Paris Insiders Guide
Paris Insiders Guide
  • What's On

    What's On in Paris

    June 2025 in Paris
    July 2025 in Paris
    August 2025 in Paris
    September 2025 in Paris
    Paris Activities Month by Month
    • What's On

      What's On in Paris

      June 2025 in Paris
      July 2025 in Paris
      August 2025 in Paris
      September 2025 in Paris
      Paris Activities Month by Month
      Paris Events Calendar
      Museum Exhibitions Calendar

      Performances

      Paris Ballet Calendar
      Paris Opera Calendar

      Holidays

      Christmas in Paris
      Christmas Day in Paris
      New Years Eve
      New Years Day in Paris
      Easter in Paris
      Valentines Day in Paris
      Bastille Day Celebrations
      Christmas in Paris

      Christmas in Paris

    • What to See

      The Eiffel Tower

      Skip-the-Lines at the Eiffel Tower
      Visiting The Eiffel Tower
      See all…

      Paris Attractions

      The Top 8 Tourist Attractions
      5 Paris Itineraries
      See all…

      Monuments in Paris

      The Arc de Triomphe
      The Panthéon
      See all…

      Landmarks

      Palais Garnier Opera House
      Hotel de Ville – The City Hall
      See all…

      History Museums

      Cluny Museum Paris
      Arts et Metiers
      See all…

      The Louvre Museum

      Louvre Art Museum Tours
      Mona Lisa In The Louvre
      See all…

      Musée d'Orsay

      Get the Most from Your Visit
      Top 10 Van Goghs at d'Orsay
      See all…

      The Top Paris Museums

      Musée de l'Orangerie
      Centre Pompidou
      See all…

      Artist Museums

      Musée Picasso
      Rodin Museum Paris
      See all…

      Unusual Paris Museums

      Guimet Asian Arts Museum
      Galliera Fashion Museum
      See all…
      Louvre Art Museum Tours

      Louvre Art Museum Tours

    • What to Do

      Visiting Versailles

      Skip-The-Line Tours
      Guided Versailles Tours
      Versailles Bike Tours

      The Essential Day Trips

      Visit the Champagne Region
      D-Day Landing Beaches
      Monet's Gardens at Giverny
      See all…

      More Iconic Day Tours

      Mont Saint-Michel
      Monet + Van Gogh
      VIP Private Day Trips
      See all…

      What to Do in Paris

      10 Ways to Skip the Paris Lines
      5 Top Activities In The Marais
      1st Time Visitors Guide
      See all…

      Seine River Cruises

      Top 6 Paris Dinner Cruises
      Lunch & Brunch Cruises
      Cruises with Extras!

      Paris Hidden Gems

      Les Halles Paris
      Impressionists In Paris
      Arcades of Paris
      See all…

      Night In The City of Light

      The 6 Best Evenings In Paris
      Moulin Rouge
      See all…

      Paris City Tours

      The 6 Best City Tours
      Hop-on, Open-Top Buses
      See all…

      Walking Tours

      Top 10 Walking Tours
      Mysterious Walking Tours
      See all…
      Romantic Dinner Cruises

      Romantic Dinner Cruises

    • Where to Stay
      The Top Left Bank Hotels

      Where to Stay in Paris

      Where to Stay in Paris

      Top-Rated Hotels in the Marais
      The Best Left Bank Hotels
      10 Affordable 4-Star Hotels
      See All …

      Preferred 5-Star Hotels

      Fouquet's Paris
      Hotel Napoleon Paris
      Hotel Le Burgundy
      See All…

      Top Hotels Near…

      Saint-Germain-des-Prés
      The Eiffel Tower

      Small Hotels of Paris

      Latin Quarter Hotels
      Top-Rated Montmartre Hotels
      Favorite Designer Hotels
      See All…

      The Palaces of Paris

      Shangri-La Paris
      Hotel George V Paris
      The Royal Monceau
      See All…

      Affordable Hotels

      Ibis Hotels
      Les Hotels de Paris
      Best Western Hotels
      See All…
    • Eat & Drink
      Food & Wine Tour in Montmartre

      The Foods of Montmartre

      Food & Wine Activities

      Top 10 Food Experiences
      Paris Wine Tastings
      Chocolate Tours
      See All…

      Most Popular Paris Food

      10 Best Cheese Shops
      The Best Baguette in Paris
      Food Markets of Paris
      See All…

      Memorable Paris Dining

      L'Assaggio
      Best Paris Terraces
      Seine Dinner Cruise

      Best Paris Restaurants

      Le Jules Verne
      Astrance Paris
      Il Carpaccio
      See All…

      Paris Restaurant Guide

      How to Choose a Restaurant
      Bistros & Brasseries
      The Best Paris Bars
      See All…

      Bistros & Brasseries

      In the Marais
      On the Left Bank
      Historic Brasseries of Paris
      See All…

      Top-Rated Restaurants

      Michelin 3-Star Restaurants
      6 Michelin-Star Restaurants
      See All…
    • More Paris Fun
      Visit the Champagne Region

      Visit the Champagne Region

      Historic Churches

      Notre Dame Cathedral
      La Sainte Chapelle
      See all…

      Paris Miscellanea

      Napoleon's Paris
      Hemingway's Paris
      Medieval Paris
      See All…

      Visiting Burgundy

      VIP Burgundy Wine Tour
      Burgundy Hotels
      See all…

      You Ask, We Answer

      Paris Hotels for Christmas?
      Best Restaurants in the 8th?
      Best Way To Visit Versailles?
      See All…

      Paris Gardens & Parks

      Jardin des Tuileries
      Jardin des Plantes
      Palais Royal
      See all…

      Unusual Paris Sights

      Pere Lachaise Cemetery
      The Catacombs
      See all…

      Top Ten Lists

      10 Tips For Visiting Paris
      7 Vestiges of Roman Paris
      13 Hidden Places In Paris
      See All…

      Your Own Private Paris

      Private Tours of Paris
      Champagne & Shows
      See all…
    • Essentials
      Things to do in Paris

      What's On When You're Here

      Airports & Transfers

      Airport Transfers
      Paris Airports
      Airport Taxis

      Getting Around Paris

      The Paris Metro
      Paris Metro Tickets
      Paris Taxis
      See All…

      Paris Travel Guide

      Where To Stay In Paris
      Top 10 Tips For Travelers
      Choose The Perfect Hotel
      What to Pack for Paris
      See All…

      Paris Essentials

      What's On When You're Here
      Where to Stay in Paris
      Seine River Dinner Cruises
      Paris Restaurant Guide
      Visiting Versailles
      The Eiffel Tower
      The Louvre Museum

      Train Travel

      Train Travel From Paris
      Eurostar: London & Paris
      See All…

      Paris Arrondissements

      The Marais
      The Latin Quarter
      Saint-Germain-des-Pres
      See All…

    10 Good Reasons To Visit Historic Montmartre Cemetery

    More a secret garden than burial ground, the Montmartre cemetery is a surprisingly popular destination for history lovers since it's the final resting place of famous French and expat artists, scientists, authors, dancers, poets, captains of industry and executioners. Often compared to Le Père-Lachaise cemetery — both are praised for their romantic layouts and rambling landscape. Come along for a wander amongst the legends of France in one of the hidden treasures of Paris, the Montmartre Cemetery.

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    1. Serenity

    Dalida Grave Site

    Find a peaceful repose in the hustle of the city.Lying at the foot of Montmartre, called the butte, the secluded cemetery has a park-like feel and is filled with meandering pathways, fountains, trees, hills, stairs and romantic statues.

    2. Secrecy

    Montmartre Cemetery is a secret hideaway. Officially known as the Cimitière du Nord, it's the third largest in Paris, after Père Lachaise and Montparnasse. The cemetery is built below street level, in the hollow of the abandoned gypsum quarry near Rue Caulaincourt (close to Place de Clichy). There's only one secret entrance, found on Avenue Rachel.

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    KW

    Paris Hotel Deals

    Browse our hand-picked Paris hotel deals with real-time discounts of up to 20%. Stay in the Marais, Saint Germain, the Latin Quarter, the Left Bank near the Eiffel Tower… every arrondissement is on the list.

    Search for your hotel…

    Paris Hotel Deals

    Browse our hand-picked Paris hotel deals with real-time discounts of up to 20%. Stay in the Marais, Saint Germain, the Latin Quarter, the Left Bank near the Eiffel Tower… every arrondissement is on the list.

    Search for your hotel…

    3. The French Revolution

    The French Revolution

    Ever wonder where they put the bodies of royals executed during the Revolution? Since the Montmartre Cemetery developed from old limestone quarries it turned out to be a convenient location for a mass grave site during that upheaval. During the Reign of Terror (1793-94) 40,000 lost their heads at the guillotine or were otherwise murdered. They had to be put someplace.

    French Revolution Walking Tour

    4. A Bridge Crosses It

    Rue Caulaincourt Montmartre Cemetery photo by Alfvan Beem

    A metal bridge runs over it. The Montmartre Cemetery opened on January 1, 1825 and was initially called the Cemetery of the Large Quarries, due to its location. Since it's in a former quarry, and some of it is below street level, the road that was later built through it, Rue Caulaincourt, crosses a 19th-century metal lattice bridge looking down on the cemetery.

    5. Qui Est Qui

    Montmartre Cemetery contains a veritable who's who of French historical figures. Here are just a few of the famous residents —

    • Edgar Degas (1834-1917), impressionist painter and sculptor.
    • François Truffaut (1932-1984), French New Wave filmmaker and director of The 400 Blows, Jules and Jim, Fahrenheit 451.
    • Alexandre Dumas (1824-1895), novelist of The Three Musketeers, The Man in the Iron Mask.

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    The Eiffel Tower and the Seine River seen from a dinner cruise boat

    Paris Dinner Cruises on the Seine

    Dine in style as you glide past the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, and the Louvre on a magical Seine River cruise. Gourmet food, champagne, and Paris lit up at night – it’s unforgettable.

    Reserve your table…

    Paris Dinner Cruises on the Seine

    Dine in style as you glide past the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, and the Louvre on a magical Seine River cruise. Gourmet food, champagne, and Paris lit up at night – it’s unforgettable.

    Reserve your table…

    6. The French (Pantheon) Connection

    The cemetery has connections with the Pantheon. Emile Zola's beautiful Art Nouveau tomb is here, but his body rests at the Pantheon. The man with the pendulum, Léon Foucault (1819 – 1868) is buried here in Montmartre, and it was at the Pantheon that he conducted his famous pendulum experiment, demonstrating the rotation of the Earth.

    Our Guide to the Pantheon

    7. The Can-Can & Ballet

    La Goulue

    Visit the woman who invented the French cancan — La Goulue AKA Louise Weber (1866-1929). The lively Moulin Rouge muse of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was immortalized in his many posters and paintings. Another dancer buried here is Vaslav Nijinsky (1890 – 1950) the world's best loved Ukrainian ballet dancer.

    Our Guide to the Moulin Rouge

    8. The Napoleon Connection

    Know all that famous French food that we all adore? Marie-Antoine Carême (1784-1833), the godfather of classical cuisine, is buried here. He is considered the founder of haute cuisine and even cooked for Napoleon. Carême died at the young age of 48, due to the years he spent inhaling toxic fumes from charcoal in the era when professional kitchens lacked proper ventilation.

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    Visitors marveling at the splendor of one of the grand rooms at Versailles

    Versailles Guided Day Tours

    Trade Paris bustle for royal grandeur on a guided Versailles tour. Skip the lines, wander the gardens, and peek inside Marie Antoinette’s private estate. History never looked this good.

    Plan Your Palace Day…

    Versailles Guided Day Tours

    Trade Paris bustle for royal grandeur on a guided Versailles tour. Skip the lines, wander the gardens, and peek inside Marie Antoinette’s private estate. History never looked this good.

    Plan Your Palace Day…

    9. The de Camondo Family

    It's one of Paris' saddest stories. Moïse de Camondo (1860 – 1935), French Jewish banker and art collector, and his son Nissim de Camondo (1892 – 1917), a World War I pilot, are both buried here. They would never know that their entire remaining family was to perish at the hands of the Vichy France and the Nazi hoodlums in 1943. Visit the Nissim de Camondo museum up by Parc Monceau for the whole story.

    The Nissim de Camondo Museum

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    10. A Simple Twist of Fate

    Louis XVI

    Remember all those guillotine executions during the Reign of Terror? In a weird twist of fate their executioner is also buried in the Montmartre Cemetery.

    Charles Henri Sanson (1739-1806) was the Royal Executioner of France who beheaded Louis XVI in 1793 and as many as 3,000 people during his forty-year tenure. It was a family business, he was the fourth of a six-generation dynasty of executioners. His eldest son apprenticed with him for twenty years and was sworn into office in 1778. It was his son who executed Marie Antoinette. Sanson Senior's hobbies included dissecting the bodies he executed.

    11 Great Things About Montmartre

    Montmartre Cemetery Top 20 Roll Call

    >Vaslav Nijinsky Montmartre Cemetery photo by Ivonnovi

    1. Composer Hector Berlioz (d. 1869)
    2. Nissim de Camondo (1917) French pilot killed in World War I.
    3. French chef Marie-Antoine Carême (1833), the man who created French cuisine as we know it today.
    4. French cinema director, Henri-Georges Clouzot (1977)
    5. Dalida (1987), hugely popular French singer. You can also see a bust of Dalida elsewhere in Montmartre.
    6. French Impressionist and ballet aficionado Edgar Degas (1917)
    7. Alexandre Dumas, fils (1895), son of the better-known author of The Three Musketeers.
    8. Léon Foucault, French scientist known for his pendulum that demonstrated the rotation of the Earth.
    9. 1960s pop singer, France Gall (2018)
    10. La Goulue (Louise Weber, 1929), Moulin Rouge can-can dancer
    11. French architect Jacques Ignace Hittorff (1867), who redesigned Place de la Concorde into its present form (1833-1846).
    12. The heart of Jean Lannes (1809), who was a general and Marshal of France under Napoleon. Lannes' body is in the Pantheon.
    13. Gustave Moreau (1898), Symbolist painter whose museum is in the 9th Arrondissement
    14. French actress Jeanne Moreau (2017), winner of Best Actress at Cannes in 1960 and many other awards.
    15. Vaslav Nijinsky (1950), Russian ballet dance and choreographer.
    16. Adolphe Sax (1894), inventor of the saxophone.
    17. Nobel-prize winning author Claude Simon (2005).
    18. Famed 19th-century French writer Stendhal (1842.)
    19. François Truffaut (1984), French New Wave director
    20. Author and newspaper writer Émile Zola (1902). Even though his name is on his family's burial plot, Zola's body was moved to the Pantheon in 1908.

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    Visitors marveling at the splendor of one of the grand rooms at Versailles

    Versailles Guided Day Tours

    Trade Paris bustle for royal grandeur on a guided Versailles tour. Skip the lines, wander the gardens, and peek inside Marie Antoinette’s private estate. History never looked this good.

    Plan Your Palace Day…

    Versailles Guided Day Tours

    Trade Paris bustle for royal grandeur on a guided Versailles tour. Skip the lines, wander the gardens, and peek inside Marie Antoinette’s private estate. History never looked this good.

    Plan Your Palace Day…

    Montmartre Cemetery Resources

    By the 18th century, overcrowding in Paris cemeteries was a serious problem and contributed to unsanitary living conditions. Starting in 1780s, burials within the city limits were banned and new cemeteries were built outside the boundaries of Paris — Père Lachaise in the east, Passy in the west, Montparnasse in the south, and to the north, Montmartre.

    • The entrance is found down a flight of stairs from Rue Caulaincourt.
    • Entry is free.
    • Borrow one of the plastic-covered maps that shows you where to find 100 notable grave sites.
    • Open daily from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (may change with the season).
    • 20 Avenue Rachel
    • 18th Arrondissement, Montmartre
    • Metro – Blanch, Place de Clichy

    Paris Planning Guides

    Link to Left Bank Paris Hotels Left Bank Hotels All About Paris Airport Transfers Book an Airport Transfer Link to Chateau de Versailles Tours Visiting Versailles The Top Seine Dinner Cruises Glorious Dinner Cruises

    Discover What's On When You're Here

    • July 2025 Things to Do in Paris…
    • Bastille Day Celebrations…
    • August 2025 Things to Do…
    • September 2025 Things to Do…
    • October 2025 Things to Do…
    • November 2025 Things to Do…
    • December 2025 Things to Do…
    • Month-by-Month Calendar…

    Paris Essential #1:
    Romantic Dinner Cruise

    Marais Food Tour
    Evening Seine River Cruise +
    A Classic French Meal

    Paris Essential #2:
    Chateau de Versailles

    Visit Chateau de Versailles
    Visit the Magnificent Chateau & Gardens of the Royal Estate

    Paris Essential #3:
    The Louvre Museum

    Visit The Louvre Museum
    Take in the Best of the Louvre,
    Bypass the Long Lines

    Paris Essential #4:
    The Eiffel Tower

    The Eiffel Tower
    Skip the Line and Enjoy the Views of Paris from Above

    Paris Essential #5:
    The D-Day Beaches

    The D-Day Beaches
    Visit the Historic That
    Changed the Course of WWII

    Paris Essential #6:
    Delectable Food Tours

    Marais Food Tour
    Discover the Best
    Food & Wine of Paris

    Unusual Paris Sights

    • 5 Mansions in the Marais…
    • 9 Hidden Landmarks…
    • Pere Lachaise Cemetery…
    • The Catacombs…
    • 36 Views of the Eiffel Tower…
    • Gobelins Tapestry Works…
    • Montmartre Cemetery…
    • The Paris Skyline…
    Plus d'Info

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    Copyright © 2010-2025 Voconces Culinary Ltd, all rights reserved. Original photos © Mark Craft, all rights reserved.

        • June 2025 in Paris
        • July 2025 in Paris
        • August 2025 in Paris
        • September 2025 in Paris
        • Paris Activities Month by Month
        • Paris Events Calendar
        • Museum Exhibitions Calendar
        • Paris Ballet Calendar
        • Paris Opera Calendar
        • Christmas in Paris
        • Christmas Day in Paris
        • New Years Eve
        • New Years Day in Paris
        • Easter in Paris
        • Valentines Day in Paris
        • Bastille Day Celebrations
        • Skip-the-Lines at the Eiffel Tower
        • Visiting The Eiffel Tower
        • Eiffel Tower Information
        • See all…
        • The Top 8 Tourist Attractions
        • 5 Paris Itineraries
        • Gardens & Parks
        • See all…
        • The Arc de Triomphe
        • The Panthéon
        • The Bastille
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        • Chateau de Versailles
        • Palais Garnier Opera House
        • Hotel de Ville – The City Hall
        • See all…
        • Get the Most from Your Visit
        • Masterpieces of the Louvre
        • Paintings of the Louvre
        • See all…
        • Get the Most from Your Visit
        • Top 10 Van Goghs at d'Orsay
        • See all…
        • Musée de l'Orangerie
        • Centre Pompidou
        • See all…
        • Musée d'Orsay
        • Musée Picasso
        • Rodin Museum Paris
        • See all…
        • Cluny Museum Paris
        • Arts et Metiers
        • See all…
        • Guimet Asian Arts Museum
        • Galliera Fashion Museum
        • See all…
        • Skip-The-Line Tours
        • Guided Versailles Tours
        • Versailles Bike Tours
        • Visit the Champagne Region
        • D-Day Landing Beaches
        • Monet's Gardens at Giverny
        • See all…
        • Mont Saint-Michel
        • Monet + Van Gogh
        • VIP Private Day Trips
        • See all…
        • 10 Ways to Skip the Lines
        • 9 Most Romantic Things to Do
        • 5 Top Activities In The Marais
        • See all…
        • Romantic Dinner Cruises
        • Lunch & Brunch Cruises
        • Cruises with Extras!
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        • The 6 Best Evenings In Paris
        • Moulin Rouge
        • Paris at Night
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        • Hop-on, Open-Top Buses
        • The 6 Best City Tours
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        • Private Tours of Paris
        • Champagne & Shows
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        • Top 10 Walking Tours
        • Mysterious Walking Tours
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        • Top-Rated Hotels in the Marais
        • The Best Left Bank Hotels
        • 10 Affordable 4-Star Hotels
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        • Latin Quarter Hotels
        • Left Bank Hotels
        • Top-Rated Montmartre Hotels
        • Favorite Designer Hotels
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        • Shangri-La Paris
        • Hotel George V Paris
        • The Royal Monceau
        • See all…
        • Fouquet's Paris
        • Hotel Napoleon Paris
        • Hotel Le Burgundy
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        • Ibis Hotels
        • Les Hotels de Paris
        • Best Western Hotels
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        • Saint-Germain-des-Prés
        • The Eiffel Tower
        • Top 10 Food Experiences
        • Paris Wine Tastings
        • Chocolate Tours
        • See all …
        • 10 Best Cheese Shops
        • The Best Baguette in Paris
        • Food Markets of Paris
        • See all …
        • Le Jules Verne
        • Astrance Paris
        • Il Carpaccio
        • See all …
        • How to Choose a Restaurant
        • Bistros & Brasseries
        • The Best Paris Bars
        • See all …
        • In the Marais
        • On the Left Bank
        • Historic Brasseries of Paris
        • See all …
        • Michelin 3-Star Restaurants
        • 6 Michelin-Star Restaurants
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        • L'Assaggio
        • Best Paris Terraces
        • Seine Dinner Cruise
        • Notre Dame Cathedral
        • La Sainte Chapelle
        • Sacre-Coeur Paris
        • See all…
        • Les Halles Paris
        • Impressionists In Paris
        • Arcades of Paris
        • See all…
        • Napoleon's Paris
        • Hemingway's Paris
        • Medieval Paris
        • See all…
        • Hidden Landmarks
        • The Catacombs
        • Pere Lachaise Cemetery
        • See all…
        • Jardin des Tuileries
        • Jardin des Plantes
        • Palais Royal
        • See all…
        • VIP Burgundy Wine Tour
        • Burgundy Hotels
        • See all…
        • 10 Tips For Visiting Paris
        • 7 Vestiges of Roman Paris
        • 13 Hidden Places In Paris
        • See all…
        • Paris Hotels for Christmas?
        • Best Restaurants in the 8th?
        • Best Way To Visit Versailles?
        • See all…
        • Airport Transfers
        • Paris Airports
        • Airport Taxis
        • Train Travel From Paris
        • Eurostar: London & Paris
        • Paris Train Stations
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        • The Marais
        • The Latin Quarter
        • Saint-Germain-des-Pres
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        • Where To Stay In Paris
        • Top 10 Tips For Travelers
        • Choose The Perfect Hotel
        • What to Pack for Paris
        • See all…
        • The Paris Metro
        • Paris Metro Tickets
        • Paris Taxis
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        • What's On When You're Here
        • Where To Stay In Paris
        • Seine River Dinner Cruises
        • Paris Restaurant Guide
        • Visiting Versailles
        • The Eiffel Tower
        • The Louvre Museum