Maroon’d… in Paris

Winter 2018
Artistic photo of the Eiffel Tower over the Seine

Photo: iStock/jocker17

Albert Naïm ’14 lives in the City of Lights, where he recently started earning a master’s in cultural management at HEC business school. A native of Paris, he never tires of sharing tips with visitors, especially about off-the-beaten-path locations. He is also the co-founder of the Colgate Club of Paris with Axel Krause ’56.

Paris is all about walking! While the possibilities are endless, a typical promenade is to visit Notre Dame, then cross the bridge and wander in the Marais area. For a less touristy experience, walk the 2.9 miles of the Coulée Verte, an elevated linear park built on top of an obsolete railway infrastructure, which inspired New York’s High Line.

Don’t miss the… Musée National Eugène Delacroix. Get lost in Saint Germain until you find the artist’s studio, which was turned into a charming museum in 1971. It is also located within walking distance of the Jardin du Luxembourg and the Louvre, so it is the perfect stop along an afternoon stroll.

If you like cooking… get fresh ingredients at the market. There are dozens of open-air markets. Layer up and go early in the morning for the best fruits and fish. On a rainy day, head to the Marché des Enfants Rouges, the oldest covered market in Paris.    

For a day trip… visit the Château de Chambord. The castle, located in the Loire valley (about two hours from the city) is a great destination for a getaway weekend. The experience is particularly enjoyable in the wintertime, with fewer visitors. Rent a bike, a boat, or even a carriage, and explore the Renaissance gardens.            

The best view of Paris… is not necessarily from the top of the Eiffel Tower. Check out the panoramic terrace of Le Printemps’s department store. You can see all the way from Montmartre to the Eiffel Tower as well as the Palais Garnier, arguably the city’s most beautiful building.


 

Have tips for people who might be maroon’d in your neck of the woods? Write us at scene@colgate.edu and put Maroon’d in the subject line.