{"id":4517,"date":"2022-02-12T12:00:48","date_gmt":"2022-02-12T11:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homesandantiques.com\/?p=26456"},"modified":"2022-02-12T12:25:21","modified_gmt":"2022-02-12T11:25:21","slug":"travel-guide-how-to-spend-a-weekend-in-paris","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/rss_feed\/travel-guide-how-to-spend-a-weekend-in-paris\/","title":{"rendered":"Travel guide: how to spend a weekend in Paris"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Sophie Hannam\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Saturday, 12 February 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Just two hours and 20 minutes away from London St Pancras International station, Paris <\/span>is the ultimate destination <\/span>for last-minute weekend getaways. And, peppered with excellent museums, shopping, food and historic haunts, it\u2019s easy to spend 48 hours ambling from place to place beside the winding Seine, a cr\u00eape and a coffee in hand. <\/span>This beautiful, speedy city offers key hotspots in spades \u2013 including a philosopher\u2019s favourite restaurant, Marie Antoinette\u2019s palace and the finest places for antiques-hunting\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

Day One<\/span><\/h2>\n

9am<\/span> See the sights<\/span><\/h3>\n
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An awe-inspiring piece of architecture, the Louvre is famous for housing some of the world\u2019s most celebrated works of art, such as the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo<\/span><\/figcaption> Getty Images\/Robert Harding World Imagery<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Start your day the French way with a flaky croissant and a caf\u00e9 cr\u00e8me (an espresso with warm, frothy milk) from a local bistro. In the morning, most Parisians will stand up at the bar, which is cheaper than sitting at a table. Next, don comfy shoes and start with a visit to one (or both) of Paris\u2019s largest museums, which are a stone\u2019s throw away from each other: the <\/span>Mus\u00e9e d\u2019Orsay<\/b><\/span>, \u20ac14 (musee-orsay.fr<\/i>) or the<\/span> Louvre<\/b><\/span>, \u20ac17 (louvre.fr<\/i>). To beat the inevitable queues at the Louvre, you can go in through one of the side entrances, avoiding the glass pyramid. The Louvre is almost two miles long, and the vast collection includes 380,000 pieces, so it\u2019s worth looking up the artworks you\u2019d like to visit ahead of time and planning your route. <\/span><\/p>\n

A 15-minute stroll along the Seine and over the <\/span>Pont Notre-Dame<\/b><\/span> will lead you to the <\/span>Cath\u00e9drale Notre-Dame de Paris <\/b><\/span>(notredamedeparis.fr<\/i>), which is currently closed to visitors following the devastating fire in 2019. However, you can still admire the stunning, ornate western fa\u00e7ade. <\/span><\/p>\n

1pm<\/span> Lunch on the go<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Views of the historic site, exhibition hall and museum, the Grand Palais, and the exquisite Pont Alexandre III<\/span><\/figcaption> Hemis \/ Alamy Stock Photo<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

For lunch, <\/span>L\u2019As du Fallafel<\/b><\/span> (32-34 rue des Rosiers, 75004<\/i>) is just another 15-minute stroll back over the river to the city\u2019s Jewish quarter, Le Marais, and is a popular bolthole, offering pitta bread stuffed with falafel, hummus and other delicious treats for around \u20ac6. You may have to queue, but it\u2019s wholly worthwhile. Over the river towards rue de la B\u00fbcherie is Paris\u2019s most famous independent bookshop, <\/span>Shakespeare and Company<\/b><\/span>\u00a0which, alongside hosting events, also stocks an array of rare and antiquarian books. It\u2019s a great pitstop en route to the <\/span>Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es<\/b><\/span>, which is just a short journey away on the metro for \u20ac1.90. As you wind your way along Paris\u2019s most charming avenue, towards the <\/span>Arc de Triomphe<\/b><\/span>, enjoy a spot of window-shopping at the flagship boutiques, explore the <\/span>Grand Palais<\/b><\/span> museum, entry is free excluding exhibitions, or ponder the puzzling <\/span>Luxor Obelisk<\/b><\/span>, the twin of which is situated outside Luxor Temple in Egypt. <\/span><\/p>\n

6pm<\/span> Historic supper<\/span><\/h3>\n
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On the rue de l\u2019Ancienne Com\u00e9die, Le Procope claims to be the oldest cafe in Paris<\/span><\/figcaption> Brian Jannsen \/ Alamy Stock Photo<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

For good food and history combined, <\/span>Le Procope<\/b><\/span>\u00a0on rue de l\u2019Ancienne Com\u00e9die is Paris\u2019s oldest cafe, having opened in 1686, and was a popular haunt of Napol\u00e9on Bonaparte, Voltaire and Victor Hugo. For an authentic supper, six large Burgundy snails will set you back \u20ac9.50, and the traditional \u2018Ivre de Juli\u00e9nas<\/i>\u2019 coq au vin costs \u20ac27. <\/span><\/p>\n

Next, hop on the RER C train towards <\/span>Pontoise<\/b><\/span> to the <\/span>Champ de Mars \u2013<\/b><\/span> Tour Eiffel<\/b><\/span> metro station, right next to the <\/span>Eiffel Tower.<\/b><\/span>\u00a0Once there, tuck into a cr\u00eape, think profound thoughts, or simply admire the twinkling lights that sparkle every hour on the hour, from sundown to 1am.<\/span><\/p>\n

Day Two<\/span><\/h2>\n

9am<\/span> To the palace!<\/span><\/h3>\n
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The elegant formal gardens of the Palace of Versailles<\/span><\/figcaption> PhotoFires \/ Alamy Stock Photo<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

With so many of the main tourist attractions ticked off, do as the locals do and enjoy your second day at a leisurely pace. For a trip away from the city centre, jump on the <\/span>RER C<\/b><\/span> and the line will take you directly to <\/span>Versailles<\/b><\/span>, where Marie Antoinette\u2019s lavish palace is just a short walk away. The train journey will take around 60-90 minutes. Tickets to the palace and gardens cost from \u20ac20 per person, and you can easily spend a day exploring the maze of opulent rooms and the colossal grounds \u2013 be sure not to miss a visit to the <\/span>Grand Trianon<\/b><\/span>, a smaller palace built at the request of King Louis XIV of France, or the chance to rent a rowing boat on the <\/span>Grand Canal<\/b><\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n

9am<\/span> The antiques trail<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Some treasures within Yveline Antiquit\u00e9s<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

If you\u2019d prefer to stay within the city, why not hit up the wealth of antiques shops? Open since 1831, <\/span>Deyrolle<\/b><\/span>\u00a0is a trove of fascinating antique taxidermy and curios, and a visit offers the perfect opportunity to explore the upmarket <\/span>Saint-Germain-des-Pr\u00e9s<\/b><\/span> area. Nearby <\/span>Yveline Antiquit\u00e9s<\/b><\/span>\u00a0is legendary for its beautifully crafted furniture and artworks, plus it\u2019s situated next door to the picturesque former home of French artist Eug\u00e8ne Delacroix, now the <\/span>Mus\u00e9e national Eug\u00e8ne Delacroix<\/b><\/span>, which costs \u20ac7 to visit. <\/span><\/p>\n

3pm<\/span> One for the road?<\/span><\/h3>\n
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A classic jambon beurre sandwich, made with delicious French ham and thick slabs of butter in a fresh, crusty baguette<\/span><\/figcaption> Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Before the Eurostar home, lunch calls for a Parisian institution \u2013 le jambon beurre<\/i>. No, this is not merely a slice of ham betwixt floppy white bread \u2013 picture a crisp baguette, a slather of creamy, salty butter and thickly cut French ham with the rind left on. Pick one up at any good boulangerie, but hop over the river to <\/span>Caract\u00e8re de Cochon<\/b><\/span>, which makes a particularly tasty offering for around \u20ac6.50 to take away.<\/span><\/p>\n

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