List of most of the attractions in Paris with quick information:
FP10 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Alexander III Bridge
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FP11 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Arc de Triomphe
Details: Originally commissioned by Napolean, the Arc de Triomphe has stood since 1836. Underneath the Arc is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier along with an eternal flame to mark those who have died in the two world wars.
This is a perfect first stop on your tour of the city. Built in honor of the French Army and unveiled in 1836, the top of the Arc de Triomphe offers a grand panoramic view (keeping in mind, of course, that in a city that boasts the Eiffel, offering a noteworthy view is no easy feat). Inside the arc, a museum details the monument's history. Outside, in the shadow of the arc, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier pays homage to the soldiers killed in World War I.
Location: Place Charles-de-Gaulle-Etoile, 16e Phone: 01-43-80-31-31
Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris; Phone: +33 (1) 55 37 73 77;
Hours: 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., October through March; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., April through October;
FP06 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Assembly Nationale
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FP12 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Basilique du Sacre-Coeur
Details: The dome affords the best view of Paris, especially at night just as the lights are coming on. This 19th century cathedral also has an observation platform on the inside of the dome where you can get a full view of the church's interior.
Location: Place St-Pierre 18e Phone: 01-42-51-17-02
FP01 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Cathédrale de Notre-Dame (Cathedral of Our Lady)
Details: The stocky Notre-Dame Cathedral, situated on the Ile-de-la-Cité, could not be more different from the filigree Eiffel Tower. Bishop Maurice de Sully began construction on the cathedral in 1163, to outshine the new abbey at St-Denis, work was completed in 1345. The result is a gothic masterpiece, with three stunning rose windows. Visitors should be prepared to climb the 387 spiral steps to the top of the 75m (246ft) north tower. The views over the River Seine and the city centre are well worth the effort. There is also a treasury with various liturgical objects on display. A violent storm in 1999 caused significant damage to the cathedral, though by 2004 much of it had been repaired. The scaffolding, which has blighted the cathedral for as long as anyone can remember, looks set to remain for the foreseeable future.
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.
One of the most spectacular examples of Gothic architecture in Paris, the Notre Dame began construction back in 1163 and has been continually altered and restored ever since. Towering over the Place de Parvis on the Isle de la Cité is Notre-Dame, considered the most enduring symbol of the city. Completed in 1345, the Cathedral is a Gothic masterpiece. Inside, the building can accommodate up to six thousand devotees and the interior features three massive rose windows and an enormous organ with 7,800 pipes. The top of the tower is accessible and offers a breathtaking view of Paris and also lets visitors take a closer look at the famous gargoyles.
The tower contains the bell that was rung by the fictional Quasimodo. There is also a museum opposite the North Door that focuses on the history of the Cathedral, and beneath the square fronting the Cathedral is Notre-Dame's archaeological museum, inside a crypt.
Location: 6 Place du Parvis-Notre-Dame, 4th
Tel: (01) 4234 5610 or 4432 1672 (information on tower).
Website: www.cathedraledeparis.com
Transport: Cité métro; RER Châtelet-Les Halles or Saint-Mic stations or bus 21, 24, 27, 38, 47, 85 or 96.
Opening hours: Daily 0745-1845 (cathedral), daily 0930-1845 (towers), Mon-Sat 0930-1130 and 1300-1730 (treasury).
Free admission (cathedral), charge for towers and treasury.
FP02 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Chartres
Details: If you have the time, it is well worth the less than 2 hour trip to see this medieval wonder of stained glass and iron sculpture. The Cathedral at Chartres contains some of the oldest surviving and most beautiful stained glass in the world, much of it dating back to the 1100s. There is so much to see here that one should allow at least a full day for the adventure. Sundays are especially popular because of the free afternoon organ concerts.
Location: 16 Cloitre Notre-Dame, Chartres Phone: 02-37-21-56-33
FP13 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Centre Georges Pompidou (Georges Pompidou Centre)
Details: Considered outrageous in 1977, the Pompidou Centre, designed by Piano and Rogers, has become part of the Parisian landscape, primary coloured tubes and all. The building was revamped and extended a few years ago, to cope with the huge numbers of people visiting its expanding collection of contemporary art and multimedia library.
Location: Place Georges Pompidou, 4th
Tel: (01) 4478 1233.
Website: www.centrepompidou.fr
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 1100-2100, late-night openings until 2300 for some exhibits.
Admission charge, free first Sun of each month.
FP14 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Champs-Elysees
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FP15 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Chateau de Versailles
Details: The palace of Louis XIV, the Sun King, where the staff gathered to witness the levee of the rising monarch every morning, is a jaw-dropping excursion into the 17th century world of unbelievable opulence and ornamentation enjoyed by the royal class, which kept a safe distance from the squalor of their subjects in central Paris. You should allow a full day to see this grand siecle phenomenon, though you could spend many days there and still not see everything. Although only about 13 miles southwest of downtown Paris, plan to spend the entire day touring the palace, exotic vegetable, fruit and flower gardens, and enjoy dinner at one of the special neighboring restaurants. Keep your car at the hotel, and use one of the many convenient public transportation or hotel shuttle alternatives available.
Built by Louis XIV back in the 15th century, the Palace of Versailles served as home to French royalty until the French Revolution. While it has suffered with the passing years, it stands as a monument to the past glory of France and remains a world famous attraction.
After meeting at the Paris office you'll ride your bicycle to the nearest train station (RER) for the quick 20 minute trip to Versailles. Once at Versailles, you'll first visit the village market to buy baguettes, cheese, ham, wine or whatever you desire for the delicious picnic later in the Chateau's gardens (cost of lunch is at your own expense).
The highlight of the day is your bicycle ride through the gardens behind the Chateau. The average Versailles tourist doesn't realize that they can only visit a small fraction of the gardens on foot. You, however, will be able to visit everything worth seeing including Marie Antoinette's Petit Trianon, the Grand Trianon and the quiet Hameau. The gardens and forests are crisscrossed by a network of fantastic trails and tree-lined paths. Bring your camera for breath-taking views in every direction.
Once you arrive at the far end of the Grand Canal settle down for a picnic in the exact spot where Kings Louis XIV, XV and XVI ate in order to marvel at their house. The magnitude of Versailles and the basis for the anger of the French citizens in 1789 is finally understood. But today simply relax all alone in the grass and sunshine since your cycling group will be the only ones that can easily reach the end of the Grand Canal.
After lunch pedal again through the gardens back towards the Chateau itself for an unforgettable view into the lives of the monarchy before being deposed by the Revolution in 1789. Visit the Hall of Mirrors (site of the treaty ending World War I), the King's State Apartments and the amazing King's Chapel. And finally after enjoying one of the treasures of France we'll return to Paris via train (RER).
Location: Versailles, place d'Armes Phone: 01-30-84-74-00
FP16 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Cimetiere du Pere-Lachaise
Details: Visit the graves of Oscar Wilde, John-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas, legendary American songwriter Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf, Moliere, Proust, Chopin, lovers Abelard and Heloise from the 1100s, the Rothschild family, and countless other famous authors, artists, politicians and intellectual leaders collected in one highly spiritual and inspiring setting. Even Rin Tin Tin's grave is here, curiously adopted by the ever-present cats draped reverently across his monument. A visit to Pere-Lachaise is an essential element of your itinerary, and one you will never forget.
Location: 16 rue du Repos, 20e Phone: 01-43-70-33
FP17 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Disneyland Paris
Details: Despite its American roots, Disneyland Paris is the paradigm of European amusement parks. This 5,000 acre resort, one-fifth the size of Paris itself, is just 20 miles to the east from downtown Paris, and if you start early and allow yourself a full day, you can see a good bit of it. Your concierge can help you select from a variety of public transportation and hotel shuttle alternatives, or if you prefer, you can enjoy one of the excellent theme hotels right at the resort.
Location: Marne-la-Vallee Phone: 01-64-74-30-00
FP18 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Ecole Militaire
Details: Literally translating to "military school" in English. Napoleon studied here and his discharge papers stated that he "could go far if the circumstances are right."
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FP19 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Foret de Fontainebleau
Details: A little more than a half-hour's drive south of Paris will bring you to Napolean's former palace and the old hunting grounds of French royalty. Fans of nineteenth century French history will find their treasure here, as well as many furnishings and personal effects of Napolean and his era. Even with lunch at one of the local restaurants, the whole adventure can be done in about half a day.
Location: Fontainebleau, place d'Armes Phone: 01-60-74-99-99
FP20 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Grand Palais
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FP21 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Jardin des Tuileries
Details: The stunning Jardin des Tuileries, famous for its statues, is at the edge of place de la Concorde, 1e ( Métro: Tuileries or Concorde). Designed by Le Nôtre, the gardener of Louis XIV, it contains impressive statues including eighteen magnificent bronzes by Maillol which can be found inside the Jardin du Carroussel where they were installed between 1964 and 1965. A century earlier, the Palais des Tuileries was built here under the order of Catherine de Médicis. The palace was occupied by Louis XVI and later by Napoleon. After it was attacked twice by Parisians, the palace was finally burned to the ground in 1871. Although the palace would never be rebuilt, the gardens survived. Today, the trees are still arranged in special patterns and the pathways are kept meticulously straight.
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FP22 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Jardin du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Garden)
Details: This garden, part formal, part jardin à l'anglaise, was created for Marie de Médicis (Henri IV's widow), along with the Palais du Luxembourg, which now houses the French Senate. It is a favoured spot for a Sunday stroll, game of tennis, chess or boules, pony ride or yacht trip on the lake.
Location: Boulevard St-Michel, rue de Médicis, rue Guynemer, rue d'Assas, rue Auguste-Comte or rue de Vaugirard, 6th
Tel: (01) 4234 2362.
Opening hours: Daily 0715-2130 (Apr-Sep), daily 0800-dusk (Oct-Mar).
Free admission.
FP23 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: La Basilique du Sacré-Coeur (The Sacred Heart Basilica)
Details: A long, wide series of steps lead to the snowy-white domed Sacré-Coeur that dominates the arty district of Montmartre. A mishmash of styles, the Catholic church was built between 1870 and 1919, to fulfil a vow made during the Franco-Prussian war. The interior is splendid with neo-Byzantine mosaics and the domed tower offers a spectacular view over Paris. The crypt contains an interesting collection of religious relics and a slide show on the construction of the Basilica. Below the church, a park tumbles down the hillside in a flurry of benches that make an ideal spot for surveying the city skyline.
Location: Parvis du Sacré-Coeur, 18th
Tel: (01) 5341 8900.
Website: www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com
Opening hours: Daily 0600-2300 (Basilica), daily 0930-1830 (crypt and dome).
Free admission (Basilica), charge for dome and crypt.
FP24 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: La Grande Mosquée de Paris (Paris Grand Mosque)
Details: Built between 1922 and 1926, close to the Jardin des Plantes, this Hispano-Moorish mosque caters for France's Muslim community. There is free access and guided tours to the sunken garden and patios. The prayer room, however, remains closed to the non-Muslim public. There is also an authentic hammam (Turkish bath) with masseurs at hand, as well as a wonderful mosaic courtyard complete with fig trees and a fountain - the perfect setting for enjoying a sweet mint tea served in tiny gilded glasses with some honeyed baklava. In the adjoining restaurant, couscous and other Arabic dishes are served.
Location: 1 place du Puits-de-l'Ermite (access via 39 rue Géoffroy-St-Hillaire), 5th
Tel: (01) 4535 9733.
Website: www.mosquee-de-paris.org
Opening hours: Mon, Wed, Thurs and Sat 1000-2100, Fri 1400-2100 (women), Tues 1400-2100, Sun 1000-2100 (men), tours Sat-Thurs 0900-1200 and 1400-1800 (winter), Sat-Thurs 0900-1200 and 1400-2200 (summer), closed Muslim holidays.
Admission charge, free to tearoom.
FP07 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: La Madeleine
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FP25 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Les Catacombs
Details: 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.
Location: 4850 1 place Denfert-Rochereau, 14e Phone: 01-43-22-47-63
FP26 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Les Egouts de Paris
Details: The underground sewers of Paris have become one of the more sophisticated arrays of conduit for drinking water, waste, telephone and pneumatic tube systems in the world. This over 1,300 mile network of alphanumerically coded arteries is an engineering as well as logical marvel. Short tours and an educational program are provided, and the experience is well worth a couple of hours on your itinerary.
Location: Tours start at: Pont d'Alma, 7e (Left Bank) Phone: 01-47-05-10-29
FP27 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Les Halles
Details: Les Halles is also known as the "Belly of Paris" because of the many vendors that sell food in the area. It is a popular haunt among local teenagers who frequent its vast underground shopping mall.
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FP28 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Literary Landmarks
Details: Paris has been the home of many great artists and writers, and a stay in Paris would not be complete without a tour of the places where they worked and played.
Ride the Métro to place St-Michel and look for the famous rue de la Huchette of the Left Bank. This street and its denizens were immortalised in the classic The Last Time I Saw Paris by Eliot Paul. Walking on you'll soon find yourself in the Paris of the hipster mind: the old haunts of the Beat Generation as described by Jack Kerouac in Satori in Paris. The Café Gentilhomme in his story is no longer there but the Hôtel du Vieux-Paris, 9 rue Gît-le-Coeur, 6e, a favourite of Beat poet Allen Ginsberg, is still around, attracting dreamers and seekers inspired by the Beats.
A walk down the "Yankee alleyway", rue Monsieur-le-Prince, takes you into the world of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, James McNeill Whistler, Richard Wright and Oliver Wendell Holmes. Martin Luther King Jr. went here once in 1959 to visit Richard Wright, the Mississippi-born novelist who wrote Native Son. King came to discuss with Wright his thoughts on the civil rights movement.
Whistler stayed at a studio at no. 22 and Longfellow lived on no. 49. Holmes stayed at no. 55.
From here you can head over to the Hôtel de Crillon, 10 place de la Concorde, 8e for a drink. The famed hotel was the setting of Hemmingway's The Sun Also Rises.
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FP29 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Marche Buci
Details: In the gastronomical capital of the world, you must see where the best chefs of Paris weigh, squeeze, sniff and taste their produce and meats. If you are fortunate enough to have cooking facilities at your hotel, you cannot do better than to obtain your ingredients here, at this famous open-air market. Just take the Metro, stop at St-Germain-des-Pres, and you will see it.
Location: Rue de Buci, 6e Phone: 01-42-51-17-02
FP42 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Montparnasse Tower
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FP05 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Musée d'Orsay (Museum of Orsay)
Details: The museum's home, an impressively converted railway station by the banks of the Seine, is stunning, but the real strength of this large museum lies in its collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. The collection, covering the decisive 1848-1914 period, is arranged chronologically, beginning on the ground floor, jumping to the third, and then descending to the middle level. Among the most famous works are Manet's Déjeuner sur l'Herbe (Luncheon on the Grass), rejected from the Salon of 1863, five of Monet's paintings of Rouen Cathedral and the realist work L'Origine du Monde (The Origin of the World), by Gustave Courbet, whose graphic depiction of the female sex continues to shock.
This museum is relatively recent compared to other Parisian museums but it is already well-known for its impressive collection. Located inside a railway station by the Seine , it contains work created between 1848 and 1914, covering the Art-Nouveau period as well as Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art for which the museum is famous.
The chronologically organised collection includes important works by Courbet, Monet and Manet. A permanent exhibit features the famous L'énigme by Gustave Doré and the statue of Joan of Arc in Domrémy by Henri Chapu
Location: Entrances at 1 rue de la Légion d'Honneur and 1 rue de Bellechasse, 7th
Tel: (01) 4049 4814.
Website: www.musee-orsay.fr
Transport: RER Musée d'Orsay; Métro Solférino; bus 24, 63, 68, 69, 73, 83, 84 or 94.
Opening hours: Tues-Sun 0930-1800, Thurs 0930-2145.
Admission charge, free first Sun of each month.
FP30 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Musée du Quai Branly
Details: This grand new museum was a welcome to the Parisian cultural scene when it opened its doors during 2006 after much hype. The collections, which include a broad sweep of Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas, have been lauded by critics and the public alike. Inside there are over 3,500 artefacts. From the main reception a ramp takes visitors off towards the eclectic collections, which include masks in Oceania, costumes from Asia and also African musical instruments and textiles.
Location: 17 Quai Branly, 7th
Tel: (01) 5661 7000.
Website: www.quaibranly.fr
Opening hours: Tue-Sat 1000-1830, Thu open to 2130.
Admission charge.
FP04 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Musée National du Louvre (Louvre National Museum)
Details:
The Louvre today was originally constructed as a fortress, before becoming a palace. It now serves as one of the finest museums in Europe, and contains some of the most famous pieces of art including da Vinci's Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. One of the greatest art museums in the world is the Louvre in Paris, an enormous building that contains a significant collection of paintings, artefacts and sculptures from different parts of the world. Open to visitors since 1793 (some time after the Revolution), it was first opened so that people could see the magnificent collection of treasures liberated from the royal palaces.
The most famous showcase of the collection is Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, encased within bullet-proof glass inside its own room. The main collections include objects d'art from the ancient cultures of Egypt, Greece, Rome and Asia.
http://www.louvre.fr/+
During the 19th century this place was the home of Richelieu and a popular site for gambling and other hedonistic pursuits. Today it is the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture, as well as a nice place to have a quiet walk, with its gardens and impressive arcades. The main courtyard stands out, with its black and white stripped columns courtesy of Daniel Buren (1980).+
The world's most famous works of art live here, including the Mona Lisa, the statute of Venus de Milo, the ancient Winged Victory, and thousands of other priceless works many of which originally were collected privately by French royalty throughout history and donated to the museum. You will not be able to see everything, not even in several trips on multiple visits to Paris, but your experience will be better if you research ahead of time just a few things you would like to see, then check with your concierge to see which times would be best for avoiding the crowds, so you can have a more leisurly time of it.+
The Louvre first opened to the public in 1793, following the Revolution, as a showcase for the art treasures of the kings of France. The museum is organised into three wings on four floors - Richelieu (along rue de Rivoli), Sully (around cour Carrée) and Denon (along the River Seine). The vast permanent collection includes Greek, Etruscan, Roman, Egyptian and East Asian antiquities, French, Spanish, Italian and northern European sculpture and 19th-century objets d'art. The painting collection is the strongest, with French, Italian, Dutch, German, Flemish and Spanish masterpieces from the mid-13th to the mid-19th centuries. Most famed French works include David's Coronation of Napoléon, Ingres' The Turkish Bath, Géricault's depiction of disaster, The Raft of the Medusa and Delacroix's ode to revolution, Liberty Leading the People. The museum's greatest treasure, Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, is in a bullet-proof case. There are plans to move it into its own room, but for now it is on display in room 13, on the first floor of the Denon wing. Excavations have exposed traces of the medieval Louvre, which are on display together with the history of the Louvre under the Cour Carrée, in the entresol level in the Sully wing. Buying tickets from the official website in advance saves unnecessary time spent queuing. Following the massive Da Vinci Code hype the crowds are thicker than ever, so it is advisable to arrive early, especially if buying tickets upon entry.
Location: Cour Napoléon, 1. Reception area is under the giant glass pyramid
Tel: (01) 4020 5050.
Website: www.louvre.fr
Transport: Métro Palais Royal or Musée du Louvre; bus 21, 27, 39, 48, 68, 69, 72, 81 or 95.
Opening hours: daily 0900-1800, Wed and Fri until 2130, closed Tues. Opening hours for temporary exhibitions vary.
Admission charge, free first Sun of each month, advance tickets can be purchased from branches of FNAC and on the Internet, tickets allow same-day re-admission.
FP31 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Musée National Picasso (National Picasso Museum)
Details: Paris-based Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) owned most of this collection, one of the largest worldwide, housed in a 17th-century mansion in the Marais. All phases of his art are represented, with preparatory sketches and paintings covering the Blue Period, Rose Period, cubism, classicism, surrealism and sculptures ranging from a huge plaster head to a small cat. Memorable works include the Blue Period self-portrait Paolo as Harlequin, the surreal Nude in an Armchair and poignant paintings of Marie-Thérèse, his lover and muse. Photographs are displayed alongside the works they inspired, and African masks with Picasso's ‘primitive' wood carvings. There is also a glimpse of the artist's personal taste in paintings, with his Matisse and Cézanne paintings displayed alongside his own.
Location: Hôtel Salé, 5 rue de Thorigny, 3rd
Tel: (01) 4271 2521.
Website: www.musee-picasso.fr
Opening hours: Wed, Fri-Mon 0930-1800, Thurs 0930-2000 (summer), Wed, Fri-Mon 0930-1730, Thurs 0930-2000 (winter).
Admission charge, free first Sun of each month.
FP32 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Musée Rodin (Rodin Museum)
Details: Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) lived and worked in this 18th-century hôtel particulier, now the Rodin Museum, and his sculptures populate the interior and gardens. Indoors, The Kiss portrays eternal passion frozen in white marble, while The Hand of God gives life to creamy white, half-formed figures. Works of Rodin's mistress and pupil, Camille Claudel, and paintings by Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir and Rodin himself are also on display. The gardens are graced by the monumental bronze The Thinker, whose godly physique contrasts sharply with the decrepitude of the writhing figures of The Gates of Hell and the controversial final portrait of Balzac, once described as ‘a block that disgraces its author and French Art'.
Location: 77 rue de Varenne, 7th
Tel: (01) 4418 6110.
Website: www.musee-rodin.fr
Access:
• Metro (line 13): Varenne, Invalides or Saint-François-Xavier
• RER (line C): Invalides
• Bus: 69, 82, 87, 92
• Parking: Blvd des Invalides
Opening hours: Museum: Tues-Sun 0930-1745, garden: Tues-Sun 0930-1845 (Apr-Sep), museum: Tues-Sun 0930-1645, garden: Tues-Sun 0930-1700 (Oct-Mar).
Admission charge, free first Sun of each month.
FP33 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Napoleon's Tomb and Les Invalides
Details:
Napoleon's Tomb and Les Invalides - This is where you can find the most famous Frenchman of all - Napoleon. In 1789 French citizens stole tens of thousands of muskets from here to use in the raid on the Bastille. The Revolution had begun!
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How to get there
Metro line 8 : Latour-Maubourg,
RER C : Invalides
Buses : 32, 63, 93
Opening times
From 10am to 5h45pm from 1st april to 30 september
Closed on the 1st january, 1st may, 1st november and 25 décember.
The Dôme and the tombeau de l'empereur are open from 10am to 6h45pm from 15 june to 15 september
FP34 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
Details: This appealing park spreads over 23 hectares (57 acres) between Gare du Nord and Belleville. It was originally commissioned by Napoleon III and mixes grandeur with wildlife. Its walkways are alive with the likes of wagtails, tits, gulls, geese and swans. In the lake pike, tench and roach abound. The park is perfect for escaping the city for a while, strolling around its lofty inclines or even popping on some in-line skates and heading around the skate trail.
Location:
Opening hours: Daily dawn-dusk.
Free admission.
FP35 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Parc Zoologique de Paris
Details: 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.
Location: Bois de Vincennes, 53 avenue de St-Maurice, 12e Phone: 01-44-75-20-00
Metro line 1 : Porte Dorée, Saint-Mandé-Tourelle.
Bus: 86, 325, 46
Summertime: From 9 am to 6pm
(6.30pm on the sunday and bank holiday)
Wintertime : From 9 am to 5pm
(5.30pm on the sunday and bank holiday).
Price : 8 Euros
FP36 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Paris Plage
Details: Since its inception in 2001, Paris Plage has become a highly successful annual event. The idea of shutting off a busy 3.5km (2-mile) section of riverfront expressway in the city centre and turning it into a giant leisure oasis is both simple and brilliant, though it has provoked the ire of some of the city's taxi drivers. A flurry of deckchairs and hammocks replace the cars and even an open-air swimming pool, mainly geared towards children, features alongside the stalls selling food, drinks and ice cream. Mist sprays, sand and the sight of relaxing locals and tourists manage to raise a smile from all but the most world-weary of Parisians. Such has been the success of Paris Plage that, even when there is no sand, for the rest of the year sections of the river are now closed frequently at weekends to allow Parisians to cycle and walk along the riverside.
Location: Banks of the Seine between Tuileries Tunnel and the Henri IV bridge
Opening times: Jul-Aug daily.
Free admission.
FP37 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Petit Palais
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FP08 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Place de la Concorde
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FP38 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Place de Pigalle
Details: The 9th arrondissement spans the spectrum of French popular entertainment culture, from brassy to elegant, that defines a world famous part of the unique Parisian experience. Place de Pigalle, termed "Pig Alley" by the American soldiers present during the Allied Liberation, includes everything from the more lurid strip clubs to the famous Folies Bergere and the legendary Opera Garnier. Many of the world's famous entertainers have performed in at least one of these venues, notable poets and painters have frequented the sidewalk cafes, and you can trace their steps while you absorb a lot of the history and spirit of Parisian popular culture by spending an afternoon or evening there.
Location: 9th Arrondissement
FP39 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Pompidou Centre
Details: The modern Pompidou Centre was built in 1970s and today its striking design is part of the city's landscape. Named after Georges Pompidou, the former president of France, the building sees millions of visitors a year, making it one of the city's favourite attractions.
Inside is the Musée National d'Art Modern, which features a large collection of art from the 20th century, covering significant art movements such as Cubism, Abstract and Fauvism. The building also houses many theatres featuring musical and dance performances, as well as numerous cinemas.
West of the building is a square famous for its street performers.
http://www.centrepompidou.fr
Location: Address: Place Georges Pompidou, entrance by the plaza in Rue Saint-Martin Transport: Métro Rambuteau, Châtelet, Hôtel de Ville; RER (train) Châtelet or Les Halles; bus 21, 29, 38, 47, 58, 69, 70, 72, 74, 75, 76, 81, 85, 96.
FP03 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Tour Eiffel (Eiffel Tower)
Details: One of the most famous landmarks in the entire world, no trip to Paris would be complete without a tour of the Eiffel Tower. Built back in 1889, the tower stands tall at over 1000 feet and offers spectacular views of the surrounding landscape from its observation decks. It also features two restaurants located on the first and second floors.The Eiffel Tower was originally intended to be a temporary structure to commemorate the centenary of the French Revolution. Eventually it came to be known as the city's signature landmark, and today over 6 million people a year come to Paris to see it.
The tower rises 300 metres above the Champ de Mars, and it was the tallest building in the world until 1930. From the tower's highest level, visitors can enjoy a spectacular panorama of the city.
http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/+
For years the tallest structure in the world, this engineering marvel affords a view of over 40 miles, weather permitting, and includes a movie theater, restaurants and a bar. Built originally in 1899 as a temporary exhibition structure, the Eiffel Tower remained when Paris discovered its utility as a city-wide communications tower.+
The Eiffel Tower literally towers over the Champ de Mars in the smart 7th arrondissement. The top (third) floor offers a sweeping panorama of Paris. From directly underneath there is a fascinating view of the delicate ironwork constructed by Gustave Eiffel, who was commissioned to build the tower for the Exposition Universelle in 1889 - the centenary of the French Revolution. The Tour Eiffel is also home to a number of restaurants, which offer views of the city and sky high prices to match.
Location: Champ de Mars, 7th
Tel: (01) 4411 2323.
Website: www.tour-eiffel.fr
Transport: RER Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel station; Métro Bir-Hakeim, Trocadéro, Ecole Militaire; bus 42, 69, 72, 82, 87
Opening hours: Daily 0930-2300 (Sep-mid Jun), daily 0900-2400 (mid Jun-Aug).
Admission charge.
FP41 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: Tuileries Gardens
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FP09 City: Paris
Name of Attraction: UNESCO
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