9 Unique Landmarks in Paris (That Aren't the Eiffel Tower)

It’s easy to feel the love in Paris. The city they call La Ville Lumière (the “City of Lights”) dazzles tourists from around the world. Paris is home to world-famous restaurants, art galleries and museums, chic boutiques, and landmarks to fill weeks worth of vacation time.

But what many tourists don’t realize is just how many cool and unusual things there are to do in the city that don’t include gawking at the Eiffel Tower, wandering through theLouvre, and admiring the view from Sacré-Coeur. We’re not saying you shouldn’t do these things — you should! Just don’t forget to adventure to the more unusual Parisian landmarks too!

Louis Vuitton Foundation

Outside of the Louis Vuitton Fondation in Paris.
Credit: Michael Jacobs/Art in All of Us/ Getty Images

This art and culture center is one of Paris’ most iconic buildings of the 21st century, displaying works from both the 20th and 21st centuries. Featuring a modern, abstract exterior designed by Frank Gehry, the Louis Vuitton Foundation is covered by giant panels of smooth glass. A minimalist interior includes exhibits on pop art, expressionist art, and music and sound. Since it opened in 2014, the foundation has housed a permanent collection of 268 pieces from 102 artists, in addition to two temporary displays of modern art, which rotate annually. Don’t forget to visit the auditorium, designed to showcase live artistic performance, such as dance and music. Lovers of the arts will fall hard for the whole experience.

Palais Garnier (Opéra National de Paris)

View of the front of the Facade of the Opera, also known as the Palace Garnier.
Credit: abadesign/ Shutterstock

Even if you’re not into opera, the Opéra National de Paris, also known as Palais Garnier, founded in 1669 is straight out of a fairy tale. The 98-foot-tall vault constructed of swirled marble and double staircases impress from the moment you step inside. The horseshoe-shaped auditorium embellished in marble, stucco, and velvet includes an eight-ton bronze and crystal chandelier that hangs prominently. Attend an opera, ballet, or symphonic concert to fully experience this magnificent space. Currently, the venue produces 380 shows a year to over 800,000 audience members. Experiencing a Parisian opera is one way to feel a true connection with the city.

The Molitor

Inside the Molitor, with the famous Paris pool and hotel.
Credit: Daniel Incandela/ Flickr/ CC BY-NC 2.0

Not only is this building a historical monument, it’s also a modern-day pool, spa, hotel, bar, rooftop space, art gallery, and restaurant rolled into one. Today, the Molitor is a symbol of luxury. This urban resort opened in 1929 and for six decades was the place Parisians came to swim, sunbathe, play sports, and socialize. When it closed in 1989, the artistically-minded who frequented the Molitor occupied the abandoned building and turned it into a hub for creativity and expression.

During the 90s, the building was covered in colorful graffiti, sparking the beginning of street art in Paris. Parties, events, fashion shows, and concerts were held here during this time. Fast-forward to present-day and the city has revamped the Molitor. However, the building’s history has not been erased; the city’s first street art graffiti has been preserved on the hotel’s lobby walls and corridors. The restaurant and spa are open to the public and the Molitor hosts numerous cultural and sporting events. The building holds many of Paris’ decade-old secrets for those who want to dig beneath the surface.

The Statues of Liberty

The Paris version of the Statue of Liberty, on a small island in the Seine river.
Credit: FrankyDeMeyer/ iStock

If you thought that the Statue of Liberty was in New York, you’d only be partly right. Scattered across Paris are a number of replicas of the famous statue gifted to the United States by the French commemorating the alliance of the two nations during the Revolutionary War. The most prominent statue, not to mention the largest, stands on a plinth on the Île aux Cygnes beside the Pont de Grenelle (Grenelle Bridge). It’s a quarter of the scale of its North American counterpart, gifted to Paris in 1889 by its American expat community.

The Musée d’Orsay’s Lady Liberty greets visitors as they arrive. Standing a little under 10 feet tall, the piece is also the work of acclaimed French sculptor Auguste Bartholdi. Until 2011, it stood in the Jardin du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Gardens), where another — a bronze copy — replaced it a year later. And there’s more: the bronze Lady Liberty, which until recently graced the courtyard at the Musée des Arts et Métiers, is on loan to the U.S. for a decade, but the museum retains the original plaster casts that were used to create the original.

Cimetière des Chiens

Cemetery of the Dogs in Asnières-sur-Seine, France.
Credit: Tommie Hansen/ Flickr/ CC BY 2.0

Animal lovers, be prepared to shed a tear or two as you visit this suburban pet cemetery in the Asnières-sur-Seine neighborhood. Its full name is Le Cimetière des Chiens et Autres Animaux Domestiques — the cemetery for dogs and other pets. In a tranquil spot beside the river, you’ll find the graves of much-loved canines and feline family members, famous animal actors, and heroes, including the grave of Rin Tin Tin, a German shepherd that starred in his own children’s television series. Rescued as a puppy from a World War I battlefield, Rin Tin Tin went on to star in 27 Hollywood movies before his death in Los Angeles in 1932. Also look out for the monument to a Saint Bernard named Barry. A poignant inscription reveals that he saved 40 human lives before making the ultimate sacrifice while trying to rescue the 41st. Actually, the legend isn’t true, though the sentiment is admirable — this canine hero died in old age after living out his retirement in a Swiss monastery.

Rue Dénoyez

Rue Dénsez in the Belleville district.
Credit: Myrabella/ Wikipedia Commons/ CC BY-SA 4.0

Dubbed “Street Art Alley,” this quirky Parisian street is one of the city’s most colorful corners. In many parts of the capital, daubing the walls is not permitted, but this lane is a rare exception. Street artists capitalize on this and have created a vivid and multi-faceted mural composed of the work by some of the city’s best graffitists married with the creative use of mosaics and household objects like teapots and toys. The art is organic and haphazard, but the end result is one of delightful whimsy, guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Pâtisserie Stohrer

The Pâtisserie Stohrer window display with many sweet treats.
Credit: Kimberly Vardeman/ Flickr/ CC BY 2.0

Nicolas Stohrer, pastry chef to King Louis XV, opened this historic patisserie almost 300 years ago in 1730. Pâtisserie Stohrer is the oldest bakery in the city and has an enviable reputation for baking what many consider to be  the best vol-au-vents (hollow puff pastries) in Paris. When the monarch’s fussy father-in-law complained his brioche was too dry, Stohrer soaked it in wine. Later switching to hard liquor, the rum baba was born. Stohrer’s culinary inventions didn’t stop there; he was also responsible for creating the crème chiboust (a famous cream tart filled with Italian meringue), the puits d’amour (a hollow pastry filled with red currant or raspberry jam), and the traditional-style religieuse (two buns filled with cream and topped with chocolate ganache). Unsurprisingly, discerning foodies with an insatiable sweet tooth have been coming to this spot on Rue Montorgueil ever since.

Pagoda Paris

The tall red Chinese Pagoda in Paris.
Credit: bensliman hassan/ Shutterstock

The Pagoda Paris started out as a “hôtel particulier,” a term which distinguished the building as a grand private residence. An art and antique dealer named Ching Tsai Loo bought the place in 1925 and set about transforming the building into a gallery that would match the splendor of the pieces he intended to display. From the red walls and tiered exterior to the lavish Shanxi lacquer panels that adorn the interior rooms, the modern-day art gallery is a triumph of Chinese architecture. For a time after Loo’s death in 1957, the building was neglected, but today, it remains fully restored. The pagoda is also a breathtaking event venue that frequently hosts cocktail receptions, private dinners, conferences, photo shoots and fashion shows.

Centre Pompidou

The color-coded pipes along the outside of Centre Pompidou.
Credit: Victor Ramon/ Shutterstock

The futuristic design of the Centre Pompidou made it one of the most controversial buildings in Paris when it opened in 1977. Architects Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano designed this landmark. In fact, locals refer to it as the Beaubourg after its location, rather than calling it the Pompidou Center. Hidden behind the façade of this cultural hub is a public library and the Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris, where you’ll find works by the likes of Picasso, Matisse, Warhol, and Kapoor. But no matter what’s on display inside, it’s always the exterior systems that steal the show. Anything functional is color-coded: green for plumbing, blue for climate control, yellow for electrical, and red for anything involving safety or movement, such as the diagonal escalator which Parisians affectionately dub the “Caterpillar.”

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