Day 13

Day 13 started at the Panthéon, the grand neoclassical monument in the Latin Quarter where France honors its most important figures. Some of the best‑known people laid to rest here include Voltaire (philosopher of the Enlightenment), Jean‑Jacques Rousseau (author of The Social Contract), Victor Hugo (author of Les Misérables), Émile Zola (leader of the Dreyfus Affair’s defense), Alexandre Dumas (author of The Three Musketeers), Marie Curie (pioneer of radioactivity), Pierre Curie (Nobel‑winning physicist), Jean Moulin (WWII Resistance leader), and Joséphine Baker (civil rights activist and performer).

From there, we headed to the Conciergerie, once part of the medieval royal palace and later the infamous prison of the French Revolution. More than 2,700 prisoners, including Marie‑Antoinette (last queen of France), were held, tried, and condemned here before being sent to the guillotine. You can still see the vast Gothic halls and the reconstructed cell where she spent her final days.

Next was Sainte‑Chapelle, built in the 1240s by King Louis IX to house the Crown of Thorns. It’s one of the greatest achievements of Rayonnant Gothic architecture, famous for its soaring stained‑glass windows — more than 1,100 biblical scenes that make the upper chapel feel like a jewel box made entirely of light.

We grabbed a late lunch at Specimen, another Paris hit — amazing burgers and a Frozen Mezcal Cocktail that absolutely lived up to its reputation. No joke, that drink could probably power a small scooter.

After lunch, we explored Église Saint‑Sulpice, the second‑largest church in Paris. Construction began in 1646 and continued for over two centuries, which explains its mix of Baroque and classical styles. It’s known for its massive Great Organ (one of the most famous in Europe), its astronomical gnomon (used to track the sun), and its strikingly asymmetrical twin towers (unfinished due to the Revolution).

We started making our way back to the hotel, grabbed some drinks and snacks, and the boys picked up pizza. Andy and I are heading out for a little date night.Read more