Why do I like Paris so much? Of all the European capitals, Paris represents the romantic spell, the walks on the banks of the Seine, the shop windows on Rue Royale, the terraces to enjoy a coffee and a croissant... But when I travel to Paris there is something that I cannot help but admire: Parisian architecture.
And no, I'm not going to talk to you today about the Eiffel Tower, which you surely saw on your first visit (and you go back to see it again and again, because you love it). Nor the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe or Notre-Dame (I hope you knew it before the fire, because today it is full of scaffolding).
What I want is to tell you things that I love about Parisian architecture and that make each visit a discovery.
will you accompany me? Come on...
Walking around Paris, can you have a better plan?
If you can do it, do it. I know that every time you visit Paris there is a lot on your agenda and everything is interesting. But if you have a few hours to spare, choose to take a walk through one of the stately areas and lose yourself in the streets... You will find wonders at every corner.
But first, I am going to suggest something that will fully immerse you in the atmosphere of the city. You have to choose an outfit that fits the occasion.
Is there anything more Parisian than stripes? And no, it's not a cliché. Put on a marinière and you are already blended in with the environment.
In addition, mixed with a couple of chains, like the Blossom , Kira or Yoko , and a couple of plug rings and zigzag , we have the okazo !
As a curiosity, do you know that it is the official dress of the French navy, and that it is said to have 21 stripes, in memory of Napoleon's 21 victories against the British?
The unmistakable style of Haussmann and its mark on Parisian architecture
If there is any "father" of Parisian modernity, it is undoubtedly Haussmann, who redesigned the city's urban planning in the 19th century and laid the foundations for what we know today.
By order of Napoleon III, thousands of medieval buildings were demolished and the streets were widened. Wide and luminous avenues were created, and entire blocks of stone buildings were erected, with the advances of the time (running water, sewerage, street lighting).
If any city has reinvented itself, it is Paris.
Remember this when you take a walk among spectacular stately buildings, and pay attention to the details. The buildings have a similar height and, although they are different, they are part of the same landscape.
The differences are in the ornamentation, in the corbels or supports of the balconies, the moldings and the columns. You will see that there are always details that give buildings personality.
It was at that time that commercial premises began to open on the ground floors. Cafes and street life appeared.
If you can, lean out of a portal. With luck you find one open and you can take a look at those monumental entrances, most of them with a doorman's booth.
Some overlook charming inner courtyards, hidden from the street, from which the houses are accessed. And if you are even luckier, what can happen?
That you can see one of those apartments from the inside. If it has been tastefully restored (why wouldn't it be?) you will find very spacious rooms and great heights. Natural wooden floors and dream ceilings, decorated with moldings and rosettes.
Choose a terrace: Parisian architecture at your feet
Did I say at your feet? Yes, because although the Parisian cafes at street level are a classic (which you shouldn't miss either), it's another thing to rise to the heights and choose one of the many terraces where you can have a coffee in the middle of the afternoon or a cocktail at night, with the city as a stage.
View this post on Instagram
Many rooftops in historic buildings have been set up for this use. There are many styles: sophisticated, trendy, intimate, vibrant...
I recommend one from which you can enjoy views of the capital that will leave you breathless. At Hotel The Peninsula Paris (near the Arc de Triomphe) you have one of the most spectacular rooftops in the city.
View this post on Instagram
With the Eiffel Tower always present in the urban skyline, let yourself be enchanted by the characteristic Parisian rooftops. Those from Haussmann's time were built in zinc or lead, with mansards, those typical windows to illuminate the attics.
You can choose the restaurant ( L'Oiseau Blanc ) or the bar ( Le Rooftop ). Either of the two options will give you views that will stay with you.
My advice: go at sunset and let it get dark. You will never forget.
What other postcards of Paris do you have stored in your memory? Tell me what has been the image of Parisian architecture that has impacted you the most and I'll write it down for my next trip