French Tourists Don't Get Fat

Surely you've heard that "French women don't get fat." And thanks to Gallic author Mireille Guiliano's pithy compendium of personal experiences and observations, as well as the wise counsel of moderation, women (and men) across the globe can learn the secrets of staying thin while continuing to enjoy the wine and three-course meals of one of the most decadent cuisines in the world.

With all due respect to Ms. Guiliano, I'd like to take that "French paradox" a step further and venture to say that French tourists don't get fat.

Here's why:

If a visitor is really to get a feel for the city, the best way to do so is to walk the streets, shop the local markets, stop for coffee in a sidewalk cafe and sip cocktails at neighborhood establishments that are favorites of the residents. Paris is extremely well-suited to this mode of exploration.

The modern-day boulevards and streets of the City of Light have their roots in the planning and expansion that occurred under the direction of Henri IV during the early 17th century. Regulated street lines, uniform facades and squares date from this time, as do the Pont Neuf and the Place des Vosges, a quintessential example of royal city planning and model for other European residential squares.

Though it would be more than a century before those broad avenues became less utilitarian and more used for pleasurable strolling, the late 19th century saw the birth of a new kind of citizen, a flâneur.

Flâneurs could be either visitors or residents, but they were always pedestrians, out for walks to see and be seen.

Some historians credit the Impressionists for ushering in this new social class with their radically new ways of seeing. Others point to the development of the modern urban landscape and the attendant romance of anonymity. The flâneurs, like the artists, were able to move comfortably amid the chaos of the city, observing and absorbing it all.

So as a modern day flâneur, you too can explore Paris by walking its streets and strolling through museums, gardens and other sites. The bonus is that all of your footwork will translate to multiple calories burned as you immerse yourself in the rhythms of la vie quotidienne.

The best place to begin is perhaps the most obvious: the Grands Boulevards. Built upon the city's ancient ramparts, the eight streets form a wide, arc-shaped thoroughfare from La Madeleine to the Bastille.

In the 19th century these streets were the pulse of Paris, where cafe society flourished and dictated intellectual, artistic and fashion trends. Today, amid the less fashionable eateries, there are plenty of old-style brasseries and cafes as well as theaters and landmarks.

One such landmark you should not miss is L'église de St-Marie-Madeleine, often referred to simply as La Madeleine. Similar in style to the Pantheon, this late 18th-century classical structure boasts 52 soaring Corinthian columns without and an impressive pipe organ within.

Proceeding down rue St-Honore, you'll pass Place Vendôme. From there a quick right turn will lead you to rue de Rivoli and more of the city's iconic sights. The grand and formal Jardin des Tuileries is at the heart of Paris, connecting the Louvre with Place de la Concorde. Designed by André Le Nôtre, the celebrated gardener of King Louis XIV, the paths and plazas of this classical public space practically demand that you take time out while walking to admire the sculpture and the fountains.