Not long ago I created an article called Paris for beginners Which is a kind of guide for all those who come to Paris for the first time and don't know where to start. Since that time I also wanted to create a kind of Paris guide for advanced users but I didn't really know how to do it. The reason for this is simple: when creating a Paris guide for beginners, the boundaries of the sector are very clear: you focus onThe main attractions of the City of Lights And if there's still time, then put in some Attractions, such as the Palace of Versailles, located outside of ParisBut what to include in a guide to Paris for advanced travelers?
In a sense, this entire blog is a guide for advanced users because it was created by an advanced Francophile with more than 20 visits to Paris and contains quite a bit of material, sometimes bordering on the esoteric, that only Paris addicts would appreciate.
Then an idea came to me, to ask the The Francophile community on Facebook, what makes each of them return to Paris time and time again.
A perfect nest for a couple or couple + child. Super-central location in a classic Parisian building.
Perfectly quiet with windows facing an internal courtyard. A dream location near Eataly and Hotel de Ville.
Rare in Paris: quiet air conditioning and unlimited hot water. First floor with elevator.
We have carefully filtered and selected dozens of additional recommended apartments in all the equal districts of Paris.
We have collected for you the most recommended hotels in Paris – from intimate boutiques to absolute luxury.
The result was more than 120 responses that provide quite a few excellent reasons why it's worth coming back time and time again and why this city just never ends. So I've collected the responses I liked the most, which I'll share with you.Found belowAnd from them I extracted some tips that are suitable for people who want to take a trip to “Paris for advanced travelers.”
The Marais – the district responsible for my addiction to Paris
We will begin this episode of “Paris for Advanced” in the place that made me addicted to Paris in 2005, that is Marais District, beloved by quite a few Francophiles and with great reason.
As you could read in my article The Ghosts of Paris My love for Paris began during my childhood, but at that time Paris was just one of many destinations you could fly to. Indeed, from the age of 3 to the age of 28 I traveled throughout most of Europe (Germany, Austria, England, Italy, and more) and gained quite a few experiences.
Following the Francophilia that was already deep within me, in 2002 I won a scholarship for a month of study in The French language at the University of Besançon and then I had the chance to spend a few weeks in Paris. Did that make me fall in love with Paris without realizing it? Quite the opposite! Following a series of strikes there that turned the France Quite unbearably, the level of Francophilia in my blood dropped and as I was boarding the plane I said I would never return to France again.
Indeed, in the years 2002-2005 I really didn't visit France at all and focused mainly on Germany and Austria. And it was in Vienna, where I won a scholarship that allowed me to study German for two months, that my love for Paris began to blossom anew. There was a French guy in my class who had come to Vienna with his girlfriend, and since he didn't know English and the teacher didn't know French, I took on the role of interpreter. So I didn't really manage to learn German there (except for the sentence: "Would you be so kind as to trim my beard a little"), but returning to the French language kindled a kind of longing for Paris in me.
After finishing my German studies, I returned to Israel, completed my master's degree, and began looking for a job. After quite a few interviews, I was accepted to work at a small company in Jerusalem, but since it happened right before Passover, they asked me to start working after the holiday. Because I didn't know when I would get time off, I decided it was a great opportunity to travel abroad and began looking for a reasonably priced vacation package abroad. By chance (or not), I found such a package for Paris and arrived there right after the Seder.
I stayed at the nice and inexpensive hotel. Relais du Marais Located in the northern part of the Marais near the Place de la République, so no matter where I went on that vacation, I passed through this magical district. I don’t know why, but somehow it turned out that in all my previous times in Paris I didn’t get to spend too much time there, so the Marais managed to amaze and surprise me at the same time. And so, the more I traveled through it, the more I fell in love with it and its way through Paris. That vacation ended all too quickly and I returned to Israel with a feeling of lack of fulfillment and a decision that at the next opportunity I would return to Paris again. And indeed, I returned there immediately on my next vacation in 2006 and then in 2007, 2008, 2009… well, you get the idea 🙂
In short, that short vacation in 2005 and the visit to the Marais district caused me to develop a severe addiction that has only gotten worse over the years. The result is that from a vacation once a year I have had to increase the dosage periodically and in recent years I feel that even 3 week-long visits to Paris are simply not enough for me. So if you have already visited Paris once and are afraid of getting addicted, I strongly recommend that you try to avoid the Marais. Everyone else is welcome to read the following recommendations.
Some recommendations for Francophiles who want to take an advanced Paris trip to the Marais
- The main charm of the Marais is the connection between the old and the new, between history and the present. Therefore, before you visit there, I recommend reading about The history of Paris between the Renaissance and the French Revolution Because this period is the golden age of the Mara, and getting to know it will enhance your trip.
- After reading about the history of Paris, it's time to start discovering it on foot. The basic route that passes through most of the main attractions in the district is This route, but I'm sure you've already done it as part of your "Paris for Beginners" trip. For the "Paris for Advanced" trip I have the The route in the northern Marais following Madame de Savigny That will allow you to trace this fascinating literary subject and discover lesser-known parts of the Marais district.
- And finally, how can you do without some food? If you are a fan of the best of the best, you will surely be happy to try the Anton Chili's culinary itinerary in Marais.
Architecture – Parisian charm that is always with you
Paris is a kind of architectural paradox in my opinion. On the one hand, a large part of the city was rebuilt by Baron Haussmann and Napoleon III between 1852 and 1870, resulting in a very uniform style of wide boulevards and 5-story apartment buildings. And yet we never get bored walking the streets of Paris and we return to it again and again. How do we reconcile this paradox?
The first answer to this is that even in Ottoman architecture, which is built on seemingly very rigid rules (the number of floors in a building, the height of the apartments, the number of balconies, etc.), there is quite a bit of creative freedom. Thus, almost every building contains some unique element, for example a carved main door, charming sculptures on the walls, and even a giant angel...
The second answer is that although Napoleon III did indeed destroy quite a bit of old Paris, quite a few buildings from previous periods still remain (especially from the 17th and 18th centuries but also a number of buildings from the Renaissance and Middle Ages) and we haven't even started talking about the more modern construction (which some love and some, like me, not so much). As a result, every trip to any quarter will give you an abundance of architectural gems, from large and impressive monuments to small and hidden corners. This is why when I am asked about "Paris for the advanced" I answer:
Just go where your eyes lead you and you will discover treasures. There is really no need for a guide, “A grocery list of Monuments” Or from here.
Recommendations for tours of the streets of Paris for Francophiles who have already seen a few things in the City of Lights
- So if you've already seen the main monuments, let me suggest to you Walking tour between the 9th and 10th arrondissementsYou will be surprised to discover that it is in these lesser-known areas that you can find some particularly magical architectural gems.
- And here's another charming square that you may not have heard of. It's located at the other end of Paris and is called Monsoury SquareThe one and only Ruth Shimoni wrote about it, and if you read her article or go to her lectures, I guarantee you will become addicted to Paris in a flash.
- Even advanced Francophiles find themselves returning time and time again to a few particularly beloved places, so there's no reason you shouldn't do the same. My favorite square is Pirsenberg Square Since in my opinion it is the most romantic square in Paris, even if you are looking for new and lesser-known places, I recommend leaving some time for it as well.
- And finally, if you are a loving couple who are interested in combining business with pleasure, then during your Paris trip for advanced travelers I highly recommend checking out These romantic placesBecause who knows, maybe in one of them the muse will come to you and propose marriage...
The Gardens of Paris – Connect with Nature in the City of Lights
A trip to Paris cannot be complete without visiting at least some of its gardens. And the truth is that even if during your previous trip to Paris you visited some of the main gardens such as Luxembourg Gardens Or the titular one, there are still dozens of other magical gardens and parks waiting for you to discover them.
What is it about these gardens in Paris that makes Francophiles return to them time and time again? Let's start with the endless color during spring, summer and autumn, when each season brings you a unique bloom that paints the park in different colors. Secondly, the impressive aesthetics of these gardens, the result of about 500 years of experience in landscape architecture. As a result, a walk in the park is not just a walk among trees and flowers, but a walk among statues, small palaces (inBoulogne Forest), miniature temples (Bout de Chaumont) and ruins that look like they've been here for thousands of years when in fact they've only been here since the 19th century (Monceau Park). And finally, there is something at the entrance to the park that brings out the child in everyone and with it some inexplicable joy, and even progressive Francophiles are always happy to feel this.
So because of all of this, a trip to Paris for advanced students is not complete without visiting at least a few gardens (including some you may not have known about), and I have some recommendations in this regard:
Genes more familiar and less familiar to more and less advanced Francophiles
- First, let me recommend to you The wonderful article by Yoel Tamanlis, one of the greatest Francophiles I know, who brings together for you all the important gardens in the City of Lights.
- After visiting several large gardens, it's time to visit the smaller and more familiar gardens of Paris. One of them is Square Montholon Which contains both a cute garden and a fascinating story.
- Another option, for those who are tired of forests and large gardens, is to actually go and visit In the little garden Most of Paris.
- And finally, as I said before, even advanced Francophiles return to their favorite spots in the City of Lights and there's nothing wrong with that. So here are some of my favorite parks that are always worth returning to: The Tutelary Gardens (because of the interesting history), cLuxembourg (because of the architecture) andMonceau Park (Because of the carousel and the waffle that I love so much).
Paris' food and cafes – a culinary abundance that brings Francophiles back to Paris time and time again
How to maximize your enjoyment of Paris' culinary richness?
- In my opinion, one of the factors that can maximize the enjoyment of food is familiarity with the culinary tradition of Paris, in terms of knowing what you are eating. The best way to do this while in Paris is to join For a culinary tour With a local guide, preferably one who has worked in the culinary industry for a living. This way you can learn the secrets of French cuisine such as how to make a baguette, what AOC is and what the difference is between the different cheeses, and enjoy the food along the way.
- Another place to visit on a “Paris for Advanced” trip is a good food market, preferably one that is not so well-known or one that is a little further from the center (for example: the wonderful Allegre Market). So if you are looking for new markets to discover on your next trip, let me recommend you: The next article.
- And finally, a trip to Paris wouldn't be complete without a meal at a really good restaurant, one that might put a small dent in your pocket but will leave you feeling excited. The problem is that since Paris has hundreds of restaurants, some good and some not so good, the task of choosing is not easy at all. Luckily, some old Francophiles joined in the effort and helped me build the This page, which is constantly updated and contains recommendations from experts who have already visited Paris several times.
The culture of Paris: between chanson and museum
I left the most important reason for last. In my opinion, the “secret spice” that makes Paris so special and so beloved is French culture.
The Louvre” src=”https://www.francophilesanonymes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/28871840_2164422670251519_5936731773395271680_o-min.jpg” alt=”Building
During its 2000 years of history, Paris has hosted some of the greatest writers, philosophers, painters and musicians, who were influenced by it and in turn shaped the appearance of the City of Lights, its beauty and character. We have already spoken in the previous sections about the buildings, streets and gardens of Paris. However, alongside them stand quite a few More well-known and less well-known museums, where you can find the best of French art.
Alongside these museums, Paris has a rich culture of music, street art and theater that can suit almost every taste and paint your next trip to Paris with special colors. And I haven't even mentioned the endless the movies Made in the City of Lights, each of which raises the level of Francophilia in your blood and may send you buying plane tickets and packing suitcases without you intending to do so first.
It is therefore not surprising that so many Francophiles return to the City of Lights again and again for its cultural richness and now all that is left for you to do is choose in which ways you would like to experience this richness.
Cultural activities as part of a trip to Paris for advanced students
- First of all, I would recommend doing a little “homework” and, in order to get into the mood, listening to a few Chansons or read about The fascinating history Of France in general and the City of Lights in particular.
- Secondly, I would recommend checking what they are Exhibitions taking place while you are in Paris And buy tickets in advance to avoid standing in line (remember: when traveling, there is one resource more important than money, and that is your time).
- And finally, go to the page My Parisian itineraries And choose some routes following famous people who lived in Paris. You can choose routes that follow famous writers such as Emile Zola וVictor Hugo, fashion people such as Yves Saint Laurent וCoco Chanel Or even Francophile Israeli artists such as Naomi Shemer וBenny Amdorsky.
Francophile Parade 2018 Edition
And finally, if all these reasons weren't enough for you to plan your next trip to Paris, then here are a few more reasons given by the Anonymous Francophile community that will convince you to return to Paris, and soon:
Paris did not open its arms to me. When I arrived in Paris in the 5s, accompanying my husband on an errand, all I knew in French was a quote from a parable by La Fontaine. After about XNUMX years, I got to know this wonderful city, where there is never a dull moment, and I return to it every few months. For those who ask who do not understand this attraction to a city that is not my birthplace, it is difficult to explain, there is no need to prepare Itineraries -Get up in the morning, start wandering, open your eyes, enjoy the beauty of the old houses, try and guess who lived in them, sitting in a cafe is like visiting a theater, and this endless beauty, the tastefully arranged shop windows, sometimes in my wanderings I find a shop that sells only one type of product - only socks, only walking sticks and umbrellas, or only ties. The chocolate shops, the bakeries (boulangerie) and in Paris there is this special light, the one that turns every photograph into a work of art, and in every cold I see something I haven't seen before, an old alley, a statue I haven't noticed before and so set off, get lost in the squares of Paris, as well as one or two museums and a contemporary exhibition and everyone will have their own Paris (Nava Rothbard)
Paris For me it's oxygen, so to speak. From the age of 7 I felt French with all my being, I fell desperately in love.
In pictures from Paris, in the Censors, in Mike Brandt, I chased every French film and... I fell in love almost exclusively with the French. (I even married one...). When I arrived in Paris, for the first time at the age of 25, it was as if I had come home, to wander the beautiful streets, the lively cafes, the perfect Seine, the museums, the boulangerie and patisserie, to... the beautiful life!
I've traveled a lot around the world, but Paris will forever be my #1.
And the next visit will be number 50 in the most beautiful city (Yaffe Felder Sasson)
This is a city that never ends. A surprise around every corner, a surprise in every yard, architecture Spectacular and interesting, a vibrant city whose colors change every moment of the day, a city brimming with flavors, a city that waits and asks for its sights and flavors to be discovered, a city where every glance you take is a wonderful photograph of supreme beauty... Need more??? (Ruth Penn)
The smell and sight of the streets. And the fact that there is always a new corner to discover. It's like returning to an old lover - always exciting, thrilling, enjoyable and makes you want to come again... (Rotem Gilad)
There's a certain sheikhina that hangs over the city. From the moment I get out of the taxi I feel different. Something in the air and in the lighting, as if he's producing the most precise set he could on his son to make his heart beat faster. Add to that the hypnotic sound of the language and the chic that accompanies the people's looks and you get a perfect mix that's unmatched anywhere else in the world.
I first visited it when I was 12 and fell in love like you fall in love with a TV star or something. And I keep coming back to it again and again to breathe (Maya Reshef Hoffman)
It's an illness..a month or two passes since the last visit and then I feel like I have to see the Seine..stand in line at the Louvre..lift my head to the sky and feel really, really lucky to be in Paris again! (Nurit Tamari)
Like an insect towards the light…
For the first time in 1974, getting to Paris was a dream come true. I studied at the "Alliance" and continued my studies in language and culture, putting France in general and Paris in particular at the top of my list of priorities. With a backpack on my back, a youth hostel card and $450 in my pocket (at the time, it was forbidden to take more than this amount out of the country), I set out to conquer Europe... The city captivated me, moved me with its beauty, captivated me with its museums. I felt a tremendous emotional upheaval. I was a delphinist who was content with one baguette and a piece of Cheese As food for the whole day! But to this day I remember the same experience that stirred me during the two weeks I spent there out of the four months I "plowed" Europe. When I returned, I remember, I woke up one morning and it seemed to me that I was waking up in a hostel in Paris. Four years later I traveled with my husband and of course, Paris was the first destination (Ariella Harmlin).
I arrived in Paris for two months (when it was allowed to take $110 out of the country) without knowing the language, and I stayed for two and a half years. When I returned, I would climb into bed every night and say a prayer: I wish I could fall asleep here and wake up in Paris. After a month, I landed there. My dear friend and I spend between a month and two months in the city every year, in May and October. I will be brief in giving explanations, I will just say that since 1959 and until today I have always discovered new charming corners, not to mention exhibitions, plays, bookstores, meetings and what not. Paris is waiting for me again. (Nira Kedar)
From a young age, I was introduced to French through my uncle; later I was drawn to the language and culture and studied at the “Alliance” in Tel Aviv. I did my B.A. in Romanian studies, with a specialization in French and Italian - so from all this it is clear that I had, and still have, an attraction to France, its language and culture. Over the years, French art and classical music have also become an integral part of my loves. And of course, the culinary and aesthetic refinement that is felt everywhere and at every step. But if I want to focus in one word on the thing that most-most attracts my eye, always, and what I look at the most, it is this - the architecture of Paris, the wonderful harmony that emanates from all sides in its streets, the infinite elegance in its urbanity. I have had the opportunity to spend long periods in wonderful cities (Venice, Florence) and my heart is addicted to them too. But the wonderful beauty that "envelops" me immediately upon arriving in Paris is infinite and inexhaustible. (Ahuva Passov-Wittman)
It's not just because of its beauty, romance, local friends, excellent food, mysterious stories, museums, squares, parks and boulevards……it's mainly because Paris is the most never-ending city in the world.
Every time you think you're an expert on the city (about a hundred visits...) - always on the next visit Paris will reveal a few more secrets and places you didn't know about. (Pini Eitan)
Oh, do I need to elaborate? What is love for the city? A feeling of home. Longing for it the moment you return to your homeland. The smell of the air. The soft light of the spring evening hours. The magnificent shops. The history that is being walked on. The Luxembourg Gardens. The immense cultural wealth. The agility of the barista at the shiny stainless steel counter at the regular morning coffee, standing up. The sight of the spires and domes along the Seine. To be continued? (Rafi Superman)
The smell of the metro coming out of the openings onto the sidewalks…
The bolognese in the morning when everyone just woke up and went down to buy a baguette, a French pastry or a patty pan or chocolate...
The bare treetops, meeting the gray sky…
The smell of coffee in the neighborhood "Tabuk"...
French with the Parisian accent, especially when you say oui and draw the word in instead of exhaling it out and the "ho la la" instead of au la la...
Visiting Fnac and listening to Michel Sardo, Clo-Clo and Sheila on headphones…
But most of all, returning to the house where I spent most of my childhood, in the 16th arrondissement,
Passing by the house, looking up at the windows of our apartment, and seeing my late mother and father - young, happy, and laughing.Paris is my base. (Ronnie Katz)
1. The smell of hot butter on the street
2. Candied chestnuts
Hédiard
3. The street corner of the Luticia Hotel (family history)
4. The food court across the street at
le bon marche
5. march
skunk
And you can continue until you have enough. (Talia Tidhar Tziproni)
I'll answer you from the field of cakes (as a former pastry chef) every cake, if it could be, would be a chocolate cake. So too Paris. There are many interesting and wonderful places. But there is none like Paris. Paris is the heart of the dream of the ideal home in the world. (Yehudit Gilad)
The trees, the aesthetics, the little cakes in the shop windows, the nonchalance of the beauty that surrounds everything and the wonderful feeling when you already know and return to a favorite place. For example, to the museums I love, to see the permanent exhibitions again…
Vienna is also beautiful to me, but while there is something calming about it, there is something exciting about Paris (Anat Balfour).
The descent from Montparnasse via Rue Rennes towards Saint-Germain. The crossing via Rue Bonaparte towards the Seine. Then everything is spread out before you. The Louvre. Notre Dame. Tuileries. The cold air flowing into your body. Then you know. You're back home (Gil Halad).
What makes me go back there again and again is nostalgia and family… But if you stay in your head and add a little more to it, because this city is unforgettable… So: There is a Paris of literature. Following a story or a writer, or another artist in the alleys and streets and clubs of Paris. And there is a Paris of underground - yes, the one below ground and there is a lot to see there. From the catacombs to tours of the sewer system, about its wonderful stories. And this is only a very partial list. Even I, who was born in this city and grew up in it for quite a few years and who return to it countless times, have new surprises and discoveries every now and then.
So go and you're sure to enjoy it. It's enough, even to look at the buildings (in the right quarters). By the way, every season Paris changes its colors and accordingly its attractions.
What a beauty
Luckily I won't be there for another ten days, otherwise I would die of hunger... :-)
By the way, thank you also for the interesting article about Mary Cassatt. The André Jacomet Museum is one of my favorites and a visit to it and the exhibition is the plan for the first day of my upcoming visit.
Shabbat Shalom
Orit Shtiver
Sitting and having breakfast in a sweet café on the corner of Cler and De Grenelle streets, I understand why Paris attracts us all. I have been coming here regularly since 1989. It is the only place in the world that makes me believe in humanity. With all the madness that overwhelms us in many other parts of the world, the realization that people have created this moving volume, illuminated entirely by the glow of endless romance, makes me feel at home and never want to leave. Paris is not just a city, it is an idea, it is a concept, it is a way of life. And it is always in my heart