Lusso Travel Ltd, No. 1 Glasshouse - 1LG1,
Alderley Park, Alderley Edge, Cheshire, SK10 4TG
It’s impossible to be objective about Paris, possibly the most beautiful and romantic city in the world. The architecture, manicured green spaces, bridges over the Seine, café life and joie de vivre all conspire to make the City of Light an elegant, timeless and exciting place to visit.
Stroll through the elegant Jardin des Tuileries, stopping to view Monet’s vast Water Lillies at the Musée de l’Orangerie, before diving into the artistic treasures of the Louvre.
For the best Parisian views, ascend the Eiffel Tower at dusk, climb to the top of the Arc de Triomphe or ride the external escalators to the panoramic rooftop of the Centre Pompidou.
Crowned by the Sacré-Coeur basilica, Montmartre’s steep, narrow lanes, ivy-clad buildings and vibrant cafe life retain a fairytale charm.
Marvel at the Masters in the Musée d’Orsay, revel in Gothic architecture at Notre Dame cathedral and relax among the lawns, ponds and chestnut groves of the Jardin du Luxembourg.
Take a stroll through Père-Lachaise, the world’s most visited cemetery, or prowl the subterranean skull-and-bone-lined tunnels of the creepy Catacombes.
Any first-time visitor to Paris should start with the key sights: the Eiffel Tower, built as a temporary centrepiece for the 1889 Universal Exhibition; the Arc de Triomphe, erected by Napolean in 1806 and still the largest triumphal arch in the world; and the celebrated museums of the Louvre, Musée D’Orsay and Centre Pompidou. And let’s not forget the Palace of Versailles, located just outside Paris and famous for its royal apartments, vast gardens and stunning Hall of Mirrors.
For an encore, try the Père-Lachaise cemetery, the final resting place of Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison, Chopin and many others. Then wander down the backstreets to discover your own Paris, or seek out the city’s many lesser-known treasures, like the Rue des Martyrs, home to one of Paris’s best Sunday-morning flea markets, and just a short stroll away from La Fantaisie hotel.
Inspired by the natural world, La Fantaisie is a verdant, stylish boutique retreat in Paris’s village-like ninth arrondissement. At its centre is a stunning courtyard garden, visible from both the greenhouse-style windows of the showstopper restaurant and the urbane haven of the terraced rooftop bar.