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26.12.2024
What to See in Paris Beyond the Eiffel Tower
The capital of France, Paris is also the capital of romance, sophisticated architecture, pompous palaces and cathedrals. It is in Paris that the world-famous Eiffel Tower is located, it is precisely here that one of the largest concentrations of stylish boutiques and luxurious restaurants is located.
In this multimillion-dollar metropolis, you have to do your best not to get confused by the scale, have time to see all the sights and choose the optimal routes for this. The capital of France is used to crowds of tourists, so, on the one hand, you will be greeted by excellent service, and on the other hand, you will have to carefully choose places to spend more time on, and which only to look at from the side.
And in order to simplify your journey through Paris, we have collected here 13 locations that are definitely worth visiting. You can already put them on the map and plan a research route. And whatever your interests are, these places will amaze you!
1. The Louvre is a world museum
The Louvre is one of the largest and most famous museums in the world. It has long become a symbol of Paris and France in general, on a par with the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame. More than 10 million tourists visit this place every year. Just imagine this scale! It is not surprising, because the walls of the Louvre store the most outstanding masterpieces of art: 380,000 copies dating from the 6th century to the present day.
The dimensions of the museum are impressive. This is 160 thousand square meters of unique exhibition halls. It is simply impossible to see everything in one visit, don't even try. And this despite the fact that approximately only 10% of stocks are exhibited. Most of the museum's exhibits (90%) are stored and waiting for their time, or "travel" to other countries.
They say that if you stop at each exhibit of the museum for at least 30 seconds, you will go around the entire museum in 3 months!
The official opening of the Louvre as a museum took place in 1793. Until then, it was a closed royal workshop. Bronze, mirrors and war trophies and archaeological finds were kept here.
The museum consists of four buildings and houses 8 huge departments: the department of Egyptian antiquities; department of Greek, Etruscan and Roman antiquities, department of oriental antiquities, art of Islamic countries, paintings, sculptures, graphics, art objects.
Not all buildings of the palace are dedicated to the museum - only the two lower floors. Some of the premises are administrative. In particular, the Ministry of Finance of France was located here for a long time.
Among the most popular exhibits of the Louvre is "Portrait of Lady Lisa del Giocondo", better known as "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci. A huge queue of tourists always lines up near her to see the same mysterious smile.
When going to the museum, remember the basic rules: do not eat, do not take pictures with a flash, do not touch the exhibits. Therefore, it is better to inquire about them in advance from the guide, so as not to get into trouble. And don't forget to install the Louvre app on your phone, it will help you navigate the huge area of the museum if something distracts you and you fall behind the group.
2. Montmartre and Sacre-Coeur cathedral
The Sacre Coeur Basilica is located on Montmartre Hill, which is the highest point in Paris. The construction of the basilica began in 1875 and was completed only in 1923.
The temple is built of an unusual white stone. Such a stone is as strong as granite and turns white when it rains, making the basilica even brighter. A high staircase with 237 steps leads to the basilica. The main entrance to the cathedral is decorated with bronze figures of Joan of Arc and Saint Louis. The interior of the church impresses with monumental mosaics and amazing colored stained-glass windows on the theme "Veneration of France before the Sacred Heart". Near the walls of the basilica, on the slopes of Montmartre, there is a wonderful garden, which is a favorite place for travelers to relax.
3. Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is a symbol of France and luxurious life. It is famous for its interiors, large works of art and gardens. More than three million tourists visit it annually.
It was built in 1623 for the Sun King Louis XIV. The history of Versailles is full of legends, some of which we will remember today. You can imagine how much was spent on creating this magnificent palace. 35,000 workers worked during the construction of this complex. The palace has 700 rooms, 67 staircases and 1200 fireplaces.
The gardens of Versailles are among the largest in the world and include 372 statues, 55 water features, 600 fountains and more than 20 miles of canals. More than two hundred thousand flowers and trees are still planted here every year. In the 17th century, many visitors complained about the strong aroma. This is how Madame de Maintenon wrote about it in 1689: "The smell is so strong that women and men cannot stand it and lose consciousness."
It was in the Palace of Versailles that the peace treaty that ended the First World War was signed in 1919.
4. Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris
The first stone in the foundation of the cathedral was laid as early as 1163 by King Louis VII and Pope Alexander III on the site of the Temple of Jupiter (which had existed since the time of the ancient Romans). The construction of the cathedral lasted until 1250, but it was completely built in 1345. Funds for the construction of the temple came from everyone: the king, bishops, ordinary citizens. The destruction of the cathedral, which was caused by time, people, tragedies of endless wars, for many centuries distorted the original appearance of the church. But later, in the period from 1844 to 1864, the architect Viollet-le-Duc carried out the restoration of the church.
This is one of the first buildings in which the Gothic style was finally formed, although some elements of Romanesque architecture are still preserved in it.
In the Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris, one of the greatest relics of Christianity is kept - the Crown of Thorns. In 1063, it, together with the spear of St. Longinus, was transported to the palace of the Byzantine emperors in Constantinople. The Roman emperor Baldwin II owed a debt to Venice and offered her a crown as compensation.
In 2019, Notre Dame suffered a fire, so it is currently undergoing major restoration and will be open to visitors in December 2024.
5. Orsay Museum, or Musée d'Orsay
The Museum of Fine Arts is located in Paris on the left bank of the Seine. This is one of the world's largest collections of European painting and sculpture from the period 1850-1910. The third most popular museum in Paris and the tenth in the world.
The basis of the collection is the works of impressionists and post-impressionists. It is here that the works of Gauguin, Monet, Munch, Degas, Vague Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec and many other great artists of the given period are exhibited.
The collection is also rich in works of decorative art in the art nouveau style, photographs and objects of architecture. The Orsay Museum is one of the largest art museums in Europe. In 2019, more than 3.6 million people visited the museum
Rodena Museum - an art museum in France, which houses a large collection of works by the French sculptor Auguste Rodin. Opened in 1919.
The museum is located in the Biron Palace, built in 1727-1732 by the architect Jacques-Ange Gabriel for the financier Abraham Peyren de Mora. Since 1904, various artists lived in the building, including O. Roden. Thanks to his influence, the palace was saved from demolition, and it was decided to collect Rodin's works here, as well as documents related to his life and work. The museum has collected more than 6,600 sculptures, 8,000 photographs and 7,000 other works of art.
In addition to numerous works by Rodin himself, the museum also houses the sculptural works of Rodin's lover, Camille Claudel, as well as his personal painting collection, including works by Vincent van Gogh.
6. Dior Gallery
This is the place for fashion lovers in Paris! Located in a historic mansion at 30 rue Montaigne, it invites visitors to immerse themselves in the heart of the fairytale universe of the House of Christian Dior. Between heritage and inventions, discover the new exhibition route of this cultural showcase through a series of fascinating scenographies united in this true little museum.
Please note that access to the Dior Gallery is by appointment only.
7. Triumphal Arch
It is considered one of the bright symbols of the city and the whole of France. The construction of the tower lasted more than three dozen years, from 1806 to 1836. The construction of this historical monument was dedicated to the mighty victories of the French army.
The Arc de Triomphe is located at the top of the Champs-Élysées, on the picturesque Chaillot hill. During the construction of the arch, this area was outside the capital of France. The place for the construction of the Arc de Triomphe was chosen especially carefully. The road connecting the Palace of Versailles and the Louvre was called the "Triumphal Road". It was in this place that Napoleon decided to install the arch of the same name.
Luxembourg garden - a palace and park ensemble in the center of Paris, which is a famous landmark of the city. The former royal and now state palace park in the Latin Quarter of Paris covers an area of 26 hectares. The Luxembourg Palace is located in the park, where the Senate, the second chamber of the French Parliament, sits.
It still preserves the atmosphere of antiquity, attracting both local residents and visitors to the city. They come here to admire the green areas, beautiful flower beds and wonderful fountains. Beautiful sculptural compositions can be seen among the luxuriantly growing vegetation.
Over the years, the infrastructure of the Luxembourg Gardens has grown, and now experienced travelers and local residents can find many interesting activities here. Here, for example:
Puppet Theater "Guignol"
The show in it is designed for children from 2 to 6 years old, but it is safe to say that adults will also like the program.Music pavilion
It is located near the central entrance. This is an open-air stage where live music performed by talented artists is constantly played.Ancient carousel
A vintage carousel, one of those we often see in movies - with horses, elephants and deer, on which every child can ride with pleasure.Orangery
As two centuries ago, orange trees and palm trees are still grown here.
8. Disneyland
This magical amusement park is located about 30 km east of Paris. What can I say here: the festive atmosphere of this place will delight not only children, but also adults! A wide variety of entertainment is available continuously: quiet family outings, for example on the train, attractions for children and adults. Thrills are guaranteed!
Performances and parades are always waiting for visitors. Great mood both day and night, the only thing that can prevent it is the weather. There are also entertainment events throughout the year, for example, on Halloween, St. Patrick's Day and Christmas.
Bridge of Alexander III is a single-arch bridge spanning the Seine between the House of the Invalids and the Champs Elysees. The length of the bridge is 160 meters. In order not to obscure the panorama of the Champs Elysées, the height of the building does not exceed six meters, which at the time of its creation was considered an amazing engineering achievement.
9. Tuileries garden
The Tuileries Garden is located in the very center of Paris, its area is 25.5 hectares, length 920 m, width 325 m. This is a great place for a leisurely walk and admiring the surrounding beauty.
Once upon a time, the majestic Tuileries Palace was located here, burned during the Paris Commune in March 1871, and now only a park remains. Until the middle of the 16th century, clay was mined in the Tuileries area, from which tiles were made right there in special kilns - hence the name of the park.
The Tuileries Garden is full of beautiful statues, there are several ponds with ducks and fish. And in these ponds you can swim on wooden sailing boats. And there are deckchairs on the sunny lawns where you can lie down and sunbathe under the sun.
10. House of Invalids
A grandiose building of the 17th century, it became one of the first specialized nursing homes for army veterans in Europe. Now the Army Museum is located here, and the tomb of Napoleon is located in the Church of the House. But even today, the House of Invalids works for its intended purpose - it accepts war veterans.
Paris is a place of power, a city that energizes and impresses with its scale. And let them say that it is too touristy, oversaturated with people and cars - this is typical for any metropolis. What is important is that, despite everything, the French preserve and honor their history and culture. So our task as tourists is to see Paris and… walk, take pictures, taste food, drink wine and relax!