True Paris

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Paris, where do I start? The most touristic, iconic city in the world... thanks to its great landmarks and diverse arrondissements. It truly is the cultural hub of Europe, and each time I visit it, I fall even more in love. It is the epitome of discovery and a city where all ages can prosper. There are the numerous obvious places to visit and see... Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame etc.

But what about the hidden quarters that not many people know about? Surely, in such an artistic city, there is so much more to be uncovered. Here I have written about some hidden quarters in Paris that cannot be missed, and that will make you see the city in a completely different light. Monuments, buildings, restaurants... these are the best kept secrets of the capital.

Shakespeare and Company

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Situated in the shadow of the grand Notre Dame, on the other side of the bank lies this cherished bookshop. It was actually renamed from 'Le Mistral' to its current name, in tribute to another book store that flourished in the 1920s, popular with then current writers such as Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound etc. Today, it serves both as a regular bookstore, a second-hand books store, and as a reading library, specializing in English-language literature. Next door lies its very own café, where you can sit and enjoy a view of the grand cathedral and the quintessential garden located opposite.

La Terrasse des Galeries Lafayette

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One of the great free viewpoints in the city, you can see virtually the whole landscape from the top floor of this renowned shopping store. It beats that from the Eiffel Tower by virtue of having the Tower in it. It boasts a café too, a great spot to let your thoughts wander as you gaze below at Hausmann's creation of the simple streets and boulevards. There is also a telescope you can use to get a closer look at everyday Parisian life.

Bibliothèque Nationale de France

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The National Library of France is an amazing modern building located in the 13th arrondissement of Paris. The current building was constructed in 1996 however its origins date back to the 14th century. The library is made up of four large glass and chrome towers shaped as books, and holds a collection of over 14 million books. In between the towers is a central garden with beautiful old pine trees. The library is completely free to visit, and it is a worthwhile visit even to just look at the contrast in architecture from the outside to the inside.

Le mur des je t'aime (I love you : the wall)

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A space where love comes together in every language: Le mur des je t'aime (I love you : the wall). Somewhat uniting to see all the different languages as one, and all the people of different nationalities trying to find their language on the 40 square metre plaque. The phrase "I love you" is featured 311 times in 250 languages. The red splashes on the wall symbolize parts of a broken heart.

The 59 Rivoli

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The 59 Rivoli is a building right in the heart of Paris and all floors are completely filled with artist's studios. There's a gallery on the ground floor that has a new exposition every 2 weeks. In the beginning, it was a place where artists would stay whilst looking for a place to work, live and show. Unlike a standard art gallery where you only see the finished product, here, you see the artists' whole world where the work is actually created.

Le Drapeau de la Fidelité

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A small, bustling Vietnamese restaurant run by a former philosophy professor. In its 30 years of business, the prices have hardly gone up! A beer from €1, 50 and a range of delectable Vietnamese dishes for €6 (€5 students). It's a true experience, but the kitchen closes at 8pm and the venue at 10pm.

Albert Kahn Musée & Jardins

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This is a spectacular, ten-acre jardin located in the Boulogne-Billancourt district. Each section is modeled on a garden from around the world – rocky Vosgienne forest, Japanese village gardens, contemporary Japanese gardens and English and French gardens. It is a great place to stroll around on a lazy afternoon away from city centre. On Tuesdays and Sundays between April and September (except July and August), in the pavillon du thé, you can even partake in a Japanese tea ceremony, led by a tea master from Kyoto’s Urasenke school.

Petite Ceinture Railway

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All around Paris there used to run a little train, and remnants of its tracks can still be glimpsed all over the city... if you know where to look. In the 16th arrondissement of the city, there's a good kilometre chunk of the old tracks in the open air free to walk along if you wish. A different experience but a very niche activity in Paris.

Deportation Memorial

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In a tiny park on the tip of Ile de la Cité, just across the road from Notre Dame, lies a moving memorial dedicated to more than the 200, 000 people deported from Paris to Nazi concentration camps during the Second World War. The memorial is open daily from 10am to 5pm from October through March, and from 10am to 7pm from April through September. You can read all sorts of works from famous French poets and writers around the memorial. In fact, fragments of two poems by Robert Desnos are inscribed on the walls, a famous French poet who was a deportee himself. Extremely touching to say the least.

La Pagode

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A historic movie theatre settled in 1896 as a Japaense pagoda. Not just a movie theatre, it also boasts a Japanese tea garden. Despite housing only two relatively small cinemas, it has attracted more than 100, 000 film-goers a year in recent times, and hosted movie master-classes and festivals. It's a magnificent building and has become very symbolic over the years. It's golden, oriental interior is fascinating, and worthy of a trip.

Marché St Quentin

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One of the few remaining covered markets in Paris, it is one of the little-known attractions. It carries some of the best fresh produce you can find in the city and tons of delicious specialty cheeses. There are about thirty stalls, so go early and take your time to compare prices and find the best possible deals! The Marché St. Quentin is in fact a hub of international food sellers, which makes it both a special market and a specialist in niche items you might not find at other smaller, open air markets.

La Promenade Plantée

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The first green space constructed on an elevated viaduct. Also called the Coulée verte, the Promenade Plantée starts at the Opéra Bastille, and goes on for over two miles following what was once part of the old Vincennes railway line. Landscape architect Jacques Vergely and architect Philippe Mathieux turned the railway itself into this lovely parkway that was opened in 1993, which has since been a haunt with the locals.

Musée de la Vie Romantique

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Down a cobblestone alleyway is a museum dedicated to Romanticism, with a secret garden. The museum is housed in two buildings, one with temporary exhibition space and the other with two floors of artifacts related to Romantic art and literature.

Outside is one of the city's most beautiful hidden havens. The courtyard is filled with stunning pink and lilac flowers, and also includes an outdoor café where you can sit among the lush surroundings with a tea or coffee.

Pomze Paris

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Pomze Paris is a restaurant that loves apples so much that they have based their whole menu around the fruit, which can be found in every single starter, main course, and dessert, a total of 120 dishes! You will find the restaurant in a converted traditional-looking Haussmann style apartment, with regular favorites including a gazpacho with granny smith apple ice cubes.

Their logo is 'Laissez-vous tenter et entrez dans le monde de la pomme' which means Let yourself be tempted and enter into the world of apples.

Paris Point Zero

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Just outside of Notre Dame Cathedral, built into the concrete of the public square is a small geographic marker which supposedly marks the exact center of the city or country. In addition to this, it attracts a surprising number of rituals. Some of the customs performed on the site include spinning in a circle on one foot on the marker to gain your heart's desire... or kissing a loved one above the plate to ensure an eternal devotion. Probably the only geographic marker in the world that receives so much love!

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