Walking Paris : Thirty Original Walks In and Around Paris

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Summary: Hoofing it through Paris couldn't be more fun!
Review: Gilles Desmons has crafted a combination Parisian history overview / scavenger hunt! We had such fun - and got such good exercise - taking many of these walks. I recommend it to everyone traveling to Paris, and wish that there were similar books for other destinations.

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Summary: Outstanding guide!
Review: Having been to Paris many, many times, I pretty much know my way around. I purchased this book for my last trip, to help my friend -a first time parisian- find her way around. Surprisingly, though, it was me who ended up enjoying the book the most. Very well-thought walks, easy to spot places and landmarks but thorough and interesting enough to take you off the beaten path and show you the real Paris, the charming, lively city beyond the tourist attractions. My favourite walks are Faubourg St-Germain and St-Germain-des-Pres and the ones through the Latin Quarter.

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Summary: This book made me homesick!!!!
Review: Having lived in Paris for quite some time myself, I know most of the areas that Gilles Desmons describes, and I can really highly recommend the book. His tours cover all the must-sees, but he also ventures off the beaten track and leads you to unexplored and pleasantly untouristy areas of the city, some of which even I haven't explored yet (but will unfailingly do so on my next trip home to France). His recommendations for restaurants/cafes/shops/museums are excellent, and I appreciate his pointing out certain days or times of the day when the tour is most rewarding (like with museum opening hours etc.). The only little "fly in the soup" (as we say) is that his writing is a bit professoral and stiff, but then again you learn a lot of little anecdotes that contribute to your understanding and enjoying your tour even more, and he points out a ton of small things that you normally would miss if not told of (like, an especially beautifully carved old door). Do yourself a favour and get the book for your (next) trip to the City of Lights, it's definitely worth it even if you have been there before.

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Summary: Terrific resource!
Review: I also found this book to be fabulous. I happened upon it in the library and brought it with me to Paris last year. Now I have to have my own copy for my next trip to Paris. I'd spent quite a bit of time exploring Paris already, but with this book I discovered so much more. And remember, if you do happen to get a little lost, you're still in Paris!!!

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Summary: Fabulous book! Wouldn't go to Paris again without it.
Review: I also found this book to be fabulous. I happened upon it in the library and brought it with me to Paris last year. Now I have to have my own copy for my next trip to Paris. I'd spent quite a bit of time exploring Paris already, but with this book I discovered so much more. And remember, if you do happen to get a little lost, you're still in Paris!!!

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Summary: disappointed
Review: I bought "walking paris" because of the good reviews at amazon.com and tried to use it in my recent Paris vacation. I was very disappointed. In the end, I used Michelin's Green Guide. The problems of "walking paris" are as follows:
1. The descriptions of walks are formated as a long narrative. They are difficult to consult unless you hold the book to your nose as you walk.
2. Much of the text involved detailed instruction on which street to go to and where to turn. Such information would be much easier to follow on a good map.
3. The maps are only simple sketches of the routes. They are not easy to follow because they don't provide enough context information. If you deviate from the prescribed route, the map becomes useless.
4. The style of the narrative and sketchy map means you have to follow the route exactly. When I was walking in Paris, I often wanted to wander a bit.
5. Sometimes you have to deviate from the prescribed route, as when I had to because a park through which the described walk is supposed to go through was closed. It's difficult to work out an alternative route based on the information in the book.
6. Because of the narrative nature, you can't tell from the book the highlights of the walks.

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Summary: This book is a must!
Review: I just had my first trip to Paris. I bought this book because I like to see a city on foot. I didn't want to be stuck on a bus for hours on end. I had no idea just how great this book was until I used it. There is so much hidden history to Paris that is beyond the normal tourist sites. I saw some spectacular and beautiful places . . . often times with very few other tourists around. That was really cool. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to experience Paris from the ground up. Two bits of advice: Pack some good walking shoes and take a lunch when you go.

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Summary: This book is a must!
Review: I just had my first trip to Paris. I bought this book because I like to see a city on foot. I didn't want to be stuck on a bus for hours on end. I had no idea just how great this book was until I used it. There is so much hidden history to Paris that is beyond the normal tourist sites. I saw some spectacular and beautiful places . . . often times with very few other tourists around. That was really cool. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to experience Paris from the ground up. Two bits of advice: Pack some good walking shoes and take a lunch when you go.

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Summary: Great walks with amazing details`
Review: I used this book for my recent trip to Paris. Out of all the walks we took my favorites were martmartre and le marais. I photocopied all the walks I wanted to take prior to the trip so I didn't have to carry the book everywhere and the map and words are in larger print this way. My boyfriend is a great navigator but I think combining the narrative with the map most people should have no problem following the route. We did have to retrace our steps a couple times but it really was pretty simple.

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Summary: Beyond the Ordinary Walking Guide
Review: If you want to discover Paris beyond the traditional tour book, cliched image, then this is the book for you. With 30 original walks, the author, a native Parisian, leads you t hrough the well known (and some of the lesser known) districts of the City of Light. Unlike traditional walking tour guides, which only offer the route (and nothing else), this book details the route while pointing out buildings and areas of historical interest.
Every route is clearly marked with a starting point, ending point and distance. A good feature of this guide is that the author points out the changes in the street names--goodness knows how many a walker has gotten lost because the Rue du Temple suddenly became something else.
The only shortcoming of this book (or any walking guide, for that) is how the walker has to constantly carry the book with them. A good suggestion is to write out the itinerary on a separate piece of paper, then check all the references when you get back to the hotel.
If you love walking and exploring, than this is the book for you. Just be sure to pack a good pair of walking shoes.