Go back in time for a day

How about touring Paris a little differently? See the sights from another angle, as you would have seen them decades or even centuries ago!

- Boating down the Seine

Did you know you can captain motor boats on rivers without a licence? Available for hire at the Canal de l’Ourcq, in the 19th district. There are several companies along the Seine renting easy-to-steer motor boats by the hour and there are 25 miles of waterways to explore! Soak up the scenery as it goes by and see the Geode at La Villette, the Pantin windmills, the National Dance Centre, the old Customs House, La Bergère park and more, all from another angle, or age!

- Sightseeing in an original 2CV

Another novel way to tour Paris, reliving what it must have been like driving around the capital in the 50s! The symbolic Citroën certainly did her time before becoming the legendary vintage car it is today! Several companies hire them out for a few hours, the time to enjoy a drive with the warm wind in your hair – roll the canvas sun roof back and listen to the very particular sound of the engine and the noise the indicators make… you will start to picture what it was like back in the day! Prefer greenery to concret? Then head for the Bagatelle gardens, the Bois de Boulogne and stop off to see one of the oldest and largest rose gardens in France.

- An original Olde Curiosity Shop

Rue du Bac is not far from the hôtel d’Orsay in the 7th district. An unexpected surprise awaits you at number 46 - Maison Deyrolles curiosity shop. It is one of the oldest shops in Paris (1831), attracting collectioners, researchers, decorators and nature lovers from around the world. Why is it so popular? You can purchase the oddities on show and take them home to create your own little curiosity cabinet! Just look around; there's a grizzly bear in front of you, a colourful butterfly collection to your side and a girafe watching you calmly from behind in this incredible shop abundant with nature, animals, insects and flowers in all shapes and sizes!