Ronda

Very nice list!

Shanti

I don't know much about Belleville but I had bookmarked this link on Paris markets for my trip in a couple weeks.
So if you're interested in markets - here's plenty of info.
http://www.v1.paris.fr/EN/Living/markets/markets.asp

I personally loved Giverny but I really like gardening & Monet's paintings. If you choose to go, get there first thing in the morning. It gets very crowded by later in the morning.

Have a wonderful trip.

Apres_Londee

I spent a Saturday in St Denis a few weeks ago. I loved it- things were bustling and very lively. There was an Arabic wedding at the Hotel de Ville with live musicians outside on the square- another poster who went to St Denis on a Saturday also ran into a wedding, so Saturday might be a good day to tour the Basilica and then walk around town. The men are all going to stare at you in St Denis, and some may ask you to take their picture with your camera (not recommended) but it's a lot of fun to explore the streets that radiate down from the Basilica.

For Belleville, both the Blue Guide and the Michelin Green Guide have a detailed walk for the area. I wanted to go to Belleville on my trip, but unfortunately ran out of time.

I love the things you have planned, and all the time you left unplanned. Sounds like a lovely trip.

Slot

Hi
It's a pity that you don't have more time,cos. Lorraine is worth a visit.

Metz - “City of Light” due to its magnificent illuminations which highlight the stunning architecture of the ancient buildings and churches.

And Nancy with Cordeliers church, 18th century cathedral, and the 17th century Notre Dame de Bon Secours. The Place Stanislas “The golden square” is the town square, with the statue of Stanislas pointing to the North, and definitely a must see place.

Or you could stay at one of the old authentic castles in Lorraine. The castle Hattonchatel Chateau is from the 9th. and the 16th. century. It's own by the company ritz-resorts.com

Ceidleh

Deyrolle - 46 rue du Bac, 75007

You aren't likely to run into many tourists toting their Fodor's or Michelin Guides in this spot. So I'd say it fits your requirement for an "off-the-beaten-path" destination.

Apres_Londee

I think Deyrolle is still closed- they had a big fire in February.

avalon

Parts of Deyrolle have opened in the last few weeks.

Michel_Paris

You also done the covered passageways?
The Chapelle Expiatoire is a seldom mentioned nice little visit. Built over the site where Louis XV1 and Marie Antoinette's bodies were placed after being guillotined (before moved to St Denis)

Jacquemart-Andre?
Arene de Lutece?

There is a tour (my sister took it) of the Guimard buildings in the 16th(he designed the classic Metro entrances).

Some ideas I plagiarized from another site .....

For music lovers, check the churches. The Val de Grâce church in the Fifth Arrondissement, for example, offers a free classical music and organ concert at 7 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month; the Madeleine Church in the Eighth Arrondissement offers free organ and choral concerts two or three Sundays a month at 4 p.m.

For the last 10 years, a group of hard-core dancers have gathered on the Seine every evening from mid-May through September. They do the tango, salsa and rock-swing. Free lessons start at 7:30 p.m. (a hat for tips is passed), followed by dancing until midnight. It all happens at Square Tino Rossi at 9, quai St.-Bernard in front of the University of Paris at Jussieu just a few steps from the Cathedral of Notre-Dame (“Paris Danses en Seine,” tangoargentin-eric.site.voila.fr/page3.html).

(I've seen them while taking Seine River cruise and wondered who they were)

The iconic restaurant Taillevent has one of the best wine cellars in the world, and every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. it offers a free tasting. Visit the www.taillevent.com and click on “Les Caves Taillevent,” then “Nos Prestations” and then “Les Dégustations” for information (in French only) on the schedule and theme of the tasting.

freberta

Do you have to make reservtions in advance to go to Tailllevent on Saturday's, or can you just show up? It sounds like a lot of fun. Is it every Saturday that the restaurant is open?

Thanks.

di2315

Hi Iregeo

Last month we walked Le Viaduc des Arts and really enjoyed seeing so many outlets for creative skills.

We walked the gardens above the viaduc (where the train line used to be) in one direction, and returned at ground level. It's a lovely way to see another aspect of this beautiful city. There are quite a few points along the way where you can ascend/decend to change levels.

We took a couple of hours to do the walk, but didn't get all the way to Vincennes.

Happy travels, Di

BTilke

I know I have a minority view, but I just wasn't that thrilled by the Marmottan. And I also wasn't crazy about the Muette area nearby...next to the Place du Trocadero, it's the most heavily touristed spot in the 16th.
However, if you do want to see all the Monets, make sure they're not on loan somewhere. Monet paintings do log a lot of miles at exhibitions around the world.

Far more interesting (to me) was the Asian arts museum (by Iena metro stop). It has an excellent collection, esp of Korean art, which tends to be overlooked in other museums (as their collections are usually dominated by Chinese and Japanese art). The Guimet makes an interesting sidebar to the Impressionist collections in Paris museums (and at Giverny), as the Impressionists were fascinated and influenced by Asian art. Monet himself was an avid collector of Asian prints.

http://www.guimet.fr/-English-
http://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1695861.html

djsteach

This is a wonderful list. I keep going back to it and cut and paste many of the terrific ideas into my Paris file.

Keep it up Fodorites!!!