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TRAVELLER
In the steamy days of a Parisian
summer, what better way to keep
cool than with a walk through one of
the city’s green spaces? Beyond the
popular Champ de Mars and Jardin
du Luxembourg lies a landscape
dotted with lesser-known squares,
parks and gardens to delight any
urban rambler...
PARC GEORGES-BRASSENS
An unlikely place for an afternoon
paradise, this site of a former
abattoir is nevertheless a delightful
place for a stroll, with its aromatic
fragrance garden, buzzing apiary
and weekend book fairs.
Convention
MUSÉE DE LA VIE ROMANTIQUE
To sit and soak up the bird song at
one of the café tables here is to be
taken from ninth-arrondisement
Paris’ secret gardens
DISCOVERIES
4
OF THE
BEST
Formore
green spaces
in the French
capital, see
Hidden
Gardens
of Paris
by
SusanCahill,
(StMartin’s
Griffin,
£14.99 [€18])
reality to bohemian, 19th-century
haunt of Chopin and his lover
George Sand.
Saint-Georges; Blanche; Pigalle
SQUARE RENÉ-VIVIANI
Easy to miss, this tiny garden across
fromNotre-Dame should be sought
out for its unparalleled view over
the great cathedral. Look out for
the city’s oldest tree – an acacia
transported fromAmerica in 1601.
Maubert-Mutualité; Saint-Michel;
Cité
JARDIN ALPIN
Part of the Jardin des Plantes, this
haven for more than 2,000 species
of mountain plants is gloriously
overgrown, in contrast to the
manicured rest. A delightful suntrap
for its flowers and visitors.
GareD’Austerlitz; Jussieu; Place
Monge
Hans Christian
Andersenmust
be spinning in his
grave. Denmark’s
statue of
The Little
Mermaid,
which
was inspiredby his
most famous story,
nowhas a brother
made of stainless
steel. Named
Han
(‘him’ inDanish), the
figure canbe found
inElsinor Harbour,
45minutes north
of his sister’s perch
inCopenhagen. His
claimto fame is a
pair of electronic
eyelids that
blink every hour.
Spooky.
The Little
Merman?
ULSTER
HALL
The Belfast
City Council
hall, one of
Dickens’ faves,
is celebrating
150 years with
various events.
CAMPANILE
BELLTOWER
One-hundred
years young:
this landmark
in Venice’s St
Mark’s Square
was completely
rebuilt in 1912.
PALACE
HOTEL
Madrid’s newly
restored luxury
hotel opened
100 years ago;
there are big
plans afoot for
its celebrations.
BON ANNIVERSAIRE!
Great buildings celebratebigbirthdays