SIGHTSEEING
Sightseeing
in Paris:
Notre Dame
The city's cathedral ranks as one of the greatest achievements of
Gothic architecture. Notre Dame was begun in 1163 and completed
around 1345; the massive interior can accommodate over 6000 worshippers.
Although Notre Dame is regarded as a sublime architectural achievement,
there are all sorts of minor anomalies as the French love nothing
better than to mess with things. These include a trio of main entrances
that are each shaped differently, and which are accompanied by statues
that were once coloured to make them more effective as Bible lessons
for the hoi polloi. The interior is dominated by spectacular and
enormous rose windows, and a 7800-pipe organ that was recently restored
but has not been working properly since. From the base of the north
tower, visitors with ramrod straight spines can climb to the top
of the west façade and decide how much aesthetic pleasure
they derive from looking out at the cathedral's many gargoyles -
alternatively they can just enjoy the view of a decent swathe of
Paris. Under the square in front of the cathedral, an archaeological
crypt displays in situ the remains of structures from the Gallo-Roman
and later periods.
6, Place du Parvis de Notre-Dame
75004, Paris
Phone: +331.44.32.16.72
Métro: SAINT-MICHEL
Eiffel Tower
This towering edifice was built for the World Fair of 1889, held
to commemorate the centenary of the French Revolution. Named after
its designer, Gustave Eiffel, it stands 320m (1050ft) high and held
the record as the world's tallest structure until 1930. Initially
opposed by the city's artistic and literary elite - who were only
affirming their right to disagree with everything - the tower was
almost torn down in 1909. Salvation came when it proved an ideal
platform for the antennas needed for the new science of radiotelegraphy.
When you're done peering upwards through the girders, you can visit
any of the three public levels, which can be accessed by lift or
stairs. Just south-east of the tower is a grassy expanse that was
once the site of the world's first balloon flights and is now used
by teens as a skateboarding arena or by activists bad-mouthing Chirac.
Avenue des
Champs-Élysées
A popular promenade for the ostentatious aristos of old, the Avenue
des Champs-Élysées has long symbolised the style and
joie de vivre of Paris. Encroaching fast-food joints, car showrooms
and cinemas have somewhat dulled the sheen, but the 2km (1mi) long,
70m (235ft) wide stretch is still an ideal place for evening walks
and relishing the food at overpriced restaurants.
Cimetière
du Père Lachaise
Established in 1805, this necropolis attracts more visitors than
any similar structure in the world. Within the manicured, evergreen
enclosure are the tombs of over one million people including such
luminaries as the composer Chopin; the writers Molière, Apollinaire,
Oscar Wilde, Balzac, Marcel Proust and Gertrude Stein; the artists
David, Delacroix, Pissarro, Seurat and Modigliani; the actors Sarah
Bernhardt, Simone Signoret and Yves Montand; the singer Édith
Piaf; and the dancer Isadora Duncan. The most visited tomb, however,
is that of The Doors lead singer, Jim Morrison, who died in Paris
in 1971. One hundred years earlier, the cemetery was the site of
a fierce battle between Communard insurgents and government troops.
The rebels were eventually rounded up against a wall and shot, and
were buried where they fell in a mass grave.
Place des
Vosges
The Marais district spent a long time as a swamp and then as agricultural
land, until in 1605 King Henry IV decided to transform it into a
residential area for Parisian aristocrats. He did this by building
Place des Vosges and arraying 36 symmetrical houses around its square
perimeter. The houses, each with arcades on the ground floor, large
dormer windows, and the requisite creepers on the walls, were initially
built of brick but were subsequently constructed using timber with
a plaster covering, which was then painted to look like brick. Duels,
fought with strictly observed formality, were once staged in the
elegant park in the middle. From 1832-48 Victor Hugo lived at a
house at No 6, which has now been turned into a municipal museum.
Today, the arcades around the place are occupied by expensive galleries
and shops, and cafés filled with people drinking little cups
of coffee and air-kissing immaculate passersby.
Catacombes
In the late 18th century, Paris decided it had a problem with its
cemeteries, namely that they were full, if not overflowing. Faced
with potential outbreaks of disease, not to mention aesthetic concerns,
the city authorities decided to exhume the bones of the buried and
relocate them in the tunnels of several disused quarries. The decision
to do this was made in 1785 and led to the creation of the Catacombes.
Visitors to this disturbing 'attraction' will find themselves 20m
(65ft) underground, working their way along corridors stacked with
bones. The tunnels, which were used by the Résistance during
WWII as a headquarters, are south of the Seine.
Arc-de-Triomphe
One of the landmarks of Napoleon's imperial capital, the Arc de
Triomphe offers an admirable perspective of Paris and the twelve
avenues converging in a star shape. Video projection every ten minutes
entitled "the great moments of the Arc de Triomphe".
Place du Général de Gaulle
75008, Paris
Phone: +331.55.37.73.77
Métro: CHARLES DE GAULLE ETOILE
Tour Montparnasse
The Tower dominates the Parisian landscape from a height of 209
metres. From the comfort of the air-conditioned 56th floor, visitors
can discover the magnificent views and see more than 50 of the capital's
historical monuments. Cinema showing unusual views of the roofs
of Paris, exhibitions, shops, bar, gourmet restaurant.
Rue de l'Arrivée
75015, Paris
Phone: +331.45.38.52.56
Métro: MONTPARNASSE-BIENVENUE, RASPAIL
Panthéon
The former Sainte-Geneviève church, redesigned by Soufflot
(1712-1780), has been used since the Revolution to receive the ashes
of Great Men such as Mirabeau, Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau,
Victor Hugo, Emile Zola, Jean Moulin, C.G. de Lamoignon de Malesherbes,
Gaspard Monge, François Fénelon, Claude Louis Berthollet,
Marquis de Laplace, Louis David, Baron de Cuvier, Marquis de Lafayette,
M.F. Xavier Bichat, Sadi Carnot, Marcelin Berthelot, Jean Jaurès,
Louis Braille, Jean Monnet, Pierre and Marie Curie, André
Malraux.
Place du Panthéon
75005, Paris
Phone: +331.44.32.18.00
Métro: CLUNY LA SORBONNE
French National
Library
First the royal library, before becoming the imperial and finally
the national library, the BNF has the mission to collect and preserve
everything published in France, whatever the medium, in order to
make these available to researchers and businesses. As the heir
and guardian of the national memory, the institution is responsible
for passing this on to future generations and making it accessible
to a broad public. In 1998 it was decided to construct a new building,
at the Tolbiac site, in order to expand the collection and extend
research. The new library now has seating for 3,600, many of which
are accessible to the general public. The reading rooms are divided
by subject.
11, Quai François Mauriac
75013, Paris
Phone: +331.53.79.59.59
Métro: QUAI DE LA GARE
Sainte Chapelle
Built on the orders of Saint-Louis in the middle of the 13th century,
this pearl of Gothic art has radiant stained-glass and a rose window
dating from the 15th century. Sainte-Chapelle is located within
the enclosure of the Palais de Justice de Paris.
4, boulevard du Palais
75001, Paris
Phone: +331.53.73.78.51
Métro: CITE, SAINT-MICHEL
Conciergerie
Built on the site of the substantial remains of Palais des Capétiens,
the Conciergerie bears witness to the remarkable civil architecture
of the 14th century.
This is the oldest prison in France and is where Marie Antoinette
was imprisoned during the Revolution. Its four towers - Tour l'Horloge,
Tour Bombec, Tour d'Argent and Tour de César - border the
Seine. Its splendid Gothic rooms date from the 14th century.
1 Quai de l'Horloge
75001, Paris
Phone: +331.53.73.78.50
Métro: CITE, CHATELET
Madeleine
Built in the style of a Greek and Roman temple, on the orders of
Napoléon I. Building work began in 1764 and was completed
after the French Revolution.
Place de la Madeleine
75008, Paris
Phone: +331.44.51.69.00
Métro: MADELEINE
Invalides
Situated along an immense esplanade, the Hôtel des Invalides
was founded by Louis XIV for wounded servicemen.
It houses several museums, including the Musée de l'Armée
(Army Museum) , and the tomb of Napoléon.
Esplanade des Invalides
75007, Paris
Phone: +331.44.42.37.72
Métro: INVALIDES
Palais du
Luxembourg
In 1613 Queen Marie de Médicis, having just acquired the
mansion from François de Luxembourg, commissioned Salomon
de Brosse to build her a beautiful residence to remind her of the
Pitti Palace in her native Florence.
A major project to extend the palace was undertaken in 1835 by the
architect A. de Gisors, who built a new facade on the Jardin du
Luxembourg side. The interior decoration is neo-Gothic in style
with a library ceiling by Delacroix, medallions painted by Van Thulden
and ceiling paintings by Jean Monnier. The palace has been used
as the seat of the Senate since 1852.
15, rue de Vaugirard
75006, Paris
Phone: +331.42.34.20.00
Métro: LUXEMBOURG
Opéra
Garnier
Built in 1860 by Charles Garnier in the classical architectural
style of the Second Empire, this is one of the largest theatres
in the world. The ceiling was decorated by Chagall.
Place de l'Opéra
75009, Paris
Phone: +331.40.01.22.63
Métro: OPERA, CHAUSSEE D'ANTIN
Opéra
de la Bastille
Opened in 1989 to celebrate the bicentennial of the storming of
the Bastille, this is one of the most modern opera houses in Europe.
Place de la Bastille
75012, Paris
Métro: BASTILLE
Sacré Coeur
The Byzantine-style Basilica dates from the 19th century and was
completed in 1914. Set in the heart of a 19th century village of
painters, sculptors and poets. Panoramic view of the capital covering
a 50-mile radius.
Place du Parvis du Sacré-Coeur
75018, Paris
Phone: +331.53.41.89.00
Métro: ANVERS
Saint Germain
l'Auxerrois
Gothic church which was the parish church of the Kings of France.
Magnificent examples of 15th century stained-glass. The Romanesque
tower dates from the 12th century and the superb portal, the choir
and the Chapelle de la Vierge from the 13th century.
2 Place du Louvre
75001, Paris
Phone: +331.42.60.13.96
Métro: LOUVRE RIVOLI
Useful Links
Private
Tours Paris
Private customised
tours all over France with licensed driver-guides. Visits within
monuments and museums.
Small
Group Tours of Paris
Paris du Jour offers small groups the ultimate in leisurely tours
of Paris and surrounding areas.
