Paris is the world’s most romantic city! Every year, it attracts enamoured couples from all over the world, who come here to stroll hand in hand, for entertainment, and of course to express their love for each other. Generations of loving couples, whether famous or anonymous, have fashioned the image of Paris as the capital of romance. Although the City of Light attracts lovebirds all year, February remains 2015 their favourite month with its romantic cachet: who hasn’t dreamt of celebrating - Valentine’s Day here? Paris is certainly the place where anything is possible. ROMANTIC PLACES TO WALK 2014 The most inspiring views of Paris The best viewpoints are for sharing ... together. The most famous is the view from the square in front of the Sacré-Coeur basilica, at the top of Montmartre Hill. In the east of Paris, the hill at Belleville also offers a wonderful panoramic view. Overlooking the park, the terrace of the restaurant Ô Paris is a great place to sit and gaze on the city lights in the evening. From the 56th floor of the Tour Montparnasse, the Ciel de Paris restaurant dominates the capital offering amazing moments. Only the Eiffel Tower outstrips it, to such an extent that it sometimes has its head in the clouds … Great views are also guaranteed as you travel up the glass-walled escalators at the Pompidou Centre. At the top, you can carry on enjoying the view over a drink at Chez Georges, the restaurant on the top floor of the modern art museum. For those with a sense of daring, the tethered hot air balloon at the Parc André Citroën is an exciting experience, taking you up into the sky to hover over the park. Sacré Cœur square Paris 18th - www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com Parc de Belleville and Ô Paris 1 /3 rue des Envierges, Paris 20th Centre Pompidou and Chez Georges 19 rue Beaubourg Paris 4th - www.centrepompidou.fr Tour Montparnasse and Le Ciel de Paris 33 av du Maine Paris 15th - www.tourmontparnasse56.com Eiffel Tower Paris 7th - www.tour-eiffel.fr Parc André Citroën Paris 15th Mythical places to kiss The snapshot immortalized by Robert Doisneau in 1950 has become legendary: reproduced as a postcard and a poster by the hundreds of thousands, the ‘Baiser de l’Hôtel de Ville’ is one of the most famous in the world! To re-enact the scene, you should pose with your sweetheart against the railings of the entrance to the metro. Other classic spots for a photo: the Trocadéro esplanade with the Eiffel Tower in the background, the Montmartre hillside steps, below the Sacré-Coeur, the steps of the Palais Garnier Opera House, the square in front of Notre-Dame, the bridges that span the Saint-Martin Canal... Not forgetting, the tremendous view up the Champs- Elysées from Place de la Concorde. Place de l’Hôtel de Ville Paris 4th, Parvis du Trocadéro Paris 16th, Montmartre Paris 18th, Opéra Garnier Paris 2nd, Notre Dame de Paris 4th, Saint-Martin Canal Paris 10th, Place de la Concorde Paris 8th 1 In love on the Seine riverbanks The Seine riverbanks have been popular with loving couples for centuries. The quaysides around the two islands of Ile Saint Louis and Ile de la Cité that form the very ‘heart’ of Paris are ideal places to stroll together, the most romantic spot being the charming little public garden the Square du Vert-Galant, at the tip of the Île de la Cité. Most of the section of the left bank of the Seine has also been given over to pedestrians since the summer of 2013. Remember the legendary screen stars Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant in the romantic comedy and thriller Charade. And do admire the sun setting on the water from the steps in front of the Musée d’Orsay. The bridges also appeal to couples. Could it be because their arches symbolize an alliance? Or because the water flowing under them carries with it the wildest of promises? According to tradition, lovebirds should kiss and make a wish under the Pont Marie, nicknamed ‘lovers’ bridge’. Pont Neuf Paris 1st, pont Marie Paris 4th, pont de l’Archevêché Paris 4th, Square du Vert- Galant Paris 1st, pont des Arts Paris 6th, passerelle Léopold Sédar Senghor Paris 7th, pont de l’Alma Paris 8th. NEW! www.lesberges.fr On the trail of lovers at Montmartre Associated with the Paris of shady and promiscuous behaviour, the Pigalle and Butte Montmartre neighbourhoods perpetuate the tradition of famous cabarets and romantic places. Pigalle is a mythical district synonymous with revues at the Moulin Rouge and lively bars and sex shops. Further on up, lovebirds saunter down little bohemian streets leading to the flights of steps on Montmartre hillside and can have a fun ride on the merry-go-round on the quaint Place des Abbesses. In the neighbouring little public garden, the ‘I love you’ wall is inscribed with some one thousand declarations of love in more than 300 languages! In the daytime, couples can have their portrait painted by the artists in Place du Tertre. Moulin Rouge, place des Abbesses, Sacré-Cœur, place du Tertre, rue Lepic Paris 18th Embracing on a public bench Park benches in public parks and gardens in Paris are ideal for whispering sweet nothings. Some of those in the Tuileries Gardens are next to the sensual statues by Maillol … Historically, this garden has always been a prime location for libertine behaviour. The wide alleys were once the theatre of love and games of chance. These days you’re more likely to see couples stroking Maillol’s sensual marble sculptures, or crunching toffee apples at the funfair in the gardens in summer. Exchange kisses at a vertiginous height in the Temple of Sibyl, perched on a rocky summit in the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, or in the dark in the cave below with its stalagmites. Embrace sedately near the Fontaine Médias in the Jardin du Luxembourg, kiss like the ancient Romans in the Arènes de Lutèce and canoodle above street level in the gardens of the Coulée Verte. In cold weather, the tropical environment of the Serres d’Auteuil is a good place to be, as are the hothouses in the Jardin des Plantes. And for the ‘secret’ atmosphere of a romantic 19th century garden, there are the gardens of Rohan and Fontenay at the National Archives with umbrella pine trees, gloriettes and topiary. Jardin des Tuileries Paris 1st, 3rd, Jardin de Rohan Paris 3rd, Jardin de Fontenay Paris 3rd, Arènes de Lutèce Paris 5th, Jardin du Luxembourg Paris 6th, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont Paris 19th, Parc Georges Brassens Paris 15th, Jardin des plantes Paris 5th, Serres d’Auteuil Paris 16th, la Coulée verte Paris 12th Put together a funny lovey-dovey itinerary For an offbeat and romantic itinerary, pick up a map of the city and follow ‘inspiring’ street names. You could start out at Passage du Désir, in the 10th arrondissement, and 2 then on to rue de la Fidélité, only a short distance away, leading to ... rue de Paradis! Or you could walk down rue de la Gaieté (14th) and rue de la Félicité (17th). Newlyweds could explore rue Monsieur (7th), and go on to rue Mademoiselle (15th) before joining rue Madame (6th), and perhaps continue on to the nearby rue Princesse. To put an end to a lovers quarrel, nothing could be better than rue de la Paix! In love, the language of flowers is particularly rich. To discover the secret corners of Paris, take a walk along the quai aux Fleurs (4th), rue des Rosiers (4th) then rue des Camélias (14th) before losing yourself in the utterly charming Cité des Fleurs (17th). Optional streets: rue des Glycines, rue des Iris and rue des Orchidées (13th), rue des Primevères (11th) boulevard des Capucines (9th). Exploring the covered shopping arcades Symbolic of old Paris, the covered arcades are highly prized by Parisians. With their high glass roofs, eclectic boutiques and old-fashioned charm, they are full of timeless charm that is conducive to a romantic stroll, away from the noise of the city. The most refined are the Galeries Vivienne and Colbert, with their neo-classical decor. The Passages Jouffroy and Verdeau will delight those who like collector’s items, while the Passage du Grand Cerf andthe Galerie Vero Dodat are magnets for design fans. The Passage Choiseul is another popular spot to linger, and the Passage Brady with its numerous Indian restaurants transports you to the subcontinent. Galerie Vivienne, Paris 2nd, galerie Colbert Paris 2nd, passage des Panoramas Paris 2nd, passage Jouffroy Paris 9th, passage Verdeau Paris 9th, passage Choiseul Paris 2nd, passage du Grand Cerf, galerie Vero Dodat Paris1st, passage Brady Paris 10th. Romantic visits, with or without a guide Paris is an ideal place for gazing at fabulous sights together. An outing can be artistic with Paris as you like it, which explores the theme of romanticism through famous writers and works of art. Delpine Lanvin offers walks in the footsteps of famous Parisian couples whilst Paristartour traces the lives of Piaf, Callas, Jean Gabin and Brigitte Bardot. As for 1 day in Paris, it reveals hidden and little-known public parks and gardens, breathtaking views and romantic cafes. Suggestive paintings, sensual sculptures, cheeky bronze statues ... Museums hide many a work of art to make visitors blush. Bruno de Baeque’s guided tours invite spectators to admire ‘the loveliest bottoms’ on show at the Louvre and Orsay. At Pigalle, the Musée de l’Erotisme presents an artistic and historic approach to eroticism.