Beyond the Eiffel Tower: 7 Lesser-Known Things to Do in Paris
Bois de Boulogne
Head out of the city to the west and you’ll discover the Bois de Boulogne, an expansive green space that was once a royal hunting ground. The park is now home to the Jardin d’Acclimatation and the Louis Vuitton Art Foundation.
You’ll also find a collection of meandering paths through beautifully landscaped gardens, as well as several cafes and a mini-golf course. Plus, there’s an elegant history chateau you can visit, making this a diverse spot when it comes to Paris points of interest!
The Sewers of Paris Museum
A museum about sewers? It sounds kind of gross, but it’s actually one of the most interesting attractions in Paris. The sewers of Paris are an engineering marvel and are incredibly important in the history of the city.
The museum details the history of the sewers, from their initial creation in the late 14th century to their modern structure that was designed in the 19th century. You can see all sorts of fascinating displays, including the giant iron balls that roll down the sewers to clean them, and the pneumatic tube system that carries packages through the sewers.
Bois de Boulogne Head out of the city to the west and you’ll discover the Bois de Boulogne, an expansive green space that was once a royal hunting ground. The...
House of Nicolas Flamel
This stone house was built by Nicolas Flamel, one of the city’s great alchemists. He was born in the 14th century and worked for most of his life as a bookseller.
The legend is that Nicolas came upon an ancient book that taught him the secrets of turning ordinary metals into gold. Whether this is true or not, the story lives on and this is where Flamel is said to have carried out his alchemy experiments.
His house, on Montmorency Street, was built in 1407 and is now the oldest stone house in Paris. It’s been converted into a restaurant called Auberge Nicolas Flamel.