I will catch a lot of hate for this, but the Eiffel Tower was a bit overrated. What made me appreciate the tower was all the history and the waves of dying and birthing of cultures it had seen. The guys living around the tower grounded me and relit some inspiration. The tower itself? Well, I said it already. Didn't I?
The really beautiful parts were the street corners overshadowed by the grandiosity of the tower. In fact, the historically rich Seine is also not as appreciated by most who come to see the tower. I found my walk from the main attraction, through the parts that would be used for the opening ceremony of the Olympics into the Esplanade des Invalides very pleasant. Most of the Invalides was fenced off as it was being prepared for the Olympics.
At the level of the Eiffel Tower, towards the west, is a long street that was once part of the former university. And hence the name. I walked through the street adoring its diversity which leads to the Esplanade des Invalides, the Sanit Germain boulevards and takes you behind the National Assembly and from there you can detour to the Palace of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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There isn't much memorabilia out in the open that points to which buildings were erected when, and neither is it obvious which buildings housed or were part of the clerks or academia. The street is littered with beautiful architecture and plenty of cafes and narrow footpaths that are most, if not a few, covered with chairs and tables where you can enjoy a brilliant cup of coffee and croissants.
I walked the length of the river Seine through the Universite Street, crossing from the tower towards the Invalides, enjoying the popular Parisian Haussmann style of architecture. Although more popularly known to have eradicated mazes within the city, the Haussmann facades look like symmetrical mazes themselves, in a very aesthetically pleasing and beautiful way.
Walking through, I tried to imagine these streets once being crowded, and filthy. And later on, brimming with academics and future doctors. Not much of that here anymore.
I was also under the pretence that modern-day Paris is still crowded, busy, and sometimes dirty. That is far from the truth for this area, at least. I wonder if it has gotten more crowded given that the Olympics are now on.
This Rue crosses the 9th arrondissement which is one of the few arrondissements that has the highest concentration of the Haussmann architecture.
It is pretty easy to find your way back to the Seine or the Eiffel Tower. Much of which at the time was still in the process of accommodating the Olympics.
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Most of these buildings are now predominantly residential apartments. Now there are bikes, peds, and occasional parking spaces for cars. But if you look at the gates of the buildings, Haussmann or not, they were designed for the comfort of elites, academics, politicians, and most of all, for people on horseback.
A short detour also promised a duck pond and green space along the outer side of the street. I did find the green space, fountain, the Boulevard famously designed by Haussmann, but no ducks. Bummer. Google, you bested me yet again!!
The street, the entirety of it, which is at least a couple of kilometres long, is an incredible getaway from the typical Paris. At least, the one I had in mind.
I'd say it is an absolute must-visit for those planning to go see the Invalides, the Seine and the Eiffel Tower. Especially since it crosses them very conveniently. Walking is the only way to enjoy it appropriately. Maybe it is more fitting for architecture lovers than anyone else.
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This corner was my favourite. It is immediately into the street right after the Invalides or furthest away from the Eiffel Tower. Clearly, they knew what they were doing. A beautiful tan building hosting a cafe at the mezzanine decorated with spring colours and flowers. I wish I had duck lips, would have made perfect for an Instagram selfie.
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