For many Americans, Paris represents the pinnacle of romance and refinement, a place where art, architecture, and style converge to form something almost mythical. From “Casablanca” to “Sex and the City’s” dreamy finale and Netflix’s “Emily in Paris,” the city has long been portrayed as the ultimate backdrop for love and reinvention. But Paris’s magnetism is not confined to the screen. It’s a city that feels cinematic in real life, a living work of art that continues to inspire both fantasy and devotion.
That allure was put to the test once again this fall when the world watched headlines emerge from the Louvre. In a heist straight out of Hollywood, four masked thieves stole nine priceless pieces in under seven minutes during broad daylight. The Oct. 19 robbery has already drawn co…
For many Americans, Paris represents the pinnacle of romance and refinement, a place where art, architecture, and style converge to form something almost mythical. From “Casablanca” to “Sex and the City’s” dreamy finale and Netflix’s “Emily in Paris,” the city has long been portrayed as the ultimate backdrop for love and reinvention. But Paris’s magnetism is not confined to the screen. It’s a city that feels cinematic in real life, a living work of art that continues to inspire both fantasy and devotion.
That allure was put to the test once again this fall when the world watched headlines emerge from the Louvre. In a heist straight out of Hollywood, four masked thieves stole nine priceless pieces in under seven minutes during broad daylight. The Oct. 19 robbery has already drawn comparisons to “Ocean’s 11,” reminding us that even in a city defined by its elegance, drama still finds its stage.
Three of the four people whom police believe carried out the Louvre heist have been arrested, but the $100 million in stolen treasures remain missing. Two of the suspects are believed to have grabbed the jewels, while another allegedly waited outside with motor scooters for a fast getaway.
Of course, this isn’t the Louvre’s first scandal. In 1911, Italian handyman Vincenzo Peruggia famously slipped the “Mona Lisa” under his smock and walked out unnoticed. The painting, then relatively obscure, became a global obsession overnight. By the time it was recovered two years later in Florence, the “Mona Lisa” had become the world’s most recognized smile — proof that Paris doesn’t just create beauty, it manufactures legend.
World of Travel visited the French capital to explore why this city continues to captivate dreamers and travelers alike, and what it truly means to experience “la vie Parisienne.”
Our journey began at the Shangri-La Paris, once the private residence of Prince Roland Bonaparte, Napoleon’s great-nephew. Built in 1896, the grand palace still embodies Belle Époque luxury, from marble staircases to gilded ceilings that echo an imperial past.
“Roland Bonaparte actually had his bedroom built facing away from the Eiffel Tower,” explained Anthony Schmidt, who led our tour of the property. “He found it to be an eye sore.”
The irony is delicious: The tower he wished to ignore now sparkles nightly through Shangri-La’s terrace windows, serving as the most photographed view in the city.
“Paris is an open-air museum,” says World of Travel director Kolyn Boyd, who encourages travelers to go beyond the postcard version of the city. The team did just that, staying at Horizon House in the 16th Arrondissement, a refined Parisian residence that offered immersion into everyday life. With morning markets, corner cafés and evening strolls along the Seine, the experience revealed a quieter, more personal rhythm of Paris — one rooted not in spectacle but in connection.
As the world’s fashion capital, Paris still dictates the language of style. During Paris Fashion Week, World of Travel joined fashion executive Tiffany Reid to explore how the city continues to define global taste. From the timeless ateliers of Chanel and Dior to the expressive streetwear of Le Marais, fashion here isn’t seasonal; it’s cultural currency, worn like art and exchanged like conversation.
And because no visit is complete without savoring its cuisine, we indulged in the flavors that define Parisian life. Buttery croissants and freshly baked baguettes proved their legend true, while dinners at Shang Palace, Mamamia Paris, and VERDE showcased the city’s culinary duality — tradition meeting innovation, simplicity meeting style. Each meal felt like a love letter to the senses, a reminder that in Paris, dining is as much about pleasure as it is about artistry.
Today, Paris remains a city balancing preservation and reinvention in equal measure. It’s where 19th century grandeur meets 21st century imagination, where every corner holds a story and every street feels alive with possibility.
The Louvre has reopened since its headline-making jewel heist, and though its stolen treasures are not yet safely behind glass, the city itself remains the real masterpiece. Just don’t get any ideas — in Paris, the only thing worth stealing is the moment itself.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Lindsey Granger and Kolyn Boyd are the co-creators of “World of Travel,” a series that explores the past, present and future of extraordinary places around the globe. You can watch the episode on Paris here, and future episodes each Wednesday at 4 p.m. EST on The Hill’s YouTube page.
Lindsey Granger is the co-host of “Rising.” Kolyn Boyd is a film director based in Washington, D.C. Catch complimentary podcasts every Thursday at 4 p.m. on The Hill’s YouTube channel.
The Paris episode of “World of Travel” was sponsored by Shangri-La, VERDE Paris, Mamamia Paris, Horizon House, Shang Palace
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