There is something uniquely satisfying about being able to find outstanding but quiet landmarks in such a busy city like Paris. You get to explore and savor them without having to compete with an uncontrollable influx of tourists. It creates a personal experience.
There is also benefit in bumping along people you don't know, who without them would make your travel experience rather less enjoyable.
But there are times when you simply want to be intimate with your travel and find the chance to go somewhere you can sprawl alone-- a kind of secret affair between you and the place you travel to.
Below are few of the landmarks with lesser crowd that you can visit in Paris:
1. Statue of Liberty in Ile Aux Cygnes
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| Mini Statue of Liberty |
The mini Statue of Liberty in Ile Aux Cygnes also called the Swan Island is located in a quiet area right at the heart of Seine River. It's about a kilometer away from the Eiffel Tower; it's best to take a bus or metro to arrive there quickly. There's also another replica of the statue in Luxembourg Gardens. I'm not sure with you, but I feel that tell- tale rush of excitement when I see little versions of huge and famous landmark icons like this in other places.
The one in New York is actually a gift given by France to the USA in celebration of the centenary of USA's independence.
2. Le Pantheon National
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| Le Pantheon Paris l Photo by Adil Rasheed |
Pantheon is taken from a Greek word which means "Every God". It was originally built in the Latin Quarter in the middle of Paris left bank as a church dedicated to St. Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris. Today, it serves as a secular mausoleum which houses the remains of France's greatest you may know in the history of politics, art, science and literature: Marie Curie, Victor Hugo, and others. Inside the museum verges three amazing features: the paintings that depict the life of St. Genevieve, an invention by a physicist that shows how the earth rotates and lastly, the magnificent statue called "The National Convention" which shows the symbol of France, Marian.
You can take the closest metro in Luxembourg on RER B to get there and be sure to secure museum pass in advance.
3. Notre- Dame Cathedral
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| Notre Dame Paris l Photo Source: My Hotels in Paris (dot) com |
This is one of Paris' most famous landmarks so it's oftentimes difficult to come by here with not much people walking past on you. It's best to go there an hour earlier the opening time at around 9AM, or late in the afternoon at around 5:30.
It is a Roman Catholic Marian cathedral and is considered one of world's largest.
4. Pere Lachaise Cemetery
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| Pere Lachaise Cemetery l Photo Source: Prompt Guides (dot) com |
The word cemetery alone would tell you that it's somewhere you'll never fail to find peace and serenity. Whilst the name can dread you slightly, it's something which can be worthy of your visit. It is considered as the most visited cemetery in the world and the largest one in Paris. You can find the tombs of famous people like the great Oscar Wilde, Moliere and Delacroix, and the legendary singer Jim Morrison. It'd be great if you go to the cemetery's summit for a better view.
5. Les Egouts- the Sewers Paris
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| Les Egouts Paris l Photo Source: Flickr |
Egouts is among the first underground sewer system in Paris that dates back since 1370. While it may not be everyone's dream of how a Parisian travel would be, it has interesting exhibits. It's probably one way to discover a large parcel about Paris as described in the misfortunes of Jean Valjean in Victor Hugo's Les Miserables-- an experience that is surely off the beaten path.
Thank you for keeping in touch with The Quiet City [Paris] Travel Series. Here's a video I thought I'd share to you to end it:
Photo Credits:
commons (dot) wikimedia (dot) org
adilrasheed (dot) com
myhotelsinparis (dot) com
promptguides (dot) com
flickr (dot) com
