Paris. The city of lights, love and endless inspiration. A place where history meets modernity and everyday life takes on a poetic character. From majestic boulevards to hidden passageways, Paris is not just a destination – it is an experience that stays with you forever. What is the real magic of this metropolis? The answer can be found between sips of café crème, in the shadow of the Gothic towers and in the smell of freshly baked baguettes at dawn.

The Eiffel Tower: The Iron Heart of Paris

Nothing says ‘Paris’ quite like the slender silhouette of the Eiffel Tower rising above the Champs-Élysées. The metal giant, which was built for the World Exhibition in 1889, was initially the subject of controversy and criticism. Today, it is a proud symbol of the city, admired from below as well as from one of the three viewing platforms, which offer a breathtaking panorama.

Fun fact: Night shots of the Eiffel Tower are copyrighted – a somewhat surreal fact that makes the illuminated structure even more mysterious.

A taste of Paris: A journey into French cuisine

Paris feeds the soul and the body. It is the culinary capital of the world, where every meal can become an experience. With over 40,000 restaurants, eateries and bistros, the city offers a range of flavours that will satisfy both sophisticated gourmets and adventurous tourists. The secret of Parisian cuisine? It is hidden in the side streets, far from the tourist trail. That is where you will find places where the bread still smells of morning and the foie gras is served with a story.

Parisian hotels and apartments often become a gateway to the culinary world themselves – in their neighbourhood, you will find markets full of mature cheeses, fresh herbs and wines that have more personality than many a local.

Notre Dame: The Gothic soul of the city

With its towers and gargoyles, Notre Dame Cathedral has been the spiritual and geographical heart of Paris for centuries. All distances in the city are measured from here. Although a fire threatened its existence in 2019, the stone cathedral survived, as if growing even more firmly into the fabric of the city. Its north tower – slightly higher than the south tower – is a reminder of the imperfections that make beauty more human.

Paris through the lens

It is one of those cities that practically begs to be photographed. Street artists, the river reflecting the light of the setting sun, the artistic chaos of café tables – Paris is like a living painting. It was, after all, the first city in which people were photographed, and its relationship with painting and light remains inseparable to this day.

Instead of rushing with the crowds to the Louvre or Moulin Rouge, try to turn into less frequented alleys. There, in the silence of the old quarter, the light reflects off the wet cobblestones in a way that is difficult to describe in words – you have to see it.

Art above all: from the Louvre to the streets of the Marais

The Louvre is not only the home of the Mona Lisa – it is a universe of art, a place that takes us through millennia of human expression. More than 800,000 exhibits in an area of 60,000 square metres – it is more than a museum. It is a living story of how humanity created beauty.

But Paris is also contemporary galleries, street art, performances in inconspicuous alleys. All you have to do is open your eyes – here, art comes to people, sometimes completely unexpectedly.

Parisian hospitality: at the table, in the heart

For some, Paris is all about the towers and museums, but for many, the real experience is those moments spent around a shared table. For more than three decades, a certain city dweller invited strangers to homemade dinners – not for publicity, but out of the goodness of his heart. Today, his spirit lives on in initiatives that allow tourists to have dinner with local hosts, prepare a meal with them and hear stories that you won’t read in guidebooks.

A city on the move: moving with grace

Paris is a metropolis with the soul of a stroller. Although the metro with its 300 stations is fast and convenient, the city is best discovered on foot or during a cruise on the Seine. The water allows you to see the French capital from a different perspective – as you sail under the Pont Neuf, you can almost feel the ghosts of the past floating over the surface of the river.

And for the more curious, abandoned metro stations, now hidden from the eyes of passengers, are witnesses to history and inspiration for urban legends.

Daily bread: the ritual of Paris

Bread in Paris is not just food – it is art and ritual. The baguette has its own law here, literally. Its proportions, ingredients and baking method are protected so that it tastes just as good today as it did a hundred years ago. When strolling through the streets, it is hard to resist the temptation of entering a boulangerie where a warm loaf of bread is wrapped in a paper bag and handed over to you.

A festival of light and life: Paris all year round

Paris lives to the rhythm of festivals and holidays. The most spectacular is Bastille Day on 14 July, a celebration of freedom and fraternity with fireworks over the Seine, military parades and open-air concerts. But no matter the season, the city celebrates: the grape harvest in Montmartre, music festivals, museum nights – there is always an occasion to celebrate life.

Paris is not an instant city. It is a city that you discover bit by bit through its flavours, its smells, its light and its sounds. Through conversations, moments of reflection and aimless strolls. And once you have discovered it, you will always come back to it, even if only in your thoughts.

photo: Julien Doclot