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This excellent gallery showcasing contemporary European photography opened in 1996 in an early 18th-century mansion, Hôtel Hénault de Cantorbe. The restoration is a mix of historic features and modern spaces that show off its permanent collection and changing exhibitions, including multimedia works.

This internationally renowned tapestry factory was originally a dyeing workshop, founded by the Gobelin brothers in the mid-15th century. In 1662, Louis XIV’s minister Colbert set up a royal factory here and gathered the greatest craftsmen of the day to make furnishings for the palace at Versailles. Painters such as Charles Le Brun directed 250 Flemish weavers in creating the tapestries. You can see the traditional weaving process on a guided tour.

Approaching the front of the palace across the vast open courtyard, visitors finally come to the splendour of the black-and-white marble courtyard. This is the original area of the palace, before the north and south wings were added.

The ultimate chronicler of Paris, the writer was born in the city in 1871. He is buried in the family tomb (see A la Recherche du Temps Perdu).

One of the last remaining flower markets in the city centre, the beautiful Marché aux Fleurs is also the oldest, dating from the early 19th century. It is held year-round, Monday to Saturday, in place Louis-Lépine, filling the north side of the Ile de la Cité with dazzling blooms from 8am to 7pm. There is also a bird market here on Sundays (see Flower and Bird Markets).

Set around an old guardhouse and clocktower, the wonderful Aligre market is a melting pot of Parisians from all walks of life. It dates back to 1643 and was once as important as the more famous Les Halles (see Forum des Halles). In the gourmet covered market you’ll see everything from rows of pheasants to a whole wild boar hanging from the stalls. North African traders give the outdoor produce market an ethnic flare. The flea market dates back to the days when nuns distributed second-hand clothing to the poor (see Aligre Market).

This Russian artist was more renowned as a diarist after her death from tuberculosis in 1884. Despite living for only 24 years she produced 84 volumes of diaries and their posthumous publication created a sensation due to their intimacy.

Utrillo (1883–1955) often painted the Auberge de la Bonne-Franquette, an atmospheric depiction of old Montmartre. His mother was the artist Suzanne Valadon and they both lived at 12 rue Cortot, now the Musée de Montmartre.

The country’s oldest public zoo was founded during the Revolution to house the four surviving animals from the royal menagerie at Versailles. Other animals were donated from circuses and abroad, but during the Siege of Paris in 1870–71 (see Top 10 Events in the French Revolution) the unfortunate creatures were eaten by hungry citizens. A favourite with children (see Grande Galerie de l’volution), the zoo has since been rehoused with monkeys, large cats, birds and reptiles.