With its glittering lights, gorgeous views, and ornate bridges, Paris is the perfect city for romance, whether it be a honeymoon or a proposal. Unfortunately, however, that means that many think alike…
So what’s a prospective fiancé to do? Here are five suggestions for lesser-known, beautiful, and unique places to propose in the City of Light. Each can serve as a perfect backdrop for that magical moment while at the same time providing an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city for your moment of intimacy.
Secret tip: Check out our blog post called How to Plan the Perfect Secret Proposal Photo Shoot
1. The Mirabeau Bridge
Paris has a lot of bridges, but this one’s unique in several ways. It’s not the first one that would come to mind for a proposal, and yet it has its own charming aura and history. Immortalized in a haunting poem by the French poet Appollinaire, it evokes the passage of time and the value of making the most of life.
Additionally, the bridge crosses the river close to the Eiffel tower, which can provide a perfect backdrop to the proposal as the Seine flows by underneath.
2. Jardin des Plantes
Paris has a number of beautiful gardens peppered in between its many ancient stone structures, and many of the more famous ones, like the Luxembourg and the Tuileries, attract crowds of tourists. But if you want a calmer, quieter place for your intimate moment, yet one that still evokes the majesty of the gardens of Versailles, look no farther than the Jardin des Plantes. This botanical garden is lush and expansive, boasting a wide variety of plants from the world over, laid out with the precise and geometrical organization for which French gardens are famed. Colorful and magical, it also provides the perfect scenery for photographs of the happy moment.
3. Chateau de Monte Cristo
If English gardens, with their wilderness, are more to your taste than the carefully mathematical layouts of French ones, then the park of the Chateau of Monte Cristo is a perfect choice for a proposal in the great outdoors. Built by the French author Alexandre Dumas, this chateau is nestled right outside of Paris, and has an expansive park, with ancient trees, ponds, walkways, and nooks and crannies. It’s not hard to find a secluded spot, tinged with the aura of Romanticism, to pop the question.
4. The Riverwalk/Pont de la Tournelle behind Notre Dame de Paris
The cathedral of Notre Dame is one of those quintessential Parisian destinations, and, consequently, as majestic as it is clogged with bystanders and sightseers. Fortunately, Notre Dame looks just as stunning from the back as it does from the front, and there’s a couple of less-populated places that offer this view. The Pont de la Tournelle is the closest bridge to Notre Dame from the east, and it offers a stunning panorama of the cathedral’s Gothic arches and the Seine flowing around it – especially at sunset. Alternatively, a riverwalk on the south bank of the Seine offers a similar view – perfect for a romantic stroll, hand-in-hand, before popping the question in these magical surroundings.
5. Le Procope
Sometimes traditional is best, though, and you can’t go wrong with proposing at Le Procope, Paris’ oldest restaurant. Founded in 1686, it hosted the likes of Voltaire, Rousseau, and a number of France’s other most famous writers and statesmen. Today, the restaurant is hidden away on a quaint cobbled street in the old and storied district of St. Germain des Pres, where it’s hidden among cafés frequented by famous poets and quaint shops. The restaurant boasts a 18th century interior, complete with chandeliers, portraits, and gilt. The aura of history, culture, and fine cuisine is a perfect precursor to popping the question.
