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Apothicairerie de l’Hôtel
If you come down with an old-fashioned malady – scurvy, perhaps, or unbalanced humours – the place to go is this fully outfitted, wood-panelled pharmacy from 1721. Rare pharmaceutical jars share shelf space with decorative pill boxes and bronze mortars.
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Pré Catelan
The Pré Catelan garden area within Parc de Bagatelle squirrels away a wonderful Jardin Shakespeare where plants, flowers and trees mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays are cultivated. Watch out for summertime performances in the attached open-air theatre.
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La Friche La Belle de Mai
This former sugar-refining plant and subsequent tobacco factory is now a vibrant arts centre with a theatre, artists workshops, cinema studios, multimedia displays, skateboard ramps, electro/world-music parties et al – check its program online.
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Parc Micaud
For that must-have snapshot of the hilltop citadel with the swiftly flowing Doubs in the foreground, take a stroll along this leafy riverside promenade, a great spot for a picnic with a view. A carousel, playground and donkey rides keep kids entertained.
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Cloître des Cordeliers
Within the ruined monastery, the winery Les Cordeliers has made sparkling wine for over a century. Thirty-minute guided tours of the cellars take place at 3pm. Entry to the gardens and ruins is free (though you might want to consider buying a drink).
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Arromanches 360° Circular Cinema
The best view of Port Winston and nearby Gold Beach is from the hill east of town, site of the new Arromanches 360° Circular Cinema, which screens archival footage of the Battle of Normandy; it is run by Caen’s Le weMémorial – Un Musée pour la Paix.
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Petite Ceinture du 12e
At square Charles Péguy, behind the ping-pong tables, you can access a 200m section of an abandoned Parisian railway-turned-park, the Petite Ceinture, here known as the Petite Ceinture du 12e. Theres also a jardin partagé (community garden) here.
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Ramparts
It’s still possible to walk along much of Villefranche’s ramparts, built in stages between the 11th and 19th centuries. They have survived the centuries remarkably intact, and offer plunging views down the valley through arrow slits and machicolations.
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Cours Paoli
A gentle wander along the main strip makes a pleasant prelude to an aperitif or a fine meal at one of the town’s good restaurants. Start from place Paoli, Corte’s focal point, which is dominated by a statue of Pascal Paoli , and stroll down the cours.
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Jardin Méditerranéen du Mas de la Serre
Run in partnership with the Biodiversarium aquarium, this fragrant hilltop garden is a fine place to get acquainted with the local flora, with exotic plants arranged around a natural amphitheatre in the hills above Banyuls. It’s 3km inland from town.
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Musée de l’Aventure Peugeot
Gleaming old-timers, concept cars and thumb-size miniatures – it’s Peugeots à gogo at this automobile museum, 18km south of Belfort (towards Besançon) in Sochaux. Reserve ahead for a weekday tour of the huge Peugeot factory (adult/child €18/12).
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Musée de Poupées
Within the Château de Josselin, this quirky museum has a collection of over 3000 vintage dolls and puppets amassed by Herminie de Rohan around the turn of the 20th century. A combination ticket for the Musée de Poupées and the Château costs €13.50/8.
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Jeu de Paume
The Galerie du Jeu de Paume, which stages innovative photography exhibitions, is housed in an erstwhile jeu de paume (royal tennis court) in the northwestern corner of the Jardin des Tuileries and is all that remains of the Palais des Tuileries.
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Musée dArt Contemporain
Lyons contemporary art museum mounts edgy temporary exhibitions and a rotating permanent collection of post-1960 art. It sometimes closes for several weeks between exhibitions, so check to make sure theres something on. Buses stop right out front.
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Cour du Temple
Tucked away between rue du Temple and rue du Consulat, this tiny enclosed courtyard is surrounded by 16th-century hôtels particuliers (private mansions). Look out for coats of arms and the 16th-century stone staircase around the edge of the courtyard.
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Musée des Souvenirs Napoléoniens et Archives Historiques du Palais
In the Palais Princiers southern wing princely collections of bric-a-brac (medals, coins, uniforms and swords), Napoleons socks and other fascinating objects of day-to-day life form the Musée des Souvenirs Napoléoniens et Archives Historiques du Palais.
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Château Lanessan
One of the easiest châteaux to visit is Château Lanessan, which offers daily hour-long tours throughout the year including ones tailored to children and hard-to-please teenagers; advance reservations required and prices vary depending on exact tour requirements.
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Château de Keriolet
This impressive building is an exquisite example of 19th-century architecture. Its intriguing Russian connections are revealed during a guided tour. The castle is a well-signed five-minute drive from town (turn right just before the large Leclerc supermarket).
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Jardin de l’Atlantique
The Jardin de l’Atlantique, whose 3.5 hectares of park carpets the roof of the station, offers greenery and tranquillity in the heart of the urban tumult. Its futuristic Observatoire Météorologique ‘sculpture’ measures precipitation, temperature and wind speed.
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Maison de Balzac
This pretty, three-storey spa house is where realist novelist Honoré de Balzac (1799–1850) lived and worked from 1840 to 1847, editing the entire Comédie Humaine here. There’s lots of memorabilia, letters, prints and portraits – perfect for die-hard Balzac fans.
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