The Eiffel Tower is iconic to Paris. When you think of Paris, you automatically have a vision of the Eiffel Tower. I don’t think anyone goes to Paris without seeing the tower. Even people who have gone for only the day insist they need to go and see it up close. Here is a shocker 😯, I didn’t visit the Eiffel Tower. Have I become a jaded traveler? A little bougie with the attitude of I’ve seen and done it? Nope! This is my fifth trip to Paris and I wanted to experience more of Paris than the Eiffel Tower.
Republique
On this visit, I stayed in the République area. The Place de la République (formerly known as the Place du Château d’Eau) is a square in Paris, located on the border between the 3rd, 10th and 11th arrondissements (municipality). It is named after the French Republic and was called the Place du Château-d’Eau until 1879. It contains a monument which includes a statue of the personification of France, Marianne. Place de la République serves as a community juncture where the locals and tourist interacts.
My hotel was directly across the Republique Square and the Metro which made it an ideal spot.
From my hotel, we decided to walk to the Louvre. Yep! The Lourve is about 2.5 miles away. This was the best way to learn Paris and get familiar with the surroundings.
Finally made it the Louvre at Sunset.
It was beautiful just to see Paris at sunset.
Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel
Now you know I had to do at least a jump shot in front of the fountain.
Sacre Coeur
Sacré-Cœur means Sacred Heart. This Montmartre landmark, a 19th-century basilica built by the French government following the Franco-Prussian War, features a large medieval dome that provides excellent views of the city. This is another area that I had not visited. I had several friends visiting Paris prior to my trip and were posting about this site. I kept thinking how did I miss it during my previous visit.
With determination and my metro pass, I took the journey. However, I wished they told me about the stairs lol.
Due to its location on the Montmartre hill, the basilica towers over the city; its highest point is even higher than the top of the Eiffel Tower. Because of its prominent location, the Sacré-Coeur Basilica is one of the most noticeable landmarks in Paris.
However, once you made it up the stairs and walked around the Montmartre area, you fell in love
I love exploring Paris and falling in love with the city. Who needs to see the Eiffel Tower? 😜 However, if it is your first time make sure you do it like these two
And if it’s not, make sure to explore
Au Revoir!