Paris is the capital and seat of government of France and located within “le Ile-de-France”, or Parisienne Region. Paris boasts a rich history of immigration.
Paris was first founded on an island located within the Seine river over two millennia ago by a Gaul tribe known as the Parisii tribe from Gaul.
The Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower has long been recognized as an iconic icon of Paris and France, drawing millions of tourists each year from all around the globe to visit this must-see attraction. However, long lines may exist at times if visiting during peak season; to save time and money when purchasing entrance tickets online before your visit you could consider visiting either off season or at the start of each year instead.
Gustave Eiffel designed this tower for the 1889 Exposition Universelle and it has since become an iconic monument of industrial age. With its intricate latticework of wrought iron latticework and Art Nouveau design, this masterpiece of engineering stands as an incredible testament.
Construction was met with criticism but now widely celebrated as an outstanding example of French architectural and engineering genius. Guillaume Apollinaire wrote a nationalist poem inspired by it, while it has also become featured in films and novels.
On Paris’ Champ de Mars stands the Eiffel Tower: one of the city’s tallest structures and one of the world’s most-visited monuments. Famed for its distinctive form and height, its skyscraper status makes it a favorite subject for photographers, artists and architects. New Year’s Eve and Bastille Day festivities center around it while its lighting at night makes an imposing sight.
Inside the tower, visitors can enjoy access to contemporary dining establishment Madame Brasserie as well as casual buffet-style eatery Le Cafe de Flore, souvenir shops, and an exquisite terrace that overlooks Arc de Triomphe and Les Invalides. On the second-floor lies an observation deck, an exhibition on its history, and a champagne bar for drinks or snacks.
Until the 1950s, the Eiffel Tower also served as a radio transmitter. Sets of wires ran from its cupola down to anchors on Avenue de Suffren and Champ de Mars before finally connecting with longwave transmitters housed within small bunkers beneath its base.
As initially intended for temporary exhibition purposes, the Eiffel Tower almost came down in 1909. But city officials decided instead to keep it and use it as a communications station during World War I – intercepting enemy radio transmissions, relaying zeppelin alerts, and dispatching emergency troop reinforcements from its location. Furthermore, resistance fighters cut its elevator cables so Nazi forces had no option other than climbing its stairs when taking over Paris in World War II.
The Louvre
The Louvre (Musee du Louvre) is one of the world’s premier museums, housing such masterpieces as Mona Lisa and Winged Victory of Samothrace. A central landmark in Paris’ 1st arrondissement and situated along its Right Bank of Seine, The Louvre serves to showcase works from France, Italy, The Netherlands and Spain alongside priceless antiquities collections that make up its raison d’etre.
The Louvre museum’s collection contains nearly 35,000 objects divided among eight curatorial departments: Egyptian Antiquities; Near Eastern Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities; Prehistoric Art; Sculptures; Paintings; Decorative Arts; Prints and Drawings; Islamic Art as well as Architecture and Applied Arts collections.
Recent years, the museum has made great efforts to be more inclusive and accessible, including creating self-paced multimedia guides in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Portuguese German and Japanese for visitors; offering free museum maps in all these languages; opening up Pavillon des Sessions which offers simple volumes with minimal partitioning to bathe works in light through silver-plated bronze mesh screens – and opening its first 1,200 sq.m exhibition space Pavillion des Sessions with free museum maps available in all of these languages – among many other initiatives.
Before its transformation into a universal museum in 1793, the Palais du Louvre was originally a vast medieval fortress built by Philip Auguste in the 12th century and rebuilt by later French monarchs into a Renaissance-style royal palace to house their expanding art collections. Remains from this original fortress can be seen today as part of Medieval Louvre section in Sully wing.
Visitors to the newly reopened Louvre can explore independently using these self-paced multimedia guides or join a guided tour to gain more knowledge of its artwork and history. If you want to maximize your visit, consider signing up for one that provides priority entrance for faster ticket line and security clearance clearance clearance.
In order to experience all the highlights of a museum within one day, plan your visits carefully by prioritizing gallery and exhibit areas. Doing this will allow you to stay focused while also enjoying viewing art at your own pace.
The Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe (pronounced aRk DUMPFH) is an architectural monument constructed in French Neoclassical style in honor of Napoleon’s military victories, located at the Place de l’Etoile and covering three Paris arrondissements (16th, 17th and 8th).
Design elements derived from Rome’s arch of Titus inspired its construction from 1806-1836 under Louis-Philippe’s rule. This arc marks the completion of Baron Haussmann’s nine kilometer Grande Axe Historique route that connects central and western Paris including Place de la Concorde, Champs-Elysees and Arc de Triomphe (l’Etoile).
Design by architect Jean-Francois Theophile Blouet, this arc features 12 arches with two levels and a flat top. Measuring 148 feet wide by 142 feet tall, its striking figure stands out against its surroundings as the finest example of late-18th-century Romantic Neoclassicism architecture.
Initial plans called for an arc to serve as the centerpiece of a grand axis linking Paris with other major French cities like Bordeaux and Toulouse; however, only four out of twelve planned routes were ever actually completed.
Work slowed even further after Napoleon was defeated in 1814 and died a year later on Saint Helena. Following his death, its dedication was changed from Napoleon’s glory to France’s military strength instead. Work stopped again temporarily before restarting in 1823 under architect Antoine-Louis-Ernest Huyot; who provided supervision of final touches to be added under his supervision.
On July 29th 1836, when the Arc was inaugurated it was illuminated by 700 gas lamps. Crowds gathered as names of more than 600 generals and 128 battles were inscribed onto its marble surfaces.
The Arch of Triumph serves as the focal point of twelve main routes that radiate out from its base to all corners of Paris, serving as an emblematic representation of national pride and rallying point for French citizens.
The Sacré-Cur
One must visit the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris upon first arriving in Paris. Situated atop Montmartre, this iconic religious landmark and iconic city symbol is considered both religious and secular by locals alike. Constructed in 1875 to mark France’s defeat at Prussia’s hands and 1871’s bloody Paris Commune battles; dedicated to Christ’s Sacred Heart it stands as an embodiment of penitence and faith.
Paul Abadie designed it in Romanesque-Byzantine style. For inspiration, Abadie visited St-Front church in Perigueux; here he took influence from its multi-dome Romanesque structure with two bronze equestrian statues of Joan of Arc and King Louis IX designed by Hippolyte Lefebvre at its entrance; inside, la Savoyarde bell from Annecy copper foundry stands as one of its centerpieces.
Once inside, we were immediately dazzled by its magnificent gold-leafed ceiling and mesmerizing golden mosaics of Christ in Majesty. Even though it was bustling with tourists, we felt as if we had entered a holy space where everyone sat respectfully out of reverence for this eventful occasion.
We also had an opportunity to explore the interior of the dome, accessible via stairs. From here we were taken aback at its incredible views over the city below us. If you feel up for it, take on the 300 steps leading all the way up to its summit for an even more stunning experience!
The Basilica is free to enter and offers breathtaking panoramic views of Paris from its terraces, making it the ideal spot for rest and taking in its beauty. While some locals dislike its presence (similar to how some may regard the Eiffel Tower), most visitors appreciate its gorgeous design and architecture and visit to enjoy Paris at its fullest extent. Definitely worth seeing, even if that means dealing with some tourists. For more information please check out Debbie at Empty Nest Explorers blog post here – thanks for reading!