|
 Monograms provides traveler’s access to a Local Host, so you will have someone on hand to answer those vacation questions pertaining to Paris. Our Local Host will ensure that you feel comfortable and welcomed while on vacation and help you maximize your time so you can enjoy Paris. No waiting in line at the concierge desk or trying to ask your waitress at breakfast directions to the shopping district. Simply ask your Local Host about Paris and you'll be on your way in no time. Plus, your Local Host will share local Paris insights and share suggestions for getting off the beaten path, leaving you more time to create lasting vacation memories that are yours alone.
Meet a Local Host
I was born in Paris and have always lived in the picturesque Montmartre area. Thanks to several years in the art history section of La Sorbonne University, I know every corner of the “City of Light.” I truly enjoy sharing my passion and knowledge about magical “Paree.” I have been a Local Host in Paris for many years, and my daily challenge is to make Monograms’ guests feel not like tourists, but like locals.
Montmartre, Latin Quarter
Try a walking tour of the Montmartre district, where artists such as Picasso, Monet, and Van Gogh worked. Your Local Host can suggest other intriguing walking tours of areas such as the Latin Quarter, the fashion district, or where to find the graves of Jim Morrison and Chopin in the Père Lachaise Cemetery.
Sacré-Coeur
While in Montmartre, visit the Sacré-Coeur (Sacred Heart). This pristine, white-stone church was proposed as a memorial to the soldiers killed in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, but it was not completed until the end of World War I. The church features one of the world's largest mosaics, which depicts Christ with outstretched arms, and a massive 19-ton church bell. Enjoy wonderful views of Paris from the Sacré-Coeur steps.
Musée d’Orsay
Stroll through centuries of artwork at the Musée d’Orsay, which houses an extensive collection of impressionist masterpieces by Monet, Degas, Renoir, and Cezanne. You can also admire Rodin’s statues, and do not miss the spectacular reception room.
Sainte-Chapelle
Fifteen intricately designed panels of stained glass—commissioned by Louis IX— depict 1,100 story-telling scenes.
Jardin du Luxembourg, Parc du Champ de Mars
Families may like to take a stroll in one of the famous parks and take a whirl on their charming carousels. You can also see the “pétanque” players, or sit on one of the “so typical” Parisian green chairs.
Seine Bridges
Find your favorite bridge. There are 37, and they are all different—from plain to gilded and from new to over 400 years old. The special atmosphere they create across the Seine River helps to make Paris one of the most romantic cities.
Shakespeare and Company Bookstore
In the Roaring 20s, this quirky bookstore on the Bohemian Left Bank was the meeting place for some of literature's greats—like Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and Joyce to name a few. It continues to serve as a cultural magnet for struggling writers and visitors alike.
Markets
Ask your Local Host how to get to the flea market for affordable objects d’art, or visit one of the food markets. The French know how to turn food display into an art form. See rainbows of fresh fruit and vegetables, soft palettes of bread, and colossal wheels of cheese—France has over 400 varieties of cheese. And when you're ready for dessert, specialty stores abound—from tarts and pastries to crêpes and pains au chocolat. Other specialties to try include onion soup with a fresh baguette, coq au vin (a classic chicken dish), croquet monsieur, quiche Lorraine, escargot, steak-frites, and famous French wines and champagne.
Champs-Elysées, Shopping
Shop at haute couture boutiques by the Champs-Elysées. Perfumes and scarves are classic gifts, as well as French berets, lace, collection dolls, and pottery. Use your included specially arranged discounts at the famous Galeries Lafayette, or check out the Printemps department store.
Cafés
When you’re ready for a break, join the locals at one of the cafés, sip a glass of wine or a café au lait (hot milk coffee), and watch the world go by in true Parisian style.
|