Why do I like Paris so much? Of all the European capitals Paris represents the romantic spell, the walks along the Seine, the shop windows of the Rue Royale, the terraces to enjoy a coffee and a croissant... But when I travel to Paris there are something I can't help but admire: Parisian architecture.
And no, I am not going to talk to you today about the Eiffel Tower, which you surely knew on your first visit (and you see it again and again, because you love it). Neither the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe or Notre-Dame (I hope you knew it before the fire, because today it is full of scaffolding).
What I want is to tell you things i love about parisian architecture and that make each visit a discovery.
are you coming with me? Go...
Strolling through Paris, can you have a better plan?
If you can do it, do it. I know that every time you visit Paris there is a lot written down on the agenda and everything is interesting. But if you have a few hours free choose to take a walk through some of the stately areas and get lost in the streets... You will find wonders around every corner.
But first, I am going to suggest something that will plunge you into the atmosphere of the city. You have to choose a outfit that fits the occasion.
Is there anything more Parisian than stripes? And no, it's not a cliche. wear one sailor and you are already camouflaged with the environment.
Aothers, mixdo with a pair of strings, like Blossom, Kira o Yoko, and a couple of rings plug and y zigzag, we have itokazo!
As a curiosity, do you know that it is the official outfit of the French navy, and that it is said that must have 21 stripes, in memory of Napoleon's 21 victories against the British?
Haussmann's unmistakable style and its mark on Parisian architecture
If there is any "father" of Parisian modernity, it is undoubtedly Haussmann, who redesigned the urban planning of the city in the XNUMXth century and laid the foundations for what we know today.
By order of Napoleon III, thousands of medieval buildings were demolished and the streets widened. Wide and bright avenues were created, and complete blocks of stone buildings were erected, with the advances of the time (running water, sewerage, lighting in the streets).
If any city has reinvented itself, it is Paris.
Remember it when you give a walk between spectacular stately buildings, and pay attention to the details. The buildings have a similar height and, although they are different, they are part of the same landscape.
The differences are in the ornamentation, in the brackets or supports of the balconies, the moldings and the columns. You will see that there is always details that give personality to the buildings.
It was at that time that they began to open commercial premises on the ground floors. Cafes and street life appeared.
If you can, peek at a portal. Hopefully you find one open and you can take a look at those monumental entrances, with doorman gate most of them.
Some give to charming inner courtyards, hidden from the street, from which you access the houses.And if you are even luckier, what can happen?
That you can know one of those apartments from the inside. If it's tastefully rehabbed (why shouldn't it be?) you'll find very spacious rooms and great heights. Natural wood floors and dreamy ceilings, decorated with moldings and rosettes.
Choose a terrace: Parisian architecture at your feet
Did I say at your feet? Yes, because although Parisian street cafes are a classic (which you shouldn't miss either), something else is rise to the heights and choose one of the many terraces where you can have a mid-afternoon coffee or a late-night cocktail, with the city as a stage.
Many rooftops in historic buildings have been converted for this use. There are many styles: sophisticated, trendy, intimate, vibrant...
I recommend one from which you can enjoy views of the capital that will leave you breathless. At Hotel The Peninsula Paris (near the Arc de Triomphe) you have one of the most spectacular rooftops in the city.
With the Eiffel Tower always present in the urban skyline, let yourself be enchanted by the characteristic Parisian rooftops. Those from Haussmann's time were built in zinc or lead, with mansard roofs, those typical windows to illuminate the attics.
You can choose the restaurant (L'Oiseau Blanc) or the bar (Rooftop). Either of the two options will give you some views that will stay with you.
My advice: go at sunset and let it get dark. You will never forget.
What other postcards of Paris do you have stored in your memory? tell me what was the image of the Parisian architecture that has most impacted you and I write it down for my next trip