Join this magical tour of Paris, and discover the keys to unlock some its most fascinating secrets. The French capital grew outward over the ages in concentric circles from the Ile de la Cite. Follow the author along the boulevards and avenues as he points out famous sights as well as unusual corners and hidden delights en route. His tour is rich in historical background, intriguing anecdotes, and tips on cafes and places to rest weary feet.
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About the Author
Gilles Desmons is a writer and lecturer who was born, raised, and educated in Paris. He works in a windmill near Lyons.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
56 of 57 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Having lived in Paris for quite some time myself, I know most of the areas that Gilles Desmons describes, and I can really highly recommend the book. His tours cover all the must-sees, but he also ventures off the beaten track and leads you to unexplored and pleasantly untouristy areas of the city, some of which even I haven't explored yet (but will unfailingly do so on my next trip home to France). His recommendations for restaurants/cafes/shops/museums are excellent, and I appreciate his pointing out certain days or times of the day when the tour is most rewarding (like with museum opening hours etc.). The only little "fly in the soup" (as we say) is that his writing is a bit professoral and stiff, but then again you learn a lot of little anecdotes that contribute to your understanding and enjoying your tour even more, and he points out a ton of small things that you normally would miss if not told of (like, an especially beautifully carved old door). Do yourself a favour and get the book for your (next) trip to the City of Lights, it's definitely worth it even if you have been there before.
42 of 42 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is by far the best guide book available for Paris. I lived there as a student, yet with this book I discovered new streets and sights on a daily basis. The historical references were excellent -- I took the walk through the area where I once lived and learned some fascinating stories about buildings I used to walk past every day. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
40 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you want to discover Paris beyond the traditional tour book, cliched image, then this is the book for you. With 30 original walks, the author, a native Parisian, leads you t hrough the well known (and some of the lesser known) districts of the City of Light. Unlike traditional walking tour guides, which only offer the route (and nothing else), this book details the route while pointing out buildings and areas of historical interest.
Every route is clearly marked with a starting point, ending point and distance. A good feature of this guide is that the author points out the changes in the street names--goodness knows how many a walker has gotten lost because the Rue du Temple suddenly became something else.
The only shortcoming of this book (or any walking guide, for that) is how the walker has to constantly carry the book with them. A good suggestion is to write out the itinerary on a separate piece of paper, then check all the references when you get back to the hotel.
If you love walking and exploring, than this is the book for you. Just be sure to pack a good pair of walking shoes.
Every route is clearly marked with a starting point, ending point and distance. A good feature of this guide is that the author points out the changes in the street names--goodness knows how many a walker has gotten lost because the Rue du Temple suddenly became something else.
The only shortcoming of this book (or any walking guide, for that) is how the walker has to constantly carry the book with them. A good suggestion is to write out the itinerary on a separate piece of paper, then check all the references when you get back to the hotel.
If you love walking and exploring, than this is the book for you. Just be sure to pack a good pair of walking shoes.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
a wonderful resource
I have visited Paris often and seen all the main tourist sites. However I love the city and to wander through it. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Brian Ralph
book deliberately damaged by previous owner
My friend and I very much liked the walks described in this book - the directions were good and easy to follow and contained lots of helpful information. Read more
Published 13 months ago by pve
pleasant way to amble about the great city
I found this book quite useful. I had it with me on a recent trip to Paris and took three or four of the walks. Read more
Published on June 5, 2008 by Alan A. Elsner
Best Book on Walks in Paris - Period.
Having already used the "Walking London" and "Walking Dublin" books, by the same publisher, with great success, we were immediately drawn to the "Walking Paris" book. Read more
Published on April 4, 2008 by Kyle White
Boring!!!
If you're only interested in who built a particular building and when and in what style, then you'll love this book. Read more
Published on August 6, 2007 by H. Francis
great walking guide with glitches
My girlfriend and I did about a third of the walks in this book while visiting Paris at Easter.
Overall, a very good guide that points out both the expected and... Read more
Overall, a very good guide that points out both the expected and... Read more
Published on May 12, 2007 by bearded academic
Finding Unusual Paris on Foot
"Walking Paris" is an excellent, easy to read, easy to carry book of walks around Paris which combines both obvious tourist high spots with hidden and unspoilt and largely... Read more
Published on January 11, 2007 by Kenneth Jordan
Wonderful walks
When you are in Paris on your own, you often need a bit of direction to get away from the run-of-the-mill sites. Read more
Published on November 11, 2006 by P. Whealon
magnifique!
Tres amusant. I enjoyed using this book to explore the most beautiful city in the world.
Published on July 3, 2005 by Angela
Great walks with amazing details`
I used this book for my recent trip to Paris. Out of all the walks we took my favorites were martmartre and le marais. Read more
Published on June 3, 2004
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