The Islands - Paris - page 430

Learning how Marie-Antoinette and thousands of others lived out their final days be-
fore being beheaded at the Conciergerie .
Skipping across Pont Neuf and imagining it Christo-wrapped.
Savouring the sweetness of a famous Parisian Berthillon ice-cream.
Explore: the Islands
Paris' island duo could not be more different - or more enchanting to meander on foot. Start
the day on Île de la Cité, where the Conciergerie, Sainte-Chapelle and Pont Neuf fill the
morning with historical drama and intrigue. Indulge in a light lunch and a glass of wine at
Les Voyelles, then stroll east, cutting through the flower and bird markets to get to Cathéd-
rale Notre Dame. Scale the cathedral towers, tour the cathedral interior and end with a seri-
ous flop in square Jean XXIII, the grassy gardens behind the flying-buttress-festooned edi-
fice.
Or squirrel away the finer details of Notre Dame for day two and splurge the afternoon on
exploring the delicious car-free lanes on neighbouring Île St-Louis - the islet with ample
eating and boutique-shopping opportunities but not a sight in sight. End the day near Pont
St-Louis and Pont Louis-Philippe, a romantic spot where lovers mingle with cello-playing
buskers and teenage skateboarders. Come nightfall, the Seine dances with the watery reflec-
tions of streetlights, stop signals and the dim glow of curtained windows, brightened from
time to time by the lamps of tourist boats cruising by.
Local Life
Art Exhibitions Viewing one of the cutting-edge, contemporary art exhibitions hosted by
the Conciergerie is the most exciting way to experience Europe's largest surviving medi-
eval hall.
Markets Île de la Cité's daily flower market, Marché aux Fleurs , has brightened up place
Louis Lépin since 1808 and on Sunday it becomes a bird market, atmospheric to mean-
der.
Free Entertainment Pont au Double (linking Notre Dame with the Left Bank) and Pont
St-Louis (linking the two islands) buzz with street performers in summer.