New York is an open-air museum that hides many secrets! Have you figured them out yet?

New York's Speakeasies have a long history! These clandestine bars were designed during Prohibition, roughly between the two world wars, to be hidden from the authorities, and date back over a century. At that time, alcohol was banned in the United States and a kind of resistance was quickly organised, particularly under the control of the underworld. People drank alcohol, smoked, had fun and women mingled with men (which was prohibited in public drinking establishments at the time).

Even today, these bars are still very popular with tourists (there are about fifty left out of the thousands that existed at the time; they're all in Manhattan), and the average tourist will have a hard time finding them without a little help from us. Because, of course, their entrances are hidden!

Unfortunately, the Cotton Club immortalised in Francis F. Coppola's film no longer exists, but you can spend an evening at Beauty & Essex, The Back Room or Attaboy.

You've heard of Puss in Boots walking proudly and decisively at the foot of Perrault's statue in the Tuileries Gardens, but have you also heard of this statue of Alice in Wonderland in Central Park?

It's not easy to find, and since you're now interested in discovering it, you'll have to go to the east of the park, just opposite the tip of the small Conservatory Water lake. Take your children with you, as they will be allowed to climb the statue and sit next to Alice. You should also know that this monumental bronze by sculptor José de Creeft depicts a giant Alice in the company of her friends, who look like grown-up humans. It's a far cry from the miniature world of the novel. And it's not every day you get to sit on a mushroom!

Everyone knows the principle of the echo, but few of us have actually experienced it. So let's go to Grand Central Station, in the heart of Manhattan. It's not just the biggest station in the United States - it's the biggest in the world! Numerous galleries provide transfers for travellers, but you come to the Whispering Gallery to... whisper. It's well worth the effort if two of you share the experience. The curve of this gallery's vault is such that it carries the voice of anyone speaking in a low voice in one of its corners to the opposite corner, even if you are whispering. A unique sound teleportation experience!

You'd like to buy yourself a piece of New York, but like us, you can't afford a flat overlooking Central Park. No problem, you can become the owner of a bench in this legendary park thanks to the"Adopt a Bench" programme, which aims to fund the preservation of the park's flora and fauna. For the modest sum of $10,000, you can own a wooden bench in the middle of Central Park, with the right to have a plaque engraved with whatever you wish. 41 million dollars have already been raised!

If you're a film buff, you'll no doubt have realised that Manhattan has a vast underground network, particularly that of the Underground. Much of it is unknown to the general public and of little interest. But there are some disused stations that nobody knows about, "ghost" stations that are worth a look, particularly for their art deco architecture and decor. The most remarkable of these is City Hall Station. It is particularly noteworthy for its "Catalan" vaults covered in ceramic(Guastavino tile arch system) and for its skylights that let in natural light.

This station is only visited on rare occasions. But if you take line 6 towards Wall Street, you can see it at Brooklyn Bridge station. However, the train does not stop there.