The Royal Chapel, Sainte-Chapelle, at Sunrise
Unless you’ve been to Paris or spent time researching the city, you’ve probably never heard of Sainte-Chapelle. We certainly hadn’t prior to reading about it as we prepared for this trip. This exquisite example of Gothic architecture often gets overlooked due to the much more popular Notre Dame, which everyone knows and quickly associates with Paris. Sainte-Chapelle is located within the Palais de la Cité on the Île de la Cité, one of the two river islands within the Seine in Paris. It was originally built to house many medieval relics of Christ, including the prized Crown of Thorns which later traveled to Notre Dame. This chapel is simply jaw-dropping with its beauty, and you won’t be disappointed if you work to be first in line at its opening as we did. Being nearly alone in Sainte-Chapelle as the sun rises and begins to shine through the chapel’s immaculate windows of stained glass was an experience worth dragging ourselves out of bed, no matter how early. Since admission began at 9:00AM, we planned to be in line by 8:30AM. With an hour long walk and a quick stop for breakfast, this had us leaving the hotel by 7:00AM. But once again, seeing Sainte-Chapelle in all of its morning glory was a prize worth effort. I hope you enjoy the pictures below, but they truly don’t do this chapel justice.
We finally dragged ourselves out of the beautiful Sainte-Chapelle to continue our day and walked toward the Le Marais district. We crossed the Seine as the sun was continuing to rise and enjoyed the scenic view out of the city’s famous river. The walk toward Le Marais was long, but it was through a part of Paris that we hadn’t explored yet, so we enjoyed looking around as the cars started bustling into Paris during morning rush hour. We walked by Saint-Jacques Tower, the remaining piece of an old church that was destroyed during the French Revolution, and the Hôtel de Ville, Paris’s local city hall, which w as decorated for winter with a merry-go-round near its entrance.
Le Marais
Formerly the aristocratic district within France, Le Marais has a completely distinct cultural feel today as it is home to both the Jewish Quarter and the heart of the LGBTQ+ community. We first walked to Place des Vosges, a popular spot for a Parisian stroll. The perfectly symmetrical square is also where Victor Hugo’s home is located, which is now a museum dedicated to the Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame author. From there we found a nice, little coffee shop and enjoyed a few minutes out of the cold with a cappuccino. We came to Le Marais because Emily had an appointment at Caudaleíe, her favorite Parisian cosmetic company, for a custom facial. While she relaxed and enjoyed her pampering, I explored the surrounding area which included the Jewish Quarter and many street-side boutiques and thrift stores. I walked west to the Place de la Bastille, the famous location of the storming of the Bastille, and the only Parisian strikers that we encountered all week. After meeting back up with Emily and hearing all about her love for the time she’d spent being pampered, we found a gyro shop to grab a bite to eat before the long walk back to the hotel.
Montmartre
We spent a little bit of time refreshing at the hotel before requesting a rideshare up to Montmartre. This historically and culturally significant district was once a separate village outside of Paris. Throughout history it has been known for its bohemian vibe and reputation for attracting artists and writers who felt inspired here. As our driver worked his way up the hill through the winding streets, we drove down the popular nightclub street that houses the Moulin Rouge. We were dropped off at the steps leading up to the Sacré-Cœur, a basilica that memorializes those killed during the Franco-Prussian War. With its unique design, the Sacré-Cœur looks unlike anything else in Paris, which makes it a perfect addition to the whimsical district of Montmartre. From its location atop a hill, there are panoramic views of Paris. Unfortunately, we could climb up the the basilica’s dome for the best views, as it closed early due to the strikes.
Next we walked around for a bit, searching for some artwork to take home with us. While we didn’t find exactly what we were looking for, it was neat to see so many artists in the plaza painting with such a charming backdrop. We found a couple of windmills, which the area is famous for, before starting our descent down the hill and back to our hotel. We happened to stumble upon another small Christmas market, and I enjoyed some, you guessed it, Vin Chaud, as we walked home in the chill of December.
Following our long, cold walk home, we spent some time warming up at the hotel before getting back out for supper. We walked to Rue Montorgueil, a street lined with bistros, cafes, and other eateries. The street was a short walk from our hotel and is littered with restaurants that have heated patios packed with patrons. Unfortunately, the patios were filled with people smoking, which is still quite popular in Paris, so we chose to eat inside for most of our evening meals. This particular evening we tried a place called Au Rocher de Cancale. I had roasted duck breast, and Emily opted for the salmon. Both were fantastic and enjoyed thoroughly along with delicious wine, a great way to end our day exploring different districts in Paris.
