Fun Things to Do Beyond the Tourist Path in Paris

Paris has the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, but the "City of Lights" also offers a myriad of lesser known attractions that are less crowded and equally appealing. The next time you find yourself in Paris, make sure to include a couple of these "off the beaten track" sites.

Picnic at Pere Lachaise Cemetery
Soak up the history and architecture at Paris' 118-acre Pere Lachaise cemetery by spending a day at the park-like site. The locals pack a picnic lunch and sit among the poplar trees near the final resting places of such notables as Honore Balzac, Chopin, Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, and Jim Morrison. Take the Metro to the Philippe Auguste station. Admission is free. For a sneak peek, visit the cemetery's Web site and view a panoramic tour of the site.

Pere Lachaise Cemetery
16 rue du Repos in Paris
011 33 01 55 25 82 10
pere-lachaise.com

Shop like a local on the Rue Monffetard
One of the joys of visiting Paris is experiencing the overwhelming number of food tastes and smells. One of the best ways to enjoy this sensory assault is to stroll along the Rue Monffetard, in southeast Paris. The former Roman road turns into an open street market morning from Tuesday through Friday, with vendors selling everything from fresh seafood to spices to freshly-cut flowers. Take the Metro to the Place Monge station.

Tour Underground Paris
In the late 18th century, city expansion necessitated the reburial of millions of citizens interred in church yards and cemeteries within the city limits. These bones were moved to the abandoned limestone quarries that criss-cross under the heart of Paris. Today, visitors can tour the nearly one kilometer of walking passages in these catacombs, where bones are artfully displayed. The entrance is across from the Denfert-Rochereau Metro station.

The Catacombs of Paris
1, Avenue de Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy
011 33 01 43 22 47 63
catacombesdeparis.fr

Visit the Paris Wine Museum
What better place than Paris to have a wine museum? Yet, the small museum, housed in a limestone quarry, has escaped mention in most guide books or tourist to-do lists. Located on the right bank of the Seine River near the Passy Metro station, the museum features a variety of exhibits on how wine is made, various wine grapes, and the history of French wine. A restaurant is adjacent to the museum. Admission, which includes a tour of the museum and one glass of wine, is 11.90 euros. Discounts are offered to seniors and students, and children under 14 years are free.

Musee du Vin (Wine Museum)
5/7 Square Charles Dickens
Rue des Eaux in Paris
011 33 01 45 25 63 26
museeduvinparis.com

Stroll through the Japanese Garden at UNESCO Headquarters
Paris has dozens of gardens, from the large Tuileries to small neighborhood plots. Few, however, are as serene as the relatively unknown Japanese garden at UNESCO headquarters, near Les Invalides on Paris' left bank. This pocket garden was created by sculptor Isamu Noguchi and features two levels and a variety of traditional Japanese flowers, trees, and design elements. The garden is open to the public by reservation (email visits@unesco.org). Admission is free. Take the Metro to the Ecole Militaire station.

UNESCO
7 Place Fontenoy in Paris
011 33 01 45 68 10 00
unesco.org

Other Travel Articles by Sandy Mitchell
Where to Go Antiquing in Greater Cleveland
Lakefront Restaurants in Greater Cleveland
Maple Syrup Means Spring in Northeast Ohio

Sources:
http://www.museeduvinparis.com
http://www.catacombes-de-paris.fr/english.htm
http://www.paris.org/Kiosque/dec96/mouffetard.html
http://www.unesco.org/visit/jardin/uk/jardin.htm
http://www.pere-lachaise.com