Paris has such an incredible architecture that at this point, after having enjoyed on several occasions of the main jewels that make up the European Treasure (Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Lyon...) I would dare to say that it's the most beautiful city on earth (sorry for this act of treason, my beloved Prague and Vienna :-D Visiting right before Christmas is maybe one of the best occasions to enjoy its beauty in all its magnificence. Walking along the river banks on a cloudy day, from Notre Dame to the Eiffel Tower, with a Seine flowing dark because of the last rains, a cold but bearable temperature (6 degrees, below that it means pain for me)... buff; those are memories that get intermixed with dreams. Sure France is renowned worldwide for its taste for fashion and perfumes (not that I'm any interested on that...), but in this year living here I've also realised that their taste for many other things like gardens or chocolate is supreme. So being here in Christmas you'll also learn that their taste for Christmas lightning is astonishing (it's pretty nice in Toulouse, but in Paris is just outstanding, those "trees on fire" in Champ Elysees are impressive).
There are so many things to see and that compete to take the first positions on any tourist guide that probably the place I'm recommending in this post does not rank particularly high, but is a must do (at least for your second visit to Paris). The Parc des Buttes-Chaumontis one of the most beautiful urban parks that I can think of. I like it even more than Primrose Hill in London, that for years has been my favourite. This park has several artificial hills, one of them being an island in the middle of a cute artificial lake. This island is crowned by the Temple de la Sibylle, a beautiful and "melancholic" viewpoint. There are also some cascades (they are off now due to restoration works that intend to do the ecological footprint of the park much lower) and 2 bridge giving access to the island, one of them a suspension bridge that will slightly move under your feet when walking along it (designed by the very Gustave Eiffel)
Right in front of the main entrance to the Park you'll see the building of the Mairie du Quartier (the Hall town of the district), typical French Architecture that you find here in every corner, but that in my hometown would be top of the top.
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