Curio-cité Episode 1: Explore the forgotten corners of Paris

Our curiosity pushes us to try new experiences: to learn, to grow, to change our point of view, or simply to have fun.

Luckily for us, our cities are full of opportunities for new experiences. But sometimes, to get ourselves started and discover these secrets, we need a guide to inspire and motivate us.

That’s why Google Arts & Culture has created Curio-cité, a way of rediscovering our cities by following along with guides, artists and experts.

The first episode, which takes place in Paris, invites you to visit ten different hidden corners. Put on your boots and visit the mysterious “underground lake” of the Opera Garnier, which inspired the Phantom of the Opera. Stroll down the Petite Ceinture, the obsolete railway that once circled Paris. Explore the Tour Paris 13, the largest collective exhibition of street art ever produced.

You’re also invited accompany David de Rueda, urban explorer and photographer, on a journey to even more unusual places — like a 360° immersive tour of the historic Papeteries de la Seine, a paper mill that was closed in 2011. Explore digital content and exhibitions curated by David and our partner, the City of Paris.

Curio-cité is available for free on the web, iOS and Android, and for a full 360° experience, you can put on your Google Cardboard.

And if Curio-cité inspires you to go on a real-life urban adventure of your own, we’ll be inviting a few lucky explorers to explore more of hidden Paris. To learn more, follow Google France on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ or use the hashtag #GoogleCuriocité.

And who knows, maybe we’ll meet up again in a few months to explore a different city...