The Louvre
Location
By many criteria, The Louvre is the world’s number 1 museum. It is the biggest museum on the planet with almost 30,000 items exhibited over an area of 60,000 square meters. It is also the most visited museum. Only in 2013, over 9 million tourists had visited the museum.
Louvre´s historic collections will hurl you into the world of ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and other civilizations. Many of the items from the antique were brought to the museum by the Napoleon himself in the times when he ruled over almost the whole of Europe.
Notre Dame Cathedral
Location
Notre Dame is considered to be one of the finest examples of Gothic art and architecture in the world. Apart from its grandiose structure, the cathedral is also celebrated for its extensive collection of relics.
The Notre Dame has been an important part of Paris’ history since the day the construction began in 1163. The works were finished almost two centuries later, when this building became one of the most important in the Christian world. In that period the Notre Dame was a contemporary wonders and still today it is a remarkable sight.
Eiffel Tower
Location
The Eiffel Tower is Paris’ most iconic landmark, the tallest structure in the city and the most-visited paid object in the world. However, not many know that upon it´s erection, it was hated by the Parisians, especially the artists. Famous author, Guy de Maupassant hated it so much, that he used to have lunches at the top of the tower, because it was the only place from where he wouldn’t have to look at it.
Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Elysées
Location
With its cinemas, cafés, luxury specialty shops and clipped horse-chestnut trees, the Champs-Élysées is arguably one of the most famous streets in the world. Along with that, it is also one of the most expensive strips of real estate in the world. There are several French monuments on the street, including the Arc de Triomphe and the Place de la Concorde.
Centre Georges Pompidou
Location
In the 70s, former French President Georges Pompidou wanted an ultracontemporary artistic hub – Pompidou Center is the result. Architects designed an inside out type of building leaving outside all the utilitarian features such as plumbing pipes etc. freeing up the interior space for exhibitions and events. The building was finished in 1977.
The Pompidou Centre is a complex of libraries, museums and research centers. The state-funded institutes deal with the modern culture of the city, attracting thousands of visitors. Pompidou Centers modern art museum is the largest museum of its kind in Europe, displaying only a fraction of the over 65,000 works.
Sacre Coeur and Montmartre
Location
Topped by Sacre Coeur, Montmartre is the highest Paris hill at 130 meters. The neighbourhood of Montmartre became famous in late 1800ies with the arrival of artists such as Renoir, Van Gogh, Picasso. In its glory days Montmartre was really the capital of fun or as the main character in the Moulin Rouge film calls it ‘the center of the Bohemian world’. The original cabaret of Moulin was located right here, on the Montmartre hill.
Boat Tour along the Seine River
Location
The banks of the river Seine in Paris are parts of the UNESCO’s World Heritage list. By cruising down this river you can enjoy in the view of the most of the Paris attractions, from the Eiffel Tower to the Notre Dame. You’ll also pass under some of the 37 bridges of Paris.
Le Marais
Location
If you wish to see how the rich people of Paris lived in the past (and how some of them still do), visit Les Marais area. Here are dozens of castles, mansions, and churches built by the French aristocracy. Les Marais is a magnificent mixture of various architectural styles from different times that all have one thing in common – luxury. The oldest building in the area dates from the 13th century.
Luxembourg Gardens
Location
The Luxembourg Gardens became known all around the world when Victor Hugo included it in his masterpiece ‘Les Miserables’. Spread with statues, fountains and flowers, the Luxembourg Gardens is a nice breath of fresh air close to the city centre.
Originally the park served as the garden of the Luxembourg Palace in the times when Marie de' Medici (King Louis XVIII’s widow) lived there. Nowadays the Luxembourg Palace is the home of the French Senate. The park has several monuments the most important one being the Medici Fountain, which was built in the 17th century in the Italian Renaissance manner.
Musee d'Orsay
Location
The Musee d'Orsay houses Western Art items from the period between 1848 and 1915. The earlier works are exhibited in the Louvre, while the Centre Georges Pompidou is specialized in the modern art.
In Musée d'Orsay, you can see lots of masterpieces from the impressionist and post-impressionist period. The most notable works are those of the legendary French artists Claude Monet (the father of impressionism), Édouard Manet, and Paul Cézanne. In addition, there are also 24 paintings of Vincent van Gogh, of which the most important one is ‘Self-Portrait’ from 1889.
Chez Toinette
Location
After strolling the streets of Montmartre, our recommendation for completing your day is Chez Toinette.
This family run bistro serves traditional French meals and some delicious wines in a pleasant and cozy atmosphere. Feel free to discuss the cuisine with the amiable restaurant staff and take their advice on what´s best today.
The restaurant is small and can get busy at times so to ensure your seat, make a reservation.
