1.Notre-Dame Chatedral
Like the
Eiffel Tower, the Notre-Dame Cathedral is seen as a Parisian icon. Located right along the picturesque River Seine, the Notre-Dame Cathedral is considered a Gothic masterpiece and is often regarded as one of the best Gothic cathedrals of its kind in the world. Construction of the famous cathedral started in the late 10th century and final touches weren’t made until nearly 200 years later. And once you get an eyeful of the cathedral yourself, you’ll start to understand why it took so long.
2.Musse du Louvre
If you only had time to visit one museum in Paris, it should undoubtedly be the Louvre Museum. That’s because the Louvre is not only widely considered to be one of the best art museums in Europe, but one of the best in the world as well. The museum first opened its doors in 1793 and features a grand total of 35,000 works of art. Here you can get up close to a variety of art from different time periods and cultures. The Louvre features everything from Egyptian mummy tombs to ancient Grecian sculptures (including the renowned Winged Victory of Smothrace and curvaceous Venus de Milo). There are also thousands of paintings to peruse as well. Masterpieces such as “Liberty of Leading the People” by Eugene Delacroix, “The Raft of Medusa” by Théodore Géricault and Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa,” the museum’s biggest star, can be found here. You can even get a glimpse of Napolean the Third’s old apartment digs. Though you don’t necessarily have to visit the apartments to get a taste of what it was like to be a royal. Before it was a museum, the Louvre served as a royal residence for a number of French powers, including Louis XIV. It was only sometime after Louis XIV left the Louvre in favor of Versailles that the Louvre began to transform into a museum.
3. Eiffel Tower
Designed and constructed for the 1889 Exposition Universelle (the World’s Fair), the Eiffel Tower was always meant to be a temporary structure, but it skirted demolition talks twice. The first time, at the beginning of the 1900s, the tower was kept around because of its transmission talents. Gustav Eiffel, chief architect of the Eiffel Tower, had a variety of scientific experiments tested on the tower with the hope that any discoveries would help prolong its lifespan. One of these included a wireless transmissions test, which the tower passed with flying colors. During World War I, the Eiffel Tower’s transmission capabilities enabled it to intercept communications from enemies as well as relay intel to troops on the ground. The second time the Eiffel Tower was almost destroyed was during the German occupation of France during World War II. Hitler planned to get rid of the tower, but never ended up going through with his plan.
4.Le Marais
Straddling the 3ème and 4ème arrondissements (districts), Le Marais is one of Paris’ oldest and coolest districts – so cool, in fact, that French writer Victor Hugo (author of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and “Les Misérables”) called it home. With all of its cobblestone streets, stately stone architecture and tucked away courtyards, it’s easy to feel as if you’re strolling through medieval Paris. Back in the day, Le Marais housed some notable French royalty. King Henry IV was the one responsible for the construction of the Place des Vosges, Paris’ oldest square. And Louis XIV called this neighborhood home for a while until he decided to move his family and court to Versailles. Much of Le Marais also survived the destruction made during the French Revolution.
5. Arc de Triomphe
Situated at the western end of the Champs-Élysées, the towering Arc de Triomphe was commissioned by Napoléon to honor the Grande Armee during the Napoleonic Wars. The arch, which is the largest of its kind in the world, is adorned with several impressive, intricately carved sculptures. Underneath the Arch travelers will find the names of the battles fought during the first French Republic and Napolean’s Empire as well as generals who fought in them. Travelers will also find the famous tomb of The Unknown Soldier. The unknown soldier currently buried there is meant to represent all the unidentified or unaccounted for soldiers who lost their lives during World War I. The flame that was lit when the soldier was laid to rest has not extinguished since it was initially lit in the 1920s, and is rekindled every night at 6:30 p.m. by a member of the armed services.
If you don’t have 7 days to spend in Paris, the best ways to visit all attractions by organized bus charter. Get a free quote from Apollo for all Europe destinations and attractions
Recent Comments