Lionel is in the Place des Vosges in Paris on a chilly June day. The square is busier than previous years due to a recent flood along the Seine. Parisians like to go out in the fresh air, bring a picnic, a bottle of wine, or simply work on their laptop in the many parks scattered around the city.

Every year, a portion of Paris turns into a miniature beach where people of all ages can play games and bask in the sun.

During the summer, a portion of Paris reinvents itself as "Paris-Plage" [Paris Beach]. The capital turns into a vacation spot by providing water access and outdoor activities near the Seine and other waterways like the Canal de l'Ourcq.

The Paris mayor's office set up an outdoor exhibition at the Bastille recounting events that took place on the site of the famous prison. Most people know that the Bastille was stormed during the French Revolution of 1789, but not many people are aware of other important events that took place before and after the Revolution.

When the weather is nice, Parisians meet up on the riverbanks every weekend to dance, talk, and spend time with friends. For those who love dancing, there are free salsa, hip-hop, and Afro-Cuban dance lessons. It's a party!

Lionel takes us to the friendly Butte aux Cailles neighborhood in Paris. Its village-like atmosphere is a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the capital. The Butte aux Cailles was formerly part of the small town of Gentilly before being attached to the city of Paris.

Lionel goes to the Louvre Pyramid, which was commissioned by former President François Mitterrand and designed by the architect I.M. Pei. Located in the Cour Napoléon (Napoleon Courtyard), the pyramid is one of the most famous selfie sites in the world.

Lauren shows us around the Croix-Rousse neighborhood in Lyon, famous for its traboules, a series of passageways located below the buildings. The neighborhood is a favorite spot for artists and families alike.

Lauren continues her tour of Lyon's Croix-Rousse neighborhood, a favorite haunt of artists and students who go there to live, work, and shop. The neighborhood also maintains its heritage as a center for craftsmen.

Right in the heart of Paris, the Comédie-Française is a major institution. It's a theater where the famous playwright Molière performed his plays over three centuries ago. To this day, the Comédie-Française still captures the imagination of French people.

Mathilde takes us to Père-Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, where some very famous people are buried. You'll find the graves of Jim Morrison, Guillaume Apollinaire, Honoré de Balzac, Beaumarchais, and Frédéric Chopin, to name a few. The cemetery attracts many visitors from around the world.

Parisians can thank Fulgence Bienvenüe for their metro system, which is so efficient that many people use the names of the metro stations in favor of street names when giving directions. Some of the most interesting stations are Bir-Hakeim, overlooking the Eiffel Tower, and Arts et Métiers, with its old-fashioned industrial design. Some metro stations are a destination in themselves!

In this video, Caroline takes us on a tour of her favorite Parisian street, the rue des Rosiers (“Rosebush Street”). A charming area full of art galleries and old buildings, this rue is also one of Paris’s most well-known Jewish neighborhoods.

Caroline continues her tour of the rue des Rosiers with a sampling of some of the street’s many culinary delights, including a stop at one of Paris’s premier Jewish bakeries, Sacha Finkelsztajn. You might experience a sudden craving for falafel or cheesecake after watching this video!

Sometimes the best places in a city are the ones that no one knows about. In this video, Sophie shows us her favorite secret spot in Paris, the Place Édouard VII. Make sure you get there before it becomes a tourist trap!