The real essence of Paris is captured by the River Seine that flows right through the heart of the city bordering 10 of the 20 arrondisements. The bridges along the river evoke the most romantic visions of Paris. Most people will agree with me that taking a stroll along the Seine is a quintessential Parisian experience. Like Fluctuat Nec Mergitur, a motto encrusted everywhere in Paris; It floats and doesn’t sink, reminds how important Seine is.

It was another cold winter morning. I decided to head out early to catch the train to the Palace of Versailles, one of the largest and most opulent castles in the world. If you love history and architecture, you wouldn’t want to miss this. Getting to the majestic palace is pretty straight forward.

Ever since Dan Brown incorporated the Louvre in his best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code, I am dying to visit the museum and see it for myself. It is utterly impossible to describe the Louvre in just a paragraph or two, but I’ll try.

What makes Paris distinctive are the wide range of splendors and architecture marvels that the city preserves. Every turn offers different history and simply picturesque. You will never fail to notice the prominent landmark, the Arc de Triomphe that sits in the middle of the intersection Place Charles de Gaulle.

I have seen the magnificent Basilica of Sacre Coeur, one of the most beautiful churches in Paris. I am in search of where Muslims in Paris seek solace and tranquillity. Tucked among the buildings, located in the Fifth Arrondissement, right in the heart of Paris is a beautiful 20th-century Grand Mosque (Grande Mosquée de Paris).

Montmartre is one of the most recognisable distict in Paris that has long been known as the premier artist’s enclave in the city. The word Montmartre or “Mountain of the Martyr” was derived from the martyrdom of Saint Denis; the bishop of Paris who was decapitated atop the hill in 250 AD. Montmartre today still retained its village-like charm.