There are many ways to discover the myriad wonders of Paris. The streets are alive with history and culture and lined with superb examples of architecture, some of which are world famous, whereas others are barely known outside of the city itself. That’s part of the city’s fascination. There’s many renowned places which we love to visit, but there are also fascinating locations just waiting to be discovered. That’s why the BW Quartier Latin Panthéon is delighted to recommend the Archi-Bus, a fun way of becoming acquainted with contemporary architecture and enjoying an unusual trip to Paris.
Bus rides touring the architectural treasures of Paris
The Archi-Bus is an idea that anyone who enjoys finding the beating heart of a city will love. It’s an opportunity to ride by and see, or visit on foot if you wish, some of the lesser-known architectural treasures of Paris. The RATP, the state-owned company that runs most of the public transport network of Paris, came up with the fine idea of turning some of their bus routes into tourist attractions. To do this they created a series of illustrated map guides to the places of interest along several of their routes. These are filled with information about the buildings you can see along the way, and if you notice somewhere you’d like to explore further, you can step off the bus and check it out, then hop back on a later bus to continue your journey.
The bus routes chosen for this project are numbers 30, 52, 60, 63, 64, 87, 88, 95 and 96, along with tram line 3 and Metro line 6. There are many highlights to be enjoyed, of course, so let’s take a look at just a few that you can see along some of these routes…
Built for the 1878 World’s Fair, the Palais de Chaillot houses a number of different museums. The Piscine Molitor is an Art Deco gem of an indoor swimming pool where the bikini was first revealed to the world in 1946. The early 20th century Louxor cinema is Egyptian themed and provides a haven for lovers of art house films and movie history. The Palais de Tokyo is a superb modern and contemporary art museum housing an extensive collection. These, along with the Cité de la Mode et du Design, the Cirque d’Hiver and the Palais Omnisport de Paris Bercy, are just some of the sights you will enjoy on this architectural odyssey.
To obtain the Archi-Bus illustrated guides before you arrive in Paris, simply go to www.pavillon-arsenal.com or www.ratp.fr (see below) and download a free copy of your chosen route or routes. When you’re in the city you can pick up free copies from the participating RATP bus lines, from the Pavillon de l’Arsenal or at any offices of the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau.
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• The RATP bus lines - Archibus
Information to download
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Picture copyright holder : Tourist Office Paris - Photographer Daniel Thierry
Best Western Quartier Latin Panthéon Hotel, a 3 star hotel Paris