A family visits the <a href="https://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/" target="_blank">Musée d<b>’</b>Orsay</a>, housed in the former Gare d<b>’</b>Orsay—a Beaux-Arts railway station built at the turn of the 20th century. The museum holds the largest collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces in the world. (<a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/giverny-gardens-impressionism-tour" target="_blank">Plan an Impressionist tour through France</a>.)
A family visits the Musée dOrsay, housed in the former Gare dOrsay—a Beaux-Arts railway station built at the turn of the 20th century. The museum holds the largest collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces in the world. (Plan an Impressionist tour through France.)
Photograph by Paolo Mangoni, Your Shot

20 timeless photos that prove Paris will never go out of style

Explore the classic beauty of the City of Light.

The capital of everything from cabaret to cuisine, Paris counts nearly 2,000 years of history—and almost as many monuments spiraling around the 20 arrondissements. Landmarks such as the Louvre will never lose their luster, but after seeing the “Mona Lisa,” take part in a favorite pastime of Parisians: flânerie, or strolling. (Read more about people-watching in the French capital.)

Embark on your own moveable feast by popping into boulangeries and fromageries, picnicking at one of 400-plus parks dotting the green capital, considered the most wood-covered in Europe. And don’t be afraid to whip out your camera and document each moment (or meal) along the way.

Simple scenes of daily life create spectacular subjects for black-and-white photography. One of the best examples? Work by 20th-century French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson, aka the père of photojournalism, known for capturing candid moments that occur on the city’s streets.

Inspired by the legend? Here are 30 captivating street shots of Paris from the Your Shot community that will have you planning a trip to the City of Light.

Lane Nieset is a freelance journalist from Miami who currently calls Nice, France, home. Follow her travels on Twitter and Instagram.
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