Paris Hideaways explores… The Latin Quarter

A sunny Sunday morning on the steps of the Sorbonne in absolute silence allows for nostalgic imagination of this spot in a grand but distant past, when education was of the utmost priority in this area of Paris on the left bank of the Seine.

The Latin Quarter is home to a number of higher education establishments – the University of Paris – La Sorbonne, the Ecole Normale Superieure, the Schola Cantorum and the Jussieu campus, and acquired its name from the Latin-speaking students of the Middle Ages.

Nowadays, an early weekend morning is about the only time to bask in the silence, however, as the Latin Quarter is known more for its lively atmosphere and crowded wine bars and bistros lining the thin winding streets. Boulevards St Michel and St Germain cut through the Latin Quarter, and it is here where Hemingway and other famous expat writers and artists used to congregate.

From the Place de La Sorbonne, it is hard to miss is the Pantheon, was originally built as a church in the 1700’s but essentially became a mausoleum for intellectuals, and it is here where Volatire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Emile Zola, Marie Curie, Louise Braille and other artists and scientists are buried. This is also where Foucault proved the rotation of the earth by hanging a pendulum from its dome in 1851.

The Moyen Age (Middle Ages) Museum (also known as the Cluny Museum) sits where Boulevard St Michel meets Boulevard Saint German. Built on the ruins of Roman baths, this museum’s major attraction is the series of medieval tapestries called La Dame et La Licorne (The Lady and the Unicorn).

Saint Severin is an 11th century Catholic church with 20th stained glass window and the oldest church bells remaining in Paris, cast in 1412. St Severin also boasts pillars in the form of palm-tree trunks

The Latin Quarter is also home to L’ Institut du Monde Arabe, established in 1980 when 18 Arab countries concluded an agreement to establish the institute and research Arabic and Arab cultural and spiritual values. The Institute covers 181,850 square feet (16,894 m2) and the remarkable architecture acts as a buffer between the rationalist blocks of the Jussieu Campus, and the Seine.

Also a must see in the Latin Quarter is La Mosquee de Paris, which was built for Paris’ French Arab community in 1926. It is home to a tea salon and serves excellent mint tea and flaky, rich pastries.

Speaking of Eating and Drinking in the Latin Quarter..

If you are staying in a vacation apartment in the Latin Quarter, you may want to forage for your groceries at the Rue Mouffetard Market(La Mouffe say the locals) or pick up the perfect ingredients for a picnic in the nearby Jardin des Plantes, France’s permiere botantical garden and home to the Natural History Museum ( don’t forget to grab some wine at La Fontaine aux Vins at 107 rue Moufftard!). One of Paris’s best-known markets, Rue Mouffetard is one of the oldest in Paris and feels like a tiny self-contained village where you will find butchers, bakers, cheese shops and wine stores, perfect for eating like a local in Paris. The market runs from just behind the Pantheon down to St Medard Square. Best visit in the morning, as some stalls close in the afternoon. Make sure not to miss the Shakespeare & Co English-language bookstore nearby, with its laid-back anything-goes vibe and excellent selection of literature (read Guardian review of this spectacular shop here).

Around the Rue de La Huchette, you will find several small bars, all good for a cheap drink and laugh with students. Another great place to grab a drink is a tiny bar called Caveau des Oubliettes(TimeOut Paris review here), on the beaten path but often overlooked by tourists. This bar offers strong drinks and live jazz nightly and a bit of history, as the basement here was where prisoners were historically held before their executions.

For more sophisticated dining, Le Coupe Chou on rue Lanneau, was started by three famous French actors Francis Lemonnier, Francis Nani and Christian Azzopardi in the 1960s, and the restaurant/bar quickly became a place where French and foreign performers and stars could intermingle with spectators. Le Coupe Chou has expanded into several neighboring townhouses over the years and time has been taken to restore it to its original 17th century appearance. Lena et Mimile on rue Tournefort is an old-fashioned bistro on a mini-square, and La Perraudin in rue Saint-Jacques still uses red-and-white checkered tablecloths (with old-time prices to match).

Brasserie Balzar, where Camus and Sartre often lunched together, offers not only an excellent menu, but great people-watching property on the rue des Ecoles. The Place St Michel, was once the spot of numerous protests and social uprisings, strikes as well as more light spirited congregations of artists, writers, poets, musicians and dancers. The Boulevard St Michel leads to the Place St Andre, which is lined with bistros and restaurants.

Raclette is a must, and the Saveur de Savoie at 20 rue Saint Severin is about as authentic as the experience gets: a half circle of cheese, melted before your eyes, which you scrape off and pour onto mini plates of potatoes, meats and veggies.

Eric Kayser boulangerie in 14 rue Monge is one of the best bakeries in Paris, and the perfect place to grab breakfast for the next morning. Of course, for any homesick Americans, the authenticBreakfast in America diner offers pancakes, bacon, even huevos rancheros, though if you are looking for the best Mexican food, then the Latin Quarter is predictably the right spot for Anahuacalli at 30 rue des Bernadins that is always packed, so make sure to reserve a spot.

Getting There

The Latin Quarter has several Paris Metro and RER stations to arrive there, but explore the area on foot.

Cluny/La Sorbonne, Maubert/Mutualite, Cardinal Lemoine, Jussieu, Place Monge, Censier/Daubenton, St. Michel, Luxembourg

Latin Quarter Bus Lines – 27, 87, 86, 24, 21, 47, 87, 84

Twitter Poll Part Deux – Paris with Kids

We recently asked our Twitter followers, blog readers and Paris Hideaways friends their suggestions for Family Friendly Paris suggestions, which resulted in the following top ten suggestions.  Enjoy the read and feel free to make further suggestions in the comment box below!

1. Cite des Sciences et l’Industrie (La Cite des Enfants)

Recommended by the most readers/followers and fans including ParisMB, the Cite des Sciences et l’Industrie is the top favorite of those travelling to Paris with kids. Science lovers young and not-so-young can enjoy the biggest science museum in Europe, which was created particularly with youth in mind. Located in the Parc de la Villette in the 19th, The Cite has a planetarium, a submarine, an IMAX theatre and a departments just for kids and teens (la cite des enfants is one of these).

Cite des Sciences et l’Industrie (La Cite des Enfants)
www.cite-sciences.fr/english/index.php

30 Avenue Corentin Cariou Paris

2. Musee des Artes et Metiers

The second most recommended on the list was yet another science museum, this time the Musée des Arts et Métiers located in the rue Réaumur in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris. This somewhat misleadingly-named ‘Museum of Arts and Crafts’ boasts Foucault’s original pendulum, Formula One engines, and exhibits on everything from telecomms to quantum physics with a lot of hands on activities for kids of all ages.

Musee des Artes et Metiers

www.arts-et-metiers.net

60 rue Réaumur
Metro :  Arts et Métiers

3. The Musee National d’Histoire Naturelle / Jardin des Plantes

Also a top recommendation and perhaps the most enthusiastically recommended by one of our readers, The National Museum of Natural History Museum and the Jardin des Plantes garden surrounding the museum together act as a full day out for the whole family. There is an evolution museum  in a great hall filled with skeletons, specimens, organs and even genetic mutations! There is also a small-ish zoo, but beware – hours can be spent in this fun and walkable zoo.

The Musee National d’Histoire Naturelle / Jardin des Plantes

rue Cuvier, rue Buffon, rue Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire

Metro: Austerlitz

www.mnhn.fr

4. Parc de Belleville

Recommended by INVISIBLEPARIS among others, the Parc de Belleville is located on the hill of Belleville, and at 108 meters high, it is the highest park in Paris. and kids can climb a 30m tall terrace which provides panoramic views of Paris. Kids can let loose in the 1000m2 park, run among its 1200 trees, check out the 100m long waterfall fountain (the longest in Paris). There is also a purpose built wooden playground for kids, ping pong tables for all and an open-air theatre for the family to enjoy in the warmer months.

5. Jardin des Tuileries

This is the most central garden of Paris, and accordingly stunning. The Jardin des Tuileries is very near the Louvre, where you will inevitably visit at some point during your trip to Paris. During the summer the Fete Foraine is a ‘carnival’ of sorts, with a giant ferris wheel-slash-kid-magnet that adults love too, and the gardens and fountains throughout the park allow kids to run freely and safely while parents lounge in the many chairs and benches throughout the park.

1e arrondissement.

Metro:  Tuileries

6. The Musée du Quai Branly

The newest addition to the major museums in Paris is this Ethnology Museum in the 7th. The exhibits are engaging for kids and the design of the building is very entertaining as well. The museum offers not only intelligent exhibits, but scientific events, a cinema, workshops for kids and classes, and both theatre and dance.

7th Arrondissement

Rue de l’Université / Quai Branly

www.quaibranly.fr

7. Paris Metro Line 14 – Front Seat

Kids get a kick out of sitting in the front seat of Metro line 14, an automated (driverless) line which crosses the center of Paris, from Saint Lazare and Olympiades. Line 14 does happen to pass through a few tourist sites such as the Church of the Madeleine, the Ministry of Finance, the Paris-Bercy sports area and gardens, Bercy village and the National Library of France.  This was suggested by a an anonymous blog reader, and what a simple and easy idea to keep in mind to keep the kids entertained!

8. Bois de Boulogne

Slightly bigger than New York’s Central Park and over 3 times the size of Hyde Park in London, Bois de Boulongne is known as the ‘main lung’ of Paris, located on the western border of the city. Inside the park is the Jardin d’ Acclimatation, an amusement park which offers a zoo, rollercoasters, a carousel, swinging chairs, bumper cars, and even a railway, golf and a small waterpark. The lines here are almost non-existent and prices are much more economical than a trip out to one of the bigger amusement parks outside of Paris. Entrance is €2.90 per person (including kids 3 and above) with each ride costing the price of one ticket (around €2.70).

Bois de Boulogne
Western edge of the 16th Arrondissement

http://en.parisinfo.com/museum-monuments/1338/bois-de-boulogne

9. Centre Pompidou

While a modern art museum is not necessarily a place associated with Family-friendly tourism, it is the exterior design of the building that kids particularly love at Centre Pompidou, with its exposed airducts, outdoor staircases and primary-colored exterior paint-job.  Also to note: Pompidou is closed on Tuesdays, while other museums are typically closed Mondays, making this a great place to visit with kids on a Monday, especially a rainy Monday.

Centre Pompidou

4th Arrodissement

19 rue Beaubourg
www.centrepompidou.fr

10. Disneyland Paris / Parc Asterix

It is with some reluctance that we include Disneyland Paris to this list of Top 10 ‘Paris for Kids’ recommendations. Several readers suggested Disneyland including FrenchTwistDC, and the theme park is obviously aimed at children.  It is a perfect day outside of Paris, the kids will most likely love it, and so it is a safe option. Buy why go all the way to Paris and visit Disneyland?  A more original option would be Parc Asterix, an amusement park based on the comic strip stories The Adventures of Asterix located just 20 miles from Disneyland Paris.

www.disneylandparis.co.uk/index.xhtml

www.parcasterix.fr

Did you know..Part III

Another edition of Did you know…The sometimes brutal, sometimes trivial, always interesting facts about the lovely city of Paris from @Parishideaways:

Did you know…the motto of the French republic is ‘liberté, égalité, fraternité’ meaning “liberty, equality, brotherhood.”

Did you know…though 20,000 light bulbs light the Eiffel Tower, the nickname ‘City of Lights’ comes from the intellectuals in 19th Century.

Did you know…There is no Chanel 1-4: Chanel 5 was coined because the perfume was launched in 1921 on the fifth day of the fifth month.

Did you know…the word denim derived from “Serge de Nimes”, fabric from Nîmes, southern France.

Did you know…the Guillotine executed 40,000 during the Revolution incl King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette – abolished in 1981.

Did you know…Paris comes from the Parisii tribe comes from the Celtic Gallic word parisio meaning “the working people” or “the craftsmen.”

Paris Hideaways explores…Saint-Germain-des-pres

Jazz music whispers softly out of well-placed speakers as the neighboring table to the right debates the best route to take to the Louvre, and the woman to the left leafs through Le Monde, glazing over articles with such haste that you suspect her of waiting on a secret lover or private eye. Whoever he is, he arrives, dressed in snug jeans, a black sweater, sunglasses and a scarf and oozes fashion as he slides gracefully into the seat next to the woman, and she places the newspaper on round cafe table and reaches suddenly nonchalantly for her espresso.

Ah, people watching at a cafe…

Sure you will visit the Louvre, the Seine, the Eiffel Tower, but if you have not spent the afternoon in a cafe in Paris people watching, you have not experienced the true feeling of Paris. There is no area better for this ultimate Parisian experience than Saint-Germain.  Sartre held his heated discussions on existentialism at Cafe de Flore (on Saint-Germain Boulevard and Le Tabou (rue Dauphine),where Simone de Beavoir and Albert Camus were also known to hang, while Hemingway soaked up the atmosphere at Brasserie Lipp right nearby. Though unlikely you would run in to Picasso or Sartre today, you will run elbows with rich and famous, fashionable bigwigs, artists both staving and commissioned, wiry intellectual types and of course, fellow tourists,  in the cafes of Saint-Germain, located on the Left Bank (Rive Gauche) across the Seine from the Tuileries.

While your conversation may more match those of the group next to you debating directions to the next attraction, you can lose yourself in thought imagining what it would have been like to frequent Le Deux Magots at the same time as the writers of the ‘Lost Generation’ of the 20s and 30s and the existentialists who together transformed 20^th century thought. The world’s first coffeehouse, Le Procope was built in 1686, but don’t expect any coffee at this venue in the Rue de l’Ancienne-Comedie, unless it accompanies your meal at the fine dining restaurant in its place.

You can easily book an apartment in Saint-Germain in order to take advantage of this, the heart of cafe culture in Paris. In addition to being near some of the most famous and interesting cafes in Paris, the Saint-Germain area has some of the best museums, restaurants, galleries and shops in the City of Lights.

This carefree and relaxed area of Paris lies in the 6^th arrondissement, and is one of the best areas to book an apartment in to experience Paris as a local during your time in the city. This is the best neighborhood to wander without a plan, so explore the area freely.  If you head east you’ll hit the Musee D’Orsay, the eastern border before hitting Invalides and the Eiffel Tower quarter, to the north you can wander until the river Seine, to the south you arrive at the Luxembourg quarter, while the Latin Quarter borders Saint-Germain to the West.

Your centre of gravity is the Boulevard Saint-Germain, a major thoroughfare you will crisscross several times,  and the most important part of Baron Hausmann’s renovation of Paris in the 1850s and 1860s. The wide boulevard with spacious sidewalks made the cafe culture possible, replacing numerous small streets which still jut out in places in small, aimless sections. Boulevard Saint-Germain has high end shopping available such as Armani , Rykiel and Zadig et Voltaire and nearby you can find the Institut d’Etudes Politques on Boulevard Raspail, which is one of the finest political science schools in Europe.   Saint-Germain played a notable role in American politics, as Benjamin Franklin and John Adams signed the Treaty of Paris here to recognise the independence of US colonies.

Dont be afraid to stray off the main Boulevard and lose yourself in the maze of tiny streets between Boulevard St German and the Seine where you will find everything from retro clothes shops to antique shops. You might first shuffle along Rue Princesse and hop in to the Village Voice English language bookstore. It was the intellectual bookstores in Saint-Germain which attracted T.S. Elliot, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway and Ezra Pound, along with Parisians Andre Gide and Paul Valery.

Perhaps you pass the Rue de Grenelle and its excellent market Marche de Grenelle.  At 6, rue de Fuerstenberg, dip in to the Musee Eugene Delacroix, where the romantic painter lived between 1857-1863 to be near his work at the St-Sulpice Church on the Place Saint-Sulpice – a church only slightly smaller than Notre Dame and the second largest in the city.

Saint-Germain mixes the intellectual with art, fashion and riches, the latter can be seen at the money museum – the Musee de la Monnaie, at 11 Quai de Conti. The former French mint now houses an extensive collection of historical coins and medallions.

Not quite original enough for you? How about the Musee de la Legion d’Honneur in 2, rue de Bellechasse – the only museum dedicated to the highest honors awarded by countries worldwide as well as an expansive collection of the art of gold and medals form orders of knighthood.

Hold on to your hat as you pass 9, Cour du Commerce St-Andre. Actually hold on to your head, as this is where Dr Guillotin put the final touches on the decapitating machine.

Don’t miss Arty Dandy in 1, rue de Furstenberg which offers arty objects considered ‘social metaphors’ for modern life, contemporary unique and limited edition pieces unlike any other shopping you’ll do in Paris.

La Boutique Assouline in 35, rue Bonaparte is a luxury bookshop, where it is possible to dedicate hours discovering lifestyle and fashion books, exclusive accessories and masculine indoor candles with scents such as pipe, cigar, wood and leather.

Just out the bookshop’s door you’ll stumble upon France’s leading school of fine art, Ecole Nationele Superieure des Beaux-Arts is quartered in the Palais des Etudes at 14, rue Bonaparte.

Hungry?  The Alcazar and Côté Bergamote are both trendy venues in Saint-Germain, or why not visit La Cremerie Caves Miard? The food market on Rue de Buci overflows with mouthwatering delights, and Fish La Boisonnerie has friendly, English-speaking staff serving up fresh fish and good wine. If you find yourself near the tourist office, why not take a load off at La Lozere for some very special three course oldfashioned French cooking.  Of course if you’ve fallen for the cafe imagery in the text above, then La Palette is a very authentic Parisian cafe around the corner from the Beaux-Arts. For a more upscale dining experience, La Rotisserie d’en Face on Rue Christine serves elegant eats with uber trendy diners. Allard on Rue Saint-André des Arts offers great food and Le Comptoir de Relais on 9 carrefour de l’Odéon is a casual yet very popular Brasserie.

How to get there:

Saint-Germain is served by the Metro – exit at Saint-Germain-des-Pres, Mabillion or Odeon for central locations in Saint-Germain.

For a listing of all Paris Hideaways apartments from budget studios to luxury 3-bedroom apartments in the Saint-Germain area, click here and explore Paris Hideaways.

Did you know…part 2

Continuing on with our Did you know…Tweets, here are the latest from @parishideaways

Did you know…Boiled hedgehog tastes similar to wild rabbit – and was a common dish in Paris in the 16th century.

Did you know…the Eiffel Tower ‘grows’ in Summer due to heat expansion, making it taller, vice versa in the Winter.

Did you know…in Paris you are never more than 400 meters (1/4 mile) away from a Metro (subway) station.

Did you know…there are more dogs in Paris than there are children. Approx dog population – 300,000

Did you know…Chauvinism (extreme loyalty to group) comes from Nicola Chauvin, a soldier in Napolean’s army who was fanatically loyal.

Did you know…

If living in Paris were a video game, then having lived in the City of Lights  for over a decade as a tour guide and Tour Director would put our knowledge at Expert Level.

This knowledge comes in very handy for our Paris Hideaways guests as we can suggest full itineraries for each area of the city, suggest perfect little off the beaten path bistros and cafes (favorite cafe – Apparement cafe in Le Marais).

Of course, along with this ‘Expert’ knowledge, come little known facts – trivia about Paris. While these facts do come in useful when out on tours with tour clients, they are nuggets of knowledge we haven’t been able to share as clearly with our Paris Hideaways vacation apartment rentals clients.

Until now! Every week we are tweeting out quick Did you know…tweets. Facts on Paris in 140 characters or less.

Here is a round up of this past week’s Did you know…facts about Paris via @Parishideaways

Did you know…one of most important collection of Monet’s works located in Musee Marmottan-Monet in Rue Louis Boilly incl ‘Impression,Sunrise’

Did you know…overlooked museum of the Petit Palais in Avenue Winston Churchill is free, owned by the city of Paris, incl Monet’s Sunset.

Did you know…hidden tower within a tower to be found in little room to left as you enter the Tour Jean-sans-Peur in Rue Etienne Marcel

Did you know…Tomb of Eiffel, of Eiffel Tower fame, is in Emplacement 10 in Cimetiere de Levallois-Perret – Rue Baudin.

Did you know…Statue of Liberty scale used2create actual statue is in medieval St-Martin-des-Champs church in Musee des Arts et Metiers.

We hope you enjoy these facts and stay tuned for more Did you know….facts. Have you got any facts you’d like us to include? Get in touch and tell us about them – we love to share knowledge about Paris, no matter how small, or how geeky your facts may be!

Happy tweeting!

How to: Avoid Vacation apartment rental Scams

Renting a vacation apartment can save you loads of money on your trip to Paris, but added stress of scrutinizing the rental agency for scams is an inevitable part of making your final booking. Arranging for an apartment from abroad without being able to see it in advance, dealing with people you have never met and paying large sums of money internationally, as well as language and cultural barriers mean that there are certain risks involved with booking a vacation apartment in Paris.

The pros still far outweigh the cons, but Paris Hideaways Vacation Rentals provides top tips for avoiding rental scams.

1. Trust your first instinct

If you feel like you are being scammed, you probably are. If you feel like something isn’t right, it isn’t.  You should feel 100% comfortable with your booking, as where you stay in Paris can affect the success and enjoyment of your vacation.

2. Payment – never pay through Western Union or any service to an unnamed supplier.

Western Union immediately pays the payee and the money is out of their system and off their hands. If there is a dispute later, you will not be able to find out who the money went to if you have paid through Western Union.  There is no good reason why the vacation apartment rental agency should not have PayPal, accept cash on arrival, or accept personal check for the deposit.

3. Payment – Security deposit

Some companies require full payment of the apartment as well as the security deposit, while others only require a partial payment and security deposit before your arrival. If you are not comfortable with paying in full before arrival, there are plenty of agencies who do not require this.

Several scams occur around the deposit. Either you may not get your deposit back for the smallest of reasons, or there may be added charges which were not made clear in the initial booking, such as cleaning fees – which with any quality agency should already be built into the price.

One excellent approach to deposit payment that trustworthy agencies employ is pre-payment of the deposit by check. You write out the security deposit in a check in your currency which you supply the owner upon arrival. The check is then only cashed should damage be caused to the apartment by the renter, otherwise, the check is never cashed, and you must not wait and worry until your security deposit is repaid into your account.

4. Check for contact details on the website

A quality vacation rental agency will supply all necessary contact details on their website: phone number, email address, and a contact person. If the agency is anonymous, do not trust them. Even if the apartments offered are real and available, why rent from a non-personal, faceless agency when there are agencies who will supply you with contact details from minute one.

You can also check the registrar of companies at www.societe.com and do a search to see if the company exists.

Or check www.whois.domaintools.com to see if the contact details for the owner of the website match the details you have been given or are displayed on the website.

5. Google, google and google some more!

If you are being offered an excellent rate and are hesitant to pass up a great deal (that is, after all, the whole point of apartment rentals), search the name of the agency online –in Google and on travel blogs and forums. If it is a scam, someone will have reported it somewhere. See below for a list of links on the subject.

Also, make sure to check the address of the apartment. If possible, check both the number and the street address and make sure that if the apartment does exist, that it is in the district / location you are being told it is in.  Additionally, scrutinize the pictures you have of the apartment carefully, and make sure that the information given about the apartment match what you see in the pictures.

6. References

References are a tricky gray area. On the one hand, an agency might be willing to provide you with references from previous renters. On the other hand, should this be an attempt at a scam, then the references may just be in cahoots with the scammer, and be providing false information to you as well.

Third party travel websites such as Trip Advisor and Fodors forums are much more reliable, as forum participants will act as references if they have stayed with the company and will certainly share negative experiences with rental scams as well.

7. Get personal

If the agency is customer focused and offers quality apartments, then their phone number is on the website for a reason – use it. Call and ask questions in as much detail as you need. You have the right as a costumer to find out what you are purchasing beforehand, and a trustworthy agency will be happy to discuss with you your requirements, needs, areas of choice and any additional information you require.

Renting a vacation apartment in Paris can be an excellent experience and save you a significant amount of cash on your European adventure! By trusting your gut and doing the necessary research on the agency and the apartment of choice, you be in a much better position to avoid any scams or surprises with your Paris vacation apartment rental.

Helpful websites

Paris Housing Scams

http://parishousingscamwatch.wordpress.com/

Secrets of Paris Blog

www.secretsofparis.com/heathers-secret-blog/2009/4/18/avoid-vacation-apartment-rental-scams.html

Trip Advisor – Paris Forum

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g187147-i14-Paris_Ile_de_France.html

www.whois.domaintools.com

www.societe.com

www.paris-hideaways.com

New Apartment pics

August in Paris…

The locals escape to the coast and the tourists arrive en masse to visit the City of Lights, and boy have we been busy. Hence the lack in quality posts that you have come to appreciate. One running theme to this August has been the extremely positive feedback from our guests, both on our classic and long-offered apartments and our more recent additions to the Paris Hideaways family.

Of course we receive contstant feedback from our guests as well on the quality of their stay with us, and the common theme in our feedback this past summer has been just how true our photos online are to how the apartments actually look. This is something we are really proud of, because we want guests to feel they can trust us and our website  – Paris Hideaways.

On that note, and in celebration of positive feedback from our guests this August, please enjoy a few pictures of our apartments in Paris, taken by our excellent photographer Jean!

Paris Hideaways has 14 new vacation apartments!

We’ve just added 14 new vacation apartments to our listings and we are very excited to tell you about them!

The apartments are all located right in Central Paris in the most well-known areas, and are all located near major points of interest. In the Le Marias area, new additions include 2 new studios Heure Bleue and Cassis and a one-bedroom apartment Barcarolle, and in Montorgueil a new studio apartment Noisette and a one-bedroom apartment Pistache. In the area of St Germain de Pres, we  have added a one-bedroom vacation apartment called Rive Gauche, while the Latin Quarter area of the agency has expanded by 4 new apartments, including 2 studios Paname and Sonatine, a one-bedroom Vanille and a luxurious two-bedroom Vent du Sud. In the Eiffel Tower / Rue Cler area we have got a one-bedroom Sylphide and a two-bedroom Arbutus. Near the Arc De Triomphe, we’ve added a studio Gavroche and French Can Can, a one-bedroom vacation apartment near Bastille Oberkampf.

See coming blog posts for more information on each individual vacation apartment, and have a look at the links on www.paris-hideaways.com!

The results of our first Twitter Poll are in! Top Ten Off the Beaten Path Hot Spots

The results of our first ever Twitter poll are in – Top 10 Off the Beaten Path hotspots in Paris! The answers were all great and it was tough to nail down the top ten.

We have heard from many of our Twitter followers about their top ten Paris spots, and as we have a nice mix of Parisian locals and Francophiles living outside of Paris, there is  a very well rounded aspect to this poll. If you don’t see something you think we just have to include, leave your suggestion as a comment here.

And here it goes….our Top Ten Off the Beaten Path spots in Paris, as given to us by our Twitter followers!

1.  Canal St-Martin

The Canal St-Martin was the most common reply to our Twitter poll, which suggests it may not be as off the beaten path as we would like to think, but a definite must see on any trip to Paris. The canal connects the Seine to canals northern waterways, and as its southern end alongside the Boulevard de la Bastillecontinues to the Place de la Bastille, where it disappears beneath the parks and gardens in the centre strip of Boulevard Richard Lenoir, in what was said to be one of Baron Hausmann’s urban planning moves and reappears after the rue du Faubourg and continues north.

Tip: Lunch alongside the canal near one of the many locks and watch the sleepy locks open and close for some very interesting boats passing through.

2. The ‘creepy’ catacombs – Les Catacombs at 1, avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy

Check out this underground cemetery near the Denfert-Rochereau Metro station where you’ll find dark tunnels stacked with countless bones and priceless off the beaten path Parisian history.

Tip: Take a flashlight and rubber boots with you.

3. Admire the modern architecture at La Defense

If you ever wondered where all the business buildings are located, you’ll find them almost exclusively in La Defense business district, which is home to some of the most exciting modern architecture found in Paris.

Tip: Stand at the bottom of the Grande Arche, in a direct line mirroring the Arche de Triumph, and feel as though you have entered into a four-dimensional world.

4. Marche D’Aligre

This outdoor market on the Place d’Aligre in the Bastille/Oberkampf area of the city has dozens of gregarious vendors passionately peddling fresh fruits and veggies, bouquets of flowers, and regional products such as jams and honey, and with each insisting you sample something as you walk by, it’s easy to fill up on produce before you’ve even reached the flea market area directly on the Place, where you can snap up anything from 1980s French pop CDs or that Lemonheads CD you scratched back in the 90s, to a box of antique postcards filled out and stamped in 1920 or classic literature, African masks or tin toy cars.

Tip: get there early for the great flea market deals and stay late for the price slashing on the produce, head off for a picnic to eat your fresh food and admire your purchases from the Place d’Aligre.

5. Raspail Bio Market

Located on Boulevard Raspail at rue du Cherche Midi, 6th Arrondissement, this is THE best organic market in Paris, offering fish, meat, veg, fruit, soap, olive oil, cheese, wine – you name it, they’ve got it, along with some of the most chic (and sometime very famous) Parisian doing their weekly shopping at Le Marché Biologique on Saturdays.

Tip: Eye Prefer Paris recommends – Queuing up for a Latke potato pancake prepared before your eyes.

6. Tango along the river Seine – Quai Saint-Bernard

See our blog post about this here: http://parishideaways.wordpress.com/2009/07/15/paris-hideaways-recommends-tango-on-quai-saint-bernard/

7. The Bois de Vincennes

This park in the 12th Arrondissement is 1000 hectares of peaceful escape  3 times the size of New York’s Central Park and 4 times that of London’s Hyde Park, with families and couples taking it easy and joggers rounding its 2 lovely lakes. The park offers bike paths, horse trails, a zoo, and a Buddhist temple, numerous thematic gardens and the Vélodrome Jacques Anquetil, the Hippodrome de Vincennes, and other sports facilities.

Tip: Rent a bike to best explore this expansive park

8. Les Puces de Saint Ouen

This flea market overflows with beautiful antiquities and is considered THE flea market of Paris, located at Porte de Clignancourt.

9. Pere Lachaise cemetery

Watch this beautiful video gallery of a visit to the cemetary:

Tucked away in the northeast corner of Paris, this is one of the most famous cemeteries in the world, and reputed to be the world’s most-visited cemetery. Buried here are some of the biggest influencers of French culture and history such as Chopin, Proust, or Colette, but two of the biggest draws to the cemetery are Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison. For an inside look, book a guided tour  around the 300,000 graves which make up the ‘City of the Dead’ as the Parisian refer to Pere Lachaise, or take a romantic (yes, a very romantic) stroll through the rolling hills, green leafy trees, and winding paths with carefully plotted ‘street’ names and check it out for yourself.

Tip: The Philippe Auguste stop on Line 2 is next to the main entrance, but many prefer to take line 3 to Gambetta for entry near the tomb of Oscar Wilde and then a downhill walk through the rest of the cemetery.

10. Tour Montparnasse (Montparnasse Tower)

This 59-storey skyscraper allows for excellent views of the Eiffel Tower and a 360° view of Paris, best seen from the restaurant on the 56^th floor.  Montparnasse is the tallest building in France, and has the fastest elevator in Europe – It only takes 38 seconds to get you from ground floor up to the restaurant!

Tip:  While finding the building is easy (it sticks out as the sorest of sore thumbs, though Parisians are proud of the tower) finding the visitor entrance is more challenging. Head to entrance on Rue de L’Arrivee, sign reads: “Paris en 360 degrees” (360 degrees view of Paris).

Runners up inlcuded:

The Pagode cinema

Musee de l’Eventail (Fan Museum)

Square du Vert Galant

Mosquée de Paris (Paris Mosque) Turkish Baths

Basilique Saint Denis

This poll has inspired us to do a lot more asking, and we would love even more Tweets in our next Twitter polls about the best things to check out while in Paris – Stay tuned for our next topic!