No interest in the classic Paris attractions? Want to avoid the crowds? Perhaps you are trying to entertain hard-to-please teenagers. Whatever the reason, keep reading – the best of bizarre and curious Paris will give you whole new insight into the City of Light.
Les Catacombes/The Catacombs – Adventure Below the City
Rat-borne disease ran rampant when the dead overwhelmed Paris cemeteries in the late 1700s. The solution? Move the bodies underground, where ample open space left from stone quarries lay unused. There are 186 miles of tunnels that make up the network christened The Catacombs, though only a fraction is open to the public. Tour the maze that hid the French Resistance and see the remains of some of France’s most famous and notorious historical figures.
You might expect a foul odor from the more than 6 million bones laid to rest in the passages and galleries, but it is actually cool, pleasant, and peaceful. Bones are categorized by type, sometimes in exhaustively arranged patterns, and visitors get the sense of being in a museum, rather than a mausoleum. Bear in mind that aside from the walking required in the tunnels themselves, there are 130 steps to go down at the entrance and 83 coming back up. This is a must-see for lovers of history.
Moulin Rouge – The Original World Famous Cabaret
Just steps away from the famed Sacre-Coeur, the Paris answer to Las Vegas showgirls is found at the world-famous Moulin Rouge Cabaret. Cancan dancers keep this Parisian institution going strong, in a tradition more than 120 years old. Late night performances showcase more than 100 entertainers, including dancers, ventriloquists, contortionists, and acrobats. Rumor has it that there are at least 1,000 costumes in every show. A spectacular evening spent at the Moulin Rouge will be one you never forget.
Marche aux Puces St. Ouen – Open Air Flea Market for Bargain Shopping
Sure, there is shopping on the Champs-Elysees, but those looking to explore will delight in the labyrinth of alleys packed full of antiques, old treasures, and vintage clothing found at the Marche (market) aux Puces St. Ouen. For more than a century, bargain hunters have flocked to these flea markets,
open Saturday to Monday, rain or shine. Haggling is welcome – even expected – and only adds to the thrill of the hunt for good deals.
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