Square René Viviani Paris: a quiet garden facing Notre-Dame

Square René Viviani is a compact public garden with benches, lawns and trees, tucked between the river and the small streets of the Latin Quarter. It is known for a very old tree, a false acacia that is often called the oldest tree in Paris. It leans so far that it rests on supports, and visitors often stop to look at it.

The other reason to come is the view. From the garden you look across the water at Notre-Dame, a different angle from the busy square in front of the cathedral. Next to the garden stands the small church of Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre, which adds to the village feel of this corner.

Secrets of Paris, the route where you help Victor Hugo recover the lost final chapter of The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, passes Square René Viviani as its second stop.

You begin at Notre-Dame Cathedral, cross to the garden and then head back over the river past the Crypte archéologique de l’Île de la Cité and the Conciergerie. Puzzles and photo tasks link the story to each place. You play in the browser on your own phone, no app needed.

A game gives you a reason to step into Square René Viviani instead of walking past the railings. Once you are inside, a clue might send you looking for the old tree or the view of the cathedral.

You play self-guided, so you can sit on a bench for a while and talk through the next puzzle before moving on. It works well for families, couples, friends and colleagues who like a relaxed pace.

Secrets of Paris costs €19.95 per team: one phone, at most 4 players. Plan 1.5–2 hours for the whole route around Notre-Dame and the Île de la Cité.

Book the game, go to Notre-Dame Cathedral and open it in your phone's browser. Square René Viviani follows a short walk later, across the river. You can start whenever you like, so it is easy to fit the game into a day in the city. One player reads the clues aloud, while the rest of the team looks for the answers around them.