Expat in France on 'astoundingly beautiful' Paris attraction 'most people don't even know is there'
An expat in France spilled the beans on Paris
Janine Marsh / GETTY IMAGES
Expat Janine Marsh has been speaking exclusively to GB News about all things France. Having purchased a property in Pas-de-Calais two decades ago and relocating permanently five years ago, she's somewhat of an expert and a self-confessed Francophile.
She revealed the country's "best-kept secret", complete with food that's out of this world, plus the train trip you simply must take.
She also told Britons all about the city you simply need to visit - it was so stunning it made her cry.
This week, Janine spoke to GB News all about Paris, doing a deep dive into the capital on most of our travel bucket lists. She claimed there is so much more to explore than what meets the eye.
The expat said: 'Paris is always a good idea'
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Paris
Everybody has an idea of the must-sees in Paris. The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe are all non-negotiables.
However, according to the expat, there is so must more to see. To get a true feel for Paris, make sure to pack your comfiest walking shoes.
Janine advised holidaymakers: "Paris is a place to walk, so you can quite often find extraordinary things that are not quite as well known as, say, the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower.
"And there are so many bloggers and so many websites out there, so do your homework before you go.
"I, for instance, have The Good Life France and have loads of secret places in Paris. Paris off the beaten track, Paris for first-timers, Paris for those on a budget, Paris for people who have been there before and want to do a deeper dive into the culture. It's actually quite easy to find the less well-known.
"Having said that I always do the Eiffel Tower though. I don't know how many times I've been up there, hundreds?
"I love the Eiffel Tower and I still get a thrill every time. It doesn't matter how many times I've seen it, I still get that thrill."
But the secret to Paris is the deliberate detour, the walk away from where all the tourists are.
She continued: "If you walk just around the corner to places like Avenue Rapp, you'll see beautiful houses and probably the most astonishing door I've ever seen in my life at number 29 - it's Art Nouveau heaven.
"Honestly with Paris, you've just got to walk. Keep your eyes open and you'll find something astonishing."
Museum lovers will likely adore the city. Janine recommended a trip to the cheese museum - Musée du Fromage - and the museum of wine Musée du Vin Paris - which recently opened in a "really old building".
"If you go to somewhere like Notre Dame," she continued, "just across the road is the Paris Flower Market (Le Marché aux Fleurs), which most people don't even know exists".
She revealed: "It's got these gorgeous 200-year-old kiosks they sell flowers in and it's really, really beautiful.
"And just across the road from there is Sainte-Chapelle, which is actually older than Notre Dame. And they do evening concerts there, Vivaldi and classical music. And I have to say, it really gets you in the heart when you go somewhere like that and you think, 'Wow, 800 years ago kings were sitting here praying and now I'm sitting here listening to a concert'.
"It's just like a jewel box. It's got over a thousand stained glass windows that are ancient."
Janine falls in love with Paris more and more every time she visits and adores stumbling upon its "secret" treasures.
She said: "There are such famous places, the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay but a lot of people don't realise how much else there is that is just as amazing.
"Every year I go and walk for miles and I list all these places that I find. The art museum Petit Palais, for example, is just off the Champs-Elysees and a lot of people miss it out.
"It's a free museum for a start, which is great, but it's got the most beautiful little cafe, like a little oasis just off the Champs-Elysees. It's stunningly beautiful, astoundingly beautiful, and most people don't even know it's there."
Janine's top tip for a trip to Paris? "Don't be afraid to walk into somewhere and just go and check it out because there's a lot behind doors and they don't promote it. They don't advertise it necessarily, but it's there for the taking."
According to Janine, Paris is best explored with a side of somewhere else to get the full French experience. Soak up all the capital has to offer, then hop on the train to see beautiful countryside and fantastic beaches.
The expat said: "Everyone loves Paris - Paris is always a good idea. But maybe not so much this summer because of the Olympics. It's going to be busy. It's going to be expensive." Indeed, hotel prices, Métro tickets and tourist taxes have all seen an increase.
Janine continued: "Understandable, though. It happens when a city hosts like it did in London. Ordinarily, though, I would always go to Paris and combine that with another break."
The expat advised: "You could do Paris as a city break and then hop on a train and go to the seaside, which could be Deauville and Normandy.
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'I have to say, Sainte-Chapelle really gets you in the heart'
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"You could go to Le Touquet in Pas-de-Calais which is absolutely glorious.
"Or to Nancy in Lorraine, which most people have never even heard of. It's one of the most beautiful cities I've ever, ever been to. It's got the most glorious square. It looks like everything came from Versailles, amazing buildings.
"Nancy is actually a really, really good place to go to. You're in northeast France with Nancy in the region of Lorraine next to Alsace. You've got vineyards, you've got this amazing city and you've got glorious countryside. That's a really good one to go to and it's easy to get to by train from Paris - you don't need a car to go there.
"And where else could you go? The French Riviera - if you want the sunshine, you've got to go south really."
What to do in Paris
- Visit the top attractions, of course. The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe are all non-negotiables
- Get some comfy shoes on and go for a walk
- Take a walk from the Eiffel Tower to Avenue Rapp for "Art Nouveau heaven"
- Receive an education at one of many fascinating museums - think Petit Palais, Musée d'Orsay, Musée du Fromage and Musée du Vin Paris
- Explore Paris Flower Market (Le Marché aux Fleurs)
- Be blown away by the beauty of Sainte-Chapelle
- Use Paris' incredible transport links to visit another part of France - perhaps a trip to Nancy, one of the "most beautiful" cities Janine has never been to
For "everything you want to know about France and more", Britons can check out The Good Life France, Janine's passion project-turned-incredibly successful platform.