorial combat. Take a seat on the arched benches and imagine yourself on stage! Total capacity is estimated at 17,000 spectators. At the time, Lutetia (the ancient name given to Paris) had a population of nearly 20,000: almost the entire population of the city gathered in these arenas.
Lutetia arenas
49 rue de Monge – 75 005 Paris