Fer a Moulin Apartment Paris

The Fer a Moulin apartment is located just a few minutes walk form the charming Jardin des Plantes, Paris’ gorgeous botanical gardens. Covering 28 hectares (280,000 m²), it was founded as early as 1626. In addition to the gardens there is also a small zoo, founded 180 years later from animals of the royal menagerie at Versailles. It incorporates some beautiful buildings such as a large Art Deco winter garden and has hothouses displaying regional plants not native to France.

The gardens are just across the water form Ile Saint Louis, one of two natural islands that sit in the Seine. The second Ile de Cite is alongside and is home to the famous Notre Dame Cathedral. Made famous by the 19th century novelist Victor Hugo’s ‘Hunchback of Notre Dame’, visitors flock to the cathedral in the their thousands daily. Whilst you are unlikely to see anyone hiding in the parapets, as in the book, you are sure to see some incredible architecture and beautiful stone carvings, particularly above the main doorway. Look out for the wonderful gargoyles that guard the second upper level.

If you like a bargain and are looking for something unusual to take home as a souvenir of your visit to Paris then why not visit the famous flea market at Porte de Clignancourt?  Just north of Montmartre, it makes an excellent afternoon excursion. Known to everyone locally as Les Puces (The Fleas), this fascinating market covers an incredible seven hectares making it the largest antique market in the world. Open at weekends it plays host to up to 180,000 visitors each weekend. Ideally get there in the morning to avoid the huge crowds. Please note that this extremely busy area is notorious for pick-pocketing. Be sensible and leave you passport at the hotel and keep wallets out of sight and always at hand.

The nearest Metro station to the Fer a Moulin apartment is Les Gobelins.