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The Seine, Paris

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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 banks of the Seine, in Paris, were in 1991 added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. No wonder, on these banks you’ll find the likes of the Musee d’Orsay, the Eiffel Tower or Hotel des Invalides, the Louvre, Grand Palais or the Concorde. And, of course, in the middle of the Seine river (on Ile de la Cite) you’ll find the Notre Dame Cathedral.

If we go back as far as the time of the Roman Empire, we’ll find that the Seine has been a great commercial artery – linking Paris to the Loire, the Rhone and Rhine rivers. But of course, since Paris has been an inland port for such a long time it has also been invaded via the Seine a fair number of times – people have come, invaded and occupied using this waterway.

River Seine, Paris at night

Today, most of the travelers on these waters outside of the commercial traffic will be tourists. And tourists love to see Paris from the famous Bateaux-Mouches – you should try it too sometime.

What else? Well, here is some other trivia: It is said that Joan of Arc’s ashes were thrown into the Seine. And it was said that Napoleon had expressed in his will that he wanted to be buried on the banks of the river. In Les Miserables, Javert decides to throw himself to his death in the river. The river has also featured in several movies, television shows and music lyrics – you’ll find it in everything from Disney’s Ratatouille to the Ballad of John and Yoko.

Quite simply, if you visit Paris – you’ll have to also visit the Seine. You can take short cruises, long cruises or even dinner cruises. Or, why not just stroll across the bridges across this majestic river – more about those at a later date.

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