Boulangeries, patisseries, fromageries and neighbourhood marches (markets) should be on your menu as you explore. Marches Raspail in St Germain and Couvert St-Quentin near Gare du Nord are both worth a visit.
Pick up provisions and picnic in one of the grand inner-city parks like the Jardins des Tuileries by the Seine or the 23-ha Jardin du Luxembourg: the voyeur's spot to peek on Parisians.
Art takes to the streets - literally - throughout Paris, but especially up in Montmartre. Clock city views with the hordes on the steps of the Basilique du Sacre Coeur, then guide yourself on a walking tour of this neighbourhood immortalised by the likes of Toulouse-Lautrec, Picasso and Braque whom introduced the world to Cubism.
If modern art and architecture are more your thing, take your baguettes and hop on the Le Metro to La defence. A 12m high thumb and a serpent that snakes underground are among the many larger than life artworks that loiter between the skyscrapers.
Maps and more places to visit are described in Lonely Planet's Paris Encounter and City guides.
The best of Champagne
We are travelling around France next year including some time in the Champagne area. If you had to choose, say, two particular Domains to visit, which two would you nominate? We are staying in the Troyes locality, in southern Champagne and will have a vehicle.
- Alan
The production of Champagne takes place mainly in two departements: Marne, whose metropolis is the Coronation City of Reims; and the less well known (though increasingly respected) Aube, whose prefecture is the ancient and pretty city of Troyes.
You can shop until you drop in Troyes - a legacy of the city's longtime role as knitwear capital of France - but Epernay, 25km south of Reims is the de facto capital of champagne (the drink) and much of region's fizz pops in the maisons (champagne houses) around the town. Head here for degustation (tasting) or strive for bubbly saturation by taking it in turns at designated driver along one of the Champagne Routes.
These three serpentine drives wend their way through the prosperous villages and picturesque landscapes of Montagne de Reims, Vallee de la Marne and Cote des Blancs, and are described in Lonely Planet's new-look France guidebook.
Tourist offices will help you with maps and opening times, but don't be afraid of knocking on a few cellar doors along the way. Despite the prestige of their wine, producers offer visitors a warm welcome. Avoid vendange (late August into October) when harvesting - done by hand - eclipses all other activities.
Impressive guided tours can be enjoyed - avec degustation, bien sur - at vinous giants Moet at Chandon in Epernay, and Mumm and Taittinger in Reims. However, some quite excellent and cheaper bubbles can be tasted and purchased prix depart cave (cellar-door price) at Sanger Cellars in Avize. Here at the Lycee Viticole de la Champagne - High School of Winemaking - oenology students create quality wines using grapes from some of best wine parcels in the region.
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