Unusual spot guide

Le Paradox Museum Paris unveils five new immersive experiences alongside a Hans & Gretel Café

Paradox Museum offers nearly a hundred immersive experiences—from trompe-l'œil illusions and optical tricks to sensory overhauls—that await visitors in Paris. Get ready to be tricked and to snap surreal photos. Five new interactive installations have just been added to the journey, making it the perfect time to challenge your senses! And as a bonus, a brand-new, ultra-delicious café, Hans & Gretel, is ready to tempt you.

La Caverne aux Livres: an unusual bookstore nestled inside a vintage 1930s train carriage in Auvers-sur-Oise (95)

In Auvers-sur-Oise, SNCF train cars aren’t just for travel… they house La Caverne aux Livres. This quirky bookstore offers a truly unique journey through shelves overflowing with stories. Just a short walk from the station, every page turn feels like a surprising stop along the way, right in the heart of Val-d'Oise (95).

The Verrerie d'art de Soisy-sur-École (91), where you can admire glassblowers at work

In Essonne (91), in the midst of a verdant setting, the Verrerie d'art de Soisy-sur-École reveals the magic of glass being shaped before your very eyes. Free tours from Wednesday to Sunday allow you to watch the glassblowers at work and follow every bubble, every gesture. A unique, lively experience at the heart of an age-old know-how.

Did you know? The Bois de Vincennes is home to Ile-de-France's only Tibetan temple, Kagyu-Dzong.

Nestled in the heart of the Bois de Vincennes, the Tibetan temple of Kaguy-Dzong, the only one of its kind in the region, is a colorful jewel that reveals the full richness of Tibetan sacred art. With its colorful architecture and soothing atmosphere, it invites you on a true spiritual journey without leaving Paris.

Sorbonne Observatory: admire the stars through a vintage telescope

Fancy a 360° view of Paris... and a tête-à-tête with the stars? The Sorbonne Observatory, perched 40 metres above the Latin Quarter, takes you on a celestial escapade of heritage, science and panorama. Beneath its historic dome, a vintage telescope awaits you to peer into the celestial vault as if it were 1935!

The Musée Albert-Kahn and its garden, an exceptional green setting at the gateway to Paris

The Musée Albert Kahn, with its sublime gardens, is a must-see. Imagined as a scenic garden, this 4-hectare space features a magnificent Japanese garden and village, an English garden, a French garden and forests and meadows. A complete change of scenery.

The Butterfly Garden, an unusual stroll through a Parc Floral greenhouse back in 2025

The Butterfly Garden returns to the Parc Floral de Paris. Join us from June 2 to September 30, 2025 for a magical stroll through an enchanted greenhouse, where you'll be surrounded by these shimmering butterflies!

Climbing District Sèvres-Lecourbe, the climbing gym in the heart of a church Paris 15th arrondissement

In the 15th arrondissement of Paris, the church of Sainte-Rita, once dedicated to the saint of desperate causes, has found a new vocation: becoming a temple to rock climbing. Welcome to the Climbing District Sèvres-Lecourbe, a unique climbing gym where you can climb under the vaults of a former church. A blend of sport, relaxation and coworking, this unusual venue has everything to seduce those of us in search of something new and out of the ordinary.

Olympiad festival 2025 electro-fashion show in a monastery east of Paris

Olympiad Festival returns to the outskirts of Paris from May 29 to June 1, 2025! Head for Le Prieuré de Vernelle (77) for a 4-day experience combining underground electronic music and alternative fashion shows in a majestic, picturesque setting, punctuated by a chapel and a royal garden.

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? 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.

Stellar, Ephemera's immersive restaurant in Paris that takes you into space

Have you ever heard of Ephemera, the 1st immersive restaurant in Paris? This unusual concept is sure to attract fans of original experiences to the capital. Since April 25, 2023, a second address has been taking us closer to the stars: Stellar! This time, we're taken into space with a menu that promises to be spacey!

Did you know? Why does the McD's in Saint-Lazare have the façade of an Alsatian house?

Does the unusual facade of the McDonald's at 119 rue Saint-Lazare in Paris appeal to you? Discover the history of this Alsatian house that contrasts with the capital's Haussmann-style buildings.

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 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.

The floating cottages on the La Galiotte pond in Yvelines, a real postcard landscape

For a complete change of scenery in the heart of the Île-de-France region, head for the Parc du Peuple de l'Herbe in Carrières-sous-Poissy, in the Yvelines department. With its 113 hectares of wilderness and picturesque ponds, including the étang de La Galiotte dotted with floating chalets, this oasis, just a stone's throw from Poissy station, offers an authentic experience just a Navigo pass away!

An unusual place to discover: the Passerelle de l'Avre in Saint-Cloud, with its view of the Eiffel Tower.

Looking for an unusual walk with an original view of the Eiffel Tower? Head for the heights of Saint-Cloud, just outside Paris, on the edge of the Bois de Boulogne, to discover the Passerelle de l'Avre. It's a beautiful construction, thanks in part to Gustave Eiffel!

Did you know? This is the smallest house in Paris, an unusual house with a rich history.

In the heart of the 10th arrondissement, at no. 39 rue du Château-d'Eau, lies the smallest house in Paris. Measuring less than 1.5 meters wide, this architectural curiosity has a fascinating story to tell.

Did you know that? At the Tortues, why does the Paul Haussmann have an unusual façade?

Discover the history of the Maison Aux Tortues, a former store specializing in ivory and tortoiseshell objects, whose historic façade is now preserved by a branch of Paul's Bakery.