Attractions in Paris

Paris is renown throughout the world for it’s monuments (Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, The Notre Dame Cathedral) and it’s artistic and cultural life. Paris is also a very important city in the worlds history. It has a big impact on the worlds economy and political decisions. The symbol of the French culture is its night life, its street animations and all the renown museums. Each year more than 30 million people visit these attractions. Paris is considered to be one of the worlds capitals for fashion and luxury.

The Eiffel Tower was build for the world fair of 1889, as a reminder for the 1789 revolution.

The Eiffel Tower has been the worlds highest structure for a couple of years and it was build on the idea that it would make an ideal platform for the antennas that were necessary for the use of new radio telegraphy.

When you finished looking at the bottom pillars, you can go up to 3 levels that are open to the public.
Elevators lead to the top, but the queues are interminable. To avoid them, go up by foot using the staircases situated at the southern pillar. You can take the staircase up to levels 1 and 2. Guided visits are organized.

As an ancient palace of kings with complex and imposing architecture, it is one of largest and the most famous museums of the world. This old fortress began its career as a public museum in 1793 with 2.500 paintings, today there are more than 30.000.

The most famous ancient works are the sitting Scribe (le Sribe assis), the treasures of Ramsès II (les trésors de Ramsès II), the Victoire of Samothrace (a Victoire de Samothrace) and The Venus of Milo (Vénus de Milo).

For the Renaissance, not to miss the Slaves of Michel-Angelo, the Mona Lisa of Léonardo da Vinci and works of Raphaël, Botticelli and Titien. For the French painters of the XIXe century, one can admire La Grande Odalisque d'Ingres, Le Radeau de la méduse de Géricault as well as works of David and Delacroix. If you have interest for the fruits of the human civilization, just go and visit this museum.

To avoid the queues at the pyramid, buy your ticket in advance.

Cathedral of Notre Dame (Cathédrale de Notre Dame)

The Notre-Dame in Paris is not only one of the biggest works of the French Gothic architecture.

It is also, since centuries, the center of religious ceremonies of Paris. The interior of the cathedral has an organ that has no less then 7.800 pipes and the spectacular hall is immense since 6.000 people can find place there.

Take time to climb the 387 steps of the northern tower and admire a sight over Paris.

Basilica du Sacré Cœur

Perched at the top of the hill at Montmartre, the Basilique du Sacre Coeur (basilica of Crowned Heart) was built thanks to a subscription of the Catholics of Paris, in act of contrition for the war free-Prussian of 1870-1871.

The domes of the basilica belong to the Parisian landscapes. It represents a savage Christ dominating. Even the large furnace bridge does not do anything to dissipate the sadness of the place.

A narrow spiral staircase of 234 steps climbs to the dome, which offers one of the many panoramas over Paris. It is however outside, on the steps, that the spectacle is most alive.

During your stay in Paris, do not forget to walk on the most beautiful avenues of the world. The Champs-Élysées extends over 1.950 meters, from the Place de la Concorde, where you will be able to admire the Egyptian obelisk and the Triumphal arch.

The rectilinear layout offers a long prospect , born for the Louvre palace, that aligns the equestrian statue of Louis XIV, the triumphal arch of the Carrousel, the garden of Tileries, the Obelisk of the Place de la Concorde, the Triumphal arch and the arch of Defense. If you prefer not to walk, you can travel by the Bus n°73 and still see everything. The Champs-Élysées is the theatre of many French historical events (arrival of the Tour de France, the 14 July, procession of liberation in 1944,…).

The Castle of Versaille is known worlwide. Come to discover this castle which often was copied but never equalized. Its an amazing sight when you stand in front of this immense inheritance left by Louis XIV: The Gallery of Ice, frescos, the immense throne room,…

You will also be able to walk in the majestic and vast gardens. During summer evenings, the park very often accomodates spectacles such as the large water musicals. During the winter, you will be able to listen to classical music concerts in the castle. You will then be seized by the majesty of the places and the music itself.

The national hotel of the Invalids is a Parisian monument which is classified with the “Historic buildings”. Its construction was ordered by Louis XIV himself, its sole purpose to shelter the invalids of the french armies. Today, it continues to accommodate invalids, but some parts host several museums and a military necropolis.

It is a masterpiece of the French art of the XVIIe century. Inside, the emperor Napoleon 1st is buried in a tomb made by Louis Visconti in 1840.

Panoramic terrace and the 56ème stage of the Montparnasse Tower offers you the most beautiful sight over Paris, day or night. In less than 40 seconds, the fastest elevator of Europe transports you to 196 meters of altitude. From there, the most beautiful sights over Paris are at your feet. You will be able to admire all the monuments and districts of Paris as you never saw them before: le Sacré Cœur, the garden of Luxembourg, The Notre Dame, Montmartre, The Eiffel Tower, Invalids hospital, Centre de la Defense, the Pompido Centre

The Museum of Orsay is an old station and typical hotel of the Belle Epoque (Beautiful Time). The building is now a museum which shelters all forms of artistic expression (decorative painting, sculpture, architecture, arts, cinema, photography, graphic arts, music, literature, history) over the period of 1848 to 1914. The quality of the presentation and the richness of its collections makes it one of the most interesting and popular of Paris.

In 1785, Paris regulates the problem of the overpopulation of its cemeteries by exhuming the bones and rehousing them in the galleries, of a certain number of closed down careers. The Catacombs are a true labyrinth in the middle of Paris that gathers the remainders of approximately 6 million Parisians. The visitors of this macabre “attraction” find themselves to 20 metre under ground, to walk in corridors full with piled up bones. These galleries were used as general headquarter within the resistance during the second world war.

The visit of this attraction starts with a dark green building in the center of a public garden, avenue of Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, the new name of the Denfert-Rochereau place. The exit is 700 m further in the south-west of the Denfert-Rochereau place, where a guard checks if you did not borrow any bones. The cataphiles, as they are called, are often caught grinding the night in search of sensation

The Pompidou center is entirely devoted to the modern art and the contemporary art of the XXe century. It is the most visited cultural site of Paris. Two stages are devoted to 40.000 works. The works are part of Modern art, the national collection of art of the XXe century. The architecture of the Pompidou centre caused the most sharp critique since the beginning of its construction in 1972.

To avoid partitioning the showrooms, the architects put the building inside-out, each pipe and ventilation shaft being of a different color, according to its function: the elevators and the escalators are red, the electrical circuits are yellow, plumbings are green and the air conditioning is blue. After a massive restoration in 1998-1999, the Center has now a wider space for exposures, a new cinema, a restaurant and cybercafé. They had new installations for the theatre, video and CD.

The highest stage has an admirable sight over Paris, while the place Georges Pompidou, in lower parts, attracts jugglers, musicians and other sorts of artists.

With his death, the famous sculptor Auguste Rodin (1840-1907) left his sublime private mansion of the XVIIIe century and a great quantity of works to the State to make a museum of it. The charm and the peace of the place makes this place one of the most appreciated museums by visitors.

The two floors of the house expose the extraordinarily powerful sculptures of Rodin, out of bronze and marble, as well as the plasters of some of its most known works: The hand of God, Holy Jean Baptist, Balzac, the cathedral and the kiss. One can also find works of Camille Claudel (1864-1943), model and mistress of Rodin, whose more subtle talent was dominated by the extraordinary genius of the Master. The fantastic garden in the English style is full of large trees and sculptures, all original versions. And then there is the statue everyone wants to see, the thinker.

This monument, impossible to miss in Paris, was built to celebrate the Napoleonean victories, in particular the victory of Austerlitz of 1805.

It is located at the center of the place de l'Etoile where twelve avenues, each with one of the names of the largest French generals, converge.

Ordered by Napoleon in 1806, the monument was finished in 1836. On it, the great battles of the Republic and the Empire are reproduced.

On the right, while coming from the Champs-Elysées, the famous Marseillaise of the Rude sculptor represents the departure of the “Volunteers” of 1792.

Enlisted by the Legislative one to face the invasion of the Prussians in Lorraine: it is an allegory of the Fatherland involving the citizens and their defence of the independence.

Under the Arc you can find the grave of the unknown soldier, symbol for those who died in the First World War. The memory is maintained by a eternal burning flame. One can also read the names of the different battles and the 558 generals.

The Large “Gallery of the Evolution” in Paris invites you to discover the history and the evolution and of the whole of the animal species since the origins of life, approximately 4 billion years ago. Lights reconstruct the aquatic environments in 3D. There are sequences of music, documentary videos and interactive programs: all your senses will wake up and your curiosity will grow at the rate/rhythm of the collections. The Large Gallery of the Evolution puts thousands of specimens of animals in scene. On the floor elephants, lions, rhinoceroses and other animals are shown in a decoration of savannah. During your visit the transformation of a cell into living being or the evolution of the man and his environmental impact are explained to you. Within the basement, great temporary exhibitions prolong and supplement the permanent collections.

Only a few steps from the Eiffel Tower, you can find and discover the Museum of the Branly Quay: a collection of art and African, Asian, Ocean and American civilization objects are joined together for the first time. In a big space without partitions, allow you to be guided in the cultural universes of these continents. The installations combined by music, multi-media, photographs and films help you to understand and appreciate the work. Dance spectacles, concerts, traditional or modern performances are regularly proposed within the museum.

With its wall of 800 m², its architecture and its imposing yellow and orange cubes, the Museum of the Branly Quay has gained world recognition together with its creator Jean Nouvel. Contemporary structure and a mix of surrounding plants and harmony makes a visit to the garden of the museum worth while.

In the Paris region, the Defence was the first European businesses district, which offers a wide range of offices.

It primarily consists of high buildings. Defence is a major commercial pole in the “Ile de France” area.

Sixty artworks are strewn on the site of Defence like frescos and modern sculptures often they have a monumental size.
The most remarkable works are: the sculpture of Joan Miro and the fountain of Yaacov Agam.

Located in XVI district, the Palace of Trocadéro is splendid. This building was built for the World Fair of 1878 and was replaced by the current Palace of Chaillot for the international exhibition of arts and techniques of 1937.

Moreover, the garden, the aquarium and the place of Trocadéro were created for the same occasion.

These sites were named in memory of a battle, at the height of Cadiz, in Spain in 1823. The Palace of Chaillot shelters various museums such as the Museum of the Man, the Museum of the Cinema or, the Museum of the Navy.

The Bastille, or the Bastille of Saint-Anthony, was a fortress intended to defend the Saint-Anthony door and the ramparts of the east of Paris which had become vulnerable. The Bastille was, at its beginnings, a true castle. As of the reign of Louis XI, the Bastille was used occasionally like dungeon. Then, the cardinal of Richelieu transformed it into a prison of the State. It was a rather comfortable prison for the people of quality (noble, high bourgeoisies) who had fine meals and a personal servant. The Bastille is qualified by the historians like “le rendez-vous des intellectuels” as well as the lampoons like Brissot or Pawl, victims of the censure.

The gardens of Luxembourg were created in 1612 at the request of Marie de Medicis. Called the “Luco”, the gardens of Luxembourg were attended by successive generations of Parisians, carrying in the imperishable memories of sailing races in the great basin , the walks with the ponies, the swings,... into their adult life. This splendid French garden is also an open air museum of sculptures. It is also used as a teaching place where you will be able to learn the secrecies of bee-keeping,... . It is the meeting place for lots of Parisians and a world wide attraction.

Located in the 9th district of Paris, this private wax museum gathers wax reproductions of famous characters. The Grevin Theatre and the Palace of Mirages belong to the museum. The room of the Columns and the room of the Cupola have very beautiful decorations styles going back to 1882. Today, this museum counts more than 300 wax characters going from Mickael Jackson to Albert Einsten while passing by Tony Parker or Mahatma Gandhi. Within the Grevin museum, many scenes of the French history are reconstituted, like Jeanne d' Arc on roughing-hew it or the captivity of Louis XIV. Come to discover this exceptional attraction.

With the revolution, the statue of Louis XV was destroyed and the place changed its name to become place de la Revolution. In 1830, this place became the place de la Concorde. It was decorated a few years later with eight statues which represent the big cities of France, and two majestic fountains. They surround the obelisk of Louxor, which goes back to 1836. The obelisk of Louxor was a diplomatic gift offered by Muhammad Ali, Vice-roi and Pasha from Egypt. This obelisk, which is 23 meters high, comes from the temple of Ramses II. The point of the obelisk marks its shade on the international hour, making la Concorde the largest sundial place in the world.

After 5 years of work, the Petit Palais (Little palace) has reopened its doors in December 2005. This building was built by Charles Girault for the World Fair of 1900. This palace has rich collections of Antique work, Rennaissance objects, icons of XVème - XVIIème centuries, Flemish and Dutch paintings, as well as an important part of the French art of the XIXème century. Before or after the visit of the museum, you can benefit from a pleasant halt in the beautiful interior garden.

The Large palace was built for the World Fair of 1900 by Charles Girault, instead of the Palace of the Industry which went back to 1855. The Large palace remains an artistic testimony of the Belle Epoque in an iron alliance, of glass and stone. This building shelters today national and international, temporary exposures like: Matisse, Picasso, Chagall, Turner, Whistler or Monet…

In the middle of the Latin Quarter, the Pantheon dominates Paris. During almost all of the 19th century, well before the Eiffel Tower, the Sacre Coeur, Montmartre or the Montparnasse Tower, the Pantheon was the first monument which saw the provincial or the foreigner arriving at Paris. From the Patheon you can admire all off the the city in a single sight. The Holy-Genevieve Basilica became the Pantheon under the French revolution. The Crypt shelters the tombs of more than 70 characters such as Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau to Alexandre Dumas, buried on November 28, 2002.

The national Opera of Paris is a splendid building. This establishment is placed under the supervision of the ministry of Culture which has the main mission of making greatest number works of the inheritance choreographic and lyrics available. The national Opera of Paris has 2 rooms: the Garnier palate and the Opéra Bastille. It has a training centre for lyric art.

At your arrival to the Father-Lachaise, you return in a strange and attractive world where art and nature are linked to create a harmony which alleviates and invites you to meditation and daydreaming. This place is the largest cemetery of Paris and one of most famous in the world. Many famous people are buried there. Each stroll, each course, each passage in this single place, will transport you of a tomb to the other.

At the beginning of the XVIIè century, this building appointed “Palate-Cardinal” in reference to his Richelieu silent partner. A few years later, it became “Palais Royal” when Anne of Austria settled there with the young Louis XIV. Under the Revolution, the Royal Palace lost its nobility because it became a center of agitation and pleasures, accomodating prostitutes and gambling dens. Today, it shelters the Council of State, the Constitutional council, the ministry for the Culture and the communication. At the entry of the Palais Royal, you will discover the columns overhanging an underground grid of river where the Parisian ones or the tourists in evil of love throw parts before formulating a wish.

The Zoological gardens of Paris are located in 12th district in Paris between Lake Daumesnil and the Forest of Vincennes. The Zoo of Vincennes shelters approximately 1200 animals, including 600 birds and 535 mammals. Certain species are rare like the panda, the white rhinoceros, the aye-aye,… The great majority of the animals of the Zoological gardens of Paris belongs to species in the process of disappearance because of the total destruction their forest habitat. The Zoological gardens of Paris always remained with the avant-garde of the conservation with more than 150 births per annum.

The large Mosqué of Paris was built in a hispano-moorish style in remembering the dead Moslem soldiers during the Great War. Dominated by a 33 meters high minaret, space is organized around a large patio of greenery and Maghrebian decoration. In addition to a library and a center of teaching, the whole of the buildings includes/understands a hammam, a restaurant and a café where you will find traditional pastry. Guided visits are advised.

The Boats Flies are an attraction not to miss if you go to Paris. Crossings leave the bridge of Alma, and pass in front of the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame de Pari The spectacle of the gleaming of Paris in the Seine during summer evenings is unforgettable.

In the Disneyland park, the spectacles and attractions of this fairy-like place combine beauty and dream. In the park, Walt Disney Studios will plunge you in the fascinating world of the cinema, animation and television. Benefit from Disney Village for its spectacles and its festival. Whether you are adult or child, you will appreciate the songs, the characters and the imaginary countries, in the middle of different parades.

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