Text: Claire Lessiau
Photographs: Claire Lessiau & Marcella van Alphen
Keep travelling!The 13th century Sainte Chapelle, built in a record time to host Christianity’s most precious relics, is a magical place to admire world’s most beautiful stained-glass windows, only a stone’s throw away from Notre Dame de Paris. Probably one of the most breath-taking moments you will have in the city of lights…
Text: Claire Lessiau
Photographs: Claire Lessiau & Marcella van Alphen
Keep travelling!Often disregarded with its stunning neighbour, La Sainte Chapelle, being visitors’ favourite, La Conciergerie is a marvel of gothic architecture with one of the most beautiful medieval halls of Europe. It is definitely worth a visit, and here are some interesting facts that will spice it up!
Text: Claire Lessiau
Photographs: Marcella van Alphen
The architect Louis Le Vau surpassed himself. The elegant castle stands majestically, reflected by a large piece of water in the park. The perspective is perfect. The genius landscaper Le Nôtre combined its laws with some of the most innovative techniques of the time such as levelling, water conveyance systems and optics theories. The result is a delicate balance between art and nature, making the garden the most beautiful of Europe today and the first French formal garden in history. Keep travelling!
Text: Claire Lessiau
Photographs: Claire Lessiau & Marcella van Alphen
In Versailles, one might expect the King’s Kitchen Garden (le Potager du Roi) to be designed as a perfectly curated French garden. However, the historical garden that was created in 1683 by Jean-Baptiste de La Quintinie to produce fresh fruits and vegetables for Louis XIV and his court has retained its prime function: an innovative and experimental producing ground. Follow us off-the-beaten path, right by the Palace of Versailles and stroll this lesser-known and atmospheric gem…
The 15th of April 2019 was a tragic day. A fire ravaged the cathedral for 15 hours, taking down its spire and its roof. 500 firefighters operating in the dense heart of Paris could save the monument heroically. Millions shared their emotions and many sent financial help from all over the world showing how much of a symbol Notre Dame is for all of us, regardless of religion or nationality. At the moment, the cathedral is closed to the public and undergoing restorations. Securing it and ensuring its structural integrity were the first tasks: the vault and structure are saved. Explore Notre Dame in this article, from its 850-year history to its current status.
Discovering Paris running is a fantastic way to enjoy some of the major landmarks and take the pace of the city. It is better though to have a few routes in mind before venturing out as the traffic can be hectic and its nice cobble stone streets that are great to discover on foot can be a runner’s ankle nightmare. These top running routes tend to avoid these hazards and will also take you to some of the nicest parks of Paris. Keep running!
Here is a compilation of the photos of the day of Paris to inspire you (to receive our photos of the day and articles, follow us!). Click on the photos to enlarge them. All of these are available in a high definition upon request. For the story behind a specific photo, look for the corresponding photo of the day. Keep traveling!
Article updated on June 9, 2020
Text & photos: Claire Lessiau & Marcella van Alphen
“It’s a red!” I scream while I hit the brakes and see my Parisian girlfriend manoeuvring her bicycle while crossing a three-lane road in the city centre of Paris. I swear as cars start accelerating while I’m waiting for them to pass. Being born and raised in a small village in the heart of the Netherlands with safe bicycle lanes along every road, biking through the heart of Paris with a Parisian is a truly adrenaline-packed experience!
Notre Dame de Paris is the most famous church building of the capital. And it is stunning, indeed!
La Sainte Chapelle, or the Holy Chapel, is only a few hundred meters away and is a gothic jewel not to be missed. Keep traveling!
Strolling through the Latin quarter on the left bank of Paris, and coming out of the Luxembourg Gardens, the unexpected neoclassical architecture of the Panthéon attracts the attention.
Keep traveling!
In a nutshell, Paris is a megalopolis where traffic can be hectic, but a good amount of taxis and Ubers are efficient at times. Public transport and biking are often the best options to get around. Here are a few tips by a local to help you make the most of your trip to the City of Lights, detailing every mode of transport so that you can adapt! Keep traveling!
Amélie, or in its official French title, Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain (The fabulous destiny of Amélie Poulain) by Jean Pierre Jeunet might ring a bell. This 5-time-Oscar-nominee was released in 2001 and was a massive blockbuster in many countries, for its poetry. Some might even recall Yann Tierssen’s beautiful soundtrack.
The melody lingers in my head when I Keep traveling!
