Art paintings
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Tourist
Eiffel Tower
The old luster of the
Marais
If you take the road towards
the Opera from the Place de la Concorde you will pass the Place Vendome
with its well-proportioned town houses that form a giant space under the
sky. The Place de la Opera is huge in contrast with the intimate Place
Vendome and comes into its own during the evening.
For newcomers to Paris the
up and coming quarter of the Marais is a surprise with its businesses and
courtyards but also grand mansions and the elegant Place des Vosges. That
frequently celebrated diversity of life can also be found in Montmartre,
particularly when you discover it on foot. Steeply climbing streets with
greengrocers stores, bars, and fantastic milliners lead to the Mons Martyrium
or "Martyr's hill" surmounted by the white church of the Sacre Coeur, that
provides one of the best places to view the city and is a meeting place
for young people. The life of the Place du Tertre where artists set-up
their easels is colorful. The nearby Moulin Rouge, with its shimmering
cabaret, where Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec first painted the can-can dancers,
reminds one that the hill was once covered with windmills.
The last visit of course
is to the two islands in the Seine, reached by the elegant Pont-Neuf. The
Notre Dame, Palais de Justice, and entrancing Place Dauphin are on the
He de la Cite. Those visiting the less frequented He St.-Louis will find
a place full of charm that they would prefer not to leave. Paris evokes
a yearning for it even while you are still there.
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Eiffel Tower
Gustave Eiffel, the architect
of the Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel) could never have guessed that it would
become Paris’s signature sight and attract more than six million visitors
a year. It was built as a temporary structure to commemorate the centenary
of the French Revolution and was opened by the Prince of Wales, later King
Edward VII of England. It was considered an eyesore by many and there were
petitions to have it pulled down. It was saved only because it had become
an important antenna for telegraphy. It towers 984ft (300m) above the Champ
de Mars and until 1930 was the world’s tallest building. The highest of
its three levels offers a wonderful panoramic view over Paris.
Address: Champ de Mars 7;
Telephone: (01) 4411 2323 (recorded information); Website: www.tour-eiffel.fr;
Transport: RER Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel station; Métro Bir-Hakeim,
Trocadéro, Ecole Militaire; bus 42, 69, 72, 82, 87; Opening time:
Daily 9.30am to midnight (16 June to 2 September); closing at 11pm (1 January
to 15 June and 3 September to 31 December); Admission: By elevator – 1st
floor €4.20; 2nd floor €7.70; 3rd floor €11 (adults). By
stairs - €3.80 (only up to 2nd floor). Concessions available
The Eiffel Tower is open
every day all year long,
- from 9:30am to 11:00pm,
January 1 to June 14 and September 2 to December 31, 2007
- from 9:00am to midnight,
June 15 to September 1, 2007. The Eiffel Tower as a well-frequented
historical monument must ensure the safety of its visitors.
On an exceptional basis,
all or part of the visitor-accessible spaces could be closed and hand bags
checked. No large-sized hand baggage nor animals will be allowed onto the
monument except for Seeing Eye dogs. Furthermore, there is no baggage check
service available at the Tower. |
The Louvre, Paris
One of the world’s great
art museums, this vast edifice houses an extraordinary collection of paintings,
sculptures and antiquities from all over the world. The Louvre was opened
to the public in 1793, soon after the Revolution, to display the spectacular
treasures looted from the royal palaces. The best-known attraction is Leonardo
da Vinci’s enigmatic Mona Lisa, which is protected by bullet-proof glass
within its own room. The permanent collections are divided into Egyptian,
Greek, Roman and Asian antiquities, painting, drawings, sculpture and objects
d’art. Don’t even attempt to see it all in one day.
Address: Cour Napoléon,
1. Reception area is under the giant glass pyramid; Telephone: (01) 4020
5317 (information desk); 4020 5151 (recorded information); 4020 5050 (ticket
sales); Transport: Métro Palais Royal or Musée du Louvre;
bus 21, 27, 39, 48, 68, 69, 72, 81 or 95; Opening time: 9am to 6pm (until
9.45pm on Mondays and Wednesdays, except on public holidays); closed Tuesdays.
Opening hours for temporary exhibitions vary; Admission: Permanent exhibitions
€8.50 (until 6pm); €6 (after 6pm); free for under 18s and on
first Sunday of every month. Temporary exhibitions €8.50. Admission
package €13 (before 6pm); €11 (after 6pm). Tickets allow same-day
re-admission
Notre-Dame
Notre-Dame looms large over
the Place de Parvis, on the Isle de la Cité, and is the most enduring
symbol of Paris. Built between 1163 and 1345 the Cathedral is considered
one of the of the world’s Gothic masterpieces. The massive interior can
seat 6,000 and it is dominated by three spectacular and enormous rose windows
and a vast 7,800-pipe organ. The 387-step climb to the top of the towers
is worth the effort for the panoramic view of the city and the close-up
views of the famous gargoyles. The tower also holds the great bell that
was rung by Quasimodo, the fictional hunchback. Opposite the North door
is a museum that displays the Cathedral’s history, while under the square
in front of the Cathedral is the crypt that houses Notre-Dame’s archaeological
museum.
Address: 6 Place du Parvis
de Notre-Dame; Telephone: (01) 4234 5610; Transport: Cité métro;
RER Châtelet-Les Halles or Saint-Mic stations; or bus 21, 24, 27,
38, 47, 85 or 96; Opening time: Daily between 7.45am and 6.45pm, except
during Sunday services which commence at 8.30am, 10am, 11.30am, 12.45pm
and 6.30pm. The towers open daily 10am to 6pm, except on Mondays. The Crypt
opens between 10am and 6pm (closed on Mondays). The museum is open on Wednesday
and weekends 2.30pm to 6pm; Admission: Admission to the cathedral is free.
Towers €5.40, crypt €3.40, museum €2.30
Musée d'Orsay
This great museum is fairly
new by Paris standards. It is situated in a railway station by the Seine
and houses a vast collection of works from the significant 1848 to 1914
period. There are important works from the Art-Nouveau movement but the
Orsay is best known for its Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. The
collection is arranged chronologically and contains highly regarded works
by Monet, Manet and Courbet. Also on permanent display is the famous painting
by Gustave Doré entitled L'énigme and Henri Chapu's marble
statue of Joan of Arc in Domrémy.
Address: Entrances on Rue
de la Légion d'Honneur and Rue de Bellechasse; Telephone: (01) 4049
4814, or 4549 1111 (recorded information);
Transport: RER Musée
d'Orsay; Métro Solférino; bus 24, 63, 68, 69, 73, 83, 84
or 94; Opening time: Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am to 6pm, with late closing
on Thursdays at 9.45pm; closed Mondays; Admission: €7.50; Sundays
and from 6.15pm (8pm on Thursdays) €5.50; under 18s are free. Free
on first Sunday of each month
Musée Rodin
The Rodin Museum is situated
near the Musée d'Orsay and is housed in what was once the Hôtel
Biron, the beautiful hotel where Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) once lived and
worked. Inside are many of Rodin's great marble sculptures including The
Kiss and The Hand of God while outside, in the garden, are famous bronzes
including The Thinker. The museum also includes many works by Camille Claudel,
Rodin’s pupil and mistress, and paintings by Van Gogh, Renoir, Manet and
Rodin himself.
Address: 77 Rue de Varenne;
Telephone: (01) 4418 6110; Transport: Métro Varenne, Invalides
or Saint-François-Xavier; RER to Invalides station; bus 69, 82,
87 or 92; Opening time: 9.30am to 5.45pm (garden till 6.45pm) from April
to September; 9.30am to 4.45pm (garden till 5pm) from October to May. Closed
Mondays; Admission: €6; €4 for 18 to 25s; Garden only is €1.
There is no charge on the first Sunday of every month. Prices increase
by €1 during the main exhibition
World Circus Festival
of Tomorrow
The annual Circus Festival
provides an unequalled opportunity to see top international circus performers
from famous schools together under one roof, including acts from the Beijing
Circus, the Moscow Circus, the Knie Circus and local talent Ecole Fratellini.
The aim is to bring together young acrobats, animal trainers and clowns
and to reveal new and exciting trends in circus acts from traditional,
modern and experimental circus performances.
French Open
Together with Wimbledon,
the Australian Open and the US Open, the French Open is one of the four
events that together are known as the tennis 'Grand Slam'. The tournament
has become the most highly prized clay court title in the world and one
of the biggest sporting events in France. Besides the best tennis players
in the world, the stadium is also the place to be seen for the fashion
conscious. For more information, call the ticketing line on +33 (0)1 4743
5252.
Bastille Day Celebrations
France's most important
national holiday, Bastille Day commemorates the beginning of the French
Revolution with ceremonies, dancing, parties and balls all over the city.
In the morning there is a grand military parade along the Champs Elysees,
accompanied overhead by jet formations, and after the day-long festivities,
a fireworks display takes place near the Eiffel Tower. For more information
contact the Paris Tourist Office on +33 (0)892 683 000
Le Salon du Chocolat
An annual festival in celebration
of chocolate is a dream come true for chocoholics, and the large convention
centre beneath the Louvre hosts just that. There are tastings and chefs
demonstrations at a huge variety of international chocolatiers stands;
opportunities to sample and buy goodies such as truffles, chocolate-dipped
fruit kebabs, hot chocolate and cakes; as well as chocolate fashion, sculpture
and art. Exhibitions include the history of chocolate, books on chocolate
and desserts, and an antique collection of 'teapots' used exclusively for
hot chocolate. A Chocoland for children entertains with chocolate makeup
and other delicious activities.
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe is France's
premier horse race and attracts thoroughbreds and racing enthusiasts from
all over the world. Since its inaugural race in 1920, the Prix de l'Arc
de Triomphe has become established as the all-aged middle-distance championship
of Europe, and today it offers total prize money of €1,600,000. Entrance
to the race is €8; free for under 18s
White Night
White Nights under the moon
For one night in Paris the
idea is to stay awake and partake in the observance of night. Many public
services, entertainment facilities and tourist attractions, cafes, bars
and restaurants stay open throughout the night to keep people awake. The
nuit blanche is a celebration of human culture and communication and encourages
people to enjoy one another's company, as it is often subjugated in favour
of the daytime rat race
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