Dave Hilbert's
SoftSeatTravel
SoftSeatTravel
Walks around the boutique hotel Degres de
Notre Dame put us in the heart of the action, within
sight of Notre Dame Cathedral on one side and an
easy walk to the Pantheon and the Latin Quarter on
the other side. Our hotel might be tiny by most
standards, but the Hotel Degres de Notre Dame
offers a continental breakfast and an English
speaking staff that includes manager Cecile who is
exceedingly helpful. She got us started with good
local information, maps of the city and she eased
our stay in the walkable city of Paris.
Walking Paris
Walk one block north of the hotel and you are at
the Cathedral of Notre Dame and the island within
the seine. This landmark can help to distinguish all
other features on the maps and it can act as your
guide to all of Paris; the 200-foot high towers of the
Gothic cathedral built in 1163 are visible from
several blocks around.
From the hotel you can walk through the grounds of
the Cathedral to Saint Chapelle, a church built in
1240 to house holy relics, including the crown of
thorns, and now famed for its stained glass
windows. From there go along the seine to the
Louvre.
An alternative is to walk to the boat dock on the
seine and take the Batobus tour boats where 14
Euros gives you two days of on and off stops at
eight locations of significance on the Seine. This
could be one of the best bargains in Paris and will
give you a great overview of the city.
Notre Dame put us in the heart of the action, within
sight of Notre Dame Cathedral on one side and an
easy walk to the Pantheon and the Latin Quarter on
the other side. Our hotel might be tiny by most
standards, but the Hotel Degres de Notre Dame
offers a continental breakfast and an English
speaking staff that includes manager Cecile who is
exceedingly helpful. She got us started with good
local information, maps of the city and she eased
our stay in the walkable city of Paris.
Walking Paris
Walk one block north of the hotel and you are at
the Cathedral of Notre Dame and the island within
the seine. This landmark can help to distinguish all
other features on the maps and it can act as your
guide to all of Paris; the 200-foot high towers of the
Gothic cathedral built in 1163 are visible from
several blocks around.
From the hotel you can walk through the grounds of
the Cathedral to Saint Chapelle, a church built in
1240 to house holy relics, including the crown of
thorns, and now famed for its stained glass
windows. From there go along the seine to the
Louvre.
An alternative is to walk to the boat dock on the
seine and take the Batobus tour boats where 14
Euros gives you two days of on and off stops at
eight locations of significance on the Seine. This
could be one of the best bargains in Paris and will
give you a great overview of the city.
In June darkness falls at about 10:00 PM in Paris,
lengthening your day of sightseeing. An afternoon Paris
walk will give you four to eight hours of daylight, enough
to catch a lengthy hike and include a sunset from one of
the 30 or more bridges that cross the Seine in the
center of the city.
The first walk could start at the Notre Dame Cathedral
and take you to the Musee du Louvre, walking through
the gardens to the Place de la Concorde and its
Egyptian obelisk. Continue along the Avenue des
Champs-Elysees and through a gauntlet of sidewalk
restaurants and upscale shops including a gigantic
Sephorus. The avenue ends at a rotary around the Arc
de Triomphe. From there a walk down Avenue Kleber to
the Trocadero will give you a great view of the Eiffel
Tower. From the Eiffel Tower a walk through the Champ
de Mars Park and then to Avenue de Tourville will take
you to the Mussee D' Larmee, Napoleon's tomb and to
the Musee d Orsay. From there a walk along the Seine
will take you back to the Cathedral de Notre Dame.
With a 14 Euro, two-day Batoboat ticket you could
combine walking and the boat's handy docks on the
river to make the same trip with less walking.
Another walk from the Hotel Degres de Notre Dame will
take you through the Latin Quarter. This one may best
be done at twilight when the clubs and restaurants start
to hum with music and the excitement of pick-up bands
of clarinet, guitar, and violin that try to capture a Django
Reinhardt, Stephane Grapelli mood.
The Sorbonne and Pantheon mark this area of clubs,
restaurants, and lively nightlife.
Another small hotel in the Latin Quarter, the
Observatoire Luxembourg, just across from the Garden
of Luxembourg on the Boulevard Saint-Michel, gives
good access to the heart of Paris and although small,
will offer friendly service and convenience to the Metro
at the Luxembourg station or to walks along the Seine.
Another Paris Walk in the Montmartre to the Basilica
of Sacre Coeur (Sacred Heart) starts after a bus or
subway ride to the vicinity of Gare du Norde, Gare St
Lazare, or the Blanche Metro Station near Boulevard de
Clichy, easily identified landmarks on the maps.
The Sacre Coeur is the highest point in Paris and from
the steps of the basilica you can get a great view of the
city. Walk to the Moulin Rouge on Boulevard de Clichy
and visit the cabaret that has for over a hundred years
held performances by legendary entertainers like Frank
Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Yves Montand, Maurice
Chevalier, and Elton John.
Toulouse-Lautrec left a record of the turn of the century
Moulin Rouge performers with his paintings, a style that
remains with glitter and the feathers of the Cancan
revue.
Many other guided tours by bike, walking , or Segway
are available, check links below.
www.FatTireBikeToursParis.com
www.CitySegwayTours.com
www.ClassicWalksParis.com
lengthening your day of sightseeing. An afternoon Paris
walk will give you four to eight hours of daylight, enough
to catch a lengthy hike and include a sunset from one of
the 30 or more bridges that cross the Seine in the
center of the city.
The first walk could start at the Notre Dame Cathedral
and take you to the Musee du Louvre, walking through
the gardens to the Place de la Concorde and its
Egyptian obelisk. Continue along the Avenue des
Champs-Elysees and through a gauntlet of sidewalk
restaurants and upscale shops including a gigantic
Sephorus. The avenue ends at a rotary around the Arc
de Triomphe. From there a walk down Avenue Kleber to
the Trocadero will give you a great view of the Eiffel
Tower. From the Eiffel Tower a walk through the Champ
de Mars Park and then to Avenue de Tourville will take
you to the Mussee D' Larmee, Napoleon's tomb and to
the Musee d Orsay. From there a walk along the Seine
will take you back to the Cathedral de Notre Dame.
With a 14 Euro, two-day Batoboat ticket you could
combine walking and the boat's handy docks on the
river to make the same trip with less walking.
Another walk from the Hotel Degres de Notre Dame will
take you through the Latin Quarter. This one may best
be done at twilight when the clubs and restaurants start
to hum with music and the excitement of pick-up bands
of clarinet, guitar, and violin that try to capture a Django
Reinhardt, Stephane Grapelli mood.
The Sorbonne and Pantheon mark this area of clubs,
restaurants, and lively nightlife.
Another small hotel in the Latin Quarter, the
Observatoire Luxembourg, just across from the Garden
of Luxembourg on the Boulevard Saint-Michel, gives
good access to the heart of Paris and although small,
will offer friendly service and convenience to the Metro
at the Luxembourg station or to walks along the Seine.
Another Paris Walk in the Montmartre to the Basilica
of Sacre Coeur (Sacred Heart) starts after a bus or
subway ride to the vicinity of Gare du Norde, Gare St
Lazare, or the Blanche Metro Station near Boulevard de
Clichy, easily identified landmarks on the maps.
The Sacre Coeur is the highest point in Paris and from
the steps of the basilica you can get a great view of the
city. Walk to the Moulin Rouge on Boulevard de Clichy
and visit the cabaret that has for over a hundred years
held performances by legendary entertainers like Frank
Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Yves Montand, Maurice
Chevalier, and Elton John.
Toulouse-Lautrec left a record of the turn of the century
Moulin Rouge performers with his paintings, a style that
remains with glitter and the feathers of the Cancan
revue.
Many other guided tours by bike, walking , or Segway
are available, check links below.
www.FatTireBikeToursParis.com
www.CitySegwayTours.com
www.ClassicWalksParis.com
| Late Night Twilight |
Paris: Made for Walking Paris may be the ultimate walkable city. So much history and great
architecture located in a small area along the River Seine makes Paris ideal for those that like to walk. If
you combine the boats that cruise the Seine with the buses that make loops through the heart of the city
and if you use the Cathedral of Notre Dame as a central landmark, you can easily navigate the city and
visit many of the historic sites in four or five walking trips.
architecture located in a small area along the River Seine makes Paris ideal for those that like to walk. If
you combine the boats that cruise the Seine with the buses that make loops through the heart of the city
and if you use the Cathedral of Notre Dame as a central landmark, you can easily navigate the city and
visit many of the historic sites in four or five walking trips.
Dining is a great
experienced in Paris, not
only for the French cuisine
of several regions but for
the many Italian, Morrocan,
Vietnamese, Greek, Chinese
and other ethnic offerings.
experienced in Paris, not
only for the French cuisine
of several regions but for
the many Italian, Morrocan,
Vietnamese, Greek, Chinese
and other ethnic offerings.
Paris Dining
Another Paris walk takes in the area
between the Boulevards St Michel,
Raspail, and St Germain where
uncountable restaurants offer every kind
of dining experience imaginable.
For Provence favorites try Le Chat Qui Peche
on the pedestrian-only street near the Gothic
St. Severin Church. Their limited menu includes
mussel in cream sauce, their wines, Cotes Du
Rhone.
Another Paris walk takes in the area
between the Boulevards St Michel,
Raspail, and St Germain where
uncountable restaurants offer every kind
of dining experience imaginable.
For Provence favorites try Le Chat Qui Peche
on the pedestrian-only street near the Gothic
St. Severin Church. Their limited menu includes
mussel in cream sauce, their wines, Cotes Du
Rhone.
Best Bargain: The batobus
boat cruise on the Seine that
lets you get on ;and off at
eight sections of historic
importance.
boat cruise on the Seine that
lets you get on ;and off at
eight sections of historic
importance.
The Hotel Le Degres de
Notre Dame near the Notre
Dame Cathedral offers
continental breakfast and
great proximity to the Seine
and to the Latin Quarter
restaurants and clubs.
www.LesDegresHotel.com
Notre Dame near the Notre
Dame Cathedral offers
continental breakfast and
great proximity to the Seine
and to the Latin Quarter
restaurants and clubs.
www.LesDegresHotel.com
Notre Dame Cathedral on the
Island within the Seine makes
a handy landmark with a
fabulous interior. Grounds
close at dusk.
Island within the Seine makes
a handy landmark with a
fabulous interior. Grounds
close at dusk.
Canal barges make dinner
cruise and sightseeing trips
on the Seine.
cruise and sightseeing trips
on the Seine.
PARIS
Walking Tours
Dozens of restaurants compete for business
with colorful displays on the pedestrian-only
streets near the Gothic church of St.Severin.
with colorful displays on the pedestrian-only
streets near the Gothic church of St.Severin.
Le Chat Qui Peche Restaurant on the
pedestrian-only section around the church of st.
Severin has a friendly staff and good Provencal
cuisine.
Just off Rue St Jacques.
pedestrian-only section around the church of st.
Severin has a friendly staff and good Provencal
cuisine.
Just off Rue St Jacques.
Rooms at the Les Les Degres
de Notre Dame Hotel are
modern and bright.
Cecile will greet you for
complimentary breakfast of
coffee and croisant.
A short walk puts you in the
middle of the Latin Quarter or
along the river at the Notre
Dame Cathedral.
de Notre Dame Hotel are
modern and bright.
Cecile will greet you for
complimentary breakfast of
coffee and croisant.
A short walk puts you in the
middle of the Latin Quarter or
along the river at the Notre
Dame Cathedral.
| Paris is a walkers city even in the rain. Hotel lobbies, Coffee Shops, Restaurants, Churches, and dozens of museums let us duck in out of the Paris mist. |
Paris walks take us through the historic city while we combined the boats that cruise
the Seine with the buses that make loops through the heart of the city. While walking
we use the Cathedral of Notre Dame near our hotel, Les Deges de Notre Dame, as a
central landmark. The two day pass on the boat is a great bargain and helps us
combine Paris walking with a boat ride and we can see much of the historic city.
the Seine with the buses that make loops through the heart of the city. While walking
we use the Cathedral of Notre Dame near our hotel, Les Deges de Notre Dame, as a
central landmark. The two day pass on the boat is a great bargain and helps us
combine Paris walking with a boat ride and we can see much of the historic city.
Four Paris Walks
 | |  | |  | |  |
Soft Seat Travel