Then we did a crepe-fortified march southwest to the Jardin du Luxembourg before catching a last bus northwest to Les Invalides and, finally, the Eiffel Tower.

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During lunchtime on sunny days, crowds of students grab food at the many small cafes, restaurants or bistros by Metro Saint Michel or Vavin and picnic in the Jardin du Luxembourg.

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The Jardin du Luxembourg is no hidden gem, but the elegant park does loom large in the novel's main romantic narrative it's where Marius and Cosette meet, fall in love and rendezvous near the Rue de l'Ouest, now known as Rue d'Assas, in the park's southwest corner.

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