Paris

As well as the well-known version of Paris that includes the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Elysées, there is also another city full of hidden corners, quiet places, and streets known only to Parisians.

Rue Cremieux, for example, in the 12th arrondissement near the Gare de Lyon looks like an open-air gallery, with pastel-colored houses and drawings of black cats and butterflies on the walls. There is also the small Butte Bergeyre neighbourhood in the 19th arrondissement, with its garden and vineyard. It is the ideal place to admire Paris from above and is located on a hill to the west of the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. Not far away, another 'hidden' neighborhood is ‘Mouzaïa’. Originally a working-class area, it is now a sought-after location, consisting of houses dating back to the late 19th century.

In the 16th arrondissement, inside the Musée Guimet, you will find one of the most beautiful Japanese gardens in Paris. There is also the garden of the Hôpital Saint-Louis in the 10th arrondissement, one of the oldest hospitals in the city. Other green areas include that of the Albert Kahn Museum in the western suburbs, featuring flowers and plants native to European forests and Japanese gardens, as well as an exceptional collection of early 20th century photographs and films of the philanthropic banker Albert Kahn.

Featuring over 10,000 works of contemporary art that make up part of Francois Pinault’s private art collection, the Bourse de Commerce - Pinault Collection, situated in a former 19th century grain market, is one of the most interesting museums in Paris. As well as hosting exhibitions all year round, it is also home to the retro-style Dodo Manège merry-go-round in the Jardin des Plantes, designed by researchers at the Natural History Museum to raise awareness of endangered or extinct animals.