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5 Hidden Parisian Gems – Treading the Off-Beaten Path in Paris

So you're all set to go on that well-deserved vacation to Paris - you've packed your luggage, learned a few French phrases, prepared your international travel insurance and kept a list of some popular Parisian landmarks that you are planning on checking out.

Eiffel Tower? Check. Notre Dame Cathedral? Check. Mona Lisa at the Louvre? Check.

These famous sites are definitely at the top of most people's must-see lists whenever Paris is in the itinerary. The city is so overwhelmed with tourists already, that it's hard to believe that there's anything left for the more adventurous traveler to discover anew.

Fortunately there are still a few surprises to be had especially if one takes the time to go off the beaten touristy path. Here are some of the best hidden gems of the City of Light:

Catacombs of Paris

Definitely not for the faint of heart, the Catacombs of Paris is an underground ossuary filled to the brim with the bones of about six million Parisians. The catacombs, an intricate web-like network of pits, tunnels and caves, was intended to be a solution to the problem of overcrowded cemeteries and burial grounds in the 19th century. While some parts of the Catacombs are off-limits to visitors, there are still a lot of areas that are accessible for brave tourists to explore.

Chapelle Expiatoire

Chapelle Expiatoire in rue Pasquier is one of the finest specimens of Neoclassical architecture in France. Built in 1815 by Louis XVIII, the small chapel stands in the same grounds where his brother, Louis XVI, and Marie-Antoinette were once buried after their execution in the late 18th century. The courtyard is now known today as the Louis XVI Square, a public park open for anyone who is interested to learn more about France's rich history.

Statues of Liberty

It is common knowledge that the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor was a gift from France to the people of the United States. But did you know that you can also find Lady Liberty in Paris? Two of her, in fact! One of the statues, a 37-foot high copy that can be sighted from the top of the Eiffel Tower, is located on Iles de Cygnes next to the Grenelle bridge. Its smaller six-foot high sister is in the Jardin du Luxembourg. This replica has the distinction of being the original model used by the artist Frederic Auguste Bartholdi when he produced the full-scale Statue in the late 19th century.

Headless Saint Denis of Notre Dame

The Notre Dame Cathedral has always been a tourist magnet. But among the dozens of statues of famous kings and saints that adorns the entrance of the church, there lies a particularly strange sculpture - that of a headless man! The headless guy is St. Denis, a beloved bishop of Paris and Christian martyr who was executed in Montmartre Hill in the 3rd century. It is said that after his beheading, the headless body of the bishop picked up his head and walked six miles while preaching along the way! The sculpture of St. Denis can be found on the left side of the Cathedral's entrance.

Montmartre Hill

For those who want to relive the carefree bohemian days of old, Montmartre Hill is the perfect place to visit. It has been the home to artistic luminaries such as Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, and Salvador Dali. Aside from the popular Saint Pierre de Montmartre church on the summit, there is a thriving arts and culture-oriented community at the base of the hill, where cobblestone streets, thrift shops, art studios, and quaint cafes are common sights.

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