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Paris Attractions
Paris attractions stagger the imagination in their beauty, significance, number and variety. The purpose of this page is to provide brief sketches of Paris’ major attractions with links to individual Attractions pages of this website for more detailed information. Many of the attractions of Paris can be seen from a Paris tour boat such as the one shown above. After reviewing the individual Attractions pages, you may want to print and use this page as a checklist for planning and prioritizing your sightseeing in Paris. The individual attractions pages, linked to in the headings below, are designed to help you make choices and plan an itinerary consistent with your available time and individual interests. In addition, the individual attractions pages include links to photos Gerry took during his 2006 vacation. The Arc de Triomphe was conceived by Napoleon Bonaparte who was inspired by Roman triumphal arches. It commemorates the bravery of Napoleon's soldiers and was designed for victorious soldiers to march through after battle.
One of the most famous and beautiful streets in the world, the Champs-Elysees literally means Elysian Fields, corresponding to heaven in Greek mythology. The Champs-Elysees was conceived in 1610 to give King Louis XIV a royal view from the Tuileries Gardens. Today the Champs-Elysees begins at the Arc de Triomphe and continues to the Place de la Concorde. The roundabout called the Rond-Point des Champs-Elysees divides the boulevard into two parts. In the lower part you'll find gardens, museums, and theaters as well as a few restaurants. This is the area toward the Place de la Concorde. The area near the Arc de Triomphe is called the upper part. It was originally the place for upscale shopping and hotels, as well as restaurants and pavement cafes. Since the World War II it has become less upscale. Expect to find cafes, fast food, souvenir shops, airline offices, and malls at this end. The Eiffel Tower majestically symbolizes Paris and is the best known European monument. The Tower was built by the engineer Gustave Eiffel as the centerpiece of the 1889 Paris World’s Fair, and it marked the centennial of the French Revolution. There are three levels, with the second and third levels offering striking panoramic views of Paris. From the top level on a clear day, you can see about 45 miles (70 km). The Eiffel Tower was renovated in 1989 to celebrate its 100th birthday. Les Invalides consists of museums and monuments that memoralize the military history of France. Les Invalides was started in 1670 by King Louis XIV as a home and hospital for sick and retired soldiers. In 1861 Napoleon's magnificent tomb was completed, and it is the primary attraction in Les Invalides today. Tombs of some other notable French war heroes are now part of the Les Invalides complex. Here you will see more monuments in one place than anywhere else in Paris. The Louvre is the world’s largest art museum and, arguably the world's most famous. The Louvre's most popular piece is Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa." The Louvre was established in 1793, and is one of the oldest museums in Europe. The Louvre presents Western art from the middle ages to about 1848, at which point the Musee d’Orsay takes over. Also exhibited are works of ancient civilizations that formed the starting point for Western art and some other important collections. Click on Paris Muse for a private guided tour in the great art museums of Paris. The translation of Montmartre is the mountain of the martyr St. Denis, a Bishop of Paris and the patron saint of France, who, among othere, was beheaded here around the year 250. This is the highest hill in Paris, which explains why it was a popular place for public execution. When visiting Montmartre, you will want to see the striking Basilica of the Sacre Coeur. Catholics consider Sacre Coeur a prime place of devotion to the Virgin Mary. Pilgrims come from all over the world to see it. The basilica sits on top of Montmartre and has both patriotic and religious significance. Today, artists gather at the Place du Tertre, a large square long famous for artists selling their work as well as painting or drawing portraits. It is a short walk from Sacre Coeur. Construction of the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris began in 1163 during the reign of Louis VII and was completed roughly 200 years later in about 1345. The cathedral was originally built in a gothic style, but during the Renaissance, France decided to modernize it. During the Revolution, the image was changed again and it was called the Temple of Reason. The official name of the cathedral is Notre-Dame de Paris, French for "Our Lady of Paris." It is still used as a Roman Catholic Cathedral. Today it is considered one of the finest example of Gothic architecture anywhere. In 1986, Musee d’Orsay opened in a former railway station and is considered by many as the easiest museum to use in the world. The museum exhibits the most beautiful art from 1848 until World War I, and 95% of it is French. The ground floor is dominated by the Academic School and its regimented style. Sculpture and Art Nouveau have their space, but the top floor, with the Impressionists bathed in soft light from the station’s glass-vaulted roof, is by far the most popular part of the museum. The great artists represented here include Monet, Manet, Renoir, Pissaro, Degas, Cezanne and Van Gough. The Pompidou Center is one of the most spectacular buildings in Paris. In order to have as much space as possible inside, the air ducts, heating shafts, and stairwells are on the outside. The steel beams that make up the frame are also on the outside. It gives the impression of a building turned inside out. People either love the architecture or hate it, but visitors come in droves. The only Paris museum more visited is the Louvre. Part of the reason for its popularity is likely because what you will find inside is as unique as the outside. The Centre Pompidou has often been called one of the most important museums in the world. The goal of the Pompidou Centre is to spread knowledge about 20th century works as well as those of this millennium. Auguste Rodin is widely considered the greatest sculptor since Michelangelo. His most famous work is "The Thinker," but Rodin was prolific and created many other famous sculptures, inclding "The Hand of God, "The Kiss," "The Walking Man," "Balzak," "The Three Shades," "The Burgers of Calais" and "The Gates of Hell." All of these works are at the Rodin Museum which also includes works of some other famous artists. The museum opened in 1919, two years after Rodin's death, in a former mansion. Many of Rodin's sculptures are displayed outside and all around the mansion in a beautiful garden setting. Sainte-Chapelle literally translates to "Holy Chapel." It is considered a perfect example of the Rayonnant Style of Gothic Architecture. King Louis IX built it to house the Crown of Thorns and a fragment of the cross. He had earlier purchased these from Emperor Baldwin II at Constantinople for over twice what the entire chapel took to build. Louis thought that obtaining these relics of the Crucifixion would prove France to be the leader of western Christianity. Sainte-Chapelle was completed on April 25, 1248. It has an upper chapel designed for royaly and a lower chapel for the palace's parish. Over 1000 figures are shown in the stained-glass windows in the upper chapel depicting stories of the Bible. These windows when illuminated by sunlight are stunningly and incredibly beautiful.
Paris has over 400 parks and gardens, making it one of the greenest cities in Europe. Some parks and gardens were part of former royal palaces; others were added during Napoleon III's 19th century restructuring of the city. Others still are relatively modern, added in the 20th century. All combine to give Paris a lovely and peaceful countenance. Some of the most famous and most lovely of Paris' parks and gardens include the Tuileries Gardens, Luxembourg Gardens, Gardens at the Palais Royal, Bois de Boulogne, Place des Vosges, Bois de Vincennes, Trocadero Gardens, Parc de la Villette and Parc de la Villette. All of these are described in the Parks and Gardens page of this website linked in the above heading. The many Paris places of worship that dot the city reflect its traditionally Catholic heritage as well as its modern acceptance of all faiths. From the historic grand cathedrals to the humble parish churches, you'll find something of interest in all of them. The Paris Churches page of this website, linked in the above heading, discusses historic Paris churches and provides lists and links for Protestent and Catholic churches, Jewish Synagogues, and Moslem Temples. Paris shopping is part of the fun of visiting the City of Light. Parisians seem to have a style all of their own and the rest of the world is eager to copy it. Paris shopping ranges from small boutiques to art galleries to large, stylish department stores. The Paris Shopping page of this website, linked in the above heading, discusses shopping for fashion, antiques, books, souvenirs, food and wine and perfume. Also discussed are major Paris department stores, shopping centers and streets and bargain shopping. Paris nightlife is diverse and exciting. Nighttime activities in the city range from quiet jazz clubs to big production reviews to Paris' many cultural events. The City of Light is particularly known for its lavish shows featuring beautiful women and can-can dance routines. The Paris Nightlife page of this website, linked in the above heading, discusses Paris dance clubs, Jazz Clubs (Caveaux), famous bars, nightclubs and cabarets and Paris performing arts.
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