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Every year, spawning eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus) return to the Nass River from the sea, where they spend most of their lives.
Where the Savior Fish Still Swims
Clockwise from top left: white, black, long, cubeb, grains of paradise, red Sichuan, and green Sichuan peppers.
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All France Paris

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Paris

204 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Paris, France

Updated February 14, 2025

There is a secret apartment at the top of the Eiffel Tower, and that encapsulates Atlas Obscura—the hidden world within the one that we know. Paris is a city of history and beauty and light, and one of the best ways to experience it is by leaving the beaten path.

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Unusual Attractions in Paris

Catacombes des Paris Autumn 2018

Paris, France

Catacombes de Paris

The vast, legendary catacombs hold secrets much stranger than stacked bones.

Paris, France

Père Lachaise Cemetery

France's most famous cemetery, with some of its most curious tombs.
The oval reading room at the Bibliothèque nationale.

Paris, France

Bibliothèque nationale de France (National Library of France)

This massive library holds what was once the largest book collection in the world.
59 Rivoli in 2005.

Paris, France

59 Rivoli

Notorious artist squat renovated into legal studios.

Paris, France

Petite Ceinture

Abandoned railway line circling the city of Paris.
Shakespeare And Company bookshop situated at 37 rue de la Bûcherie, in the 5th arrondissement.

Paris, France

Shakespeare and Company

This iconic Parisian bookstore doubles as the "Tumbleweed Hotel" for traveling writers.

Paris, France

Montmartre Cemetery

A horde of stray cats rule in this secluded Parisian cemetery under a bridge.

Paris, France

House of Nicolas Flamel

The oldest stone house in Paris was built by its most famous alchemist.
See All 204 Things To Do in Paris

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Paris

Paris, France

Au Roi de la Bière

Once a 19th-century brasserie, this McDonald's exterior celebrates Alsatian design and the "King of Beer."

Paris, France

Roger La Grenouille

This frog-themed restaurant was frequented by Picasso, Saint-Exupéry, and more.

Chevilly-Larue, France

Rungis International Market

Walk through spectacular aisles of hanging meat and wagon wheel–sized cheese at the world's largest wholesale food market.
Potatoes on the tomb.

Paris, France

Grave of Antoine-Augustin Parmentier

The tomb of history's greatest potato promoter is surrounded by tubers.
See all 19 Places to Eat in Paris
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In Partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

From wine tastings and secret passages to catacombs and cemetary tours.

Discover Experiences

Explore Paris, France

Architecture 28
Art 22
Museums 20
Collections 20
Architectural Oddities 17
Sacred Spaces 13
Cemeteries 13
Restaurants 13
History 13
Shops 10
Catacombs And Crypts 10
Statues 10
Places To Stay 5
Unique Restaurants & Bars 4

Paris Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. Laetitia Barbier
    18
  2. Fred Cherrygarden
    13
  3. Austin Bush
    12
  4. satxwdavis
    6
  5. Madiha Bataineh
    4

Places Edited

  1. SEANETTA
    39
  2. Martin
    32
  3. Rachel
    30
  4. rbenn250
    23
  5. Fred Cherrygarden
    22

Places Visited

  1. Traveling Maven
    146
  2. Cedric
    146
  3. michambrosini
    125
  4. BryanKnight
    117
  5. bag208
    113

Recent Paris Activity

  • lshamblin

    wants to go to Debauve & Gallais

  • lshamblin

    wants to go to Chez Bob de Tunis

  • lshamblin

    wants to go to Witch Rock of Montmartre

  • lshamblin

    wants to go to Au Pied de Cochon

  • murphnomer

    has been to Le Moulin de la Galette

Stories About Paris

Preserved specimens of depressed river mussels (Pseudanodonta complanata), a species that has nearly disappeared from French waters.

Found in the Seine: DNA From a Nearly Extinct Mussel

Scientists taking samples from the Parisian river didn't expect to find traces of shellfish that had all but disappeared from France.
by Atlas Obscura
February 10, 2025
La Bague de Kenza specializes in jewel-like Algerian sweets.

Gastro Obscura's 13 Essential Places to Visit While in Paris

From Algerian sweets to Tunisian snacks to a mind-altering ham sandwich, go beyond the tropes and the tourist traps on this itinerary.
by Austin Bush
January 12, 2024
Bill G.B. Pallot, pictured here in his Paris home in 2017, has been at the center of a storm over counterfeit antique furniture.

The Furniture Fraud That Threw the French Antiques World Into a Furor

Was it an elaborate scam or a highbrow battle of wits?
by Nina Strochlic
January 8, 2024
The City of Light has a city of darkness underground.

The Fight Between Cataphiles and Underground Police in the Paris Catacombs

Will the tunnels, host to many illegal parties, get filled with concrete?
by Frank Jacobs
October 27, 2023
Chemist and physicist Marie Curie works in the lab with her husband Pierre in 1896. Curie would go on to win two Nobel prizes for her groundbreaking research on radioactivity.

Marie Curie As You’ve Never Met Her Before

The world’s first two-time Nobel Laureate was a nerd’s nerd who broke the law for knowledge.
by Sarah Durn
April 20, 2023
An unused platform at the Porte des Lilas Metro station in Paris stars in countless films.

8 Unexpected Stories That Go Behind the Scenes in Hollywood

Frozen lettuce, a ghost subway station, and an unplaceable accent all have starring roles.
by April White
March 8, 2023
All illustrations: John Mata for Atlas Obscura

Puzzle Monday: R.I.P.: Rest in Paris Crossword

by AO Puzzles
October 31, 2022
All illustrations by Michelle Boggess-Nunley

Get Lost in the Catacombs With Our Latest Maze

A new, Paris-inspired challenge from a record-holding maze-maker.
by Michelle Boggess-Nunley
October 13, 2022

Lists Featuring Paris

Gustave Eiffel’s Secret Apartment
Exterior of the museum.
Diving suit by the Carmagnolle brothers from 1882

The 11 Best Places to Visit Near the Eiffel Tower for Curious Travelers

11

Including Gustave Eiffel's Secret Apartment , Musée du quai Branly (Quai Branly Museum), and Jules Lavirotte's 29 Avenue Rapp

The House of the Temple.
Statue of George Washington

Novus Ordo Seclorum: 14 Places to Unearth Masonic Secrets

Your best bets for gaining insight into the real history of Freemasonry.

14

Including Zedekiah's Cave, Masonic Lodge of the Andaz Hotel, and House of the Temple

Rats of Karni Mata Temple
Paxton Gate Exterior
Albino Squirrels of Olney, Illinois

A Rat Lover's Tour of the World

15 places where rodents are celebrated, feared, preserved, and studied.

15

Including Karni Mata Temple, Nutty Narrows Bridge, and Paxton Gate

Le Cimetière du Calvaire is Paris’ oldest and smallest cemetery.

Old Cemeteries in Paris

Historic graveyards to visit in the City of Lights.

8

Including Père Lachaise Cemetery, Montparnasse Cemetery, and Montmartre Cemetery

Le Bachelor takes a break while arranging new merchandise at Sape & Co
Jacques Noël
LaBeL RéCuP’ store front.

8 Cool Shops in Paris

Wonderfully unique stores to visit in the City of Lights.

8

Including Tombées du Camion, Sape & Co, and Un Regard Moderne Bookstore

Original letter of Abraham, the son of Maimonides found in the Cairo genizah.
A sculpture of the Tower of Babel, by Alan Baughman, from the Introductory Room of the Museum of the Alphabet
Boontling word of the week in the tap room of the Anderson Valley Brewing Company.

A Linguistics Lover's Tour of the World

12 places to marvel at the history of human language.

12

Including The Cairo Genizah , The Museum of the Alphabet , and Boontling Language of Boonville

Bolivia’s Witch Market
Dubrovnik Maskeron
The Statue of St. Anthony’s Pig
The Guardhouse Monkey

15 Unlikely Places to Re-Up Your Luck

Luck be a... llama fetus?

15

Including Bolivia's Witch Market, Dubrovnik Maskeron, and Statue of St. Anthony's Pig

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