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Top Ten Places for Romance in Paris

 

Ten Passionate Places in Paris

No other city in the world evokes an image of romance than Paris, France. The beauty of Paris is a seductive backdrop to start a "dangerous liaison" or to rekindle the magic of the past. Experience the romance of Paris by visiting these ten places to be passionate in Paris.

1. Gaze Adoringly at the Pont des Arts (bridge between the 1st and 6th arrondissements) - One of the most romantic views in the world - a 360 panorama of famous Paris sights such as Ile de la Cite, Notre Dame, the Louvre, surrounded by the dancing colors of the river Seine. The only negative is tearing your eyes away from the breathtaking surroundings long enough to lovingly gaze at your companion. Metro: Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Pont des Arts
Pont des Arts at night

2. Snuggle in the Jardins du Trocadéro - A kiss at the top of the Eiffel Tower is perfection. But, why wait until you reach the top? Take the metro to the Trocedero station, grab a secluded bench in the Trocadéro Gardens with a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower, snuggle and wait for the magic moment at the top of the hour when the Eiffel Tower suddenly sparkles for ten minutes. Don't worry about embarrassing yourself. Many other couples will be doing the same in this popular "make out" location. Metro: Trocadéro

Eiffel Tower
View from the Jardins du Trocadero at twilight

3. Kiss under the Pont-Marie - The Pont-Marie is known as the "bridge of lovers" and legend has it that if you kiss under the Pont-Marie and wish for eternal love, your wish will be granted. So, hop onto a bateau-mouche, the riverboats that travel up and down the Seine, and ensure that your relationship will stand the test of time with a kiss. Metro: Pont-Marie

Pont Marie
Pont-Marie 1

4. Swoon in the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont - This large Parisian park, off of the tourist track, is an idyllic setting for the perfect kiss, but, you'll have to work for it. Enter the Parc des Buttes-Chamont and enjoy the thrill of the chase as you wonder around the verdant landscape with grottos, waterfalls, and dramatic cliffs. Marvel that this forested landscape is in the middle of Paris. Then, make the long climb up to the kiosk which overlooks the park. Catch your breathe and prepare yourself for a dizzying kiss on a precipice overlooking Paris. Metro: Buttes-Chaumont

Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
Le temple de la Sibylle in Parc des Buttes-Chamont 2

5. Indulge at Lapérouse - Lapérouse, a restaurant situated in an elegant townhouse on the Seine, has a long history of romantic entanglements. In the late 1800's, Lapèrouse was used by famous French courtesans as a rendezvous point for illicit liaisons with their high society clients. Courtesans, upon receiving their payment in diamonds, would scratch the mirrors in the dining rooms to ensure that the diamonds were not fakes. Reserve one of the private dining salons in Lapérouse, indulge in a decadent French feast, and whatever else may take your fancy on the red velvet couches. The maître d’ will not enter your private dining room until you've summoned him with the pull of a cord. Metro: Saint-Michel

6. Speak the Language of Love at the Wall of Love - Whisper sweet nothings where love comes together in every language at Le mur des je t'aime ( Wall of Love), The Wall of Love is a mural beautifully inscribed with the words "I Love You" in 311 languages. The red splashes signify "broken hearts" which the artist hopes the mural will help cure. To expand your romantic repertoire, visit the Le mur des je t'aime website to hear how to write/speak the words "I love you" in languages ranging from Amaric to Yoruba, and to master "Je t'aime" before your trip to Paris. Metro: Abbesses - Behind the metro entrance in the Square Jehan-Rictus in Montmartre.

7. Sneak into the De Medici Fountain at the Luxembourg Gardens - Escape the children, sun worshippers, and chess players at the Left Bank's popular park, the Luxembourg Gardens, by sneaking into the wooded alcove housing the De Medici Fountain. In 1625, Henri IV built the palace in the Luxembourg Gardens (now housing the Paris Senate) and the fountain for his wife, Marie de Médici, who was homesick for Florence, Italy. The sculpture above the fountain depicts the doomed lovers, Galatea and Acis, sharing a blissful embrace, before the jealous god, Polyphemus, informs them that this is their last tryst. Unlike the pruned trees and manicured lawns in the rest of the park, the alcove is framed by untamed trees and foliage, making it a lush, private oasis - perfect for a passionate embrace. Metro: Odeon.

de Medici fountain
De Médici Fountain in the Luxembourg Gardens

8. Kiss at the Hotel de Ville - Recreate one of the most romantic images captured on film, The Kiss on the Sidewalk (Le Baiser du Trottoir) by Robert Doisneau. Once published in Life magazine in 1950, this photo captured the essence of romantic Paris and helped define Paris as the City of Love. You can purchase this photo at any tourist store in Paris, however, why not create your own "Kiss at the Hotel de Ville". To capture the exact angle, have your photographer snag a seat at the sidewalk table directly under the "C" at the Hôtel de Ville Café at 70, rue de Rivoli. Metro: Hotel de Ville.

Kiss at the Hotel de Ville
Le Baiser du Trottoir - 1950 - Robert Doisneau 3

9. Join the Carnival of Lovers at the Musee Carnavalet - In the 1500's, Madame de Kernevenoy husband was killed in a duel leaving her a widow at age 25. Famed for her beauty and the never ending line of suitors lined up outside of her mansion, she was nicknamed "Carnavalet" after the carnival of courtiers camped outside of her residence. Today, her home is the Musee Carnavalet, the official museum of Parisian History. Local Legend has it that you should enjoy yourself there, indulging in amorous activities in the lavish gardens or the secluded museum hallways, soaking up the 500 years of passion witnessed in this decadent mansion. (the 3rd oldest public property in Paris, 20 years older than the Louvre). Metro: St. Paul

Musee Carnavalet
Gardens outside the Musee Carnavalet

10. Have a Tryst in the Tuileries Gardens - The Tuileries Gardens outside of the Louvre have been a popular rendezvous place for lovers of all classes - nobles, peasants, and prostitutes - throughout history. Married couples would enter together at the North gate, then rendezvous with their lovers at the South gate. In the 18th century the gardens were such a popular meeting place, that Parisian would morn every rainy day, because the gates to the garden were locked, ruining their planned encounters. Today, sit holding hands in one of the Tuileries outdoor cafes, steal an embrace behind a marble sculpture, and continue your stroll through the Tuileries Gardens and up the Champs-Élysées. Metro: Tuileries

Tuileries Garden
Tuileries Gardens


Photo Credits:
1Jonathan NÈlis Date : July 2006
2Patrick Giraud : 2005
3Robert Doisneau : 1950
All other photos credited to Paris Escapes

Author: Cheryl Montgomery

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