Paris is one of those places that you could never get enough of, no matter how many times you visit.The City of Light is as changing and dizzying as it’s eternal and immutable. Time here seems to pass differently.
For this reason, a while ago I decided to drop by the French capital for the third time. I must admit that my first two experiences in Paris were not entirely pleasant . Let’s just say that Parisians are not famous for being the most friendly hosts in the world and that I believe that reputation is not entirely unfounded.
But there I was, ready for everything to be different this time.
You could say that someone who’s previously been to a place (and hasn’t particularly enjoyed it) has no reason to visit again, but I beg to differ; this was definitely a case of third time lucky.
And since it was my thrid time in the city, I didn’t feel the need to visit the Louvre or climb the Eiffel Tower. I could just be in Paris, go with the flow, get carried away by the notes of the accordion until my feet ached.
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I enjoyed being able to walk Paris without actually having to sightsee, and I ended up making my own route of the city.
While Paris has an excellent metro system, I felt that walking was the best way to take in the real feeling of the French capital.
My route started at the Arab Studies Center and finished at the Eiffel Tower, covering some 7 km (4.3 mi), this seems like a lot to walk, but with the Seine at your feet and the backdrop of the palatial Parisian buildings, you will barely notice it!
After enjoying the views from the Arabic Studies Center, we move slightly away from the river and on to Rue de Saint Germain to reach a picturesque food market.
The Place Maubert market is one of the oldest markets in Paris, it was transfered here in 1547 from the île de la Cité. It’s open every Tuesday , Thursday and Saturday . Technically it’s actually located on the Boulevard Saint-Germain , but is named after the square across the street.
After having falafel and cheese for breakfast we’re ready to continue the route.
The next stop on the tour takes us to the Island of the City and the world famous Notre Dame Cathedral. This Gothic 14th century gem is one of the masterpieces of medieval architecture. It’s the seat of the Archdiocese of Paris and one of the most visited buildings in the French capital. It is also free, something that’s not too common among European cathedrals. Please do have a look inside.
The church is located in the middle of the Île de la Cité, one of two natural islands in the Seine, the heart of Old Paris.
From this point we return to the river. On our way we will encounter countless stands selling old books, magazines and vintage posters .
This walk will take us by the Hotel de Ville, the Louvre, the Place de la Concorde, the Tuileries Gardens and many other of the famous landmarks of Paris.
You might recognize the area around the Alexandre III bridge, as it was the setting for Adele’s Someone Like You promotional video.
One of the highlights of this walking route is you will get impresive views of the Eiffel Tower in the background at all times. Sunset is a particularly beautiful time to walk around the Seine.
The way to the Eiffel Tower is long, but if you stop every so often to contemplate the beauty of the city, you will not even notice the distance .
