Every Paris travel guide seems to have something to add to the already voluminous information available on such well-known spots as the Louvre and Orsay museums, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Eiffel Tower.

Yet what about discovering the quaint neighborhoods of the 19th century Paris? Or taking pictures of the inn built for the paupers by Nicholas Flamel in the 15th century (yes, that's the same Nicholas Flamel written about in Harry Potter)?

In my reckoning, there's a truly interesting way of discovering Paris, and that's to take the less traveled path. The one I take with my friends when we visit the French capital.

So, let's assume you are as eager as we are to learn something new about Paris, and let's take a peek at just two of its less-well-known jewels. The next time you take the trip to Paris, you'll be the one leading the way!

The Lutece Arena, a return into time

Before Paris became Paris, the city was the capital of the territory occupied by the Parisii, the Gallic tribe after which Paris will take its name in the 4th century A.D. There is some controversy about the original Celtic name of the city, but when the Romans invaded it in 52 B.C. under Emperor Julius Caesar, they called it Lutecia (or Lutetia).

In the 2nd century A.D., the Romans built in its middle an amphitheater of about 25,000 square feet, which could hold about 16,000 spectators. During the next century, gladiator fights and other less palatable games (e.g. offering early Christians for lunch to beasts of prey) were held for the benefit of the local Roman population.

With the fall of the Roman Empire, such games became much less popular, and as Christianity became the State religion, man-eating events ceased to be held altogether.

The arena was demolished during the barbarian invasions of 280 A.D., and the site later became a cemetery. In the late 12th century, the ruins were buried under a large rampart built to defend Paris. They remained forgotten until 1869 when they were unearthed to the greatest surprise of all historians.

At the time, the City Council decided Paris did not have the funds necessary to excavate and preserve the antique discovery, and the development project which had dug out the ruins was green-lighted.

Later on, in 1883, the site was repurchased and rehabilitated under the guidance of French novelist Victor Hugo (author of 'Les Miserables'). A further rehabilitation project began in 1916 which unearthed the site completely. Vici