Unusual place to visit guide - activities

Night at the Pantheon 2024: unusual tours by torchlight

La Nuit au Panthéon returns to Paris from December 4, 2024 to January 22, 2025 for 6 thrilling nocturnal tours. On the program? Torchlight tours of the legendary Parisian monument, from the nave to the crypt!

Le M., Musée du Vin in Paris: tastings, restaurant, exhibitions, concerts & parties!

Did you know that Paris has its own wine museum? Located in the capital's 16th arrondissement, this historic institution invites you to stroll through its 15th-century vaulted cellars and discover all the secrets of wine culture. Renovated and renamed M. Musée du Vin, the venue promises a rich program of restaurants, tasting courses, taste experiences, temporary exhibitions, concerts and Parisian soirées.

Le Désert de Retz, the unusual Anglo-Chinese park in Yvelines

One of the most unusual spots in the Paris region is the Desert de Retz, at Chambourcy in the Yvelines. This 18th-century Anglo-Chinese garden is one of the few to have been preserved in its original state. This enchanting place, once frequented by the likes of Marie-Antoinette and Thomas Jefferson, stands out for its fanciful constructions. You'll also enjoy discovering the many remarkable trees that dominate the landscaped area.

Did you know? A century-old autodrome track is located in Essonne.

Near the towns of Linas and Monlhéry, in the Essonne department, you'll find an autodrome track, designed for motor racing and car-related events.

Did you know? The largest dolmen in Île-de-France is hidden in the Rambouillet forest.

You don't have to go all the way to Brocéliande forest to find real mysteries! Our forests in the Paris region also have their secrets, and the Rambouillet forest is home to the region's largest dolmen!

The Château de Monte-Cristo, Alexandre Dumas' hidden and unusual home

Discover the Château de Monte-Cristo, the residence imagined by the writer Alexandre Dumas. Set in an English garden in the heart of the Yvelines, on the Saint-Germain-en-Laye side, you'll find an exuberantly styled 19th-century château and its small Château d'If. We take you on a tour of this hidden heritage, listed as a historic monument.

The Musée du fromage in Paris is open, and we want to tell you all about it!

The first Musée du fromage has opened its doors in Paris, in the 4ᵉ arrondissement, since this June 13, 2024. A living museum that lets us discover the great French know-how, the making of different cheeses, the history and the many varieties to be discovered all over France. Did you know that there are almost 300 "origine contrôlée" cheeses? You'll have to stay in this world a little longer - and taste it, of course!

Château de la Roche Guyon, a troglodyte castle in the Val-d'Oise with a breathtaking view over the Seine valley

Have you heard of Ile-de-France's only troglodyte castle, nestled in the only village in the region to be named one of France's most beautiful villages? We'll take you on a tour of the Château de la Roche Guyon, an unusual castle in the Val-d'Oise, with an eventful past that also inspired the adventures of Blake and Mortimer.

Did you know? There's an unusual troglodyte church in the Val d'Oise, just waiting to be discovered.

Did you know that in the Val d'Oise, the Church of the Annunciation at Haute-Isle is the only troglodyte church in the entire region? Carved directly into a chalk cliff and listed as a historic monument, it's an unusual nugget to discover.

Did you know? This Belvédère kiosk in the Yvelines is a remnant of the Universal Exhibition.

How about discovering the Kiosque du Belvédère de Châtillon, nestling in the Rosny-sur-Seine forest in the Yvelines department? We tell you all about its history and how to find it.

20 unusual places to discover in Paris and the Île-de-France region this summer 2024

Why not take the opportunity this summer to discover the treasures of the Île-de-France region? Paris may be one of the world's most beautiful cities, but the surrounding region also boasts a rich heritage and a host of unusual nuggets! Here's a roundup of original spots in the Paris region!

Unusual in the Yvelines: the superb waterfall grotto at Parc du Dr Fauvel in Villennes-sur-Seine

Villennes-sur-Seine, a charming commune in the Yvelines department, is home to a little-known treasure: the waterfalls of the Parc Fauvel grotto. Located some 36 kilometers west of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, this small town near Poissy on the left bank of the Seine boasts a park that combines history and nature. The park, an example of English romanticism, features an unusual grotto and waterfalls.

Le Jardin Yili, the unusual Chinese garden hidden away in the Yvelines

Jardin Yili is the only privately-owned traditional Chinese garden in France. Head for Saint-Rémy-l'Honoré in the Yvelines, about 33 km from Paris, for a change of scenery. Discover this 10,000 m² green space, imbued with spirituality and tranquility, where you can discover the art of Chinese gardens and immerse yourself in a feng shui setting inspired by age-old traditions.

Le Skit du Saint-Esprit, the unusual treasure hidden in the Mesnil-Saint-Denis forest in the Yvelines department

Have you heard of the Skit du Saint-Esprit, a small Orthodox monastery nestling in the Bois de Fay at Mesnil-Saint-Denis in the Yvelines? This small edifice, which in fact forms 3 churches, reveals a veritable treasure trove hidden within, a must-see for lovers of the unusual and art history.

La Maison de Fer de Poissy, the unusual museum nestled in the Parc Meissonnier

La Maison de Fer à Poissy, a monument dating from 1896, is an atypical museum on the town of Poissy, to be discovered in the heart of the Parc Meissonnier. Discover its unique industrial architecture and history, and immerse yourself in the story of Poissy's development.

Le Moulin Jaune on a Pink Hanami weekend in its sublime Remarkable Garden

A pink whirlwind awaits us on April 20 and 21, 2024 at the Moulin Jaune. Slava, the clown's remarkable garden in Crécy-la-Chapelle (77), opens its doors to us once again. Come celebrate spring and see life in pink this April weekend, in the heart of Île-de-France's most Instagrammable garden!

L'Isle-Adam: the green nugget in Ile-de-France, 25 km from Paris

L'Isle-Adam, one of France's most beautiful Detours and a source of inspiration for many a landscape painter, is a veritable green nugget to be discovered just a few kilometers from Paris. On the banks of the River Oise, with its seaside resort and beautiful monuments, this village in the Val d'Oise has plenty to tempt those in search of strolls and discoveries.

The Japanese garden at Château de Courances: a bucolic and exotic stroll in the Paris region

The Japanese garden at Château de Courances is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful Japanese gardens around Paris, and particularly so in France. Located in the fabulous Courances estate in Essonne, this Anglo-Japanese garden delights us with its exotic landscapes.

La Coulée Verte de Paris, the unusual and hidden walk from Bastille to Vincennes

Paris's Coulée Verte René-Dumont, formerly known as the Promenade Plantée, is a beautiful, little-known walk for Parisians, taking us on a verdant journey from the Bastille to the Bois de Vincennes over the Viaduc des Arts. It's an unusual and shady way to discover Paris, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The Jardin d'Agronomie Tropicale, an unusual hidden garden of exotic treasures

Do you know the Jardin d'Agronomie Tropicale René-Dumont? This exotic place steeped in history, hidden away in the Bois de Vincennes? We'll take you on a tour of this unusual garden with its many exotic treasures.