Paris is love. Paris is art. Paris is passion. Paris is culture. Paris is ...
Paris is everything you can fall in love with in a city. It has accumulated history, culture and art like no other city in the world and everyone can find it attractive and interesting in so many ways ...
Paris has been the biggest city in both Europe and the world in different periods of history and it has evolved with it's own unique architecture, style and spirit. Paris is the most visited city in the world and there are thousands of reasons for this.
If you have ever wondered how the great kings have lived or what the greatest artists in history have created - Paris is the city to find it out.
The city is situated on the Seine river and the oldest part of Paris was formed on the islands Île Saint-Louis and Île de la Cité.
The modern architecture of Paris is a result of the 19th century re-modelling of the city, which allowed it to have wide and spacious main avenues instead of narrow streets. Paris still has the Alignment Law, based on which any new construction is regulated in accordance with the surrounding buildings and streets.
It is difficult to list all recommended sites in Paris and the city itself is a living and constantly evolving monument of human history, but some of the must-see historical and cultural sites are:
Eiffel Tower
The 324 m high iron lattice tower is probably the most recognizable symbol of Paris, and one of the best known constructions in the world. It is situated on the Champ de Mars and because of it uniqueness and perfect view over Paris, the Eiffel Tower is the most visited paid attraction in the world, visited by over 200 000 000 tourists since it was built in 1889 for the World’s Fair in Paris.
The Eiffel Tower is open for visitors and tourists can reach several different areas on the tower, getting up by stairs or by elevators. The top floor is at a height of 273 m and the view one sees from it is spectacular, both during the day and at night.
You can enjoy a nice traditional meal at some of the restaurants on the tower, while enjoying Paris from above, and knowing that you sit in the world's highest building between 1889 and 1930 can certainly make it a memorable experience.
Avenue des Champs-Élysées
The Champs-Élysées is one of world`s most famous streets and is one which makes you feel the spirit and glamour of Paris. The boulevard has a significant role in the architectural history of the city, starting as market area and being enriched with trees in the 17th century. By the 18th century the Champs-Élysées is mentioned in historical sources as Grande Avenue des Champs-Elisée and is a major boulevard, becoming cultural and economical center.
Some of the most significant and known landmarks of Paris are situated on or near the Avenue des Champs-Élysées - the Arc de Triomphe, the Place Charles de Gaulle ( known also as Place de l'Étoile ), the Élysée Palace and many others.
One of the remarkable events on the Champs-Élysées is the annual Bastille Day military parade, which is the largest in Europe, and is always viewed by the President of the Republic.
Avenue des Champs-Élysées is especially spectacular during the winter holidays, when it is decorated with most beautiful lighting.
Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe is built in honor of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte following his military victory at Austerlitz and since then it is used by French troops to celebrate military success.
It is situated on a crossroad of twelve main avenues and due to its significance as a French military symbol, it holds the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the World War II.
Musée du Louvre
The Louvre is the most visited art museum in the world. It is also one of the biggest art museums, holding art and historical objects from prehistorical to modern age.
The Musée du Louvre is spectacular for so many reasons - the fascinating architecture of the building itself ( created as a military fortress in the 12th century ), the hostorical significance of the museum ( open since 1793 ), the symbolical importance of the museum for the french, who have wanted it to be a place for art and science .. The art collection has significantly increased during the reigns of Emperor Napoleon, Louis XVIII and the Second french Empire.
The Louvre hosts master pieces by Michelangelo, Rafaelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Velázquez, Van Dyk and almost every other significant artist from the past. One of the most visited and notorious paintings in the museum is the Mona Lisa, which is displayed in a special climate-controlled frame behind bulletproof glass.
There are about 380 000 art and hostorical objects, which the Louvre holds, devided in eight departments: Greek, Etruscan, and Roman ; Egyptian antiquities ; Islamic art ; Near Eastern antiquities ; Sculpture ; Decorative arts ; Prints and drawings and Painting.
One day visit to the Louvre is absolutely insufficient and we would recomment that you plan at leat 2 or 3 days for visiting the museum and exploring all the treasures it holds.
Paris has to offer many many other cultural and hostorical sites such as the artistic Montmartre area, the important Place de la Bastille, the oldest monument of Paris - the Egyptian obelisk, the vivid and entertaining Quartier Latin and many others.
Be sure to visit at least several bistros near the Seina river and to buy a nice painting of a Paris view from some of the street artists.
Nomatter how much time you spend there on your vacation, you will be eager to get back in the very near future. It is a city of beauty, joy and romance and we wish you a really enjoyable holiday in the city of Love.
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