The City of Love: Top 35 Things You Can’t Miss in Paris

32. Square Jean XXIII: Hidden Serenity Behind Notre-Dame

While most visitors crowd the front of Notre-Dame Cathedral, the small park tucked behind it—Square Jean XXIII—offers a quiet, leafy retreat with unmatched views of the cathedral’s flying buttresses. Framed by cherry blossoms in spring and golden leaves in autumn, it’s one of Paris’s best-kept secrets for contemplative moments, reading, or sketching. A peaceful atmosphere and storybook setting make this an unforgettable place to pause and take in the spiritual heart of the city.