Heritage curiosity secret guide

Did you know? The Irish Cultural Centre houses a fascinating heritage library

Nestled in Paris's famous Latin Quarter, the Centre culturel irlandais hides a few secrets. Did you know, for example, that the building houses a fascinating heritage library with a collection of over 8,000 books?

The Bouglione family circus museum, a well-hidden nugget - our photos

Well-hidden museums abound in the capital, but the circus museum is only accessible to the lucky few. Located in the heart of the Cirque d'Hiver and owned by the Bouglione family, it features exceptional costumes and priceless memorabilia.

Did you know? A swimming pool has been hidden beneath the Cirque d'Hiver ring since the 1930s.

There's no shortage of swimming pools in the capital, but few people have ever been able to swim in the Cirque d'Hiver! Hidden beneath the floor of the ring, it was built in the 1930s for water shows.

Guided tour of Hôtel de la Païva, a mysterious residence with erotic decorations

The Champs-Elysées harbor many secrets, including the home of the Marquise de la Païva, a former courtesan who had an opulent mansion built, also known as the "Louvre of the ass"... Coming for a visit?

Did you know: there is a work by Salvador Dali right in the heart of the Quartier Latin?

Nestled in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, the sundial created by Salvador Dali in 1966 is a discreet and symbolic work of art. A tribute to the rue Saint-Jacques and the famous pilgrimage to Compostela, to be discovered in the Latin Quarter.

Did you know? This is the oldest clock in Paris and its fascinating history.

Do you know the oldest public clock in Paris, still in operation? Mounted on the walls of the Conciergerie in the heart of the Ïle de la Cité, this clock has been telling the time since 1371. Commissioned by Charles V, the clock marks the king's time. This public clock, still in operation today, embodies six centuries of history and impressive mechanics, we tell you.

Did you know? One of Paris's most secret gardens is hidden in the 19th arrondissement.

In the heart of the 19th arrondissement, it's a well-kept secret, but one that we invite you to discover every day during the summer months. Le Centquatre's secret garden is a discreet little island, hidden from view, where you can take refuge all summer long.

Did you know? This small cannon in the garden of the Palais-Royal was used as a clock in the 18th century.

The capital really is full of little curiosities, not least in the gardens of the Palais-Royal, where a small cannon takes pride of place. Between 1786 and 1911, it was used not as a weapon, but as a clock! Find out how.

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.

The unusual Saint-Serge de Radonège church in Buttes-Chaumont: A hidden Parisian treasure

In the heart of Paris's Buttes-Chaumont district lies the unusual Saint-Serge de Radonège church. Not visible from the street, in the 19th arrondissement, this church is an architectural nugget waiting to be discovered.

Discover the magnificent cathedral building on rue Réaumur and its astrological clock

For a little architectural stroll, choose Paris's 2nd arrondissement, and rue Réaumur in particular. It's packed with exceptional facades, including a cathedral building with a clock and astrological wheel.

L'Hôtel du Petit Moulin, a secret address hidden behind a bakery in Paris

Did you know? There's a hotel in Paris hidden behind the capital's oldest bakery. Behind this listed façade, the Hôtel du Petit Moulin reveals its secrets.

Picpus Cemetery, a secret historic site in Paris

The Picpus cemetery in Paris is a little-known site that nevertheless represents an important part of the capital's history. Listed as a historical monument, it contains the bodies of those guillotined during the Great Terror.