Take a hair-raising trip down into the Paris beneath our feet, in the labyrinth of the catacombs or the maze of the sewers, or lose yourself in the old-world charm of the covered arcades, straight out of another age.

Make the daily round disappear at the Museum of Magic and discover the art of tapestry-making at Les Gobelins, celebrated since the 17th century. At the Musée Fragonard, it is the turn of perfume to let you into the secrets of its creation.

Romantic souls will appreciate the botanical greenhouses of Auteuil or the Château de Bagatelle with its delightful garden. You may not know it, but Paris also has a few vineyards of its own in Montmartre, Belleville or Bercy… where the wine harvests are occasions for local festivities.

Viewed from the Arc de Triomphe, there looms a symbol of unexpected, ultramodern Paris: crowned by the emblematic Grande Arche, the business district of La Défense is worth a visit, to capture the reflections of the passing clouds in the huge mirrors of its glass towers. As for sports enthusiasts, a visit behind the scenes at the Stade de France or Roland-Garros will conjure up dreams of major sporting events.