Do you want to boost your Instagram account with photos that will make your likes go up? France.fr has selected some of the most popular places to pose in the capital. Whether you're in the mood for something bucolic, poetic, historic or colourful, you're sure to find something to suit you.
The most poetic : Montmartre
Strolling through the streets of this district in the north of the capital is like walking through a film set. The cobbled streets, the houses, the staircases, the stalls... Every nook and cranny has the potential to trigger a flurry of likes on Instagram! One of our favourites is the Maison Rose, a restaurant on rue de l'Abreuvoir, recognisable by its pink façade and green shutters, and the building that seems to sink into a sea of grass. To immortalise this optical illusion, you'll have to get to the foot of the steps of the Sacré-Cœur and find the right angle! And don't miss the Villa Léandre and its bucolic houses, or the Mur des Je t'aime in the Place Jehan Rictus on the Place des Abbesses, both of which are sure to boost your Instagram count.
The most graphic: the Palais-Royal gardens
The "Deux Plateaux", an installation by the sculptor Daniel Buren, better known as the "Colonnes de Buren", adorns the main courtyard of the Palais-Royal in the heart of Paris. These 260 black and white marble columns of various sizes invite you to strike a pose! The garden of the Palais-Royal, seen in the Emily in Paris series, is also very photogenic, with its tree-lined avenues and arcades.
The most architectural: the Louvre Pyramid
You don't have to be the Mona Lisa (or Beyoncé) to thrill the crowds! A nice photo of the glass and metal pyramid at the heart of the Cour Napoléon at the Musée du Louvre should be enough to thrill your community. On the other hand, you'll need to get up early and be patient if you hope to catch anyone in the frame! By day, at sunrise, at dusk or illuminated in the evening, the monument offers an almost infinite number of photo opportunities.
The most bucolic: rue des Thermopyles
Fancy taking your Instagram feed for a spin in the countryside without leaving Paris? Head for rue des Thermopyles, in the 14th arrondissement of the capital. This cobbled street lined with houses typical of the old village of Plaisance is a haven of peace. It's best visited in spring, when the wisteria are in bloom.
The most colourful: the purple wall at Beaugrenelle
Los Angeles has its pink wall on Melrose Avenue, Paris has its purple wall! Located in the Beaugrenelle district, in the 15th arrondissement, this wall is actually the bottom of one of the buildings on rue Robert de Flers. To find it, you'll have to look up, and don't hesitate to get a bit of height!
The sportiest: the Duperré field
Looking for more colour? Head for the Pigalle district in the 9th arrondissement, and more specifically Rue Duperré, home to the most photogenic basketball court in the capital. It's the perfect place to show off your dribbling, shooting or just posing, and you'll be sure to get plenty of vitamin-packed photos!
The most historic: the covered passageways
Take a trip back to 19th-century Paris by strolling through the capital's covered passageways. There were around a hundred of them at the beginning of the last century, but today only twenty or so remain, mainly located around the Grands Boulevards in central Paris. With their colourful mosaics, graphic marble floors, old-fashioned shopfronts and signs, stained glass windows and statues, it's hard to imagine where to look! Among the most emblematic are the Passage du Grand-Cerf and its glass roof perched almost 12 metres above the ground, the Galerie Vivienne and its colourful mosaic floor, and the Passage des Panoramas, one of the oldest in the capital.
The must-see: the Eiffel Tower
It's impossible not to include the Iron Lady in this list of the capital's most Instagrammable places. But do you know the most popular spots to photograph her? The most obvious is the esplanade du Trocadéro, in the 16th arrondissement, a veritable balcony overlooking the Eiffel Tower, which rises up on the other side of the Seine.
Another popular vantage point for influencers is Square Rapp, in the 7th arrondissement. With its wrought-iron gates and elaborate facades, this cul-de-sac offers a typically Parisian backdrop to the Eiffel Tower. Other Parisian thoroughfares also offer uninterrupted views of the monument: avenue de Camoens in the 16th arrondissement, rue de l'Université and rue Saint-Dominique, both in the 7th arrondissement.
A few other Parisian spots to delight your Instagram community
- Bir-Hakeim Bridge and its arcades
- the Molitor swimming pool from the roof terrace of the hotel of the same name
- the Philharmonie de Paris and its 340,000 aluminium birds
- one of the masterful clocks on the Seine at the Musée d'Orsay
- the Pont des Arts, a must-see for lovers of art
- Place des Vosges and its chic red brick buildings
Recommendations and advice Highly photogenic, Paris offers influencers and lovers of unusual and aesthetic settings alike plenty of opportunities to collect or post a few 'favourite' shots. Wondering how to get from site to site as quickly as possible so you can fill up on memories? There's no doubt that the most eco-responsible solutions are by bike, scooter or public transport. These are all flexible transport options for criss-crossing the capital, and are also ideal for reducing your carbon footprint. Great Parisian selfies and snapshots all round!
Find out more - Visit Paris
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By Constance Dive
Head of section for France.fr