December 22, 2024 20:12 PM

Valentine 2014: Declare Your Love in the City of Light

From the heights of the Sacred Heart Cathedral to the banks of the Seine and everywhere in between, the streets of Paris offer up an endless backdrop for romantic opportunism. When you add to this the legendary Parisian inhibition toward public displays of affection, you get an unrivaled setting for amorous encounters.

The City of Paris's Visitor's Bureau offers up a helpful guide to all the most memorable and Instagram-worthy spots to pucker up. You can recreate Robert Doisneau's iconic 1950 photo "The Kiss," in front of the Paris City Hall, capture the shimmering lights of the Eiffel Tower from the Trocadéro esplanade, or slip into one of the city's many elegant gardens for a quiet tête-à-tête.

If you're not up for smooching on the sidewalk, ply your date with a tour of the city's storied purveyors of sweets with Esprit Chocolat. If that doesn't melt your lover's heart, try some bubbly at Le Doukan, the city's oldest bar devoted to France's signature drink. What could be more lovely than a sweet serenade at Le Bel Canto, where the servers are opera performers who will dazzle you with their voices as they serve your meal. Or you can simply lose yourself in the winding streets of the Latin Quarter, stopping for a drink or a bite of food at one of its many sidewalk cafés.

But even if you can't make it across the pond this year, the city of Paris asks that you send your tender words, declarations of love, or even marriage proposals. You have until Feb. 9 to submit your love messages, up to a maximum of 160 characters, through the city's website, here. Officials in charge of the project will choose the most inspiring dispatches to be displayed, free of charge, on 170 billboards throughout the city. Better make it good!

Tags
Valentine's day 2014
Join the Discussion
Real Time Analytics