Rosiers–Joseph Migneret

Welcome to one of Paris's best-kept secrets. You probably walked past without noticing it, which is exactly the point. The Rosiers–Joseph Migneret Garden sits squeezed between grand old mansions on the rue des Rosiers and the rue des Francs-Bourgeois, and it feels like stepping into someone's private backyard.

The garden is named after Joseph Migneret, the director of a nearby boys' school during World War II. While the city held its breath under occupation, Migneret quietly forged false papers and sheltered Jewish children from deportation. A quiet man doing extraordinary things. This little garden carries his name as a permanent thank you.

Now look around. The space was stitched together from the private gardens of three historic mansions, so it feels wonderfully uneven and slightly maze-like. Spot the massive 35-metre chimney peeking over the rooftops. It belonged to a company called La Société des Cendres, which melted down gold and silver scraps from jewellery workshops. Fancy neighbourhood, fitting industry.

Head towards the far end and you will find something remarkable: a crumbling medieval tower, one of 77 that once formed the Wall of Philip II Augustus, the oldest city wall in Paris, built around 1190. It later served as a dining room, then a chapel. Now it just stands there, quietly ancient, letting the fig tree grow around it.