Paris France

‘Paris Landmarks and Museums’

 

Arc De Triomphe


In 1806, Napoleon I decided to build an arch in place de l’Etoile to glorify the Grande Armée. The architect Jean-françois Chalgrin designed it and the building work was finished in 1836, under Louis-Philippe. The monument’s pedestals were ornated with four allegorical high reliefs by Cortot, Etex and particularly Rude ...

Batobus


Beyond the excellent Metro subway and RER light rail, eleven months a year you can get around Paris by boat. That's right, along the Seine from February through December, the Batobus stops near 8 major Paris landmarks. In low season the boat stops running at 4:30 at night, ...

Catacombs of Paris


Underneath Paris are the bones and stories of many centuries of history. In the 1700's the cemeteries of Paris were literally packed to the gills and making nearby neighbors sick when the city moved the remains underground. You will literally see piled-up bones in mind-boggling stacks, and ...

Centre Georges Pompidou


Sometimes described as a giant see-through exoskeleton, this Right Bank fixture is a cultural center featuring the National Museum of Modern Art, the fancy restaurant Georges, live performers and public library, among many things worth seeing. LG Address: Centre Georges Pompidou Map it! Place Georges Pompidou Metro: Les Halles, Line 4; Rambuteau or ...

Cineaqua


This is a very new addition to Paris touring, and a welcome one for families.  There are movies, vast exhibits, and, like any Paris landmark, has excellent on site food.    It's entirely underground, with the largest tank being 60 feet below.   You don't just walk past tanks; there is a ...

Eiffel Tower


I've been to Paris over 15 times yet I've never climbed the Eiffel Tower. I look at the Eiffel Tower, dream of the Eiffel Tower, and find it beautiful to ponder, yet I don't feel it necessary to visit it directly. - JR [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Eiffel Tower at ...

Eurodisney – Disneyland Paris


Families from all over Europe, Africa, India, Asia, and, of course, the USA, come to this ultimate Disney theme park. The planners have learned from every prior park and really deliver an exceptional experience. Hotel and ticket packages are very cheap compared to Paris prices, because of ...

La Conciergerie


The Conciergerie was part of the first palace of the kings of France. In 1391 it became the first prison in Paris. Located on the Cite island, near both Notre Dame cathedral and Sainte Chapelle, the Conciergerie became infamous during the French revolution. In 1793 and 1794 over ...

La Madeleine Church


Around the corner from the Opera Garnier is another Roman-esque edifice.  It looks like a court building or  a library, but indeed it is a church.  It's meant to evoke the Pantheon, and in fact nearly became a library or a train station, before it was consecrated in 1842. The ...

Les Invalides


The former French Military hospital now houses museums and the tomb of Napoleon. Be sure to check out the amazing army museum on your visit. Les Invalides Map it! Esplanade des Invalides 75007 Paris (33) 0810 11 33 99 http://www.invalides.org/ Getting there: Metro stops: Line 8: Latour-Maubourg, Invalides or Line 13: Saint-François-Xavier, Invalides, Varenne RER : ...

Les Puces de Saint-Ouen


Try to visit a Paris flea market if your trip permits. This one is Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Everything from junk to antiques, plus vintage clothes. More expensive than others, perhaps because it's closer in. Take the metro to Clingancourt and you'll see it. ...

Luxembourg Gardens


The Luxembourg Gardens (in French Jardins de Luxembourg) is one of Paris's most relaxing places. Get off at either of three Metro stops: Saint-Sulpice, Rennes, or Saint-Placide. Follow the street signs for Jardins de Luxembourg. Luxembourg Gardens Map it!

Montmartre Vineyards


Even frequent visitors don't know grapes grow in Paris. Lest you think it dates back to the kings, it is in fact from 1932. Not a "grand cru", but a bottle makes a nice memento. The Montmartre vineyards make one side the famed Montmartre hill look ...

Musee Carnavalet


This covers the history of Paris, especially focusing on the art and furnishings pre and post Revolution. It's in a grand Napoleonic townhouse in a lovely part of Paris for dining, as well. It might not be at the top of the list on a short first ...

Musee d L’Orangerie


Behind the Louvre are the Tuileries Gardens, and there you'll find this museum which focuses on Monet, a love-hate artist for many. The museum was constructed to his specification in 1922, after he donated 8 paintings to the French state. Extensive renovations uncovered the remains of ...

Musee du Vin (Wine Museum)


Metro line 6 will take you a little east of central Paris. Get off at Passy and you can visit this former monastery, where the history of viticulture and wine is told with a display of objects and an audio guide. There is an onsite restaurant and you ...

Musee Marmottan


On the east side of the Bois du Boulogne, you'll find an Impressionist painting collection second only to the Musee d'Orsay, with much less crowded viewing. The standard museum pass is not accepted, but you can buy admission, of course. Monet's "Water Lilies", anyone? LG Address: Musee Marmottan Map it! 2 ...

Notre Dame Cathedral


Notre Dame has been through it all. As Paris as Paris herself, Notre Dame is situated on the island that was the first area of Paris settled 1300 years or so ago!  On Sundays at 10 a.m.,  you can catch the gorgeous Gregorian chanted mass. Visit the official Notre ...

Opera Garnier


Ceiling by Chagall, commissioned by Napoleon III and built in a gorgeous neoclassical style, this can be visited from 10-4:30 every day of the week.   In 1989, a second, modern opera house opened at the Bastille.  Use the website if you want to buy tickets to a  performance.   There ...

Pere-Lachaise Cemetery


Jim Morrison, Oscar Wild, Max Ernst, Maria Callas, Edith Piaf and many others are at eternal rest here. There are holocaust monuments you should not skip. You can buy a map at the entrance and should plan for the fact that this is a big place with ...

Picasso Museum


Picasso was Spanish but the French claimed him. . . and his estate, which was given to the government to settle his death taxes. This museum has works from every period. Free every 1st Sunday of the month, free for 17 and under. Near ...

Place De La Concorde


Originally known as place Louis-XV, this square was created between 1755 and 1775 by the architect, Gabriel. Renamed "Place de la Révolution" in 1792, a guillotine was installed in the center and 2800 executions took place including that of King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette. Louis-Philippe christened it Place ...

Place Vendome


To get to Place Vendome follow the Rues de Castiglione and de la Paix.  At the end of your journey you will find one of the most famous squares in Paris. Intricately linked with the history of France this architectural jewel was commissioned by King Louis XIV and designed by Jules-Hardouin ...

Rodin Museum


At the Louvre you see the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo, here you see the iconic "The Kiss"  and "The Thinker", among many other works.  Rodin was also an art collector, so you'll see works of his contemporaries, like Van Gogh and Monet, as well.   The setting for the ...

Sacre Coeur


One of the most recent churches in Paris, this was built atop a Montmartre hill the end of the 19th century.  Forget Gothic; this looks more like a Taj Mahal-esque wedding cake.  No way up but a steep hill, which deters few pilgrims or tourists.  You get a fantastic view ...

Sainte Chappelle


This 13th century church is absolutely gorgeous, especially when the sun is out and the stained glass is illuminated.  But don't skip it even if your whole trip is rainy.  It may or may not have been designed by the same designer as Notre Dame.  Count on it being open ...

The Louvre


Paris's must see.  A day at the Louvre is a day with history.  No Paris trip is complete without a day at the Louvre. Please see the Louvre website for correct opening times and admission prices Musée du Louvre Map it! 34-36 quai du Louvre - 75058 Paris Cedex 01, Métro: Palais-Royal - Musée du ...

The Pantheon


This is a neoclassical church located in the Latin Quarter near both le Palais de Luxembourg and theSorbonne. Built as a church dedicated to St. Genevieve, now a mausoleum, It's on the Montagne Saint Genevieve. Foucault's Pendulum is located here, as are the tombs of Voltaire, ...

Tuileries Garden


The 63 acre Tuileries Garden is bordered on 4 sides by the Louvre, the Seine river, the Place de La Concorde and the Rue de Rivoli. Walking from the Louvre to the Arc de Triomphe through the Tuileries is one of the great walks of Paris. ...

Versailles


It's the largest palace in Europe, features gorgeous formal gardens, and is in a village which is now a Paris suburb.  30 minute train ride on the RER, and you can get there every half hour all day.  Versailles is enormous and well worth seeing.  You can see the story ...