The Arc de Triomphe (Arch of Triumph), in the center of Place Charles de Gaulle in Paris, is France’s most famous monument. As the world’s second largest triumphal arch, it stands 165 feet (50 meters) in height, and is a prime example of 18th century neo-classicism. The arch was designed by the architect Jean François Thérèse Chalgrin, upon commission by Napoleon Bonaparte to commemorate his victory at Austerlitz and honor his army.
What better location for a movie is there than Paris with its splendid architecture and romantic aura? It is no wonder that many directors have chosen to locate their movies there. It is difficult to choose the ten best movies set or partly set in Paris but these will certainly set the mood for any tourist about to visit the city of Light:
There are three maps below: one showing places of interest to visitors, another showing the Paris arrondissements, and the third showing the metro lines of central Paris.
The Paris Metro (full name 'métropolitain parisien') opened on the 19th July 1900, at first having just one line between Porte de Vincennes and Porte Maillot. This original line has subsequently been extended and now operates between Château de Vincennes and La Défense - it is Line 1 on the modern underground system.
The system itself was designed by a gentleman with the impressive name of Fulgence Bienvenüe - a fine achievement, if slightly overshadowed by the city's choice of architect for the station entrances.
Note: Never board a metro train without a ticket!
The Paris Metro is open daily fom 05.30 to 00.30 (half past midnight). There are maps on the walls in all the stations which clearly show all the lines and stations, and you can also ask for a map at the ticket offices.
In a romantic city like Paris, there are many beautiful places to visit. But perhaps one of the most wonderful is the Basilique de Sacre Coeur, or Basilica of the Sacred Heart. It sits atop Paris’ highest point, the Montmartre Hill in Paris northern neighborhoods.
It is one of the most visited places in Paris, and no wonder – when you reach this place you catch a panoramic view of the city below, both from the Basilica’s forefront and dome. Of course, you could also go up the Eiffel Tower, but the Basilica is incredible.
Perhaps during your Paris visit you will get tired of the tourist attractions, the glitz and glamour, and feel a need to visit somewhere more down to earth. We have just the place for you - and it's not so much 'down to earth' as 'under the earth'!
Head off to the Denfert-Rocherea station on the Paris metro and you will find the (rather discrete) public entrance to the Paris catacombs. Note that there are various other entrances scattered across central Paris, some secret and some less so, but you are not permitted to use these for reasons of safety.
The church of La Madeleine is located north of Place de la Concorde and is one of the famous landmarks in Paris. The church is notorious for its size and history. It resembles a large Greek temple.
History
The construction of La Madeleine began in 1764 during the reign of Louis XV, and designed by architect Pierre Constant d'Ivry using plans based on the St-Louis-des-Invalides Church. When d'Ivry died in 1777 his designs, which can be seen in the Musée Carnavalet, were dismissed by his successor, Guillome-Martin Couture. He decided to raze the unfinished building and start with a new design, this time based on the Panthéon. Both of the designs were not accepted and work stopped between 1790 and 1806.
The Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel) in Paris, France is one of the most recognizable structures in the world, and one of the symbolic structures of France. The tower is the tallest structure in Paris, standing at 1,063 feet (325 meters), and is also one of the city’s most visited landmarks. It was originally built as a temporary structure that was to be torn down after 20 years, but survived criticism and demolition to become the icon it is today.
Designed by its namesake the engineer Gustave Eiffel, the plans for the tower was among 700 proposals for an entrance arch to be built for the 1889 World’s Fair, which also commemorated the French Revolution’s centenary. It was previously proposed to and rejected by a similar Barcelona competition. Construction took roughly two years, was completed and inaugurated in March of 1889, and opened in May of 1889.
Montmartre is one of the most visited regions of Paris. To the north of Paris, it is set on a hill (known locally as 'la butte') in the Eighteenth Arrondissement.
The site has a long religious history. It was occupied originally by druids, then was later the site of two Roman temples. From the 12th century the hill was home to buildings connected with the Abbey of Saint-Denis, these being demolished after the French revolution, with the exception of the Church of Saint-Pierre de Montmartre (don't neglect to visit to this church just because of its 'big brother' - it is a fine 12th century building). Construction of the Basilica of the Sacré-Coeur took place between 1875 and 1914.
The Notre Dame de Paris is one of the iconic examples of architecture in France. One of the first Gothic cathedrals ever built, it lies on the east side of the Île de la Cité in Paris. Construction of the cathedral took almost 200 years, almost as long as the entire gothic period. Many consider it to be a shining example of the Gothic style.
It was in 1160 that the decision to build Notre Dame was made, shortly after the Paris church became the central church for all kings of Europe. Bishop Maurice de Sully deemed it crucial that a newer, grander cathedral be built, and the old church was demolished. Three years later, construction on Notre Dame began – even Pope Alexander III attended the ceremony where they laid the first cornerstone.
Originally commissioned as a church in 1744, under Louis XV, the Pantheon in Paris wasn’t actually finished until 1789. And at that time, churches were not popular anymore and instead this building became a temple honoring various historical French figures.
The Pantheon is situated in the Latin quarters, where it is considered one of the neighborhood’s most important landmarks. In terms of architecture, this magnificent landmark is a good example of Neoclassicism and its façade is modeled on the Pantheon in Rome. It is surmounted by a small dome that looks very much like that of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.
The Palais Garnier in Paris is most commonly known as the Paris Opera, and is considered one of the most important structures in Paris. A 2,200 seat opera house, it became the successor to the Théâtre de l'Académie Royale de Musique, which burned down in 1873. This landmark is a prime example of Beaux-Arts architecture movement, drawing on the17th century Classical Roman Baroque style of emphasizing drama and grandeur, as well as symmetry.
The Palais Garnier was commissioned during the reconstruction brought on by Napoleon III – civic planner Baron Haussman was given the task to clear enough land to build the opera house in 1858, and architect Charles Garnier’s design was chosen from a competition held in 1861.
The Basilica of St. Denis (Basilique St. Denis) is located in St. Denis, a suburb in the northern part of Paris. This church is most famously the burial site of most of France’s monarchs during the period between the early 1000’s until 1789. As a landmark of architecture, the church has had a long history of design and redesign, and is known as one of the first examples of the Rayonnant style, as well as one of the first structures to use nascent Gothic elements in its design.
The Louvre Museum is one of the oldest and largest museums in the world. The Museum has a long history, from the Capetian dynasty until now. The Louvre has over 300,000 works of art, from near Eastern antiquities, Egyptian antiquities, Greek, Etruscan and Roman antiquities to 21st century painting and sculptures. It received over 8.5 million visitors in 2006; this museum is the most visited art museum in the world.
The Castle of Louvre was built under Philip Augustus in 1190, to defend Paris against Viking attacks. The old castle was demolished and the first building of the existing museum was begun in 1535. (Various architects were involved in the building of the Louvre eg Pierre Lescot and Ange-Jacques Gabriel)
One of the most popular trips taken in Paris is the tour boats that carry visitors along the Seine River. These provide a lovely way to enjoy the scenery of this beautiful city, a bit of tranquility in what can be a tiring city to explore, and a chance to see many of the famous monuments from a different vantage point.
The Seine passes right through the heart of Paris, and many of the most well known monuments are close to the river. Among the sights that you will see from your 'bateau mouche' (as the boats are called) are the Eiffel tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre.
Perhaps one of the best ways to see Paris, or the countryside in France for that matter, is via a cruise on the Seine. This river flows more than 480 miles through France, from Dijon (in the French Alps) and in through Paris.
When looking at Paris from above, you can clearly see how the Seine cuts the city in half, offering a very clear geographic division – and you can see how architecture and city planning has followed the presence of the Seine.
The spectacular Palace of Versailles is one of the most beautiful and lavish buildings in the world and should not be missed if you are visiting Paris. Versailles is easy to reach by frequent train service from the center of Paris; it’s about a thirty minute train ride from central Paris to Versailles Rive Gauche station.