Place Aymé, an open space in the backstreets of Montmartre, is home to Le Passe Muraille (The Walker-Through-Walls), one of Paris’ most interesting statues. Frozen in the middle of passing through a wall, this public artwork is based on a character with a tragic tale. The square is named after Marcel Aymé (1902-67), the author … More The Paris Statue That Walks Through Walls
If you look down at your feet whilst wandering through the centre of Paris, you might just spot an Arago Medallion. These 135 bronze markers set into the streets cut a perfectly straight line through the city from Porte de Clignancourt in the north, down to Gentilly in the South. They represent the location of … More The Arago Medallions of Paris
Ever wondered where the exact centre of Paris is? Just outside the Notre Dame de Paris is a small bronze disc embedded in the stone. While most might walk straight over it without paying it any attention, this marker is actually quite an interesting hidden secret in Paris. The Point Zéro des Routes de France … More The Exact Centre Of Paris – The Point Zéro des Routes de France
With polished copper walls, submarine portholes, decorative rivets, and even gears on the ceiling, the Paris metro station Arts et Métiers is a stunning design straight out of a Jules Verne novel. Serving both line 3 and line 11, the platform for line 11 was redesigned to fit in with the theme of the Musée … More Arts et Métiers Metro Station Paris – The Fantastic Steampunk Station
The Statue of Liberty in New York City is one of the most iconic statues in the world. So iconic, that there are replicas of it all around in the world! In Paris, where it was designed and built, some of the replicas are as old as the real thing, and have some very interesting … More Discovering The 5 Statues of Liberty in Paris
All across the rooftops of Paris, beekeepers have been managing hives of bees on top of monuments and balconies, an unexpected industry that has grown steadily over the last 40 years. Kept for their honey and as a hobby, the humble bee has made a huge resurgence in Paris. Famously appearing as Napoleon’s emblem, beehives … More The Rooftop Beehives Of Paris
Paris might be the last place you’d think to find a wine-producing vineyard, but there is one (just the size of a city block) tucked away in Montmarte! In the shade of Parisian apartment blocks, the twisted stems of hillside grapevines is a curious sight to see. It’s so small, that many people walk by … More Paris Has A Tiny Vineyard Right In The City!
There’s a statue in Paris that indicates how badly the Seine is flooding. Water level at his feet? No problem. Waist deep? Time to get very concerned. Shoulders submerged? Evacuate the paintings of The Louvre! Over his head? Time to take a boat to work! The statue is a Zouave infantryman, a form of light … More The Zouave Infantryman Of Paris – How One Statue Measures The Seine Flooding
On the 28th of July, 1830, a cannon was aimed at the Hôtel de Sens in Paris. The powder exploded, and the projectile, a lump of iron weighing several kilograms, collided with the stone with a hefty thunk. Instead of breaking the stone or bouncing off harmlessly, it embedded into the side of the hotel, … More The Cannonball Lodged in the Wall of the Hotel de Sens
One of the most well-known and beloved bookstores in Paris is the Shakespeare and Company, tucked away in the shadow of the Notre Dame in the 5th arrondissement. In operation since 1951, Shakespeare and Company is an independent store specialising in English language books. But inbetween the shelves, you might find something unexpected – beds, … More The Tumbleweeds Living in Shakespeare and Company Bookstore
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