Welcome To The Garden Of Pere Lachaise Cemetery.

The world’s most visited cemetery opened in 1804. Père Lachaise is notable for being the first garden cemetery. Finally someone realised, that cemeteries don’t only need to be a place of sorrow, but comfort and peace.

The main attractions at Père Lachaise lie six feet under though: Edith Piaf, Jim Morrison, Frédéric Chopin, Yves Montand, Oscar Wilde, Maria Callas, Georges Bizet and many other celebrities have found their resting place here. Most visitors come here to find at least one of the mentioned graves, I didn’t care much about that. I rather enjoyed the sheer aesthetic beauty of the cemetery.

At Père Lachaise cemetery, 70.000 tombs (many of the rich and famous) form a verdant, 44-hectare sculpture garden.

The Père Lachaise cemetery takes its name from King Louis XIV’s confessor, Father François de la Chaise.

The number of bodies buried at Pere Lachaise cemetery vary widely. Anywhere from 300.000 to 1.000.000 souls are estimated.

Pere Lachaise cemetery is a major tourist attraction in Paris.

I imagine that Pere Lachaise cemetery is worth a visit anytime of the year, but during autumn this place seems even more mystical…

Pere Lachaise is laid out in numbered divisions, and the divisions are separated by roads and paths.

Plan on spending at least a couple hours at Pere Lachaise to really soak up the atmosphere and to get a sense of the place.

Grave to Valerio at Pere Lachaise: “He liked Stendhal, Pavarotti, Gamine, Pink Floyd, but when he was 29…”

Pere Lachaise was the first garden cemetery, laid out in the 20th arrondissement of Paris. It marked a shift in burial practices and rapidly became the model for similar style cemeteries throughout Europe.

Pere Lachaise is a place where the French ‘made the grave a garden’.

Some of the spots are pretty obvious, others not so well-known. Of course you can also book yourselves into a roof-top apartment, but unless you won the lottery, one of these will do just fine:

1. View Paris From The Eiffel Tower.

It figures that I’d start with this one. After all, we’re talking about the city of love and what would it be without the world-famous Eiffel Tower? Honestly, I think that the Eiffel Tower is overrated, yet somehow you’re drawn to it when visiting Paris…

I heard that in general you need to calculate about 20-30 minutes of waiting in line. Then you can either walk (1655-1710 steps all the way to the top, depending on which side you try, so you better be sporty!) or take the elevator. I really wanted to walk up there, but since it was a warm & sunny Saturday afternoon, about a million other people had the same thought. This meant that the 20-30 minutes turned into more than an hour. So I skipped this part, yet I’m sure that the view must be absolutely stunning … but, as the saying goes “There’s plenty more fish in the sea.”

The famous Eiffel Tower in Paris is one of the most frequented spot to view the city from above.

2. View Paris From The Basilica of Sacré-Cœur.

The Basilica of Sacré-Cœur is a must-see destination for ever tourist who visits Paris. It’s just slightly over 80 meters high, which normally doesn’t make the best viewing spot, but because it’s located at the top of Montmartre hill, it’s actually Paris’ second highest point (approx. 210 metres). On a clear day, you’ll have an amazing 360° view over the entire city.

The way up to the top is pretty tight, so if you’re claustrophobic, better stay on the ground – from there you’ll still have a wonderful view (which you’ll share with what felt like a million other people though).

Come at the right time:

• With a bit of luck (which we had), you might just get to see the world-famous freestyle football player Iya Traoré do his magic… More on this in a separate article :)

The Basilica of Sacré-Cœur in Paris is a highlight for every visitor.

The view of Paris from the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur is really amazing.

Crowds of people at the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur in Paris sit on its staircase to enjoy the sun.

Freestyle footballer Iya Traoré at the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur in Paris.

3. View Paris From The Arc de Triomphe.

The Arc de Triomphe is nowhere near the tallest building in Paris (it’s only about 50 metres high); it’s the location that makes it a favourite viewpoint. It’s located right at the end of the Champs-Élysées captivated by a gigantic roundabout, which forms part of an axis that leads from the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel to la Grande Arche de la Défense.

Until I found the tunnel opening at the near end of the Champs-Élysées, I always wondered how you can actually access it, because there’s no cross-walk and I’ve never seen any suicidal person running across is. But, luckily I found it :) In the tunnel-way you can buy the entrance ticket to go up the stairs.

The view is amazing – especially at night – with the swarming traffic below that reaches the roundabout from all points of the compass.

The famous Arc de Triomphe in Paris honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars.

The view of Paris with the Eiffel Tower in the centre.

4. View Paris From The Centre Pompidou.

The Pompidou is the city’s leading modern art museum located in the 4th Arrondissement, Marais. It’s famous known for show-casing artists like Jackson Pollock or Andy Warhol, but it has another asset … the stunning view.

Simply take the escalator to the fifth floor and start shooting, without having to save your place for hours in advance.

The View from Centre Pompidou in Paris is one of those spots rather unknown since the museum is more well known for its art work..

5. View Paris From Galeries Lafayette.

The world-famous Galeries Lafayette department store is well known among Parisians and visitors for the wide variety of products they offer, and for their glamorous window displays. However, fewer people know that there is a wonderful roof-top terraces, which accessible for the public – for free! You get a wonderful 360 degree view over the surrounding Paris skyline.

Galeries Lafayette offers a wonderful roof-top terraces for a brilliant view of Paris.

6. View Paris From Butte Bergeyre.

There are many spectacular views in Paris that tourists have claimed. Most of them mentioned above. But there’s one spot that is actually still a hidden secret, even for Parisians.

Butte Bergeyre, a quiet hilltop village hidden in the 19th arrondissement, is accessible only by three staircases or a single winding road. Once you reach the top of the stairs, a rewarding view awaits, including one of the few vineyards left in Paris.

It’s not just Montmartre and Parc de Belleville that have the last remaining vineyards in Paris. At Butte Bergeyre you’ll not only come across a stunning view, but also a cute litte vineyard.

At the top of Butte Bergeyre you have a stunning view of Sacré Coeur.

7. View Paris From Tour Montparnasse.

I saved the best view for last. Tour Montparnasse definitely offers the most remarkable panoramic view of Paris (it covers a radius of 40 km). The Eiffel Tower might give you the same, yet the difference is that you won’t have to stand in line for hours, because many tourists don’t know that this rather ugly looking tower can actually be visited. Some people tend to say that the view from the top is the most beautiful in Paris, because it is the only place from which the tower itself cannot be seen… no further explanation needed, right?

Tour Montparnasse is a 210 metre high structure which is located in an area, where most buildings don’t rise above 30 metres. Naturally you’ll think to yourself “Why by all means has this building been built right here?“. Well, you’re not the only one thinking that. The tower’s simple architecture and large proportions have often been criticised, because it simply looks out of place in Paris’s urban landscape. Only two years after its completion (1972), the construction of skyscrapers in the city centre was banned… Still, the tower deserves its place simply because of the stunning 360° view it provides. A super-fast lift will take you to the top in 38 seconds (the fastest elevator in Europe btw), where you’ll be able to shoot that one-million-dollar photo from the open air roof terrace.

The view of the Eiffel Tower from Tour Montparnasse in Paris.

The view of Gare Montparnasse from Tour Montparnasse in Paris.

The view of Montparnasse Cemetery from Tour Montparnasse in Paris.

The view from Tour Montparnasse in Paris.

Drum-roll please … Tour Montparnasse in Paris is definitely not the nicest building..

In no other arrondissement but the Marais can you find art galleries, trendy boutiques, designer hotels, funky cafés and bars off the tourist track. Plus it’s also the hub of Paris’s gay community (radiating out from Rue Vieille du Temple, along the Rue St-Croix de la Bretonnerie to Rue du Temple); and – though fading – the Jewish life. You could easily spend your entire visit to Paris in this neighbourhood, because there is that much to do, see and feel…

Restaurant tip.

• Minh Chau (10, Rue de la Verrerie, 75006 Paris): Cute little Vietnamese restaurant with specialities for a good price – also for a take-away. Be sure to save your seat, because numbers are limited!
• Le Dindon en Laisse (18 Rue Beautreillis, 75004 Paris): Reasonable prices lovely restaurant in the centre of Marais with the best duck breast in honey sauce!

Sights.

• The famous Centre Pompidou: The city’s leading modern art museum with an awesome book store where one can get lost for hours.
• Musée Picasso: A must-stop for fans, because Picasso painted some of his best work in Paris.
• Hôtel de Ville: An impressive building, housing the city’s local administration, which is especially breathtaking at night.
  
• Notre Dame: This cathedral is among the largest and most well-known churches in the world. It’s a highlight for each tourist and should be visited both during the day and at night.
  

Hotel Tip.

• Unless you’re staying in an apartment (which we did this time), Hôtel Duo (1 Rue du Temple, 75004 Paris) is a great little designer hotel right in the centre of Marais, where we stayed during our first visit to Paris.

So now go ahead and lose yourself in this neighbourhood. Explore the tiny streets, grab a falafel sandwich or simply just people-watch in a café…

One of the many vintage bar in Le Marais, Paris.

Cathedral Notre Dame is one of the most famous sights in Paris.

Cathedral Notre Dame is even more impressive during night.

Side street in Le Marais, Paris.

The façade of the Centre Pompidou in Paris is very iconic.

Hôtel de Ville at night in Paris.

Paris is indeed the perfect setting for a romantic moment because its beauty strikes you at every corner. Its elegant yet impressive architecture, the legends that stick to its iconic monuments, and the subtle combination of art, history and nature are a perfect romantic getaway spot. Yeah yeah, romance and all the crap around it is fine but (for me) it wouldn’t be a reason to travel to Paris.

I enjoyed Paris because of it’s hip quarters, stylish people and super cute little design shops. I don’t like touristy spots but even if you’re not a fan, it’s hard to refrain from visiting these … Why? Well, you can’t visit Paris and not see the Eiffel Tower!? Sure, its a totally overrated sight but if you’re there anyway, it’s still worth a look. Paris has so many famous sights and landmarks, that you’ll get to one eventually; whether you’re strolling around the heart of Le Marais or walking along the The Seine river, some impressive building will cross your way for sure. Oh, since we’re talking about the district Le Marais … be sure to take your time in this historic part of Paris. Not only because of the Hôtel Soubise or Hôtel de Sens but also because you’ll find the most amazing design shops.

I really can’t wait to visit Paris again – maybe in the fall? I’m not quite sure yet but luckily Vienna is not that far away, so a weekend trip can be arranged easily and finding flights to Paris is pretty simple too.

The Louvre Museum is one of the world’s largest museums and a historic monument and a central landmark of Paris.

The Notre Dame cathedral is widely considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture, and it is among the largest and most well-known church buildings in the world.

Erected in 1889 as the entrance arch to the 1889 World’s Fair, the Eiffel Tower was initially criticised by some of France’s leading artists and intellectuals for its design, but has become both a global cultural icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world.

You will pass several of these kiosk when walking along the Seine in Paris.

The Ecole du Louvre, located within the Palais du Louvre, is a higher education establishment providing courses in French in Archaeology, Epigraphy, Art History, the History of Civilisations and Museology.