A Day on the Islands
Morning
Arrive at
Notre-Dame
by 8am to beat the crowds and
appreciate its magnificence, then head for the fragrant Marché aux
Fleurs. As well as flowers, you can buy all kinds of garden accessories
and seeds. Return to Notre-Dame if you want to ascend the towers, which
open at
10am. Take a coffee break at
Le Flore en l’Ile
, with its views of the cathedral.
The fascinating Crypte Archéologique is worth a half-hour visit, then spend the late morning at
Sainte-Chapelle
, when the sun beams through the stained-glass windows.
There are plenty of places for lunch, but on a sunny day try
La Rose de France
with its terrace seating.
Afternoon
Spend a
leisurely afternoon strolling the narrow streets of the Ile St-Louis,
which are filled with characterful shops and galleries (see Shopping).
Wind up with an afternoon treat by visiting Berthillon, considered the best ice-cream purveyor in France (
).
With more than 70 flavours on offer, from plain vanilla to whisky, and
including virtually any fruit you can think of, the hardest part will be
choosing, although there is plenty of time to make your choice as there
will inevitably be a queue, especially in summer.
Shopping
L’Épicerie
This
tiny shop packs in a great array of gourmet delights.
Choose from delicacies like orange sauce to speciality vinegars
and mustards, to chocolate “snails”, all prettily packaged.
L’Epicerie
La Petite Scierie
This friendly, old-fashioned shop sells all types of foie gras and other duck preserves, straight from the farm.
Librairie Ulysse
Today Paris, tomorrow the world. This eccentric travel bookshop will take you
anywhere you want with thousands of titles in French and English – including many on Paris itself.
Librairie Ulysse
Calixte
The
place to stock up for a picnic or the day’s treats: superb croissants
for the morning, pâtés and terrines and irresistible desserts for lunch.
Clair de Rêve
An
interesting boutique that sells curiosities such as puppets and
miniature theatres. It is an ideal place if you’re looking for a present
with a difference.
Alain Carion
A wealth of meteorites, fossils and minerals. Some are made into imaginative jewellery.
Pylones Boutique
Wild about rubber? That’s the magic material for the whimsical jewellery and accessories here, along with novelty gifts.
Boulangerie des Deux Ponts
You won’t be able to resist the bread baking in the wood-burning oven from this old-fashioned bakery.
Boulangerie des Deux Ponts
Galerie Bamyan
A wonderful collection of ethnic goods including carvings, furniture, jewellery and other craft items from Central Asia.
La Ferme Saint Aubin
Cheese in all shapes and sizes from all over France. An aromatic delight.
