Sightseeing sites

In 1889, France organized the universal exhibition with the ambition to hallow its industrial and technological knowledge and to celebrate the century of the French Revolution. A competition was raised for the construction of a 300 meters tower. The draft of Gustave Eiffel, a French engineer and manufacturer, prevailed over a hundred others. The construction of this iron tower - a technological marvel- lasted nearly two years. Over 50 engineers and 250 workers in total worked to assemble parts built in factories of the Eiffel company. Fortunately no fatal incident had been deplored on this very dangerous construction site.

In the early 20th century the Eiffel Tower alsmost got dismantled due to a sharp decline in visits and especially since the tower has for long been disapproved by the population and some artists. Today the Eiffel Tower is still a powerful symbol of France abroad. Overlooking Paris, she offers a view over the City of Light: a must-see place to visit when one comes to Paris. The most fortunate will have dinner in one of its restaurants in altitude (Altitude 95 and the Jules Verne).

Practical Information :
Hours : daily from 09h30 to 23h. From 09:00 to midnight during the summer (from June 13 to August 31).

Rates*

* applicable untill the 26th March 2010
** Reduced price for children from 4 to 11 years old. Free for children younger than 4 years old.

In 1960 the bishop of Paris requested the construction of a large cathedral, probably to cope with the rapidly growing population of Paris, which doubled in a few decades. For this new cathedral, the choice of Gothic architecture, then called "art de France" (francigenum opus), is the most obvious. Characterized by its vaults, this type of architecture raises the construction and opens the walls with stained glass windows to let the light enter: this is a radical change for these places of worship that were always so obscure.

Famous for its chimeras and gargoyles, Notre-Dame de Paris has crossed centuries and many times risked being destroyed. The gradual decline of Gothic art, then the decay of the building almost lead to its replacement. But the outbreak of French Revolution (stopping all reconstruction projects) and the strong support of Victor Hugo helped to initiate major renovations of the cathedral in the late 19th century.

Each year, Notre Dame attracts 13.5 million visitors (pilgrims or tourists) and was the most visited tourist site in France in 2006. This exceptional religious monument and its architecture will not fail to amaze you.

Practical Information :
Hours: daily from 08h00 to 18h45 (19h15 on weekends). Admission free.
Offices: at 08:30 on Sunday, International Mass at 11:30.

The Louvre's collection is considered as one of the largest in the world. It includes art works coming from all continents and all time periods (from antiquity to 1848). The nature of the works exhibited are from all artistic disciplines: painting, sculpture, but also archaeological evidence of extinct civilizations. A visit at the Louvre is a tour through time, cultures and artistic currents from the past...

Practical Information :
Hours : 6d/7 (closed on Tuesday) from 9 to 18h. On Wednesday and Friday evening open till 22h.
Prices : from 9 € for the permanent collection - 6 € for evening tickets (from 18h). Closure of rooms: rotating, 40% of the museum halls are closed each day. Exceptional offers : on the 1st Sunday of each month, entrance to the Louvre Museum is free.

Immediately after the battle of Austerlitz, considered as the tactical masterpiece of Napoleon Bonaparte, the Emperor Napoleon stated : "You will go back to your homes only under triumphal arches". The construction of the arch was decided in 1806 but was inaugurated only 30 years later after many construction interruptions. Since Then, the Arc de triomphe kept strong patriotic connotations. It is in its ground that lay the tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the eternal flame, tribute to all missing soldiers (revived each evening at 6:30 by ancient fighters associations).

Beyond it symbolism, the Arc de triomphe is a real architectural masterpiece and shows some monumental sculptures. Inspired by The Roman Arc of Titus, it will impress you with its exceptional size (50m high), no to forget the breathtaking view that the terrace offers once you climbed the 234 steps.

Tickets
- Full price : 9 €
- Reduced Price : 5,50 €

Schedule
Open all year long from 10AM to 10:30PM (until 11PM form April 1st to September 30th). Closed holidays : January 1st, May 1st, May 8th (morning), November 11th (morning), December 25th.

A must do when in Paris, the Musee d'Orsay offers to its visitors an incredible show thanks to not only the magnificent train station that houses it but also the wealth of the collections (4000 pieces on permanent exhibition !). We can particularly see some masterpieces as The Olympia form Edouard Manet, The Petites Danseuses agee de quatorze and form Edgard degas or The World's Origin from Gustave Courbet, this is often completed with some temporary shows that are always interesting.

Information :
Open from 9:30 AM to 6PM Tuesday to Sunday (tickets selling until 5PM) and until 9:45 PM on Thursday (ticket selling until 9PM)
Closed on Mondays, as well as January 1st, May 1st and December 25th.

Price:
Full Price : 9.50€
Reduced Price : 7€
Free every first Sunday of the month, and every day for under 18 years old, 18-25 years old form the E.U. and unemployed visitors.

* Starting October 20th, 2009 to February 4th, 2010
** This price will apply to all non E.U. 18-25 years old, 26-30 years old after 4:15 PM (6PM for the late evening on Thursday)

Since its opening, Disneyland Paris's growth never stopped and is extending now on more than 550 000m2. With the Walt Disney Studio Park (13 more attractions), created in 2002 just next to it (tickets sold separately), it is more than 40 attractions that are proposed, as well as many shows. Among the most famous, Sleeping Beauty' Castle, Alice in Wonderland's maze, the Haunted House, the Coffee Cups and of course many spectacular mountains.

If lines are some times long, specially during school holidays and week-ends, many attractions are proposed to make your wait enjoyable. It's indeed regular to meet some characters of the wonderful Disney world for the kids happiness.

Last recommendation : Check the weather, a rainy day in Disneyland is not as much fun.

Tickets
Adult : from 51 euros
child : from 43 euros

Reservation Tickets (minimum 5 Days before)
Adult : from 36 euros
Child : from 36 euros

Information and reservation on the Disneyland Paris official website.

Created in 1612 on the demand of Marie de Medicis, Queen of France and wife of Henry IV, the Luxembourg Garden spreads on about 25 hectares on the left bank of the Seine. Situated in the heart of the 6th arrondissement, the luco host many important buildings as the Luxembourg Palace (where the French Senate is hosted) and the Luxembourg Museum. Over the centuries, the garden "a la francaise" conserved its charm and stays a preferred location for all Parisians.

Kids will find many activities as the sailing boat races in the central pond, the pony walks or the candy vendor, while the sports man will share a game of tennis, petanques or chess (between rue Guynemer and rue Vaugirard)

Finally, how can you not be seduced by those immense green spaces, and tree paths (that includes more that one thousand fruit trees!) whose charm inspired many artists and writers as Balzac, Verlaine, Baudelaire, Hugo, Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir and more ?

Practical info :
Entrances : Square Edmond Rostand, Square Andre Honnarat, Rue Guynemer, Rue de Vaugirard.
Metro : Odeon (line 4 & 10)
RER : Luxembourg Station
Opening hours : Access to the garden changes depending on the day light length. To know the actual opening hours log on the official website of the Luxembourg Garden.

Anecdote : The Luxembourg Garden takes its name for the Hotel of Francois de Luxembourg, one of the many hotel that the Queen bought to build the garden.

If the Saint-Louis island gives you the opportunity to take some postcard pictures, especially on the east part of the island that is reserved to walkers, one of its treasure is the famous ice cream place Berthillon. A tradition since 1954, which was spotted by Gault et Millau, and has the reputation of making the best sorbets in Paris, see you at 29 rue Saint-Louis-en-l'Île to try the delicious homemade ice cream.

Entirely restored by the city of Paris in 2007, The Pont Neuf offers an exceptional view on the center of Paris, the Louvre museum, Notre-Dame and of course the Seine River. No doubt you will take amazing pictures with this incredible decors.

Honoré de Balzac, Édith Piaf, Simone Signoret, Jim Morrison, Yves Montand, Oscar Wilde, many celebrities rest today at the Pere Lachaise cemetery. Open beginning of the 19h century,it took several years for the cemetery to become popular, Parisians preferred to be buried in the nicer areas of the city than the 20th arrondissement. To improve its image, they transferred the bodies of Moliere and Jean de La Fontaine and it rapidly became one of the most demanded cemetery of Paris !

For this visit, we suggest you to get a detailed guide - that would retrace the history of the place and of the personalities that are buried there - or even better to join a guided tour of the Pere Lachaise.

More information
- Métro : Philippe Auguste (line 2) ou Père Lachaise (lines 2 et 3)
- Free entrance to the cemetery
- Open all year long from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM and up to 6:00PM from March 16th to November 5th
- Guided tour every Saturday at 2:30PM, no reservation. Meeting point at te main entrance at the corner of Boulevard de Menilmontant and Rue du Repos.