Destination: Paris, France. A Walk Through Paris with Christopher Back
A Walk Through Paris by Guest Blogger: Christopher Back
To launch my new post as Paris Destination Expert at TripKick.com, I decided to create a special walking tour of Paris just for Trip Kick users. A walk that you can enjoy on foot in Paris or from a comfy chair at home. The neighborhood I’ve chosen, from the Place Vendome to the Louvre, is on the top of everyone’s list of places to visit in Paris. But, I’m going to show you a side that is lesser known, with some interesting history and stories of intrigue. We’ll even approach the Louvre in same way as its last royal resident, Louis XIV and show you a side of this famous building that few tourists take time to see.
We’ll start at the Renaissance Vendome Hotel; a great boutique property with chic guestrooms, an intimate scale and a rare indoor pool in their luxurious spa. It’s a great place for business and comfortable for family travel. I’m sure you’ll appreciate their attention to detail and friendly service.
Insider Hotel Info. on The Renaissance Paris Vendome at TripKick.com
As the name implies, the hotel is located just off the historic Place Vendôme on a quiet street parallel to Rue St Honore, one of the best shopping streets in Paris. Even if you’re not interested in shopping, it’s just a short walk from the Louvre and many other famous sights we’ll explore during our walk.
Along the way we’ll see a church with a magnificent altar inspired by Bernini’s altar at St Peters in the Vatican, hear stories about assassination plots by a scheming Catherine de Medicis, and find time for chocolate treats and a great burger if you’re feeling a little hungry. You probably didn’t realize you’d find all of this within a few blocks of the hotel. We’ll also visit a large sculpture installation ordered by former Paris Mayor and President Jacques Chirac, which he found so ugly that he halted construction as a public eyesore. The artist was forced to sue the city to complete his work and now it’s an artistic highlight for many visitors. Often, art is not appreciated until people have a chance to consider it for a while.
The same is true for the Louvre. We’ll explore the evolution of its construction and hear stories of public outcry surrounding the expansions and renovations that have taken place over the last 800 years. Did you know that in the 1850s the massive expansion launched by Napoleon III was considered too modern and out of keeping with the older 16th Century structure? Ironically, this is the same criticism heard following the completion of I.M. Pei’s now-iconic pyramid in the late 1980’s.
No matter how many times you’ve been to Paris, there are always new layers of history to uncover. That’s the fun of coming back again, and what keeps me studying further. After nearly ten years in Paris, I still learn new things every day and I hope this walk will inspire you to get to know my adopted city better.
Enjoy the walk and don’t forget to stop for a treat along the way. After all, food is truly one of the greatest pleasures of Paris.
Let me know what you think of the walk, I’d love to have your feedback.
If you have questions about Paris, don’t hesitate to contact me! Who knows, your question might inspire another blog post on TripKick.com.
Download the Walk By Emailing: tripkick@parisprivateguides.com. You will receive a return reply with a PDF of the walk.
About Guest Author Christopher Back:
A long-time Paris resident and California native, Christopher’s diverse background combines with an in-depth knowledge of Parisian life, culture and history. He followed his studies at the Sorbonne by completing a full-time program covering history of French art, architecture and decorative arts at Christie’s France, the world renowned auction house. Christopher is also a gourmet chef, with training at the Cordon Bleu and l’école du Ritz-Escoffier in Paris, including a brief stint working in the kitchens of the Hotel Ritz in Paris.
Besides his work with TripKick, Christopher is the Director of Paris Private Guides which offers a wide variety of private tours of Paris. In addition to a personalized approach to clients, the company takes special care to provide accessible tours for seniors and others with reduced mobility.
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