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| PARIS Top Attractions | ||||
> OVERVIEW
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EIFFEL
TOWER Soaring
high above the city, the Eiffel Tower is undoubtedly the best-known
landmark in Paris. The enormous iron structure, weighing 7,000 tonnes
and standing 320m high, was built in 1889 to commemorate the centenary
of the French Revolution. Although criticised at the time, today the
tower is one of the most popular attractions in the world. The first
and the second platforms house restaurants and bars where visitors can
enjoy stunning panoramic views of the city. The third platform at the
top of the tower offers the most spectacular views. |
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TOP ATTRACTIONS > |
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ARC
DE TRIOMPHE Perched
high on a busy roundabout at the western end of the Champs Elysées,
the gigantic Arc de Triomphe is the largest triumphal arch in the world.
It was completed in 1836 to commemorate Napoleon’s victory at
Austerlitz. The arch is decorated with massive relief sculptures, of
which François Rude’s La Marseillaise is the best known.
Located under the arch is the tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the eternal
flame. To get to the arch, take the passage under the roundabout. |
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LOUVRE
MUSEUM Housed
in a magnificent 12th century royal palace, Musée du Louvre is
the world’s largest art museum. Its overwhelming collection of
world masterpieces attracts millions of visitors every year. Everything
from ancient Greek and Roman relics to high Renaissance paintings is
on display here. Viewing the entire collection, which consists of some
30,000 exhibits, would take days. If time is of the essence, make your
way to the following unmissable sights: Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona
Lisa, the armless statue of Venus de Milo and the headless Winged Victory.
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NOTRE
DAME CATHEDRAL Built
between the 12th and the 14th centuries, the spectacular Gothic cathedral
of Notre Dame has been immortalised in numerous literary works. Its
façade is dotted with hundreds of striking relief statues and
gargoyles. The west side of the cathedral boasts three 13th century
portals depicting scenes from the Last Judgement, the Virgin and St
Anne. To get the best view of the gargoyles, climb up to the very top
of the cathedral’s two towers. |
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BASILIQUE
DU SACRÉ COEUR (MONTMARTRE)
Perched high on the Montmartre hill, the gleaming white domes of the
basilica can be seen for miles across the city. Although it looks much
older, the basilica was consecrated in the early 20th century. Its interior,
adorned with dazzling mosaics, murals and 19th century sculpture, is
just as stunning as the outside. Visitors can climb up to the dome for
panoramic views of the city and visit the crypt believed to contain
the sacred heart of the Christ. |
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CENTRE
POMPIDOU The
controversial avant-garde building, renowned for the colourful pipes
and ducts running across its façade, opened to public in 1977.
As the brainchild of the former president Georges Pompidou, the centre
is a cultural institution housing several auditoriums for performing
arts, a public library and its most popular attraction the National
Museum of Modern Art. The museum exhibits an extensive collection of
20th and 21st century art by artists such as Chagall, Dalí, Duchamps,
Kandinsky, Magritte, Matisse and Picasso. |
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MUSEE
D’ORSAY Set
in an old train station, the museum boasts a spectacular collection
of art, dating from the mid-19th to the early 20th centuries. All major
styles of the era are represented here, from fauvism and cubism to impressionism
and expressionism. Stretched across 80 galleries, the extensive collection
includes masterpieces by world-renowned artists such as Delacroix, Gauguin,
Manet, Matisse, Monet and van Gogh. The most popular works are Manet's
Déjeuner sur l'herbe (Picnic on the Grass), Whistler’s
Mother, Degas’s Absinthe and Renoir’s
Moulin de la Galette. |
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ARC
DE LA DÉFENSE
Surrounded by skyscrapers and modern office blocks, Arc de la Défense
is the modern version of Arc de Triomphe. Commisioned by the former
president Mitterand and designed by the Danish architect Otto van Spreckelsen,
the arch stands 106 meters high in line with Arc de Triomphe and the
smaller Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel in the Tuileries gardens. The sides
of the arch are used as offices and the very top of the arch houses
a small art gallery offering spectacular views of Paris. |
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HÔTEL
DES INVALIDES The
Hôtel des Invalides complex was built by Louis XIV in the 17th
century to serve as a residence for injured soldiers. Today, it houses
several museums and most importantly Eglise du Dôme, the final
resting place of Emperor Napoléon I. Surrounded by sculptures
representing his victories and the graves of his commanders and family
members, Napoleon’s tomb lies in a crypt under the dome of St
Jerome’s Chapel. The complex also contains Musée de l'Armée,
the world’s largest military museum, and Musée des Plans-Reliefs
with a collection of scale models of France’s cities and monuments. |
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CEMITIÈRE
DU PÈRE-LACHAISE Although
a somewhat unusual tourist attraction, the Gothic cemetery is visited
by millions of tourists every year, eager to catch a glimpse of the
tombs of their idols. The cemetery is the final resting place of famous
celebrities such as Honoré de Balzac, Frédéric
Chopin, Eugène Delacroix, Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde. A newsagent
across from the main entrance gives away free maps of the cemetery. |
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