Eiffel tower
The Eiffel Tower was built for the International Exhibition of Paris of 1889 commemorating the centenary of the French Revolution. The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII of England, opened the tower. Of the 700 proposals submitted in a design competition, Gustave Eiffel's was unanimously chosen. However it was not accepted by all at first, and a petition of 300 names - including those of Maupassant, Emile Zola, Charles Garnier (architect of the Opéra Garnier), and Dumas the Younger - protested its construction. Hitler wanted to destroy it, it is still here today and it is the symbol of this town.
At 300 metres (320.75m including antenna), and 7000 tons, it was the world's tallest building until 1930. You have a wonderful view from Paris on the top of it.
Definitely a place to visit if it is not the one !
Cathedral Notre Dame
The construction of this Gothic cathedral, undertaken at the initiative of Maurice de Sully, began about 1160. The major work was completed by the 12th century. From the middle of the 13th century to the beginning of the 14th century, chapels were constructed between the buttresses of the nave. The Gothic cathedral then underwent considerable changes as new elements were added in the 18th century and others destroyed during the French Revolution. Restoration, which gave the cathedral its current aspect, was completed in 1864. In 2004, The cathedral is almost totally restored and it has never been so wonderful !
One of my favorite place. A medieval fortress, the palace of the kings of France, and a museum for the last two centuries, the architecture of the Louvre Palace bears witness to more than 800 years of history. Established in 1793 by the French Republic, the Louvre Museum, in the company of the Ashmolean Museum (1683), the Dresden Museum (1744) and the Vatican Museum (1784) is one of the earliest European museums. Divided into 7 departments, the Louvre collections incorporate works dating from the birth of the great antique civilisations right up to the first half of the XIXth century, thereby confirming its encyclopedic vocation. We won't have enough time to visit this Museum but you can keep in mind you'll have to see this one day
Not far from "Notre Dame" in front of "Les halles", During the Xth century, Hugues Capet and his successors used the Cité palace to assert their authority against the feudal lords. Standing as an instrument of power, the palace was continually enlarged and modernised. Originally a fortress having strong links with its Gallo-Roman origins, as the centuries passed by it gradually became a royal residence. During the revolution, the palace became the notorious home of expeditious and bloody justice. In 1793, the revolutionary tribunal took over the "Great Chamber" from the parliament, renaming it the "Chamber of Freedom".The Conciergerie then became a transit centre where prisoners were held awaiting trial and until their sentences were carried out. In all, the Revolutionary Tribunal claimed more than 2,700 victims during the 718 days of its existence, including Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette.
Built by Louis IX in the 1240's to house relics from the Holy Land believed to be the Crown of Thorns and part of the True Cross, this small gothic chapel is one of the inspiring visual experiences of Paris. Much of this is due to its stained glass windows which essentially surround the entire upper floor. The chapel itself is now surrounded by the Palais of Justice on the Ile de la Cité near Notre Dame. It has two "tiers", the first one at ground level being rather dark and close, the second one having radiant tall windows, as well as a small balcony. If the sun is here at the time of your visit we should visit this place !
Avant-garde cultural centre
Commonly known as the Beaubourg, this distinctive building was commissioned in 1968 by then President Georges Pompidou, and opened in 1977. Most Parisians were initially shocked by its unconventional "inside out" architectural style: air conditioning, escalators and lifts are all on the outside, giving the interior unparalleled freedom. Extensively refurbished in the late 1990s, the centre is home to the Musée National d'Art Moderne and the Bibliothèque Publique d'Information (BPI) as well as temporary exhibitions, cinemas, and other attractions.
Taken from the French word ‘bastide’, meaning fortress, the Bastille was constructed to defend the eastern wall of Paris from hostile forces in 1382. With walls over eighty feet high and well stocked and supplied arsenal, the Bastille quickly gathered the reputation of one of France’s most secure military strongpoints. However, after being besieged seven times and surrendering six of those times, the importance of the fortress diminished. By the early seventeen hundreds it had become a prison.
July 14th 1789 dawned, the angry mob broke through the walls and stormed the Bastille they found only seven prisoners inside: four forgers, two lunatics, and a young noble. However, it was not to free the prisoners inside that the battle was fought. Instead, it was to bring down the single most important symbol of the King’s power.Since 1880 July 14th, Bastille Day, has been celebrated to commemorate the storming of the Bastille and the end of the French monarchy. As with the American Independence Day, the holiday is celebrated with firecrackers, parades, and festivals.
Though it was a sacred hill from the Roman Temples period to the Abbey of Montmartre and the political tone of Henri the IV, Montmartre preserved its cultural and artistic identity by offering a home to the greatest painting movements of the XIX and XX centuries.There have been countless wonderful stories about Montmartre and its famous people (painters, novelists) who have walked its streets and have shaped its present day history. Montmartre, crowned by the Sacré Coeur, continues to proudly dominate Paris.
Named after the two wooden statues (the two magots) which still dominate the room, Les Deux Magots is one the most famous cafés in Paris. Jean-Paul Sartre, and Hemingway were both patrons in an earlier era. Nice place for a drink. Its rival - Café de Flore - is just next door. 170 blvd, St Germain, 6th Métro stop: St-Germain-des-Prés.
Place where you could go for dinner.
Menu start at 23 € (Euros.)
102, bd du Montparnasse 75014 Paris - Métro : Vavin
More than 70 illustrious persons were interred here, from Voltaire and Jean-Jacques Rousseau to Alexandre Dumas. Only the swinging of the pendulum situated in the center of the building, a replica of Foucault's 1851 experiment to show the curvature of the Earth, seems to disturb the deep tranquility.