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ATTRACTIONS
Eiffel Tower
This is one of the world's most recognizable monuments (and the best-known
monument in all of Europe), and it is breathtaking to behold. Be sure
to take the lift to the top for a spectacular view of the city. This attraction
alone drew 6.2 million visitors in 2002, according to Paris Office of
Tourism statistics. Built originally in 1899 as a temporary exhibition
structure, the Eiffel Tower remained when Paris discovered its utility
as a city-wide communications tower. 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. Just southeast 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.
Louvre Museum
Arguably the world's most famous art museum, the Louvre's most popular
piece is Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa." It was established
in 1793, and is one of the oldest museums in Europe. Its collections spans
from the birth of great civilizations up to the 19th century. A whopping
5.7 million tourists visited the museum in 2002.
Centre Pompidou
The funky and hip Centre Pompidou features a wonderful collection of modern
art within its creatively designed building. It also features a cinema,
concerts and children's activities. The Centre attracts 5.5 million visitors
annually. Two floors are dedicated to exhibiting some of the 40,000-plus
works of the Musée Nationale d'Art Moderne, France's national collection
of 20th-century art. The top floors have a magnificent view of Paris,
and place George Pompidou below attracts street performers, musicians
and artists.
Cite des Sciences at de l'Industrie
This fun, hands-on science museum attracts 2.5 million visitors each year,
with its cool exhibits on anatomy, biology, you name it.
Musee d'Orsay
This museum may not be the massive size of Louvre, but its Impressionist
collection is among the best in the world. The museum is housed in a former
rail station, and has the atmosphere and personality to match. The Musee
d'Orsay attracts 2.1 million visitors annually. It thus fills the chronological
gap between the Louvre and the Musée National d'Art Moderne at
the Centre Pompidou. The museum is austerely housed along the Seine in
a former railway station built in 1900 and reinaugurated in its present
form in 1986.
Arc de Triomphe
Climb to the top for one of the best views of Paris. No, it doesn't go
as high as the Eiffel Tower. But since the city is relatively flat, the
vantage point at this height is actually better. The arch brings in 1.4
million visitors each year. The Arc de Triomphe is the world's largest
traffic roundabout and the meeting point of 12 avenues. It was commissioned
in 1806 by Napoleon to commemorate his imperial victories, but remained
unfinished until 1836. Since 1920, the body of an unknown soldier from
WWI taken from Verdun in Lorraine has lain beneath the arch, his fate
and that of countless others like him commemorated by a memorial flame
rekindled each evening around 6:30pm. France's national remembrance service
is held here annually on Nov 11th.
Bois de Boulogne
The modestly sized Bois de Boulogne, on the western edge of the city,
is endowed with forested areas, meandering paths, belle époque
cafes and little wells of naughtiness. Each night, pockets of the Bois
de Boulogne are taken over by prostitutes and lurkers with predacious
sexual tastes. In recent years, the police have cracked down on the area's
sex trade, but locals still advise against walking through the area alone
at night. The Bois de Boulogne was damaged in the storms of December 1999;
its renovation is due to be completed in 2004.
Catacombes
An attraction with limited appeal, but nonetheless one of the world's
wonders, the Catacombs of Paris consist of almost a mile of illuminated
dirt tunnels filled with human bones and skulls transposed for public
health reasons from over-filled 18th century cemeteries. Also used by
the French Resistance in the forties, the Catacombs have developed a mystique
of their own, and are worth seeing while you are here, however briefly.
Cathédrale Notre Dame
At the center of the Parisian arrondissements is the famous Notre Dame
Cathedral, around which Paris was built. Since the 1100s, Notre Dame has
played an integral role in Parisian history, and is one of the oldest
remaining structures in the city.
Sacré Coeur
Above all, Montmartre is known for its many artists who have been omnipresent
since 1880. The name Montmartre, an area around a hill in the 18th arrondissement,
north of downtown Paris, is said to be derived from either Mount of Martyrs
or from Mount of Mars. Until 1873, when the Sacré-Coeur was built
on top of the hill, Montmartre was a small village, inhabited by a mostly
farming community. The project to build the Sacré Coeur was initiated
by a group of influential people who wanted to build the monument as moral
condemnation of the sins of Paris, which, in their opinion, had caused
the defeat of the French army against Prussia in 1870.
Cimetière du Père Lachaise
Founded in 1804, Père Lachaise's 70,000 ornate tombs form a verdant,
open-air sculpture garden. Among its resting residents are famous composers,
writers, artists, actors, singers, dancers and even the immortal 12th-century
lovers Abélard and Héloïse. One of the most popular
graves is that of rock star Jim Morrison of The Doors, who died in an
apartment on Rue Beautreillis (4e) in the Marais in 1971.
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.
Sainte Chapelle
The most exquisite of Paris' Gothic gems, Sainte Chapelle is tucked away
within the walls of the Palais de Justice. The chapel is illuminated by
a veritable curtain of luminous 13th-century stained glass (the oldest
and finest in Paris). Consecrated in 1248, Sainte Chapelle was built to
house what was believed to be Jesus' crown of thorns and other relics
purchased by King Louis IX. The chapel's exterior can be viewed from across
the street, from the law courts' magnificently gilded 18th-century gate,
which faces Rue de Lutèce.
Île de France
The relatively small region surrounding Paris - known as the Île
de France (Island of France) - was where the kingdom of France began its
12th-century expansion. Today, it's a popular day-trip destination for
Parisians and Paris-based visitors. Among the region's many attractions
are woodlands ideal for hiking, skyscrapered districts endowed with sleekly
functional architecture, the much-maligned EuroDisney, elegant historical
towns and Versailles, the country's former political capital and seat
of the royal court. The latter is the site of the Château de Versailles,
the grandest and most famous palace in France. Built in the mid-1600s
during the reign of Louis XIV, the chateau is a keen reminder of just
how much one massive ego and a nation's wealth could buy in days of old
(eat your heart out, Bill Gates). Apart from grand halls, bedchambers,
gardens, ponds and fountains too elaborate to discuss, there's also a
75m (250ft) Hall of Mirrors, where nobles could watch each other dancing.
Parc Zoologique de Paris
The best way to get to one of the great zoos of Europe is by Metro, which
has its own stop here. This is a habitat-style zoo, no cages, and offers
a great opportunity to see wild animals truly at home. Many activities,
children's programs and refreshment alternatives in the area also augment
the experience, well worth a day's investment.
Champs-Elysées
The Avenue des Champs-Elysées is probably the most famous avenue
in the world. This impressive promenade stretches from the Place the la
Concorde to the Place Charles de Gaulle, the site of the Arc de Triomphe.
At its western end it is bordered by cinemas, theaters, cafés and
luxury shops. Near the Place de la Concorde, the street is bordered by
the Jardins des Champs-Elysées, beautifully arranged gardens with
fountains and some grand buildings including the Grand and Petit Palais
at the southern side and the Elysée at its northern side. The latter
has been the residence of the French Presidents since 1873.
Place de la Bastille
The large Bastille square or Place de la Bastille is named after the notorious
Bastille stronghold. After the defeat of the French at Poitiers in 1356
during the 100 year war with England, there was need for a stronghold
to protect Paris from invasion. Construction of the Bastille started in
1370 and was completed in 1382. It had 4 meter wide walls and eight 22m
high towers. The stronghold was later converted into a prison by Richelieu.
Most of the prisoners were enemies of the king, sent to prison by a simple
order under the king's seal. Some of the most famous inmates were Voltaire
, Fouquet and Sade. The Bastille had a terrible reputation, but in reality
there were few prisoners and the treatment was better than in most prisons.
Nonetheless, the Bastille became a symbol of the arbitrariness of the
monarchy.
On July 14, 1789 the Bastille was stormed by a crowd reinforced with
a rebellious detachment of the National Guard. The few guards soon surrendered,
and the 7 prisoners were freed. The capture of the Bastille marks Colonne
de Juilletthe start of the French Revolution. It is celebrated each year
as the Bastille Day, which was also declared the French national holiday
in 1860.
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