A day in Paris

Paris, France

Morning - Trocadéro plaza

Soft hazy light lies across the pale stone under my feet. I look out towards the iron lattice of the Eiffel Tower above the lawns of the Champ de Mars. Visitors climb the stairs or take the lifts to see the river, the city grid, and the old avenues.

Morning - Seine quay

Clear blue sky sits over the cobbles beside the water. I move quickly along the quay as stone bridges pass overhead. Paris spans the Seine with grand avenues, and that river link is why the city still feels like an essential urban journey.

Midday - Bridge by Notre Dame

Bright midday sun warms the iron rail beneath my hands. I lean here and watch Notre Dame rise on its island in the Seine. This Gothic church has vaulted ceilings, rose windows, and flying buttresses, and it was the setting for Victor Hugo's novel.

Midday - Tuileries garden paths

Gravel crunches under my shoes between green trees and pale statues. I stroll these garden paths in the open daylight. April and May bring mild spring weather and blooming gardens, a good time to come before July and August crowds and heat.

Midday - Sacré-Cœur terrace

White stone feels warm under the high sun on this terrace. I look down over the rooftops from Montmartre, the highest natural point in Paris. The travertine basilica and its dome draw people for the wide view, and the lanes still hold cafés and street musicians.

Golden Hour - Arc de Triomphe

Golden light falls on the stone reliefs of the great arch ahead. I pause at the circular junction where twelve broad avenues meet. This neoclassical arch honours French military history, and an eternal flame burns beneath it above the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Golden Hour - Champs-Élysées footpath

Long shadows stretch over the stone pavement between the trees. I follow the wide footpath of the Champs-Élysées towards the arch. The avenue runs from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe and is the usual route for national parades.

Golden Hour - Champs-Élysées windows

Amber light glints off the glass along this broad street. I keep to the footpath past the fashion boutiques and café terraces. Modern Parisians favour a tailored look of neutral colours, classic trench coats, and well-cut denim, which is what I wear on this avenue.

Night - Champs-Élysées lamps

Lamps throw a soft gold light into the darkening blue sky above the trees. I stay on the Champs-Élysées as the avenue grows quiet around me. September and October give comfortable temperatures and autumnal light, a calmer season than the heavy crowds of July and August.

Night - Paris monuments at night

Wet stone shines under the night lights of the monuments. I stop and take in the grand avenue one last time. A baguette, made only with flour, water, salt, and yeast, is baked fresh through the day and is the thing to buy before I leave.