A question for friends of Paris

[77HK77]

Next week two of my daughters will be attending the Diner en Blanc in Paris and spending a few days there. We are history buffs and look for unique views or ways of discovering a city.

My question to those who know Paris well is what one spot; street, building, park, neighborhood etc speaks to you of the History of Paris.

For example if you were coming to my home town of Philadelphia I would suggest a walk down Elfreths Alley - no commercial building all residential but you step right back to the 1850's in Philadelphia.  Picture Below


I'm sure Paris has many such places to offer. All suggestions are welcomed.


Many Thanks
HK

[ThatParthianGuy]

One of my favorite spots is the Basilica of Saint-Denis. Slightly off the beaten path in the north of Paris, but a pretty straightforward metro trip. Over 100 Frankish and French royal bodies are interred there, from Clovis I to Louis XVI. Most of the bodies were removed during the French Revolution, but almost all the tomb effigies (commissioned by Louis IX) survived. It’s quiet and tranquil, and almost never crowded.

Another great place to visit is Jim Morrison’s grave at Père-Lachaise. Of course, not intensively historical in terms of the history of Paris, but undoubtedly a must-see.

Enjoy Paris! Nowhere else is like it.
-TPG

[orfew]

Pere-Lachaise was definitely a highlight for me. I highly recommend a visit.

[cmcdon0923]

For example if you were coming to my home town of Philadelphia I would suggest a walk down Elfreths Alley - no commercial building all residential but you step right back to the 1850's in Philadelphia. 

An absolutely beautiful place to visit.  Many of the homes are even older than the 1850s...many are early to mid 18th century.

http://www.elfrethsalley.org/

[septimus]

Paris is a city that regularly grows around circles through history. The centre (1st to 8th districts) concentrates the oldest remains and buildings (roman, medieval, classical...) but also tourists. The other districts (9th to 20th) generally date from the 19th century with some exceptions and are more residential, but with nice walks to do. As a Parisian I will be happy to make you discover some known or unknown places of my city, if you want!
Les "passages couverts", the Latin quarter & St Germain des Prés, le Marais, Montmartre, les Berges de la Seine are nice ideas of promenades for those who discover the city for the first time.

[Altamura]

Under the square before Notre-Dame de Paris there is the Crypte archéologique de l'île de la Cité where you can see some remains of roman Lutetia (but there are some more in the city):
http://www.crypte.paris.fr/en/homepage
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crypte_arch%C3%A9ologique_de_l%27%C3%AEle_de_la_Cit%C3%A9

The last time I was in Paris I visited the foundations of the medieval Louvre castle in the basement of today's Louvre and found it very impressing:
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louvre_m%C3%A9di%C3%A9val_(mus%C3%A9e)  (I didn't find any better link, sorry  )
If you are going to the Louvre you shouldn't miss that.

What I always wanted to see but always didn't make it are the Catacombs of Paris, some special facet of the history of Paris  :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catacombs_of_Paris
http://www.catacombes.paris.fr/en/homepage-catacombs-official-website

Regards

Altamura

edit: The link to the Louvre médiéval has been wrong  , I fixed it.