A Cultural Tour | Paris
Must-see museums, parks, art galleries and markets
By the Bearleaders
Musée Rodin | Tip & Photo by Bearleader in Photography Humberto Tan
“I will be reporting on the Paris Olympic Games, so I will be in Paris frequently. The city inspires my photography work. With my camera, I can walk endlessly in the city to capture beautiful people and visit impressive museums. My tip, skip the Louvre, often too busy and go to the smaller museums. ”
Be inspired by The Bearleaders, and visit their favourite places in Paris. Benefit of their inside knowledge and let these tastemakers guide you to the best museums, galleries, shops, exhibitions, and parks in the Eiffel city.
PARC DES BUTTES - CHAUMONT
Baron Haussmann, the Prefect of Paris, selected this site for a new public park to serve the rapidly growing population of the new 19th and 20th arrondissements of Paris, which had been annexed to the city in 1860. It is worth visiting, especially on warmer days to get some shade of the exotic, indigenous trees. The park, measuring 25 hectares, has numerous birds -seagulls, moorhens, and mallard ducks- enjoying the artificial lake.
instagram | maps | favourite of favourite of Johnny Talbot & Adrian Runhof, Fashion Designers & Humberto Tan, Photographer
FONDATION LOUIS VUITTON
A fantastic collection of modern and contemporary art housed in an inspiring space full of architectural marvels.
instagram | maps | favourite of Shiran Gort, Creative Director
JARDIN DES PLANTES
A beautiful botanical garden in a lively area full of museums. The perfect spot for a stroll with the family.
instagram | maps | favourite of Shiran Gort, Creative Director & Humberto Tan, Photographer
BOURSE DE COMMERCE - PINAULT COLLECTION
Originally an - incredibly prestigious - grain exchange and chamber of commerce, this beautiful ‘pantheonesque’ dome now houses a stunning modern art collection.
The painted classical dome contrasts strongly with the concrete structures below, and the vast open space gives François Pinault's collection (also responsible for the Palazzo Grassi in Venice) lots of room to breathe.
instagram | maps | favourite of Heinz Strobl, Senior Hotel Executive
LIGNE DE PETITE CEINTURE
An old railway track leads throughout and around Paris. Originally built in the 1800s, it became obsolete with the expansion and popularity of the metro around 1930. The old track is still there, and it makes for a very fun walk through Paris.
You’ll feel like a real urban explorer, encountering empty tunnels in decay, overgrown stations and plenty of graffiti.
maps | favourite of Humberto Tan, Photographer
PÈRE LACHAISE
Legends such as Oscar Wilde, Chopin and Jim Morrison are laid to rest here. It is a cemetery with the allure of a grand park, and a beautiful place for a walk or a tribute.
maps | favourite of Humberto Tan, Photographer
HÔTEL DE LA MARINE
French grandeur in the centre of Paris on the Place de la Concorde, east of Rue Royale. The Hôtel de la Marine is also known as the Hôtel du Garde-Meuble. It was designed by the architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel and built between 1757 and 1774. In the museum and cultural hotspot, you can find the depository for the Lodewijk XVI’s furniture collections, crown jewels, tapestries, and decorative art. It is as if you are walking in Versaille.
instagram | maps | favourite of Shiran Gort, Creative Director
MUSÉUM NATIONAL D’HISTOIRE NATURELLE
The main museum, with four galleries, is located within the Jardin des Plantes on the left bank of the River Seine. It was in 1793 during the French Revolution, but started even earlier in 1635 as the royal garden of medicinal plants.
MUSÉE DU LOUVRE
It seems like a no-brainer, but even if you have seen it for the third time, it remains one of the most impressive museums in the world, and you will always see new things.
instagram | maps | favourite of Humberto Tan, Photographer and Ivan Cremer, Sculptor
PARIS PHOTO
Walhalla for photography lovers and art buyers.
MUSÉE PICASSO
Housed in the Hotel Salé in Paris provides an overview of the total work of Pablo Picasso. The artist's art collection has been on the third floor since 2014.
MAD, LE MUSÉE DES ARTS DÉCORATIFS
Collections about applied art and design since 1905 in the west wing of the Louvre. Amazing expositions on fashion and also a very decorative restaurant: Loulou.
RUE ST. HONORÉ
This is where most couture brands have a shop, so there is enough to see..and to shop. Like the XXL Dior boutique!
maps | favourite of Humberto Tan, Photographer
“Paris always inspires me. The beautiful sculptures of famous artists like Zadkine, Rodin and many more, are to be found everywhere in the historical parks and museums.”
L’ATELIER 55
Don’t miss this shop, if you are a fan of vintage designer furniture, lighting, sculpture, artwork and decor items. You can find their Galleries in Megève, Saint-Tropez and Paris, specialising in unique pieces of Italian and French furniture from the 20th century.
instagram | maps | favourite of Shiran Gort, Creative Director
MUSÉE NISSIM DE CAMONDO
The museum's location is a mansion built from 1911 to 1914 for Count Moïse de Camondo, a French banker, to display his collection of eighteenth-century French furniture and art objects.
You will find a spectacular collection of French decorative art from the second half of the 18th century: Aubusson tapestries, canvases by Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun, Sèvres porcelain, and items that once belonged to Marie-Antoinette.
instagram | maps | favourite of Ivan Cremer, Sculptor & Humberto Tan, Photographer
RODIN MUSEUM
Situated in the beautiful Hôtel Biron and its gardens, this incredible museum features sculptures, drawings, and photographs covering every step of the famous sculptor’s artistic process.
instagram | maps | favourite of Ivan Cremer, Sculptor & Humberto Tan, Photographer
CENTRE POMPIDOU
Perhaps Paris’ most radical building, its post-modern architecture also houses the largest collection of modern and contemporary art in Europe. An absolute must-see.
ATELIER BRANCUSI
Right across of Centre Pompidou lies the restored atelier of sculptor Constantin Brâncuși.
Restored to capture the spirit of the original studio by Centre Pompidou’s architect Renzo Piano, this is a masterclass in creating an intimate and authentic museum.
“I visit Paris a few times a year for work and pleasure. This time, I was attending the Maison & Objet fair during Paris Design Week. I only had one spare day to visit the city to get inspired
.”
MARCHÈ AUX PUCES
With more than 5 million visitors per year, Marché aux Puces de Paris Saint-Ouen has the largest concentration of antique and second-hand dealers globally. Among them are many foreign tourists and, very often, celebrities.
The fifth tourist site in France is located at a door north of Paris opposite the 18th arrondissement. It is held every Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. It is enormous, so be prepared for at least a visit of a few hours.
instagram | maps | favourite of Shiran Gort, Creative Director
MERCI PARIS
A not-to-miss concept boutique spread out over three floors in the Marais. Merci is a heaven for savvy, in-the-know shoppers from around the globe. Here, you can find a well-curated selection of furniture, clothes, and home goods. Here, you can find upcoming designers, and leaving the shop without refreshed inspiration will be hard. Look out for Merci-branded goods as well.
instagram | maps | favourite of Judith van Mourik, Interior Architect and Shiran Gort, Creative Director
CANAL ST. MARTIN
The Canal is the focal point of one of the most romantic areas of Paris, the 10th arrondissement. Watch boats floating along the canal while lovers and friends take in the atmosphere from the banks or the bridges. It boasts a rich history dating back to its construction under Napoleon I in the early 19th century. It was built to provide fresh water to Parisian residents.
maps | favourite of Humberto Tan, Photographer
EIFFEL TOWER
Going here may be a no-brainer, but it should be on your list if you have never been. The Eiffel Tower is a wrought-iron lattice tower on the Champ de Mars. It is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower from 1887 to 1889.
instagram | maps | favourite of Humberto Tan, Photographer, and Shiran Gort, Creative Director
JARDIN LUXEMBOURG
Situated on the border between Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Quartier Latin, the gardens, inspired by the Boboli Gardens in Florence, were created in 1612 at Queen Marie de Medici's initiative.
The 25-hectare gardens are divided into French and English gardens. Here, you can find the most famous sculptures by artists like Rodin, Bourdelle, Bartholdi, and Zadkine.maps | favourite of Ivan Cremer, Sculptor
ÉGLISE DE ST. GERMAIN DES PRÉS
A beautiful gothic church with a unique Romanesque nave, one of the very few remaining in Paris.
maps | favourite of Ivan Cremer, Sculptor
Looking for places to eat? Discover The Bearleaders’ favourite Paris restaurants.
