Category Archives: Architecture/Urbanism

Exploring the Passages Couverts of Paris

The rainy days of early spring don’t mean that you can’t enjoy a slow stroll around Paris and indulge in the Parisian tradition of the Flâneur thanks to Paris’ many 19th-century passages couverts.

These glass-roofed covered shopping arcades and galleries are often lined with boutiques and bistros and were the precursor to the modern shopping mall. At a time when streets were made of dirt and poorly organised, the advent of these passages couverts revolutionised the way people shopped and roamed the city.  They also quickly found their place in literature and scholarly analyses. Some of the best known examples are Emile Zola’s Therese Raquin, Honoré de Balzac’s Illusions perdues, and Walter Benjamin’s final and unfinished Passagen-werk (Arcades Project).

Mostly a product of the first half of the 19th century, there were close to two-hundred covered passages by the 1860s, though only twenty-five have survived into the twenty-first century. The 2nd Arrondissement has the highest concentration of passages couverts but they can be found hidden across the city if you look out for them. Here are some of our top picks to explore during the coming April Showers:

Librairie Jousseaume, Galerie Vivienne. Sortir à Paris.

Galerie Vivienne

The Galerie Vivienne is known for its elegant shops and bistros. It was designed by architect François-Jacques Delannoy and inaugurated in 1826. Forming an “L” between rue des Petits-Champs and rue Vivienne, near the Palais-Royal and across the street from the BnF Richelieu site, the gallery offers a fascinating glimpse of neo-classical architecture, with its arcades, floor mosaics and luxurious decorations. It’s home to one of the oldest bookshops in the city, Librairie Jousseaume, which has been open as long as the Galerie Vivienne itself.

Cafe Joyeux, Passage Choiseul Entrance ©JTIverson

Passage de Choiseul 

Based in the area known as Paris’s Little Tokyo near the metro Pyramides, the Passage Choiseul was once home to the controversial author Louis-Ferdinand Céline as a child in the early 20th century. The Passage Choiseul is mentioned in two of his novels: Journey to the End of the Night and Death on the Installment Plan. Now the 190-metre long shopping arcade is home to East Asian specialities. We recommend checking out Little Seoul Restaurant, Yatai Ramen, and L’Othentique Vietnam. You can also find Cafe Joyeux, a charity run cafe that employs adults with cognitive disabilities helping them develop both employability and social skills.

Lil Weasel, Passage du Grand Cerf. Paris la douce.

Passage du Grand Cerf 

The Passage du Grand Cerf is known for art, crafts, and obscure collectors shops. Lil’ Weasel is a treasure trove of creative hobby supplies with two stores in this passage, one of which is entirely dedicated to yarn. Eric et Lydie is a jewellery shop on the ground floor and an adorable café on the floor above run by a husband and wife duo. The Fika menu of herbal tea or filter coffee and a cake of the day is a must on a cold, rainy afternoon.

GARDEL BERTRAND / HEMIS.FRhemis.frHemis via AFP

Passage des Panoramas

The Passage des Panoramas is a collector’s heaven; home to stamp, coin and antique dealers it is a treasure cove of the old and rare. It’s history is as odd as its shops’ contents:

In 1799, the American shipowner James Thayer opened the Passage des Panoramas with the main purpose of improve access from the Palais Royal to the Boulevard Montmartre and attracting  customers to his panoramas, painted frescoes covering the walls of a round room, housed in purpose built towers on the Boulevard. In 1834, the architect Jean-Louis Grisart added the Galeries Saint-Marc, des Variétés, de Feydeau and de Montmartre to form a covered complex of passages. You can read more about its history here.

Passage Brady

Originally built in 1828, Passage Brady can be found between rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis and Boulevard de Strasbourg. Overflowing with ambiance and aromas, it’s lined with Indian shops and restaurants, one more tempting than the next. You can get some great deals by making a reservation at one of these on The Fork website a day or two prior, we’re rather fond of New Delhi and la Reine de Kashmir! You can read more about Paris’s Little India in this article which explores the area most known for its Indian community.

Further reading or listening:

Ayers, Andrew (2004). The architecture of Paris: an architectural guide. A. Menges

BBC. (2022). BBC Radio 4 – In Our Time, Walter Benjamin. [online]

Elkin, L. (2016). Flâneuse: Women Walk the City in Paris, New York, Tokyo, Venice and London. Random House.

Sutcliffe, Anthony (1993). Paris: an architectural history. Yale University Press.

Zola, E. (1867). Therese Raquin. Siruela.

 

Top image: francetourisme.fr

Exploring the Ruins of Roman Paris

The history of the city of Paris begins with the small Roman settlement of Lutetia (Lutèce in French) which was built on the hill that now houses the Pantheon the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève in the first century BC. Later in the Roman period the settlement relocated across the Seine to the Île de la Cité.

Paris today has very little left to remind us of its Roman past . However, there are still some signs of the ancient city hidden in the Paris we know today. We’ve put together this list of the ruins around the city that you are still able to visit.

Roman Baths

The ruins of the city’s roman baths can be found at the Musée de Cluny, although the museum itself is largely dedicated to the medieval period. Known as the Thermes de Cluny in French, they constitute about one-third of a massive bath complex that is believed to have been constructed around the beginning of the 3rd century. The best preserved room is the frigidarium, with intact architectural elements such as Gallo-Roman vaults, ribs and consoles, and fragments of original decorative wall painting and mosaics. While you’re there check out the rest of the museum, you might be inspired to search for more of medieval Paris.

Arènes de Lutèce

In the 5th arrondissement by the metro stop Place de Monge, you can find the Arènes de Lutèce (Arenas of Lutetia). These listed monuments, built between the 1st and 2nd century, were able to hold up to 15,000 people. Visitors can still see the site where the actors stood, the stage platform and lapidary parts. Today they make up part of the Place Emile Mâle, and are a popular spot for relaxing or playing football or boules on a sunny day.

The City Walls

It was in the later Roman period, after a barbarian invasion in 285AD, that many of the residents of Lutetia moved across the Seine to Île de la Cité, destroying the bridges behind them. At that time, ramparts were constructed about 7 feet high. Today, only the outline of a small section of the Roman wall can be seen at 5 Rue de la Colombe and there’s a historic plaque on the wall to mark the place.

Remains of the archaeological crypt of Ile de la Cité © Pierre Antoine

Archaeological Crypt

Beneath the Notre-Dame Cathedral square lies the archaeological crypt of Paris containing the foundations and vestiges of buildings dating from the Gallo-Roman era through to the 18th century. These remains were discovered during excavations from 1965 to 1972, and were made open to to the public in 1980. The crypt offers a unique look at the urban and architectural evolution of the Île de la Cité.

Remnants of Ancient Aqueducts

You can find a piece of the old Roman aqueduct at 42 Avenue Reille, 75014 Paris, which was discovered and dug up during construction work in the area.

To learn more about the history of Paris, head to the Musée Carnavalet

street art in Paris 75013

Our Guide to the 13th Arrondissement, beyond la Bibliothèque nationale

Many of our Kent Paris School students will be spending a good deal of time at la Bibliothèque nationale, France’s National Library, especially as they work on their final papers and dissertations. But if you want to take a break from your research, Paris’ large 13th district has plenty of gems to discover. From street art to Chinatown and from former villages to thought-provoking contemporary architecture, here are our favourite things to do in the 13th: 

Station F and La Félicità

Just next to the Library is the large co-working venue, Station F. Located within a former rail freight depot dating from 1927, since 2017 it has been home to the world’s biggest start-up “campus” or incubator. Many of the dynamic creatives who work there drift over to the restaurant part of the complex, La Felicità, a massive Italian food emporium where you can find great coffee, dine in a former train car or sip aperitivo on its terrace at the end of a long day. 

Cité de la Mode et Design Paris

Photo Credit: Cité de la Mode et Design

Paris Rive Gauche – Contemporary Architecture District

The 13th has positioned itself as a cluster of innovation – evidenced not only through the high concentration of start-ups, but also through its rapidly evolving architecture. Throwing off the Haussmannian rigidity, the 13th arrondissement contains a particularly rich collection of exciting contemporary buildings just to the east of the Bibliothèque nationale. Called Paris Rive Gauche, the district has a mix of residential, office and university buildings. You can explore these thanks to this useful article (in English) available on the Paris City Hall website.

port de la gare parisPort de la Gare

On the quais just in front of the Bibliothèque nationale is one of the nicest – and coolest – sections of the Seine river banks within Paris. The pedestrian walkway is the perfect place to stretch your legs during a study break, for a picnic in balmy weather or to end your day. Its floating bars (known as péniches in French), including one on an old-fashioned boat, are very popular with eastend Parisians. From late spring to late summer, and especially on weekends, these péniches expand with quai-side seating and activities. There is also a CROUS (university canteen serving low-cost meals), the Le Cafétéria Pont supérieur, inside one of the barges. 

Passerelle Simone-de-Beauvoir. Photo: AHert / CC

Passerelle Simone de Beauvoir

The newest of Paris’s 37 bridges, the footbridge was inaugurated in 2006 and named in honour of France’s great feminist philosopher and writer. It was designed by Feichtinger Architectes and constructed by the Eiffel company (yes, Gustave Eiffel’s company lives on to this day!). You can gaze up at the bridge from the Port or access it from the Library’s esplanade. Looking west, from the bridge you have a great view of the Pont de Bercy where métro line 6 zips by every few minutes. 

Street Art

Over the last decade or so, the 13th has come to boast one of the highest concentrations of street art. Today the district’s large tower buildings are decorated with over 50 murals as well as scores of smaller works by French and international artists like Obey, Inti and C215. Although these are scattered around the 13th, you can see many larger ones as you walk down Boulevard Vincent Auriol and see smaller works around Les Buttes aux Cailles (see below). You can locate them with the help of this interactive map and you can learn more about top Parisian street artists in this blog post.

Butte-aux-Cailles

A stone’s throw from both Chinatown and busy Place d’Italie is one of the loveliest of Paris’s former villages. Once a small hamlet on the outskirts of the city, the Butte-aux-Cailles gradually became associated with the Parisian working class. Luckily, the neighbourhood escaped Haussmann architectural injunctions. Today, the quartier is lined with restaurants and bars popular with students from nearby campuses. A favourite neighbourhood haunt is Le temps des cérises, a cooperative-model bistrot. Opened in 1976, the bistro’s menu, prices, and operating model pay hommage to the working class (and the bistro’s name, the Time of Cherries, is a nod to the Paris Commune of 1871). Read more in our guide to the former villages of Paris at this link.

Les Olympiades, Jean-François Gornet

Chinatown

A section of the centre of the 13th district, the area around the modern high-rises of Les Olympiades, is well-known for its bustling Chinatown. The largest Chinatown in Europe, this can be found between Avenue d’Ivry, Avenue de Choisy and Boulevard Masséna. You can learn more about its history, as well as dining recommendations, in our guide to Paris’s Chinatowns.

Le Château de la Reine Blanche 

Le Château de la Reine Blanche. Siren-Com / CC

Le Château de la Reine Blanche 

The Château de la Reine Blanche, or Castle of the White Queen, (6 Rue Gustave Geffroy, 75013) is one of the arrondissement’s hidden gems. The structure dates back to 1290 and takes its name from Blanche de France who inherited the manor house from her mother. Parts of the building are from the 14th and 15th century. Today the castle is privately owned and unfortunately rarely open to the public (except on the Journées du Patrimoine held in mid September), but you can still view it from the street. Discover other lesser known medieval sites in Paris in this article.

Square René Le Gall

photo: Sonia Yassa/ Ville de Paris

Square René Le Gall

The 13th arrondissement does not have an abundance of parks, but this pretty one is tucked away on a side street near the Château de la Reine Blanche. The Square René Le Gall is located next to where the Bièvre River once flowed, Paris’s second river that only exists underground now within the city limits. The park was built over a land mass in a fork of the river previously called Monkey Island; a little stream runs through the garden, tracing the path of the semi-defunct river. The perfect place to read on a sunny day, the park has some rose arbors, a quirky obelisque, fruit trees, sycamores and a huge Indian chestnut tree planted in 1894.

Lesser-Known Medieval Sites in Paris 

While much of the Roman Paris, called Lutetia, was destroyed by centuries of barbarian and Viking invasions, a number of vestiges from the Middle Ages have managed to survive, bearing witness to Paris’ rich, layered history. After you’ve seen les incontournables Notre Dame, Sainte Chapelle, and Saint-Germain-des-Prés, go in search of these lesser-known Medieval sites, now carefully woven into the city’s modern fabric.

College des Bernadins - study in Paris

Le Collège des Bernardins

The Latin Quarter, which occupies much of the north of the 5th arrondissement, is home to the largest concentration of Medieval vestiges in Paris. The area used to be dotted with various colleges and monasteries, many which eventually formed the University of Paris. What’s left of one of these, Le Collège des Bernardins, sits peacefully on the quiet rue de Poissy. Dating back to the mid 13th century, its large refectory, or dining hall, can be visited free of charge during opening hours. Fully restored, this space is still used today for conferences. 

Address: 20 Rue de Poissy, 75005 Paris

Eglise des Saints-Archanges-study-abroad-in-Paris

l’Église des Saints-Archanges

Found a short walk from the Collège des Bernardins are the remnants of another Medieval college. Built in the late 13th century, the Collège de Beauvais was one of the largest in the whole area. The only part of it that withstood the Revolutionary destruction of religious buildings and the Haussmann modernisation of the city in the mid-1800s is its former chapel. Modelled after Sainte-Chapelle, it’s since been converted into a Romanian Orthodox church and can be visited, although check its opening hours first as they are limited. Learn more about it, and the history of it and the other Medieval colleges, in episode 5 of the Paris Caché podcast.

Address:  9 Bis Rue Jean de Beauvais, 75005 Paris

Tour Clovis (Clovis Tower)

If you’re studying at the historic Bibliothèque Sainte Geneviève, located near the Pantheon, you may have already noticed this intriguing tower jutting into the sky beside the Saint-Etienne-du-Mont Church. The bell tower is all that remains of the former Sainte-Geneviève church, which was part of an abbey of the same name, founded in 502 by Clovis, the first king of the Franks. The abbey church was torn down when a larger replacement church was commenced. If you look carefully at the 45-metre bell tower you can see the style varies slightly as it rises, the bottom part being constructed in the 11th century versus the 15th century for the top half. The Tour Clovis, along with the parts of the abbey which were not destroyed during the Revolution, are now a prestigious high school, le Lycée Henri IV.

Address: 65 Rue du Cardinal Lemoine, 75005 Paris

Enceinte-Philippe-Auguste

Vestiges of the Philippe Auguste Wall

The first major wall around Paris was constructed by King Philippe Auguste from the late 12th to early 13th centuries. Encompassing just over 5 kilometres on both banks of the city, it rose six to eight metres in height and had  77 semi-circular towers at 60-metre intervals. The city wall was expanded on the Right Bank in the mid 1300s by Charles V. These walls were gradually torn down during the reign of Louis XIV; however, a few sections are still visible. Near the Tour Clovis, further down on rue Clovis, is a one of these. On the Right Bank, you can spot a few sections in the Marais including a large section behind the Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis church (along the basketball court) and also in the Jardin des Rosiers-Joseph Migneret (pictured above).

Hôtel de Sens

The Marais district hides a few other Medieval gems, like this historic residence. One of the last buildings constructed in the Gothic style in Paris, it was commissioned in 1475 as the city mansion for the bishops of Sens. It is one of only two Medieval civic buildings in the Gothic style that survived the centuries, the other being the Hotel de Cluny, now the National Medieval Museum. This building now houses the Forney art library. Although it was heavily restored, you can see its turreted towers, gargoyles and interior courtyard (top image). Don’t miss its lovely back garden and before you leave, take note of the facade. You’ll see a small round object with the words “28 juillet 1830,“ the date of the start of the Trois Glorieuses, the three-day revolution that toppled what history refers to as the July Monarchy. Cannonballs were flying through the area and one of these got lodged into the wall!

Address: 7 Rue des Nonnains d’Hyères, 75004 Paris

Photo credit: Cloître des Billettes: Guilhem Vellut / CC

The Billettes Cloister

Tucked away on the lively rue des Archives is Paris’s only remaining Medieval cloister. Constructed in 1427 next to the convent of the Brothers of Charity Hospital of Our Lady (mostly known today as Les Billettes). The church itself was rebuilt in the mid-18th century, but the cloisters went untouched. Recently restored, today they host temporary art exhibitions and other events in addition to serving as a Protestant (Lutheran) worship space. 

Address: 24 Rue des Archives, 75004 Paris

Hotel de Clisson Paris

Hôtel de Clisson

Further up the street on rue des Archives you can notice some intriguing turrets. These are all that remain of the former Hôtel de Clisson, the residence of Olivier de Clisson. When it was built in the 1300s, the hôtel stood just outside the Paris city walls. In 1553 it was bought by François de Lorraine, the Duke of Guise, and was later sold by his family to the Prince and Princess de Soubise. This noble family then demolished most of the Medieval building to make way from a more modern home, today the home of the National Archives, which is accessed via rue des Francs Bourgeois. The historic restored baroque interiors can also be visited free of charge.

Tour Saint-Jacques (St James Tower)

One of the last Medieval structures built in Paris, this flamboyant Gothic tower, standing close to Place de Châtelet, is all that is left of the Eglise Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie, which was destroyed in 1797 during the French Revolutionary period. The church and its bell tower were built between 1509 and 1523, funded by the butchers of the nearby Les Halles Market. You can admire the tower from the garden which surrounds it or visit it during guided tours held seasonally mid-summer to mid-autumn.

Address: Square de la tour Saint-Jacques 75004 Paris

You can visit more intriguing offbeat sites in Paris, including the Medieval Tour Saint Jean le Peur, in this other article on our blog! 

And if you’re interested in travelling further afield, check out the well-preserved ramparts and impressive gates of Provins, once a medieval trading hub, accessible via commuter rail from Paris.

Interested in delving deeping into Medieval Studies in Paris? Consider applying for our in Medieval and Early Modern Studies MA offered at the Paris School of Arts and Culture. Discover this and our other Master’s Programmes in the Humanities taught in Paris here.

Architecturally Interesting Places of Worship in Paris that Aren’t Notre-Dame

Nearly three years after the tragic fire which devastated Notre-Dame Cathedral,  the restorations are advancing safely and steadily.  The Cathedral’s unfortunate closure has provided Parisians and visitors alike the opportunity to study, visit or rediscover some of the other unique and architecturally significant places of worship in Paris. You can view some of our favourites below.

Agoudas Hakehilos Synagogue. Photo: Gerd Eichmann / CC

Agoudas Hakehilos Synagogue

There are a number of beautiful synagogues in Paris, however, the one on rue Pavée is especially unique. Designed by Hector Guimard, who designed the emblematic green metro entrances still standing today, the synagogue is an Art Nouveau jewel. Completed in 1914, it is hard to imagine both its true size and its beauty from the exterior, nor that it is made of concrete, however, its undulating façade, decorated in floral motives, the Star of David and Tables of Law, do hint to its splendour. Inside, the long and narrow building has an impressive structure iron structure, typical of the turn of the 20th century, as well as ornate wooden decorative features.

La Grande Mosquée de Paris. Photo: LPLT / CC

La Grande Mosquée de Paris

The centre of France’s Muslim community, this serene place of worship in the 5th arrondissement is also the oldest Mosque in Paris. Completed in 1926, the Grand Mosque was commissioned by the French State as a token of appreciation to the Muslim soldiers who fought for France in World War I. Moorish in style, architect Maurice Tranchant de Lunel was inspired by the el-Qaraouyyîn Mosque located in Fez, Morocco. The vast 7,500 square-metre site has a 33-metre-high minaret, a grand entrance door with stylised floral motifs and a large courtyard with Arab style gardens, home to an enchanting tea salon and restaurant from where you can contemplate the building’s architecture over a mint tea and North African pastry.

Saint-Jean de Montmartre

Saint-Jean de Montmartre

Saint-Jean de Montmartre

While the more famous Sacré-Coeur Basilica usually steals the limelight when it comes to churches in Montmartre, this église found on Place des Abbesses is perhaps more architecturally significant. The parish church was constructed from 1894 to 1904 and designed by architect Anatole de Baudot, a student of Viollet-le-Duc, who oversaw the 19th-century renovations on Notre-Dame and many other historic sites around France. Art Nouveau in style with Moorish influences, it instantly stands out due to its building materials: brick and reinforced concrete — the first church in the world to use this newly invented building technique. It also features lovely ceramic work by artist Alexandre Bigot, known for his impressive work on the iconic Art Nouveau building at 29 Avenue Rapp.

Cathédrale de la Sainte-Trinité. Photo: EgliseRusse.eu

Cathédrale de la Sainte-Trinité

If you’re walking or boating along the Seine, an unusual, glimmering sight appears on the Left Bank a few blocks from the Eiffel Tower; the Cathedral de la Sainte-Trinité, one of Paris’s two Russian Orthodox cathedrals. Opened in 2016, the complex on the Quai Branly comprises of the Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Russian Orthodox Spiritual and Cultural Center. Designed by renowned French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, the church is modelled after the Dormition Cathedral in Moscow and features five gilded onion domes. The modern building starkly contrasts the other Russian Orthodox cathedral in Paris, the mid-19th century Cathédrale Saint Alexandre Nevsky, located in the 8th district and also worth visiting.

American Cathedral in Paris

Photo: American Cathedral in Paris

American Cathedral of the Holy Trinity

Another place of worship dedicated to the Holy Trinity, this beautiful American Episcopal Church has been serving the Anglophone community of Paris since 1886. The Neo-Gothic design of English architect George Edmund Street, with pointed arches and stained-glass windows, is reminiscent of Notre-Dame. The 20th century saw two additions; the 85-metre tower, which is one of the tallest in Paris, and the peaceful cloisters, a memorial to the American soldiers and civilians killed in France during WWI.

Grande-Pagode_de_Vincennes

Grande Pagode de Vincennes. Photo: Poulpy / CC

Grande Pagode de Vincennes and Kagyu-Dzong Buddhist Centre

Perhaps the most original of the list, this wooden structure, nestled within the Bois de Vincennes in eastern Paris, was originally built as the Pavilion of Cameroon for the 1931 Colonial Exhibition. While most of the other pavilions of the exhibition were torn down, in 1977 this building was restored and converted into a Buddhist temple. Today it houses the French headquarters of the International Buddhist Institute and inside the pagoda is the largest Buddha statue in Europe. Situated nearby is the Kagyu-Dzong Buddhist Centre, a Tibetan style temple built in 1985 and more representative of traditional Buddhist architecture.

Notre-Dame-du-Travail

Notre Dame du Travail. Photo: Velvet / CC

Notre-Dame du Travail

Another fascinating church in the 14th arrondissement, from the outside it doesn’t look particularly interesting, however, pushing open its doors you’ll discover a stunning example of Belle Epoque architectural prowess. The church was designed as a place of worship for the large influx of labourers who’d come to the city to build the 1900 Paris Exposition, many of whom were housed in what was then a principally working-class district. The nave features an soaring iron structure, resemblant of the Eiffel Tower, and made of recycled materials from the Palais de l’Industrie, a demolished building from a previous World’s Fair. The walls were also built of repurposed material, stone from the former Grenelle slaughterhouse. These elements pay homage to the typical profile of the church’s working-class parishioners.

Saint-Serge de Radonège. Photo: Saint-Serge.fr

Saint-Serge de Radonège

Originally a Lutheran Church serving the German immigrants of northern Paris, Saint-Serge de Radonège is now a Russian Orthodox church and theological institute. Located in the Buttes-Chaumont district, the church is surrounded by greenery and the exterior boasts an ornate porch in coloured wood. The interior of the church was decorated by the Russian painter Dmitri Semionovitch Stelletsky in the Russian neo-Gothic style. The church has a number of outbuildings, including a library with a significant collection of Russian books.

Chateau de Vincennes

Interesting (and Economical) Day Trips from Paris

With its hundreds of museums, intriguing historic sites and vibrant neighbourhoods to discover, there is plenty to do in Paris. However, it can also be nice to get away from the busy city centre, have a change of scenery or take in some nature. Luckily, Ile-de-France, the greater Parisian metropolitan area, has an abundance of fantastic day trip options, many of which you can access completely free, especially if you have a student transit pass. Here are some of our favourites.

Basilique-Cathédrale de Saint-Denis

Photo: Basilique-Cathédrale de Saint-Denis

Basilique-Cathédrale de Saint-Denis

Although Notre-Dame Cathedral might be the world’s most famous Gothic cathedral, the first built in this style is sitting on the norther edge of Paris. Started in the 1130s, the church was constructed above the presumed grave of one of France’s earliest saints, Denis, who was executed by the Roman rulers of the times in around 270 AD. Over the centuries the church rose in prominence and became the final resting place of France’s monarchs, holding the remains of all but three of kings from the 10th century until 1789. Visitors today can admire the royal tombs while gazing up at the church’s flying buttresses, pointed arches and stained glass windows.

  • Address & Information: Cathedral Website
  • Getting there: 30-40 minute by Métro, line 13 to Basilique de Saint-Denis station. Short walk, follow the signposts. Note: Saint-Denis can be a little sketchy so we don’t recommend veer off the main streets.
  • Cost: Free for EU Nationals under 26 and other students with valid ID.
Bois de Vincennes Paris

Chateau de Vincennes (top) and Bois de Vincennes boat-rides

Château et Bois de Vincennes

A quick jaunt outside the eastern border of Paris will take you to this impressive medieval fortress and sprawling woods. A royal hunting lodge dating back to the mid-12th century, in the 1300s King Charles V added the imposing 52-metre-high donjon, the tallest in Europe and still standing today. Although the royals used it as a residence over the centuries, it was never revamped like castles of Versailles or Fontainebleau. The fortress was eventually converted into a prison, which held some infamous prisoners such as the Marquis de Sade and Louis XIV’s rival Nicolas Fouquet. Pack a picnic and make a day of it by carrying on your explorations in the adjacent Bois de Vincennes. The huge woods has kilometres of pathways, a lake where you can rent out boats, a Buddhist Temple and a botanical garden, le Parc Floral de Paris, which hosts a variety of events including open-air concerts, mostly in summer.

  • Address & Information: Chateau de Vincennes Website
  • Getting There: 30-40 minute by Métro, line 1 to Château de Vincennes, or RER A to Vincennes. Castle right outside Métro station.
  • Cost: Exterior of castle and woods are free, interior is free for EU Nationals under 26 and other students with valid ID. If you wish to visit the Parc Floral it has a small entrance fee.

Chateau de Fontainebleau

Château et Foret de Fontainebleau 

Skip the crowds at Versailles by venturing to this marvellous castle southeast of Paris instead. Another favorite hunting retreat of the royals, King Francois I redesigned the castle in the Renaissance style. It features opulent rooms decked out in elaborately carved wood, paintings, mirrors and more. The castle was also a favourite of Napoléon Bonaparte, who refurbished parts of it in the Imperial style. Behind the castle are beautiful gardens à la francaise, or to better connect with nature, spend the afternoon exploring the forest’s extensive hiking trails. If you visit on Tuesday, Friday or Sunday, before heading to the castle, you can pick up some picnic supplies at Fontainebleau’s food market.

  • Address & Information: Castle’s website. See some suggested hikes here.
  • Getting There: An hour from central Paris, 40 minutes by suburban train from Gare de Lyon (line R) to Fontainebleau-Avon. Castle a short walk from the station.
  • Cost: Castle free for EU Nationals under 26 and students with ID. Forest is free.

Auvers-sur-Oise

Auvers-sur-Oise

While visiting Monet’s home and garden in Giverny can make for a nice art excursion from Paris, there is much more to see, and far fewer crowds, in this charming village briefly inhabited by and the final resting place of Vincent van Gogh. Strolling through town, helpful panels show you the various places the Post-Impressionist painter captured on canvas, copies shown on the boards and many of the originals are displayed at the Musée d’Orsay. You can also visit or have lunch at the inn he lodged at, the Auberge Ravoux, and pay homage to the troubled artist at his grave in the local cemetery. The town has several other sites, including a small castle, various art studios and homes of other 19th century artists and a museum dedicated to Absinthe. On summertime weekends the town often holds art or music festivals.

  • Address & Information: Tourism website. Visit from March to October as many sites are closed in winter
  • Getting There: In summertime there is a direct train on weekend mornings around 9:30 am from Gare du Nord which is only 30 minutes. The rest of the year it’s an hour train ride from Saint-Lazare or Gare du Nord, take a regional train to Pontoise, change here for the trains in the direction of Persan-Beaumont, get off at Auvers station.
  • Cost: Free to walk around, small entry fee for various sites.
provins

Photo: Provins Tourisme

Provins

If you’d like to get a taste of France without going too far, then consider visiting this medieval town east of Paris. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the beautiful hilltop village thrived over the centuries due to its position as a fiefdom of the Counts of Champagne and its popular fairs, which still take place before Christmas. A visit at any time of year will delight thanks to its magical historic centre home to the Tour César fortress, stone churches, narrow lanes and protective city walls.

  • Address & Information: Local tourism website
  • Getting There: Around an 80-minute train journey, Gare de l’Est to Provins. The town is accessible on foot from the station.
  • Cost: Most sites can be visited freely from the exterior.

Photo: Street art by C215, Vitry-Sur-Seine / Paris Tourisme

Contemporary Art & Street Art in Vitry-Sur-Seine

For something more offbeat, considering visiting this close southeaster suburb popular with street artists. The city is home to MAC/VAL, France’s only museum dedicated to contemporary art from the 1950s to today. In the shadow of a towering Jean Dubuffet statue, the contemporary building houses over 2,000 works by both well-established names like Christian Boltanski and Annette Messager, and up-and-coming artists. After visiting the museum, continue your artistic discoveries in the streets of Vitry, where you’ll come across hundreds of works by French and international street artists like C215, Indigo, Kashink, Swoon and Alice Pasquini. This artistic flourishing has earned the city the title of “Capital of Street Art.” You can find the works easily using this helpful map and discover more about Parisian street artists in our article here.

  • Address & Information: MAC/VAL website
  • Getting There: Around a 30-45 minute trip from central Paris by Métro and bus, line 7 to Porte de Choisy then bus 172, 180 or 183 to Place de la Libération.
  • Cost: Free for under 26 and other students with valid ID.

Looking for other interesting things to do in Paris? Carrying on your exploring with these articles:

Art History Master's in Paris

Touring the Former Villages of Paris

Paris grew from its centre, around the Ile-de-la-Cité, outwards. Once walled, over the centuries the city burst beyond its boundaries and new fortifications would be built. As part of the vast mid-19th century urban renewal of Paris undertaken by Prefect Baron Haussmann and Napoleon III, in 1860 the space between Paris’s last pair of city walls was annexed. Amidst the fields and vineyards of this zone were a number of villages. Remnants of several of these remain and provide a fascinating look into the past. From Montmartre to the Butte-aux-Cailles, these charming village neighbourhoods are the perfect weekend outing.

Maison Rose, Montmartre, Paris

Montmartre

The best known of Paris’s former villages, Montmartre is known for Sacré-Coeur and the nearby artist square, Place du Tertre. However, there’s much more to the neighbourhood. Once a working class village on the northern fringes of Paris, Montmartre started to draw artists in the 1870s thanks to its cheap rent and free-flowing joie de vivre. A visit around its back streets guides you past small houses, windmills and the former residents and art studios of late 19th and early 20th century artists including Renoir, van Gogh, Suzanne Valadon and Picasso.

Belleville Paris

Belleville

The most rebellious of Paris’s former villages, the neighbourhood of Belleville still attracts more alternative Parisians. Its proximity to the gypsum quarries located on this edge of Paris brought in a working class popular. French music legend Edith Piaf spent part of her childhood in the area and famously claimed to have been born on rue de Belleville (instead of in the nearby hospital listed on her birth certificate). Reasonable rents also drew in waves of immigrant communities, including Greeks, Armenians, Tunisian Jews, Moroccans, Vietnamese and Chinese. This has created a vibrant cosmopolitan community peppered with, art studios, inventive restaurants and a laid-back vibe. A popular place with street arts, look out for their creations on your way to the top of the Parc de Belleville, where you can admire one of the nicest views of Paris.

Butte-aux-Cailles

This village on a slight hill (or butte in French) in southeastern Paris developed around a vineyard that the area’s namesake, a certain Pierre Caille, bought in 1543. Today this small town ambiance still exists around a grouping of cobbled streets lined with relaxed bars and restaurants. You can soak up the countryside feel meandering the charming streets, like rue des Cinq Diamants, passage Barrault and rue Moulin des Près. You’ll eventually come to the place Paul Verlaine, the old main square of the village (pictured above). It’s one of the centres for street art in Paris, so look out for this along your way. You can end your stroll with a drink on rue de la Butte-aux-Cailles, its bars popular with students from nearby campuses of the University of Paris.

Passy

Now part of the chic 16th district, found across the river from the Eiffel Tower, this plain used to be owned by the lords of Auteuil and Passy. Villages grew up around both and there are remains here and there in the area. Track down the Maison de Balzac, a cottage turned museum where Honoré de Balzac lived for a time (more on it and other literary residences in this article). Then around the corner you can find rue Berton (pictured above). One of the narrowest streets in Paris and protected by high stone walls, it used to marked the border between the sprawling estates of Auteuil and Passy (the 1731 boundary sign is still posted). Poet Guillaume Apollinaire wrote about the lane in his 1918 book Le Flâneur des Deux Rives, describing it as “one of the most scenic corners of Paris.”

Les Batignolles

Les Batignolles

Until the French Revolution, the northwest section of what is now the 17th district, was one of the hunting grounds for Parisian nobles. In the early 1800s a village began popping up here, around the Place du Dr Félix Lobligeois. It encircles the neo-classical Église Sainte-Marie des Batignolles, built in conjunction with the square, and is fringed on the northside by the beautiful Square des Batignolles. Previously also home to the local town hall, the square can be your starting point for exploring this up and coming area, abundant in small designer shops, buzzing cafés and restaurants.

Charonne

Found to the east of Belleville, the former village of Charonne is one of the most charming relics of pre Haussmann Paris. This can be observed on the old “main street” of the village, Rue Saint-Blaise, and its parish church, the Eglise Saint-Germain de Charonne. The church itself goes as far back as the 12th century, but was remodelled in the 15th and 18th centuries. It sits above the village and also still has its former parish cemetery, only one of two that still exist (the other is next to Saint Peter of Montmartre). A walk down Rue Saint-Blaise, lined with cafés and boutiques, truly gives you a sense of make visiting a small French village.

Interested in exploring other unique places in Paris? Get inspired by these other articles from our blog:

Medici Column

Offbeat Historic Sites to Seek Out in Paris

Paris isn’t only about its world-famous sites like Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower and the Champs Elysées. In fact, the city has dozens, in not hundreds, or curious places which date for different eras of the city and tell its story. From the Medieval towers to the remnants of the Bastille fortress, here are some fascinating sites to take you off the beaten path in Paris.

Medici Column, Bourse de Commerce Paris

The Medici Column

Many people are currently flocking to visit the newly (re)opened Bourse de Commerce, now home to the Pinault collection of contemporary art (more on it here), however, rising behind its dome is a very curious site. The area used to house a palace, the Hôtel de Soissons, which was inhabited by Queen Catherine de Medici after her husband King Henri II’s death in 1559. The Queen was very interested in the occult and she even called Nostradamus to Paris to advise her on the future. She had this 28-meter-high column built in 1575 as a the lookout point for her astrologer Cosimo Ruggieri. While its 145 steps are closed to the public, you can admire it from the ground level. Be sure to look out for its decoration of the royal couple’s emblem of an intertwined H and C as well as cornucopia and broken mirrors.

Address: behind 2 Rue de Viarmes, 75001 Paris

 Tour Jean-sans-Peur

Tucked amidst the buildings of the busy rue Etienne Marcel is an out-of-place ancient tower. A rare medieval building in Paris, the Tour Jean-sans-Peur dates back to the early 1400s and is all that remains of the palace of the Dukes of Burgundy which once stood here. The 21 metre-high tower is also the tallest medieval civic building in the city. It’s open to the public and displays temporary exhibits on medieval themes.

Address: 20 Rue Étienne Marcel, 75002 Paris

Square Henri Galli Paris

Remains of the Bastille

Lots of people who come to Paris exit the Bastille métro station and Bastille fortress is. The symbol of the outbreak of the Revolution, the Bastille was gradually torn down and the smaller artefacts were sold off as collector’s items like pieces of the Berlin Wall. Many of the larger blocks of the fortress were used to build the Concorde Bridge, which crosses the Seine from Place de la Concorde to l’Assemblée Nationale.  In the métro on the platform of line 5, there are relics of where the fortress stood and then there is a regrouping of one of the Bastille’s towers hidden in the shrubs of this little park near the Seine, the Square Henri Galli. Called the “Liberté” tower, it was uncovered in 1899 at the start of rue Saint-Antoine during the construction of the métro line 1 and then moved here.

Address: 9 Bd Henri IV, 75004 Paris

Gnomon, Saint Sulpice. PHGCOM / CC

Gnomon of Saint Sulpice

When Dan Brown published his bestselling book The Da Vinci Code in 2003, this lesser known Left Bank church was thrown into the spotlight. People from around the globe came to see the unusual obelisk he described as marking the Paris Meridian or “Rose Line. Although Brown’s facts weren’t entirely accurate, the object is indeed fascinating and historic. Built in the early 1700s, the or obelisk, or gnomon, was an astronomical instrument used to determine the date of Easter thanks to a shadow cast on the obelisk. When you’re visiting the church, which also happens to be the second largest in Paris after Notre Dame, be sure to view the wonderful paintings by Delacroix found in the chapel on the right of the entrance.

Address: Place Saint-Sulpice, 75006 Paris

Expiatory Chapel

This lesser known site located near the Madeleine Church is one of the most hidden and mysterious sites in Paris. The land around this small square used to hold the Madeleine cemetery. It was here where Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were first buried after their guillotining in 1793 in nearby Place de la Concorde. After the final defeat of Napoleon and the restoration of the monarchy in 1815, their bodies were moved to the Cathedral of Saint Denis (which houses the tombs of most French royals). In 1826 the cemetery was replaced by the Expiatory Chapel, a homage to the tragic royal couple, funded by their daughter, Marie-Therèse and the next king, Louis XVIII. In the crypt there’s a black and white marble altar sitting on the spot where the King and Queen’s remains were found. The chapel can be visited on weekends.

Address: 29 Rue Pasquier, 75008 Paris

Château de la Reine Blanche. Photo: Siren-Com/ CC

Le Château de la Reine Blanche

Called the Castle of the White Queen, this residence was built in 1290 by the Queen Marguerite de Provence, although it was named after her daughter, Blanche de France, who inherited the manor house. It was constructed next to what was Paris’s second river, la Bièvre, which is still flows underground. The small castle is privately owned and but can often be visited on the Journées du Patrimoine (European Heritage Days) held the third weekend in September. If you can’t make it for that event, you can get a good look at the outside of it from the street.

Address: 6 Rue Gustave Geffroy, 75013 Paris

Saint Sergius Orthodox Church and Theological Institute

One of the most curious places of worship in Paris is hidden down a verdant lane near the Buttes-Chaumont Park. Originally commissioned as a German Lutheran church, it was abandoned after WWI and converted into a Russian Orthodox theological centre and church in 1925. The gate is open during the day and so you can pop in to have a look at the exterior, but if you come on Sunday mornings, you can take a peek at the interiors during service.

Address: 93 Rue de Crimée, 75019 Paris. Website

Au Roi de la Bière Paris

Au Roi de la Bière

To finish on a fun note, we’re taking you to look at the most unusually looking fast-food restaurant in Paris. Now a McDonald’s, this building across from the Saint-Lazare train station was built as an Alsatian brasserie in 1892. After Alsace and Lorraine were annexed to Germany at the defeat of the French in the 1870 Franco-Prussian War, many residents loyal to France moved to the Parisian capital. They brought their beer brewing traditions with you, which led to the opening of brasseries across the city and Au Roi de la Biére, or “The King of Beer” in English, was one of these. Designed to look like an Alsatian half-timbered house, and decked out in beer steins and a statue of Gambrinus (the legendary King of Beer), since it was classified as a national monument in 1997 McDonald’s could move it, but had to leave its facade untouched. So if you go here for a Big Mac, order a beer to go with it!

Address: 119 Rue Saint-Lazare, 75008 Paris

Looking to do other exploring in Paris? You may like to discover other interesting places to visit in these articles:

Arc-du-Carrousel-Napoleon-Paris

Napoleon’s Paris, Eight Sites Linked to the Emperor

This year France will celebrate the bicentennial of the Emperor’s death, in exile on the Island of Saint Helena on 5 May 1821, with a range of exhibits and events. Although he is a controversial figure for more reasons than one, it is undeniable that Napoléon Bonaparte altered the course of French history and the country as a whole. Napoléon might have spent much of his 15 years in power trying to conquer Europe, however, he did leave his mark on the capital. This was often in the form of grand monuments to himself and his military victories, nevertheless, the city does owe a number of its greatest sites to the Emperor. Here is selection of initiatives and other sites connected to Napoléon in Paris.

L’Ecole Militaire. Photo: Jebulon  / CC

L’Ecole Militaire

After initial studies at the military academy of Brienne, Bonaparte came to Paris in October 1784, at the age of 15, to continue his training at the Ecole Militaire. After a year, he left the academy as a second lieutenant in the La Fère artillery regiment. His military career continued to advance through the early years of the Revolution. His surpression of a royalist insurrection in 1795 shot Bonaparte to sudden fame and had him promoted to Commander of the Interior and of the Army of Italy. With his new position, he made the Ecole Militaire his headquarters.

Arc-du-Triomphe-Napoleon-Paris

L’Arc de Triomphe

The most famous site connected to Napoléon, and one of the most visited sites in Paris, is certainly this mammoth triumphal arch. After his victory at Austerlitz in 1806, the Emperor commissioned a number of commemorative projects to celebrate his military campaigns. A number of propositions were put forth for the largest of these monuments and, for a time, there were plans to construct a massive elephant fountain in the centre of Place de l’Etoile and at the end of the Champs Elysées. In the end, Napoleon’s love of the antiquities, especially Roman monuments and symbolism, won out. The 50-metre high archway, which was originally designed to commemorate those who fought and died in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, features sculptures by leading artists of the era. Only partially completed when the Emperor was ousted from power in 1814, the archway was finally completed in 1836, during the reign of King Louis-Philippe, just in time for Napoléon’s remains to pass beneath it when they were returned to France on 1840.

L’Arc du Carroussel

Despite its very central location, between the Louvre and the Tuileries Garden, this second archway built by Napoléon often gets overshadowed by its more famous bigger sister. Constructed between 1806 and 1808, it too commemorates the battle of Austerlitz and other Napoleonic military victories. It is adorned with pink marble columns, statues and commemorative friezes, although it’s the sculpture on the top that’s the most interesting. During Napoleon’s conquest of Italy, the Horses of Saint Mark’s Basilica, already spoils from the Venetian Republic’s attacks on Constantinople, were pillaged and placed atop the arch. After the fall of Napoleon, the French were forced to return the original and this copy was added in its place.

Colonne Vendôme

Another Roman-style monument, this gigantic column is modelled after Trajan’s column in Rome. Also commemorating the victory at Austerlitz, and placed in the prestigious Place Vendôme, the bronze column was made from the melted down canons captured from the Russians and Austrians defeated in the legendary battle. The base of the 44 metre-high structure are Napoleonic eagles, whereas traveling up it is the story of the battle, atop which is Napoléon, holding a miniature Victory in his hand. This is, however, a replacement of the original column which was toppled by Communards during the 1871 Commune de Paris revolt (more on this event in this article on the Commune).

Fontaine du Palmier Paris

Fontaine du Palmier

The largest of 15 fountains commissioned by Napoleon in 1806, it was designed to provide fresh drinking water to the city. However, in true Napoleonic style, it also honours his military victories. At the base of the fountain are four sphinxes, eluding to the Emperor’s Egyptian campaign, from where the water spurts into a round basin. Above these are laurel-laden eagles and an Egyptian style column rising in palms, which gives the fountain its name. It too is crowned by Victory, holding out more laurels and the names of various battles are listed around it. This fountain’s location is also significant, built on the former site of Le Grand Châtelet, a formidable fortress and symbol of L’Ancien Régime, destroyed just like La Bastille.

Église de la Madeleine

Église de la Madeleine. Photo: Jose Losada / Flickr

L’Eglise de La Madeleine

Although this is a Catholic church today, this Greek Temple-esque structure dominating Place de la Madeleine has had various inceptions. Prior to the French Revolution the building of a church dedicated to Mary Magdalene had begun on this site, a project abandoned during the turmoil and anti-religious times. The foundations and finished portico stood for over a decade before Napoléon decided in 1806 to convert the designs into a Temple to the Glory of the Great Army. Incomplete at the fall of the Emperor, the restitution of the Monarchy steered the building’s course back in the direction of a church. Nevertheless, in 1837 there was talk of turning the building into Paris first railway station, but Mary Magdalene prevailed in the end and the church was consecrated in her honour in 1842.

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Place de la Bourse, Photo: mksfca / Flickr

Palais de la Bourse

Although it was decided to move the previous Stock Echanges prior to Napoléon’s reign, he gets the credit for bringing all of Paris’s stock trading under one roof. It’s known as the Palais Brongniart, in honour of its architect, Alexandre-Théodore Brongniart, who was tasked by Bonaparte to design a structure worthy of representing France’s commercial power. Similar in appearance to La Madeleine, the rectangular neoclassical building is also surrounded a colonnade. With the shift of trading online, the building is now rented out for congresses and other events.

Musée-de-l'Armée-Tombeau-de-Napoléon-Eglise-du-Dôme-_-630x405-_-©-OTCP-DR

Tomb of Napoléon, Musée de l’Armée Photo: OTCP/DR

Les Invalides

When Napoléon’s remains returned to France in 1840,  it was decided that his final resting place should be the Saint-Louis Cathedral, the Military church of the Les Invalides complex. Built under Louis XIV and designed by Jules Hardouin Mansart from 1677, at 107 metres, the cathedral’s dome is the highest in France and considered by many to be its most beautiful. Gilded in gold on the outside, it is deep in its crypt where the Emperor’s tomb is found, made of red quartzite and sitting on a green granite base. A visit to the tomb is included on entrance tickets to the Musée de l’Armée at the Invalides.

You can further learn about Napoléon in the exhibit dedicated to him taking place at La Villette from 19 May to 19 September, 2021, or by visiting the castles of Malmaison and Fontainebleau, two popular residences of the Emperor.

Alternatively, delve deeper into the history of the city’s art, architecture and film by pursuing one of our Paris Master’s Programmes.

Trocadero.©GP+B+Study-in-Paris

The Evolving City: Reinventing Parisian Squares for the 21st Century

Over the last decade Paris has been implementing a range of eco-friendly and sustainable initiatives. Some of these have little visible effect on the overall appearance of the city, like increased bike lanes, however, the local municipality has recently embarked on vast project to renew seven of its most iconic squares as well as the Champs-Elysées and the area around the Eiffel Tower. These large-scale projects aim to make Paris more accessible, greener, more beautiful and allow the city and its citizens to produce and breath fresher air.

The project revolves around seven of the city’s largest squares, which are distributed around the city: Nation, Gambetta, Bastille, Italie, Madeleine, Panthéon and Fêtes. Separately from the seven squares, there are also big plans for two of the most visited areas of Paris: Les Champs-Elysées and the area around the Eiffel Tower. The initiative is part of the Paris Climate Action Plan, a municipal-level initiative to meet the objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement with the ultimate goal of making Paris carbon neutral by 2050.

The future Champs-Elysées. Image: Paris Futur

Hearing from residents was very important in the early steps of the process. To achieve this,  the city set up an online platform to gather input from the residents, launched in 2015. Further public opinion was gathered during 150 “town hall” style meetings and workshops. The key elements residents wanted these urban spaces to have were increased vegetation, larger pedestrian walkways, enhanced fluidity of movement and the ability to better enjoy these public space. Protected bike lanes and reduced automobile traffic (and thus noise pollution) were other factors highlighted in these public forums.

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The future Place-de-la-Concorde. Image: Paris Futur

In 2017, four collectives of architects, landscape architects, ethnologists and other specialists began designing these new spaces. The same year, the Paris Pedestrian Strategy was put in place in order to increase and simplify pedestrian walkways in the city. Similarly, the Paris Respire (Paris Breaths) initiative has born, with the objective of introducing several “breathing spaces” in each district as well as encouraging more cycling.

The future Place-de-la-Bastille. Image: Ville de Paris

The global results of the project should claim 25,000 m2 from traffic lanes, which will be converted into sidewalks, bike paths, sitting areas and vegetation. There should also be a total increased area of 15,000 m2 of vegetation, including the planting of 150 trees, as well as 5,000 m2 less pf asphalt-covered surfaces. What’s more, these squares will be 100 % accessible for people with reduced mobility and they will be equipped with ground markers for the visually impaired. Lastly, the squares will feature either water misters or water pools with jets, to help residents cool down on hot summer days.

Site Tour Eiffel . Amphithéâtre du Trocadéro © GP+B

Site Tour Eiffel . Amphithéâtre du Trocadéro Ville de Paris © GP+B

With the 2024 Summer Olympic games in sight, Paris is also reinventing the zone around the Eiffel Tower and that of Les Champs-Elysées. Entitled “OnE I”, the Eiffel Tower site project will extend from Le Champs de Mars, across the Iena Bridge and up to Place du Trocadero and created “green lungs” within Paris. The Trocadero gardens are going to be redesigned, and cherry trees planted, as well as the upper levels of Trocadero where and green amphitheatre like space will be created. All of these spaces will be accessible for people with mobility issues. Greenery will be planted on the Iéna bridge, the walkways along the Seine and the gardens of the Champs-de-Mars will also be refurbished. The Champs-Elysées project was given the green light by the Paris mayor in January 2021. The “most beautiful avenue in the world” will become even more beautiful thanks to a doubling of its greenery and pedestrian walkways.

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The future Champs-Elysées. Image: ©PCA-Stream

You don’t have to wait for 2024 to enjoy these improved public spaces in Paris, the works are being rolled out gradually. One of the first to be completed is Place du Panthéon which now has a modern urban sitting area on the north side, with benches made of recycled material. Much of the work has already been completed at Place de la Nation and Place de la Bastille, so you can already enjoy more space for enjoying both of these squares. Year by year, they will become more and more beautiful as the greener grows!

Immerse yourself into evolving Paris by pursuing a Master’s at our Paris School of Arts and Culture. Our Programmes in Architecture and Urban Design, the History and Philosophy of Art, Film and Creative Writing allow you to connect with Paris on a deeper level. View our full range of programmes here.