Paris places to visit
Paris is the capital of France and capital of fashion. It is one of the biggest cities in Europe. But the most impressive in Paris is the architecture. If you get there you must visit the old center of the city, where you can see the Notre-Dame Cathedral,Sacre-Coeur, La Tour Eiffel, Louvre Museum, Assemblee Nationale, Arc de Triomphe and Champs Elysées and not forget about Disneyland Paris. Also is said about Paris to be the most romantic city in the world and with no doubt one the most beautiful. The romantic atmosphere is by night, when the city is bathing in lights. But visiting the old monuments is recommended on daylight. If your going to spend some time in Paris, you should definitely take the subway(metro) to admire the Art Nouveau.
The currency used in France is Euro. Climate is pleasant, but is best visiting in spring months. The major religion is catholic, but there other religious cults like baptism, moslims etc. French cooking is one of most famous cuisines in the world, so a visit to Paris should include at least a dinner in a french restaurant. The choice is huge, as well in specialties as in range of price. For accommodation you can find plenty of hotels, inns or apartments for rent. In the following lines I will present you some famous sights to visit in your trip to Paris.
La Tour Eiffel-the steel giant
The Eiffel tower was built in Paris by Gustave Eiffel, a French engineer specialized in revolutionary steel constructions, for the 1889 world exhibition. The tower originally had no practical use. The intent was just to demonstrate the capabilities of modern engineering. A daring engineer’s dream, the Eiffel tower weights 7000 tons, but the pressure it applies on the ground is only equivalent to that of a chair with a man seated on it! At 300 meters, it remained the world highest building until the construction of the Chrysler building in New York city in 1929. Now 320 meters high with its television antennas, it still incredibly towers above Paris, a city almost free from skyscrapers. Open air elevators bring you up to the first (57 meters high), the second (115 meters high) and the third floor (276 meters high). Each one provides different and interesting views on Paris and the surrounding Ile de France region.
info:Tour Eiffel | Phone: +33 (0) 144112311 | opened from 9am to 12pm from June 11th to August 31st (stairs closed at 11pm) | The entrance ticket (adults and children above 12) costs 4,20 € to the first floor, 7,70 € to the second floor, 11,00 € to the third floor and 3,80 € by the stairs to the 1st and 2nd floor.
Louvre Museum
The Louvre palace in Paris dates back to 1190 and houses the Louvre museum. Its name probably comes from the Latin word Lupara (kennels). During eight centuries, it has been continuously enlarged and embellished by French kings and emperors alike. President François Mitterrand added the final touch to it with his “Le Grand Louvre” project. This 1981/1997 project included an extension and the complete restructuring of the museum. The famous Pei glass pyramid marks the new entrance to the museum (below on the picture). The Louvre is at the same time a splendid and huge royal palace along the Seine river and one of the best art museums in the world. It hosts the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, one of the most famous paintings in the world.
info:Musée du Louvre | Phone: +33 (0)140205317 | Open 9am to 6pm all days except Tuesdays. | Entrance fees: €6(from 6 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.) or €8.50 full-day
Notre-Dame
Proceeded by a Gallo-Roman temple to Jupiter, a Christian basilica, and a Romanesque church, construction of Notre-Dame de Paris began in 1163 during the reign of Louis VII. Pope Alexander III laid the foundation stone. The idea to replace the Romanesque church occupying the site - the Cathedral of St. Etienne (founded by Childebert in 528) - was that of Bishop Maurice de Sully (who died in 1196). (Some accounts claim that there were two churches existing on the site, one to the Virgin Mary, the other to St. Stephen.) Construction was completed roughly 200 years later in about 1345. The choir was completed in 1182; the nave in 1208, and the west front and towers circa 1225-1250. A series of chapels were added to the nave during the period 1235-50, and during 1296-1330 to the apse (Pierre de Chelles and Jean Ravy). The transept crossings were build in 1250-67 by Jean de Chelles and Pierre de Montreuil (also the architect of the Sainte-Chapelle). It was essentially completed according to the original plans.
info:Cathedral Notre-Dame | Phone: +33 (1) 42345610 | The Cathedral is open from 7:45 am to 6:45 pm | Entrance: free
Among the other many tourist attractions in Paris it is also worth mentioning :
Arc de Triomphe and Champs Elysées
Disneyland Paris
Assemblee Nationale
Basilique du Sacré Coeur
Jardins du Luxembourg
Centre Pompidou
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