The voyage begins at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, the celebrated Parisian icon that was once the highest monument in the world. One ticket is good for the day, and you can hop on and off the boat as many times as you wish until nightfall, exploring Paris at each stop along the river.

Floating under the bridges:  Pont de l’Alma and Pont Alexandre III.  Les Invalides on the right and further on the Musée d’Orsay—a former train station that is now a haven for 19th century painting—whose clock tower is framed by the latticework of the boat’s roof.

Casting off towards St-Germain-des Prés, passing under the mythic Pont des Arts, known to lovers around the world who come to attach a lock with their initials on the bridge as a symbol of their love.

Ile de la Cité on the left, Ile St-Louis ahead, and the fountain at Place St-Michel on the right.  The next stop is one that has inspired poets and musicians:  the Cathedral of Notre-Dame.

Heading east,the boat reaches the most non-central stop on its urban cruise, just next to the Jardin des Plantes, where the greenhouses have just reopened after years of renovation.

A turn around the Ile Saint-Louis and the stop for the Hôtel de Ville appears on the horizon, between the Marais district and Chatelet, with the Centre Pompidou just behind.

The glass pyramids signal a stop for a dose of art and history at the Louvre, which is bordered by the Tuileries Gardens and its prestigious sculptures by Maillol, Botero, and other masters.

The most beautiful avenue in the world, called the Champs Elysées, can be found in Paris.  Next stop, at the foot of the Champs Elysées, is the Place de la Concorde, where the Rue Royale leads up to the Madeleine church.

Head back down the river to the Eiffel Tower, admiring the Petit Palais and the superb roof of its big sister, the Grand Palais—which is completely transparent—starboard. Finally, arrival at the Eiffel Tower, where you sadly take off your life vest.

Photos © Hélène Loiré
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