Did you know these corners of Paris? Unexpected (but no less seductive) places

Paris, Paris, Paris, Paris, Paris, Paris, Paris, Paris, Paris, Paris, Paris, Paris, Paris, Paris, Paris, Paris, Paris, Paris, Paris, Paris, Paris, Paris, Paris, Paris, Paris, Paris, Paris, Paris. It seems that this summer all compasses point to the French capital, not only because of its status as a universal travel attraction or its turbulent political situation, but especially because of the celebration of the Olympic Games that will take place from July 26 to August 11.

And we already know that, beyond the Olympic event, Paris always has places to visit for a getaway, from the iconic Versailles to Disneyland Paris, passing through a city that, beyond the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and other delightful icons, also has places not so well known.

We get lost in Paris where someone plays La vie en rose the accordion, lovers drink wine in front of a canal and the most secret cafés are spread out along streets that invite you to stroll with a baguette under your arm.

Rue Mouffetard

Some of the best falafel in the city, fruit shops where Amelie would have dipped her hand into a bag of lentils, trendy cafés, facades with murals and a fiercely cosmopolitan atmosphere characterise one of the oldest streets in Paris. Mouffetard is the perfect alternative when it comes to getting lost in a Latin Quarter full of bistros, restaurants and places like the Place de la Contrescarpe, a true oracle of happy hour for Parisians (and at one time, for Ernest Hemingway too).

Butte quail

Cobbled streets with secret gardens, graffiti and charming little squares evoke the peaceful atmosphere of a hill in the 13th arrondissement that once housed the vineyards and windmills of the Caille family. Today, the best walk awaits you between squares such as Paul Verlaine, which houses one of the three fountains of Paris; or the local swimming pool, in art deco style and one of the most popular in the city thanks to its constant temperature of 28ºC, coming from a thermal spring discovered on the hill in 1946. If you are looking for a recommendation for lunch, you can wait in line (or get lucky) at Chez Gladines, a Basque restaurant that has become an emblem of the neighbourhood.

Montsouris Park

“Just an umbrella, Maga, you might remember that old umbrella that we sacrificed in a ravine in Parc Montsouris,” wrote Julio Cortázar in the universal Hopscotcha perfect reflection of that enigmatic Paris from which places such as the Montsouris park, located in the 14th district, in the south of the city, are extracted. Considered one of the largest green spaces in Paris, the park was built during the reign of Napoleon III and opened in 1869. An urban oasis whose proximity to the University campus It offers pictures of students lying on the grass, as well as various events and concerts, especially in the summer.

Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris (CIUP)

And since you’ve unfolded the checkered tablecloth vichy In Montsouris, there is nothing better than visiting the Cité Internationales Universitaire de Paris, a campus worthy of a global story. The reason for this is the 40 student houses from different countries whose architecture pays homage to various cultures, as confirmed by the network of fountains and courtyards of the Casa de Marruecos, among others. There is also the possibility of booking guided tours that delve into the history of each of these residences.

Quai Branly Museum

Just 500 metres from the Eiffel Tower lies one of the most interesting museums, sometimes overshadowed by the magnetism of the city’s great icon. The Musée du Quai Branly was opened in 2006 as an idea by French President Jacques Chirac to merge the ethnological collection of the Musée de l’Homme and the collections of the Musée National d’Arts de Africaine et de l’Océanie. The result is a journey around the world sheltered by a shell of vertical gardens that make it the perfect cultural refuge.

Bois de Vincennes

What began as one of the largest hunting grounds in the east of Paris was transformed, in the time of Napoleon III, into a dreamy forest where you can escape by metro but where you feel like you are somewhere far away from the city. The Bois de Vincennes is not only the perfect haven of peace for a picnic or a bike ride through 450 hectares of forest. It is also a natural labyrinth that includes a palace, a zoo or the iconic Daumesnil lake, famous for its few friendly swans and the structure known as the Temple of Love, which you can also access via a bridge bitten by vegetation.

Denoyez Street

If you like street art, one of the great places to go is on rue Dénoyez, in the Belleville district. A 150-metre long street that acts as a canvas for various murals that paint the heart of one of the most cosmopolitan districts in Paris thanks to the peaceful coexistence of various ethnic groups. A wave that unfolds a group of art galleries on rue Picabia, the panoramic view of the Eiffel Tower from the Belleville park, or the Père-Lachaise cemetery, where the remains of Édith Piaf – born in this district – and Maria Callas rest.

Flea market

If you prefer shopping in the most bohemian sense of the word, you can always escape to the famous Flea Market (Marché aux Puces) which every weekend brings out antiques and unexpected trinkets in the Saint-Ouen area. A meeting place for collectors and lovers of relics where there is life beyond Provençal lamps and gilded mirrors: a feast of Mid-Century tables, Chanel scarves and works of art, among many other surprises, spread across 14 different areas of warehouses and alleys.

Delicatessen

‘Luminiscence’, in the island of Saint-Eustache

Since last May, the Saint-Eustache church in the 1st arrondissement has hosted the immersive show Luminiscence. A series of presentations, light shows, 360 projections and choir performances that adapt the story of this icon to modern times, from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, through such influential figures as Molière and the Duchess of Orleans. You can buy your tickets here.