1.0 Introduction

PARIS

Paris is the capital and most populous city of France. It is situated on the

River Seine, in the north of the country, at the heart of the Île-de-France region.

Within its administrative limits (the 20 arrondissements), the city had 2,234,105

inhabitants in 2009 while its metropolitan area is one of the largest population

centres in Europe with more than 12 million inhabitants.

An important settlement for more than two millennia, by the late 12th century

Paris had become a walled cathedral city that was one of Europe's foremost centres

of learning and the arts and the largest city in the Western world until the turn of the

18th century. Paris was the focal point for many important political events throughout

its history, including the French Revolution. Today it is one of the world's leading

business and cultural centres, and its influence in politics, education, entertainment,

media, science, fashion and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world's

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major cities. The city has one of the largest GDPs in the world, €607 billion (US$845

billion) as of 2011, and as a result of its high concentration of national and

international political, cultural and scientific institutions is one of the world's leading

tourist destinations. The Paris Region hosts the world headquarters of 30 of

the Fortune Global 500 companies[6] in several business districts, notablyLa

Défense, the largest dedicated business district in Europe.[7]

Centuries of cultural and political development have brought Paris a variety of

museums, theatres, monuments and architectural styles. Many of its masterpieces

such as the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe are iconic buildings, especially its

internationally recognized symbol, the Eiffel Tower. Long regarded as an

international centre for the arts, works by history's most famous painters can be

found in the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay and its many other museums and galleries.

Paris is a global hub of fashion and has been referred to as the "international capital

of style", noted for its haute couture tailoring, its high-end boutiques, and the twice-

yearly Paris Fashion Week. It is world renowned for its haute cuisine, attracting

many of the world's leading chefs. Many of France's most prestigious universities

and Grandes Écoles are in Paris or its suburbs, and France's major newspapers Le

Monde, Le Figaro, Libération are based in the city, and Le Parisien in Saint-

Ouen near Paris.

Paris is home to the association football club Paris Saint-Germain FC and

the rugby union club Stade Français. The 80,000-seat Stade de France, built for

the 1998 FIFA World Cup, is located in Saint-Denis. Paris hosts the annual French

Open Grand Slam tennis tournament on the red clay of Roland Garros. Paris played

host to the 1900 and 1924 Summer Olympics, the 1938 and 1998 FIFA World Cup,

and the 2007 Rugby World Cup. The city is a major rail, highway, and air-transport

hub, served by the two international airports Paris-Charles de Gaulle andParis-Orly.

Opened in 1900, the city's subway system,the Paris Métro,serves 9 million

passengers daily. Paris is the hub of the national road network, and is surrounded by

three orbital roads: the Périphérique, the A86 motorway, and

the Francilienne motorway in the outer suburbs.

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You couldn't possibly visit Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower. Even if you

do not want to visit this world famous structure, you will see its top from all over

Paris. The tower rises 300 meters tall (984 ft); when it was completed at the end of

the 19th century it was twice as high as theWashington Monument, at the time the

tallest structure in the world.

1.1 1889 World ExhibitionThe Eiffel Tower was built for the World Exhibition in 1889, held in celebration

of the French Revolution in 1789. The construction was only meant to last for the

duration of the Exposition, but it still stands today, despite all protests from

contemporary artists who feared the construction would be the advent of structures

without 'individuality' and despite the many people who feared that this huge 'object'

would not fit into the architecture of Paris.

2.0 Places In Paris

Eiffel TowerTour Eiffel

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Today, there is no such aversion anymore among the Parisians, and one

could not imagine Paris without the Eiffel Tower, in fact it has become the symbol of

the City of Light.

Gustave EiffelThe man behind the Eiffel Tower was Gustave Eiffel, known from his

revolutionary bridge building techniques, as employed in the great viaduct at Garabit

in 1884. These techniques would form the basis for the construction of the Eiffel

Tower. He was also known for the construction of the Statue of Liberty's iron

framework.

The structure took more than two years to complete. Each one of the about

12,000 iron pieces were designed separately to give them exactly the shape

needed.All pieces were prefabricated and fit together using approx.7 million nails.

separately to give them exactly the shape needed. All pieces were prefabricated and

fit together using approx. 7 million nails.

The TallestInaugurated March 31, 1889, the Eiffel Tower would be the tallest structure in the

world until the completion of theChrysler Building in 1930.

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LouvreMusée du Louvre

The Louvre, originally a royal palace but now the world's most famous

museum, is a must-visit for anyone with a slight interest in art. Some of the

museum's most celebrated works of art include the Mona Lisa and the Venus of Milo.

The Louvre Museum is one of the largest and most important museums in the world.

It is housed in the expansive Louvre Palace, situated in the 1st arrondissement, at

the heart of Paris.

Louvre Museum

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Lourve Interior

SEATED SCRIBESully Wing

The Sully wing is the oldest part of the Louvre. The second floor holds a

collection of French paintings, drawings and prints. One of the highlights is the erotic

Turkish Bath, painted in the late 18th century by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres. 

The first and ground floors of the Sully wing display works from the enormous

collection of antiquities. In the 30 rooms with Egyptian antiquities you find artifacts

and sculptures from Ancient Egypt such as the famous Seated Scribe and a colossal

statue of Pharaoh Ramesses II. On the ground floor is the statue of Aphrodite, better

known as the 'Venus of Milo', one of the highlights of the Louvre's Greek collection.

For something completely different, you can go to the Lower Ground Floor of the

Sully wing where you can see some remnants of the medieval castle of the Louvre.

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Richelieu Wing

NAPOLEON III APARTMENT

Marly Horse

Mona Lisa

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Winged Victory

Paintings from the Middle Ages up to the 19th century from across Europe are

on the second floor of the Richelieu wing, including many works from master painters

such as Rubens and Rembrandt.Some of the most notable works are the Lacemaker

from Jan Vermeer and the Virgin of Chancellor Rolin, a 15th century work by the

Flemish painter Jan van Eyck. The first floor of the Richelieu wing houses a

collection of decorative arts, with objects such as clocks, furniture, china and

tapestries.

On the same floor are the sumptuously decorated Napoleon III Apartments. They

give you an idea of what the Louvre interior looked like when it was still in use as a

royal palaceThe ground and lower ground floor are home to the Louvre's extensive

collection of sculptures. They are arranged around two glass covered courtyards:

Cour Puget and Cour Marly. The latter houses the Horses of Marly, large marble

sculptures created in the 18th century by Guillaume Coustou. Nearby is the Tomb of

Philippe Pot, supported by eight Pleurants ('weepers').The ground floor also houses

a collection of antiquities from the Near East. The main attraction here is the Code of

Hammurabi, a large basalt stele from the 18th century BC, inscribed with the

Babylonian law code.

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Denon WingThe Denon Wing is the most crowded of the three wings of the Louvre

Museum; the Mona Lisa, a portrait of a woman by Leonardo da Vinci on the first floor

is the biggest crowd puller. There are other masterpieces however, including the

Wedding Feast at Cana from Veronese and the Consecration of Emperor Napoleon I

by Jacques Louis David. Another star attraction of the museum is the Winged Victory

of Samothrace, a Greek marble statue displayed at a prominent spot in the atrium

connecting the Denon wing with the Sully wing.The ground floor of the Denon wing

houses the museum's large collection of Roman and Etruscan antiquities as well as

a collection of sculptures from the Renaissance to the 19th century.

Here you find Antonio Canova's marble statue of Psyche Revived by Cupid's

Kiss. Even more famous is Michelangelo's Dying Slave. On the same floor are eight

rooms with artifacts from Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas. Medieval

sculptures from Europe are displayed on the lower ground floor of the Denon wing.

History of the Louvre Palace

The Louvre in the 15th century

Louvre seen from across

the Seine

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Richelieu Wing

The Louvre was created in several phases. Originally built as a 12th century

fortress by King Philip II, it was significantly expanded in the 14th century during the

reign of King Charles V. Its current palatial appearance goes back to the late 15th

century, when the original fortress was demolished and the wing along the Seine

river was built. The palace was extended during the 16th century by architect Pierre

Lescot, who expanded the palace into a complex with two courtyards. A decade later

Catharina de Medici added the Tuileries Palace to the west of the Louvre.

Construction on the Louvre was halted for some time when king Louis XIV decided

to move to the Versailles Palace.

In the 19th century, during the Second Empire, the Louvre was expanded

again with the addition of the Richelieu wing. The wings were extended even further

westward during the Third Empire. The Louvre now had four symmetric wings

surrounding a large courtyard. This would not last long, as the Communards burned

the Tuileries Palace to the ground in 1871, opening up the west side of the palace.

Louvre Pyramid

Louvre Pyramid

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The most recent addition to the Louvre was the construction of the Louvre Pyramid,

which functions as the museum's main entrance. The pyramid was built in 1989 by

the renowned American architect I.M. Pei. The glass pyramid allows the sunlight to

enter the underground floor.The modern addition originally received mixed reviews,

as it contrasts sharply with the classical design of the surrounding buildings, but

today it is generally accepted as a clever solution which has given the museum a

spacious central entrance without the need to touch the historic patrimony.

Notre DameCathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris

Not the largest cathedral in the world, the Notre-Dame might be the most famous of

all cathedrals. The gothic masterpiece is located on the Île de la Cité, a small island

in the heart of the city.

3.0 A Religious site

Notre Dame de Paris

The site of the Notre dame is the cradle of Paris and has always been the religious

center of the city. The Celts had their sacred ground here, the Romans built a temple

to worship Jupiter. A Christian basilica was built in the 6th century and the last

religious structure before the Notre-Dame construction started was a Romanesque

church.

4.0 Construction

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Construction

Bishop Maurice de Sully started the construction in 1163. The Cathedral was

to be built in the new gothic style and had to reflect Paris's status as the capital of the

Kingdom France. It was the first cathedral built on a monumental scale and became

the prototype for future cathedrals in France, like the cathedrals of Amiens, Chartres

or Rheims, just to name the most famous.

5.0 The Buildings

The Building

Gargoyle

It took until 1345 before the cathedral was completed, partly because the

design was enlarged during construction. The result is an overwhelming building,

128m long (420 ft) with two 69 meter tall towers (226 ft). The spire, which reaches

90m (295 ft), was added in the 19th century by Viollet-le-Duc. The Notre-Dame

Cathedral has several large rose windows, the northern 13th century window is the

most impressive. The massive window has a diameter of 13.1 meter.

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Gallery of Kings

The frontal west facade features 3 wide portals; above the portals is the

Gallery of Kings - 28 statues of Judean Kings - and higher up are the famous

gargoyles and grotesques. The spectacular eastern flying buttresses at the east side

of the building are 15m wide.

6.0 RestorationDuring the Revolution, many of the cathedral's sculptures, gargoyles and

interior was removed or demolished. Even the gallery of Kings was severely

damaged: the revolutionaries though the statues represented French Kings.

Inside the cathedral

It wasn't until the 19th century before the Cathedral was fully restored thanks in part

to the writer Victor Hugo, who with his book 'Notre-Dame de Paris', made the

Parisians realise the cathedral was worth restoring. The 20 year long restoration was

led by a local architect, Eugène Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc. Viollet-le-Duc made

drastic, controversial modifications to the building and even added a spire. The

cathedral was restored again between 1991 and 2001, this time the historic

architecture was carefully preserved.

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Sacré-CoeurBasilica of the Sacred HeartThe Sacré-Coeur Basilica is one of Paris's major tourist draws. The majestic building

is located on top of the Montmartre hill.

Sacré-Coeur

MontmartreAbove all, Montmartre, an area on a hill in the 18th arrondissement, north of

downtown Paris, is known for its many artists who have been omnipresent since

1880. The name Montmartre is said to be derived from either Mount of Martyrs or

from Mount of Mars. Until 1873, when the Sacré-Coeur was built on top of the

hill,Montmartre was a small village, inhabited by a mostly farming community.

The Basilica ProjectThe project to build the Sacré-Coeur Basilica (Basilica of the Sacred Heart)

was initiated by a group of influential people. Their reasons to build this monument

was two-fold:

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King Louis IX

They had pledged to build a church if Paris escaped unscathed from the war with the

Prussians and they saw the defeat of the French at the hands of the Prussian army

in 1870 as a moral condemnation of the sins of Paris.

The project was authorized by the National Assembly in 1873, and a competition

was organized. The goal was to build an imposing basilica true to Christian

traditions.

The winner of the competition was Paul Abadie, who had already restored two

cathedrals in France. He designed an immense basilica in a Roman-Byzantyne style.

This architectural style stands in sharp contrast with other contemporary buildings in

France,which were mostly built in a Romanesque style.

Parc des Buttes-Chaumont

Construction of the Basilica started in 1876 with Abadie as the lead architect.

When Paul Abadie died in 1884, he was succeeded by Lucien Magne, who added an

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83 meter (272 ft) tall clock tower. The Savoyarde clock installed here is one of the

world's largest. Due to its location on the Montmartre hill, the basilica towers over the

city; its highest point is even higher than the top of the Eiffel Tower. Thanks to this

prominent location the Sacré-Coeur Basilica is one of the most noticeable landmarks

in Paris.

White StonesThe Sacré-Coeur Basilica has managed to keep its beaming white color even

in the polluted air of a big city like Paris. This can be attributed to the Château-

Landon stones which were used for the construction of the Sacré-Coeur. When it

rains, the stones react to the water and secrete calcite, which acts like a bleacher.

Champs-ElyséesThe Avenue des Champs-Elysées is probably the most famous avenue in the

world.

Champs-Elysées

7.0 OrientationThis impressive promenade stretches from the Place the la Concorde to the

Place Charles de Gaulle, the site of theArc de Triomphe. At its western end the

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Champs-Elysées is bordered by cinemas, theaters, cafés and luxury shops. Near the

Place de la Concorde, the street is bordered by the Jardins des Champs-Elysées,

beautifully arranged gardens with fountains and some grand buildings including

the Grand and Petit Palais at the southern side and the Elysée at its northern side.

The latter has been the residence of the French Presidents since 1873.

8.0 CelebrationsThe Champs-Elysées is used for all the major celebrations. This is where

Parisians celebrate New Year's Eve and where the military parades are held on the

14th of July. Historic national events, like the Liberation at the end of the second

World War or the victory in the World Cup football were also celebrated on this wide

avenue.

17th century - The Elysian FieldsIn the 16th century this area was nothing but fields outside the center of Paris.

In 1616 Marie de Medicis decided to create a long tree-lined path going east from

the Tuileries. The route was redesigned in 1667 by renowned landscape designer

André Le Nôtre as an extension of theJardins des Tuileries. The promenade, now

called 'Grande Allée du Roule' or 'Grand-Cours' had become a fashionable place but

was still isolated from the city with few buildings surrounding the area. 27 Years later

the promenade was renamed to 'Champs-Elysées', or Elysian Fields in English. The

name was derived from Greek mythology where 'Elusia' is a place where heroes

come to relax.

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18th & 19th century - Further DevelopmentIn 1724 the Champs-Elysées was extended all the way to the Chaillot hill

(now known as l'Etoile, the site of the Arc de Triomphe). Its current form took shape

in 1838 when French architect Ignaz Hittorf - who was redesigning the Place de la

Concorde - created the Jardins des Champs-Elysées. He also installed sidewalks,

gas lamps and fountains. The Champs-Elysées started to attract more and more

restaurants and hotels, especially after 1900 when the Paris métro line nr 1 reached

the Etoile station.

Current DesignThe latest redesign of the prestigious avenue was done in 1994 by Bernard

Huet. The side lanes were converted into pedestrian zones, an underground parking

lot was created and new trees were planted. Cars now only occupy half the width of

this grand avenue.

9.0 The Art

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Arc de TriompheIn the middle of the Place Charles de Gaulle, at the border of the 8th, 16th and

17th arrondissement stands one of the greatest arches in history: the Arc de

Triomphe (arch of triumph).

Arc de Triomphe

Marseillaise Relief

Napoleon's Triumphal ArchThe arch was commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 to commemorate his

victories, but he was ousted before the arch was completed. In fact, it wasn't

completed until 1836 during the reign of Louis-Philippe. The Arc de Triomphe is

engraved with names of generals who commanded French troops during Napoleon's

regime.

10.0 Design

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The design of the arch by Jean Chalgrin is based on the Arch of

Titus in Rome. The Arc de Triomphe is much higher (50m versus 15m), but it has

exactly the same proportions.The triumphal arch is adorned with many reliefs, most

of them commemorating the emperor's battles. Among them are the battle of

Aboukir, Napoleons victory over the Turkish and the Battle of Austerliz, where

Napoleon defeated the Austrians.The best known relief is the Departure of the

Volunteers in 1792, also known as the Marseillaise. At the top of the arch are 30

shields, each of them bears the name of one of Napoleon's successful battles. Below

the arch is the Grave of the Unknown Soldiers, honoring the many who died during

the first World War.

Place Charles de Gaulle

The arch is located at the end of theChamps-Elysées, in the middle of the

Place Charles de Gaulle, a large circular square from which no less than 12 streets

emanate. The streets are named after French military leaders.

Observation deck

View from Arc de Triomphe

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The top of the arch features a viewing platform from where you have great views

of La Defense, the Champs-Elysées and the Sacré-Coeur. Make sure you take one

of the underpasses to the arch, it is too dangerous to try and cross the street. There

is no elevator in the arch, so be prepared to walk up 234 steps.

11.0 HistoryVersailles Palace

Château de VersaillesThe magnificent Château de Versailles is a testimony of the Sun King's

extravaganza. The Palace and its magnificent formal garden became the

quintessential model for palaces in Europe.

Brief HistoryThe town of Versailles sits about 20 kilometers outside of Paris. The first

mention of the town and estate was in 1038, when the name appeared in a charter of

the Abbey of Saint-Père de Chartres. By the end of the 11th century,Versailles was a

country village enveloping a castle and the church of Saint-Julien,remaining

prosperous until well into the 13 th century.After the Hundred Years War,however,only

a handful of people lived there.

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Versailles Palace

Royal PresenceIn the 16th century, the Gondi family became the rulers of Versailles and the

town began to gain acclaim when future King Louis XIII visited and became

enamored with the site. He purchased land in the area and proceeded to build a

small brick and stone lodge there in 1622. 

Statue of Louis XIV

Ten years later, he became the lord of Versailles and began enlarging his lodge.

Soon, he purchased more land as well as Gondi's estate. Louis XIII dies in 1643.

The Sun KingIn 1662, the new king - Louis XIV - took an earnest interest in Versailles.

Louis XIV, also known as The Sun King, distrusted the Parisians and wanted to

move his Royal Residence away from the Louvre Palace, which was at the heart of

constant political turbulence. The Sun King was largely responsible for the expansion

that resulted in the building that still stands today. He hired architect Louis Le Vau

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along with artist Charles Le Brun to carry out the work on this Baroque masterpiece,

which became the quintessential model for all palaces in Europe. Famed gardener

André le Nôtre was responsible for the unequalled Versailles Garden.

Royal Chapel

After Le Vau's death, Jules Hardouin- Mansart was commissioned to triple the

size of the palace. Under his watchful eye, the northern and southern wings, the

Orangerie, the Grand Trianon (a chateau) and the Royal Chapel were constructed.

Later additions included the Opera and the Petit Trianon (a small chateau), which

was built between the years 1761 - 1764 for Louis XV and Madame de Pompadour.

The French RevolutionDuring the French Revolution, the incredible collection of paintings, antiques,

and other works of art that had been amassed at Versailles were transferred to

the Louvre and other important items went to the National Library and Conservatory

of Arts and Crafts. Most of the furniture, historians say, was sold at auction.

A Palatial Museum

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Royal palace

After the Revolution, Napoleon spent his summers at Versailles until he

abdicated. Later, it was Louis-Phillipe who, in 1830, transformed the chateau into a

grand museum, dedicated to "the glory of France." The Chapel, the Opera, and the

Hall of Mirrors were preserved but many smaller apartments were destroyed to make

room for spacious exhibition halls. In the 1960s, however, curator Pierre Verlet was

responsible for getting some of the furnishings back and restoring a number of the

royal apartments.

Today, visitors to Versailles can visit much of the interior of this spectacular

palace, as well as its world-famous garden.

12.0 Interior

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Notable rooms include:

Hall of Mirrors

The Hall of Mirrors - Some call this Louis XIV's most notable contribution to

Versailles. The main feature of the hall is the seventeen mirrored arches that reflect

the seventeen arcaded windows which look out onto Versailles equally- magnificent

garden. Each arch contains twenty-one mirrors, for a total of 357 in all. This

magnificent hall measures 73 meters long, 10.5 meters wide, and 12.3 meters high

(240x34x40ft). Statues and busts line the walls. The Hall of Mirrors has always

played an important role in history including in 1919, as the First World War officially

ended when Germany signed the Treaty of Versailles in this hall.

Royal Chapel

Chapel of Versailles - The current chapel of Versailles is the fifth at the

palace. Construction began in 1689 and was completed around 1710. It features a

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"tribune" on the same level as the royal apartments, overlooking the nave, where the

kings would sit when they attended mass. The architecture is a combination of

Gothic and Baroque. Many of its features resemble cathedrals of medieval times,

including the gargoyles and pointed roof, but other features are more reminiscent of

the era in which it was built, including colored marble tile floors, columns, and carved

pillars.

The Grand Apartment - Originally known as the Apartment of the Planets (the

7 salons of this apartment each featured a painting of a planet), 

The Queen's bedroom

This was King Louis XIV's apartment. While the entire apartment and all its

salons are amazing, most notable are the ceilings, painted by Painter to the King,

Charles Le Brun and his team of artists.

Royal Opera - The auditorium of the Opera is fashioned entirely from wood,

making it one of the most acoustically "live" theaters in the world. Though it was a

court theater and not meant for a huge public audience, it seats more than 700.

Gold, pink, and green dominate the decor for the Opera, which wasn't constructed

until 1770. It was first used for the wedding ball of future king Louis XVI and Marie

Antoinette and boasts a unique mechanical system that raises the floor to the level of

the stage. Today, it is still used for concerts and operas.

13.0 The Garden

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Geometric Garden

At 100 hectare (about 250 acre), the garden of the Versailles Palace is

Europe's largest palace garden. It was created in the 17th century by landscape

gardener André Le Nôtre who designed what could be considered the quintessential

formal French garden. The garden is laid out in a geometric pattern of paths, bushes,

flowerbeds and trees. Le Nôtre also drained the swampy, sloping terrain and created

a series of basins and a large canal, known as the Grand Canal.

Latona Fountain

Several fountains adorn the basins. The most famous are the Latona Fountain

- with a statue of the goddess Latona - and the Apollo Fountain - named after the

sun god and depicting the Sun King riding a chariot. There are several other

fountains in the garden, such as the Neptune Fountain. The fountains were installed

to entertain the many guests invited to the lavish parties organized by King Louis

XIV. Another noteworthy decoration in the garden is the Colonnade, a circular row of

marble columns, designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart.

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Petit Trianon

There are also a couple of smaller palaces in the garden: the Grand Trianon

and the Petit Trianon. Some 10,000 people worked in the Versailles Palace, so

privacy was minimal. Hence King Louis XIV ordered the construction of the Grand

Trianon, a palace almost as luxurious as the main palace where the king could

escape the formalities of the court and arrange rendezvous with his mistress. His

successor, king Louis XV later built the smaller Petit Trianon for the same reason.

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14.0 Top 10 Reasons Why People Like To Visit Paris

I've tried to pick my top 10 reasons to visit Paris below. It's not been easy, but here

we go - not in any specific order.

1) The Buildings and MonumentsParis has some beautiful and historic buildings and monuments. Here are some that

you must see (click on the links to get more information and see a photograph):

The Eiffel Tower - the most famous of all, and one of the most iconic constructions in

the World.

The Arc de Triomphe, at the end of the Champs Elysees.Notre Dame Cathedral, the

most visited attraction, which dates back to 1163.

The Sacre Coeur Basilica, located high above the City in Montmartre.

The Louvre Museum, which contains the Mona Lisa and many other works of art.

 

2) The Food and WineSample the many delicious cheeses, bread, patisserie, pates, the great French

wines, the gourmet restaurants, as well as paying a visit to the Champagne Region,

which is just a day trip away.

 

3) The Shopping and FashionGo for the Sales, visit the great department stores Lafayette and Printemps, stroll

along the Champs Elysees, or visit the annual fashion shows.

 

4) The CultureVisit The Louvre to see the Mona Lisa and so much more.

Admire the art at the Musée d'Orsay, Musée Picasso, the modern art at the

Pompidou Centre, and Monet's famous "Nymphéas" (Water Lilies) at Musée de

l'Orangerie.

See Rodin's wonderful sculptures at the Musée Rodin, including the famous "The

Thinker."

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5) The Theme ParksGreat days out for the children (actually for the whole family) at Disneyland® Pari

and Parc Asterix.

 

6) The HistoryThere is so much so much history to see in Paris. Just selecting 3 favourites, I

suggest the following:

Notre Dame, the great Gothic Cathedral, built in the 12th and 13th centuries.

 La Conciergerie, famous as the prison, where so many were held before execution

at the guillotine during the French Revolution in the 1790s. Here you can see Marie

Antoinette's prison cell, which was converted into a chapel in her memory.

The Palace of Versailles, the royal castle and hub of French political power for a

century, after King Louis moved there in 1682. This is a little outside Paris, but only a

short journey, and well worth a visit.

7) The Parks and Gardens 

Walk in the Jardin des Tuileries (Tuileries Gardens) on your way from the Louvre

Museum to the Champs Elysees (or vice versa). This is a place where I like to rest

weary feet, linger over a coffee, or have a light lunch with a small pichet (carafe) of

wine.Visit Luxembourg Gardens, perhaps the most famous gardens, where you can

just sit in the Sun, listen to music at the weekend, play boules, or even buy the

honey produced in the garden's bee-hives at the end of the Summer.

Or you can visit one of my personal favourites, Parc Monceau. This is much more

informal than Luxembourg Gardens and a little off the beaten track, though not all

that far from the Arc de Triomphe.

8) A Boat Trip on the River SeineYes, you can take a cruise on the River Seine right through the heart of Paris. You

can eat on board some cruises, or you can just relax and take in the great views,

including Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and the romantic bridges of

Paris.

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 9) The Night LifeParis has some fabulous night life. I love the jazz clubs, for which Paris is well

renowned, but even more popular with tourists are the great shows at places such as

the Lido, the Moulin Rouge and the Crazy Horse. You can eat and be entertained.

10) The WalkingIn my view, the most simple pleasure of all, and in Paris, one of the very best. Walk

around at your leisure or take an Organized Theme Walk with a local expert guide.

There are so many more things to see and do, but I can't include them all here. For

example, there is music at the Concert Halls and at the Opera House. Or the sport -

Paris is a great venue for Tennis, Rugby and Football (Soccer).

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