The Petit Palais

Across from the Grand Palais stands the Petit Palais, smaller but arguably even more ornate. The name means "Little Palace", and like the Grand Palais and the Pont Alexandre III, it was built for the 1900 Exposition Universelle. Today it houses the City of Paris Fine Arts Museum.

The Petit Palais was also designed by Charles Louis Girault, chief architect of the Grand Palais. Its classical Ionic columns, domed roof and grand entrance, carved with sculptures symbolizing figures from ancient Greece and Rome, mark it as Beaux-Arts architecture.

Its most striking exterior feature is the beautiful golden gate. Look closely at the top and you'll see a small ship sailing on waves, part of the Paris coat of arms, like the copper decoration on the Pont Alexandre III. Above the ship is the Latin motto "Fluctuat nec mergitur", the city's motto, which means "It is tossed by the waves but does not sink".

The interior is just as appealing as the façade, and the semicircular garden is especially memorable. The Petit Palais is relatively quiet compared with Paris's major museums and galleries, and its garden offers a calm contrast to the busy streets outside. Many Parisians come on purpose for a coffee or a light lunch. As the last stop on this route, it's a lovely place to step inside, order a coffee in the garden and enjoy a moment of calm in the middle of the city.