Please comment on my Paris off-the-beaten-path rough itinerary
May 30th, 2008, 12:33 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,994
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Please comment on my Paris off-the-beaten-path rough itinerary
I have arranged my "must sees" for this trip as follows:
Wed. arrive midday in "my" neighborhood, Batignolles. Settle into apartment. Explore neighborhood, including church, square and food/floral shops.
Thurs. Explore Belleville.
Fri. Explore St. Denis, including the basilica. End up in Montmarte to explore both touristy and non-touristy area. Try to catch the sunset and city lighting up for the evening from this area.
Sat. Attend the street market ("bio mkt"
in Batignolles; explore parts of 11th arr.
Sun. Walk the Canal St. Martin from north to south. Explore Le Viaduc des Arts.
Mon. Visit L'Orangerie
Tues. Day trip...perhaps Giverny? (Have seen Versailles and Fountainbleau previously.)
Wed. Last day. No plans.
Would love your comments. Any blatent errors? Will shops and cafes in the areas I've chosen be open on the days I plan to be there? Would you shift things around for some reason? WILL GLADLY ACCEPT ALL OTHER SUGGESTIONS FOR OFF THE BEATEN PATH DESTINATIONS! Thanks.
Wed. arrive midday in "my" neighborhood, Batignolles. Settle into apartment. Explore neighborhood, including church, square and food/floral shops.
Thurs. Explore Belleville.
Fri. Explore St. Denis, including the basilica. End up in Montmarte to explore both touristy and non-touristy area. Try to catch the sunset and city lighting up for the evening from this area.
Sat. Attend the street market ("bio mkt"
in Batignolles; explore parts of 11th arr.Sun. Walk the Canal St. Martin from north to south. Explore Le Viaduc des Arts.
Mon. Visit L'Orangerie
Tues. Day trip...perhaps Giverny? (Have seen Versailles and Fountainbleau previously.)
Wed. Last day. No plans.
Would love your comments. Any blatent errors? Will shops and cafes in the areas I've chosen be open on the days I plan to be there? Would you shift things around for some reason? WILL GLADLY ACCEPT ALL OTHER SUGGESTIONS FOR OFF THE BEATEN PATH DESTINATIONS! Thanks.
May 30th, 2008, 01:02 PM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,212
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Monday you can do more than the Orangerie since it's a small museum and won't take much time. Walking through the Tuilerie Gardens would be a wonderful addition to the itinerary.
Here are the off the beaten path things I did on my last trip:
- Gobelins tapestry tour (2 hours - in French only).
- Medieval concert at the Cluny - included with admission ticket but you have to ask for a separate concert ticket. Fridays at 12:30 and Saturdays at 4:00. The museum is great but not off the beaten path.
- Delacroix Museum - small; tucked away just by Furstenburg Square.
- Bourdelle Museum (sculpture).
- Post Office Museum - there was one wall of all the French stamps and they were beautiful.
- Mosque and tea garden behind it.
- Val de Grace Church (limited opening times).
- Jewish Museum.
I had the Dapper Museum in the 8th on my list but never got there.
You might want to check out church concerts.
Have you been to Paris before and want to do other than the usual things?
Here are the off the beaten path things I did on my last trip:
- Gobelins tapestry tour (2 hours - in French only).
- Medieval concert at the Cluny - included with admission ticket but you have to ask for a separate concert ticket. Fridays at 12:30 and Saturdays at 4:00. The museum is great but not off the beaten path.
- Delacroix Museum - small; tucked away just by Furstenburg Square.
- Bourdelle Museum (sculpture).
- Post Office Museum - there was one wall of all the French stamps and they were beautiful.
- Mosque and tea garden behind it.
- Val de Grace Church (limited opening times).
- Jewish Museum.
I had the Dapper Museum in the 8th on my list but never got there.
You might want to check out church concerts.
Have you been to Paris before and want to do other than the usual things?
May 30th, 2008, 01:18 PM
#4
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 636
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you can't make it to Giverny, you should go to the Musee Marmottan in the 16th arr. It has the world's largest collection of Monets (Giverny just has reproductions, although, of course, it has the "original" gardens). Another fun option for a day trip would be to take the TGV to Reims and tour some of the large Champagne houses. The Surrender Museum (where the Germans surrendered in WWII) is also worth a visit, as are Chagall's stained glass windows in the cathedral and the Art Deco architecture in the city.
If you haven't been to it before, the Musee Carnavalet is fun to visit - it's a museum of the history of Paris and someone who has visited it a lot likely would enjoy looking at the scale models of neighbourhoods at different points in time in the city's history.
If you haven't been to it before, the Musee Carnavalet is fun to visit - it's a museum of the history of Paris and someone who has visited it a lot likely would enjoy looking at the scale models of neighbourhoods at different points in time in the city's history.
May 30th, 2008, 05:35 PM
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,994
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Frogoutofwater (great name!), I haven't really researched day trips yet, but Reims seems to offer a lot...art, history and great champagne! I am also considering something in the Loire Valley or Normandy. Thoughts on these?
May 30th, 2008, 06:34 PM
#9
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,242
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Iregeo - When I stayed on rue de Rome in the Batignolles, I went to a nice little modern art exhibit at the 17th Arr. Mairie building on rue des Batignolles.....maybe you can see if anything is going on when you're there.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
May 30th, 2008, 07:22 PM
#11
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think this looks great, but I agree seeing the Orangerie will only take an hour or two, so you can fit in a lot more that day.
Have you been up the Tour Montparnasse? I didn't do that until my umpteenth trip to Paris, and now I love it.
And yes to the Musée Marmottan. And the Jeu de Paume, too.
I love that you're visiting Belleville and St.-Denis. You might also think about a short train trip to St-Germain-en-Laye. I really enjoyed our day (well, half-day) there.
But yes, this is all good.
Have you been up the Tour Montparnasse? I didn't do that until my umpteenth trip to Paris, and now I love it.
And yes to the Musée Marmottan. And the Jeu de Paume, too.
I love that you're visiting Belleville and St.-Denis. You might also think about a short train trip to St-Germain-en-Laye. I really enjoyed our day (well, half-day) there.
But yes, this is all good.
May 30th, 2008, 08:04 PM
#13
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 476
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
While you're walking along the St. Martin canal, detour a block east to visit St. Louis hospital (I can't remember the exact street name, but you can see it from the canal, in the area of the locks). It was built in 1607, and has never been renovated. If you're lucky, you can go past the gate house and into the courtyard. It'll make a pleasant diversion on your walk.
May 30th, 2008, 08:15 PM
#15
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 476
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Iregeo, I wish it were that simple.
The first time I stopped by, the gates were open, and I was able to walk through the main gate (the gatehouse area, where there were some places for cars to park), and through the second gated archway into the courtyard.
When I came back on another day with my wife, both gates were locked. We probably could have gotten into the courtyard by walking around the hospital and trying a back entrance, but the complex is large, and we didn't want to take the time.
The first time I stopped by, the gates were open, and I was able to walk through the main gate (the gatehouse area, where there were some places for cars to park), and through the second gated archway into the courtyard.
When I came back on another day with my wife, both gates were locked. We probably could have gotten into the courtyard by walking around the hospital and trying a back entrance, but the complex is large, and we didn't want to take the time.
May 31st, 2008, 07:12 AM
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,994
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
nicerue 50, thanks for the heads up about the Belleville market day.
About the 11th...I am completely unfamiliar with the area. What do you suggest to get a real flavor for the neighborhoods?
About the 11th...I am completely unfamiliar with the area. What do you suggest to get a real flavor for the neighborhoods?
May 31st, 2008, 07:30 AM
#18
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,007
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Irego, There are so many people with way more Paris experience than I on this board that I will leave the itinerary to them.
On the apartment itself, we were very pleased with it. The thing we especially liked was that it was not difficult to use the sleeper sofa. You could pull it out without moving anything, etc. It is very nicely decorated and a great variety of tour (and other) books is available.
Enjoy!
On the apartment itself, we were very pleased with it. The thing we especially liked was that it was not difficult to use the sleeper sofa. You could pull it out without moving anything, etc. It is very nicely decorated and a great variety of tour (and other) books is available.
Enjoy!
May 31st, 2008, 08:48 AM
#19
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 653
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You might want to wander around Auteuil (I think it is pronounced "oh-toy-ee". It has wonderful residential buildings, many of them historic works by famous architects. We also enjoyed (today) walking along Rue Montorgueil, with its many food-related shops and eating places.
. It has wonderful residential buildings, many of them historic works by famous architects. We also enjoyed (today) walking along Rue Montorgueil, with its many food-related shops and eating places.
May 31st, 2008, 02:20 PM
#20
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Iregeo..a few of the places I enjoy in the 11th are.evening stroll down bldv Belleville.turns into Menilmontant.cafe on left Chez Zig Zag, low tables or straw mat sitting on side of street.glass of wine and olives merniated in tarragon oil. and watching the sites.also Ediith Piaf musee 5 rue Crespin-du-gast. Walking from Bastille up rue Roquette. Very good inexpensive restaurant near Bastille. Relais du Massif Central, 16 Rue Daval.open lunch and dinner. Blanqutte du veau excellent. 11th has a great mix of ages and ethnic. Bastille on Saturday artist where market is.Lots to see and enjoy. We'll be there in July for Bastille day.
