10 Places in (and around) Paris

Is it all about me, Louis, or all about you, I wonder? From (relatively) humble origins as a hunting lodge and grounds under Louis XIII, the buildings and land at the Palace of Versailles were transformed into an extravaganza of exclamation points and excess: it is extraordinary! A place that combines the best and worst of Baz Luhrmann, Liberace, and, well, Louis XIV. One glance at the Hall of Mirrors says it all. (And don’t get us started on the formal gardens.)

If you’re drawn to cemeteries (and let’s face it, almost all of us eventually are), this is one you must not miss. Its walks are well-groomed and tree-lined. Favorite luminaries whose remains are within include Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, Gertrude Stein (and Alice B. Toklas), Colette, Simone Signoret (and Yves Montand), Balzac, Delacroix, Proust, Ingres…need we go on? Virtually everybody who was anybody rests there. Not only does a ramble here give you time to catch your breath, but you can reflect on any number of things: the role these individuals played in your life, the changes in mortuary architectural styles, and—if you want to go that far—mortality, too.

Many people glaze over when you talk about museums, but you knew where we were headed, didn’t you? This is one of the top 10. Wear sensible shoes, keep hydrated, and know what you want to see. First pause before I.M. Pei’s entrance pyramid. If that doesn’t float your boat, it may not be seaworthy. The Mona Lisa may not be your cup of tea, but we recommend at the very least The Raft of the Medusa, Cy Twombly’s ceiling painting, Liberty Leading the People, and the magnificent Winged Victory of Samothrace.

After a few hours at the Louvre, nothing refreshes like a stroll in the Tuileries. If you see some open chairs, have a seat. This is perhaps a good time to open a nice St.-Joseph wine and sample a bit of cheese you bought from the nearby market—and a fresh baguette? If you’ve a mind to, you can watch children pushing their sailboats around on a large pool. Stretch out a bit. Feeling better now? As though you can go on after all? You have to walk only as far as the next bench.

The only thing that could make you avoid a trip to examine this symbol of Paris modernism close-up is the fear of heights. We’ll grant that it’s spectacular even at ground level, but we’d recommend that you step up and get in line for the aerial view. The perspective from any of the tower’s eateries—especially at sunset or at night—will make it worth your time and effort. And, if needed, Dutch courage is readily available.

Exercise and shopping too! The Promenade Plantée was the world’s first elevated park and the first “green space” constructed on a viaduct. The former rail line was opened in 1859 for travel between the Place de Bastille and the Varenne–Saint-Maur suburbs, southeast of the city. Train service on that line was discontinued in 1969, and the viaduct was abandoned. Precursor to New York’s High Line, the Promenade Plantée provides varied plantings and vistas all along its 3 miles. An additional feature is the high-end shopping available at street level in a number of artisanal stores built within the graceful arches.

If you can do without art—although we doubt anyone can—we’d recommend that you walk inside this museum. The light inside is worth your attention. Once a train station (the Gare d’Orsay), the Musée d’Orsay has been repurposed and is now a pleasing, skylit wonder with Postimpressionist paintings and more to suit most tastes.

All you have to do is decide which bank you prefer, Left or Right. Each has its distinct pleasures. Those who fancy culture might prefer the Left Bank, thick with cultural references and the ghosts of artists, writers, and revolutionaries. (We recommend Women of the Left Bank to construct your own walking tour.) The Left Bank holds all the cafés you’ve read about, which are still a good place to rub elbows with other pilgrims while you imagine meeting your hero or heroine. But consider too the Right Bank, notably the Marais, an excellent place in which to meander. It too hides many a gem, including the Picasso Museum.

You may not be all that hot on museums. But think about Rodin and his legacy. Could you imagine Dobie Gillis without Rodin? Could you imagine young love without The Kiss? What makes this museum doubly attractive to the “fair sex” is that it contains a room dedicated to Camille Claudel, the sister of poet Paul Claudel and also a sculptor, who allowed her life to be ruined by Rodin. And there’s no place like the grounds of the museum to examine the shadows and highlights of the large sculptures of the Master.

Located about 45 miles (75 km) from Paris, this village is the site of one of the most breathtaking spots in France: the home of the late artist Claude Monet. It is as if you’ve stepped into one of his paintings, Japanese bridge painted a perfect blue-green, water lilies in bloom below. Perfectly positioned and color-coordinated flowers planted in the ground, just so. A warm peach-pink brick house, carefully trimmed with green. The whole scene is designed to please the eye. Even the vibrant interior shows a painter’s eye. Each window has an exquisite view. Whatever you do, don’t miss this place.