Next time you go to Paris, surprise your loved one with a weird activity. Forget the Eiffel Tower, romantic walks along the Seine, and visits to the Louvre. Here are 10 very odd things to do on your next trip to Paris, recommended by our friends at Universal Tour Guide.
1. Petite Ceinture
The “Petite Ceinture” line of Paris (pictured above) is an old double-track railway line which is 32 kilometers long. Deserted by the Parisians because of the growing competition from the metro, the line was closed to passenger traffic in July 1934.
Pedestrian access to the Petite Ceinture is strictly forbidden and most of the access points are fenced or walled, but this article highlights a number of ways you can explore this abandoned railway in Paris.
2. La Recyclerie
In a former railway station, this trendy bistro serves simple dishes from a different country each week. The railway station used to be used as part of the “Petite Ceinture” line of Paris.
Located next to the flea market of Clignancourt, La Recyclerie has been transformed into a canteen. This space includes a restaurant, a bar and a cultural and social program focused on the concepts of “better living” and “better consumption”.
3. Père Lachaise Cemetery
The Père-Lachaise cemetery is the largest Parisian cemetery in Paris and one of the most famous in the world. Located in the 20th arrondissement, many famous people are buried there. Among them, you can spend some time with Guillaume Apollinaire, Franck Alamo, Edith Pïaf, Molière, Jean de La Fontaine, Honoré de Balzac.
4. Catacombes de Paris
The catacombs of Paris were originally part of the old underground quarries located in the 14th arrondissement of Paris; They were linked together by inspection galleries. At the end of the eighteenth century, they were transformed into a municipal ossuary with the transfer of the remains of about six million people, evacuated from the various cemeteries in Paris until 1861 for reasons of public health.
Visits to the Catacombs begin at the address “1, avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy”. The two-kilometer walk requires at least forty-five minutes. The catacombs are tunnels, within which the temperature is constantly 14 ° C. They have 130 descending steps and 83 rising steps and six million French bones rest in approximately 780 meters of tortuous galleries.
5. Paris Sewer Museum
Of all the cities in the world, it is currently Paris that has the largest sewerage system. All the galleries which drain the roads and buildings, form like a second subterranean Paris. This museum is devoted to the sewers of Paris, following the history of the sewers, from Lutetia to present day. It is a really an unusual way to discover Paris.
For a charismatic hotel stay, take a look at our guide to the best luxury boutique hotels in Paris.
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