But!<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re looking for a more unique site seeing adventure, or if you just plain old want to skip the crowds\u2014that line to the Eiffel Tower is intense, <\/em>folks\u2014then you\u2019ve come to the right place. For a taste of Paris\u2019s bohemian, artsy culture, sans crowds, head to la Rive Droite. <\/em><\/p>\n La Rive Droite <\/em>is essentially the Northern half of the city, and it\u2019s wildly underrated. You won\u2019t find many tourists up here, especially once you\u2019ve cleared the few (lesser known) main attractions in the area. Instead, you\u2019ll find winding streets filled with local shops, caf\u00e9s, and quiet gardens. Plus, this neighborhood used to be home to Gertrude Stein, Pablo Picasso, Amedeo Modigliani, Edith Piaf, and more\u2014so if you want to check out their former homes and haunts, you\u2019ve come to the right place.<\/p>\n Intrigued? Merveilleux! <\/em>Here\u2019s your guide to a single, perfect day \u00e0 la Rive Droite<\/em>. You can thank me later.<\/p>\n Get up early and hit this oft-neglected museum first thing in the morning. It opens at 9:30am every day\u2014except Mondays, when it\u2019s closed\u2014and if you get there early enough, you might be able to beat the line. Bonus points if you go on a weekday.<\/p>\n The Mus\u00e9e d\u2019Orsay<\/a> is a truly amazing museum set up in a converted train station. Sure, it\u2019s technically part of la Rive Gauche\u2014<\/em>it sits just on the opposite side of the River Seine, Paris\u2019s dividing boundary between North and South\u2014but there\u2019s no better place to get a sense of la Rive Droite\u2019s <\/em>cultural history.<\/p>\n Inside, you\u2019ll find works of art by many of the artists whose homes and hangouts you\u2019ll be strolling by later in the day. The highlights include Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Lautrec, and Seurat, but you\u2019ll see incredible paintings and sculptures by French artists that span all through the turn of the century.<\/p>\n Spend the morning here, enjoying the art and getting some context about what Paris was like during la Rive Droite\u2019s <\/em>heyday. You\u2019ll work up some major excitement to head north later in the day and see the neighborhood where these artists lived and worked.<\/p>\n Image via Flickr – CC BY-SA 2.0 – Fabrizio Sciami<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n After a morning of art, you\u2019ll start to work up an appetite. Head out of the museum and hop on the number 12 metro line<\/a> at Assembl\u00e9e Nationale<\/em> headed towards Porte de la Chapelle<\/em>, and get off at the Notre-Dame-de-Lorette<\/em> stop.<\/p>\n From here, you\u2019ll start climbing the famous Butte de Montmartre<\/em>\u2014a.k.a the epic hill that defines this neighborhood. Three cheers for the buns of steel you\u2019ll have by the end of the day!<\/p>\n Walk straight up la<\/em> rue des Martyrs, <\/em>which extends directly behind this metro stop, and you\u2019ll find an epic assortment of lunch options. There are caf\u00e9s, restos, and about 10 different bakeries where you can find delicious sandwiches on fresh, French baguettes, along with a variety of pastries.<\/p>\n Fun fact! I used to live on this street. My favorite bakery during my days as a vraie Parisienne <\/em>was the one nearest to the metro, Mme. Dheuilly\u2019s. Eat some chocolate \u00e9clairs for me, would you please?<\/p>\n Ready to go? Let’s start looking at flights to Paris<\/a>!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Now that you\u2019re refueled, keep trekking up that hill towards the gorgeous landmark church, Sacr\u00e9 Coeur<\/a>. <\/em>You\u2019ll see it perched above you at all times, so using your city map isn\u2019t totally necessary. Just keep walking up, and you\u2019ll find yourself there in no time.<\/p>\n Sacr\u00e9 C\u0153ur is the only domed, Roman-style church in Paris\u2014all the others are gothic cathedrals, \u00e0 la<\/em> Notre Dame. Why is this one different? It was built on the site of the Paris Commune<\/a>, a socialist experiment that took place in the city back in the 1870s. No one\u2019s ever actually worshipped at Sacr\u00e9 C\u0153ur \u2014it has no congregation and doesn\u2019t host religious services\u2014but it\u2019s gorgeous and completely unique.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve explored the inside of the church, which features breathtaking mosaic artwork, head to the top to see an even more amazing view of the city below. From there, explore the square that surrounds Sacr\u00e9 C\u0153ur atop its Montmartre hill. You\u2019ll find artists, street performers, desserts, and knick knacks galore.<\/p>\n Whether you pay for an organized tour or map out your own route, going on a walking tour in Montmartre is a must. After finishing up at Sacre C\u0153ur, swing by Picasso\u2019s studio, visit the hangouts and homes of the artists whose work you admired earlier at the Mus\u00e9e d\u2019Orsay\u2014including Lautrec, Renoir, and Van Gogh\u2014and you can even stop for a snack at the famed caf\u00e9 from the movie Am\u00e9lie. <\/em><\/p>\n There\u2019s so much art and pop cultural history in Montmartre, the walking tour is by far the best part. Allons-y!<\/em><\/p>\n Image via Flickr – CC BY 2.0 – Luca Volpi<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nStart Your Day at the Mus\u00e9e d\u2019Orsay
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<\/a><\/h2>\nHave Lunch on the rue des Martyrs
\n<\/em><\/h2>\n<\/a>Head Up to Sacr\u00e9 C\u0153ur
\n<\/a><\/h2>\nTake a Montmartre Walking Tour
\n<\/a><\/h2>\nEnd the Night at the Moulin Rouge<\/h2>\n
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