The 10 things you must see in Paris

You are going to Paris for a week and you want to see as much as possible and above all live the Paris experience. What is there to say about Paris that hasn’t been said before? Well once you get there, you’ll discover why it’s the most visited City in the world. The landmarks, for the most part, are close to each other and Paris a first class Metro (subway) system. There are 16 lines that interconnect at a dozen of points, if you add to that the RER (commuter trains), you’ll never have to rent a car… and you should not… this isn’t North America, baby.

Since there is only 24 hours in a day, you have to maximize your visits, so you won’t have the feeling of having missed something big. So what are the must see? Of course there are the major landmarks, but there are other places that deserve a visit. Your trip to Paris must be an unforgettable experience, it must make up for the small hotel rooms and the expensive restaurants and the French waiters.

Local transit sites.

R.A.T.P.

Navigo

Transilien - SNCF

The Eiffel tower

The Eiffel tower is probably the most recognized structure in the world and it’s the symbol of Paris. You can’t dissociate them, it’s like Big Ben and London. The tower stands at 324M (1,069pi), it was built in 1899 for the world fair and it’ the most visited paid monument in the world. It has 3 levels, the first two feature restaurants and bars.

It’s located in the 7th arrondissement (district) and close to the Bir-Hakein metro station (line 6). The latter is a above ground train, so you’ll enjoy the view on approach. Another great way of getting there is by the Trocadero station (line 9). Visiting the Eiffel tower on your first day, it’s a good way of seeing from above the places you’ll visit in the next days.

The Eiffel tower gives you fantastic view of Paris from its 3 levels, but the tower itself is something to see. It’s an engineering tour the force, when you consider the year it was built and its longevity. If you plan to visit the tower, you should also see the Palais of Chaillot.

Link to the tower

Eiffel Tower

The restarants

Dress code

Remember this is Paris, France, not Las Vegas Nevada. A lot of restaurants and night clubs will accept casual… Dockers, yes… stone wash jeans, unlikely.

Le Louvre

Le Louvre was originally a 12th century fortress, built by Philippe II. Later it became a royal palace and the residence of the kings of France, until 1682 when Louis XIV had the palace of Versailles built and moved his court there. He kept there to house his art collection, after the French revolution, it became a museum.

Today the Louvre is one the major museum in the world, it host some of the most famous collections. Among the exhibit you have the Jocund, the Venus of Milo, just to mention those two. It features 10 departments; French painters, French sculptors, Italian Painters, Italian sculptors, Dutch painters, Egyptian antiquities, Greek antiquities, Oriental antiquities, Art objects and the Art of Islam.

Le Louvre is located on the right banc of the Seine River, in the 1st arrondissement (district), its glass pyramid make the place stick out, when you drive by. There are three restaurants to accommodate you.

Visit their site:

Le Louvre

Père la chaise cemetery

The cemetery is located in the 20th arrondissement, which is a mostly residential neighborhood. Despite that it is reputed to be the world's most visited cemetery, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually to the graves of a legion of celebrities; like Oscar Wilde, Amedeo Modigliani, Yves Montand, Édith Piaf and Jim Morrison of the Doors. The cemetery showcase very original monuments some of them true pieces of Art.

Three metro stations get you there; Philippe August (line 2) is close to the main entrance, Père Lachaise (Line 2 and 3) is side entrance or Gambetta (line 3) which takes to end where Oscar Wildes’s tomb is located

Visit their site:

Pere la Chaise cimetery

Château of Versailles

The Château was originally a modest hunting lodge. But, the hunting lodge belonged to Louis XIII and he was king of France… so the modest part might not be accurate. In 1682, his son Louis XIV had the Chateau of Versailles built, later he moved in with his court, his government and the exodus to the suburb had begun.

This a monument to the absolute power of a King, the decadence of royalty and classical French Art. The property is so vast that it can’t be covered in a single day, so plan ahead. You have a multitudes of salons, the galerie des Glaces, the grand apartments of the king and of the queen and the museum of French history, to name only these. There are gardens and fountains that have to be seen, there is also other major buildings; the grand Trianon, le petit Trianon and Marie Antoinette’ chalet that are worth seeing, but again plan ahead… there not across the street.

You can get to Versailles by the RER (Line C); it connects to Eiffel tower, the Invalides, Orsay museum, Notre Dame of Paris and Austerlitz station. You get off at Versailles rive gauche station.

Visit their site:

Chateau of Versailles

Notre Dame de Paris

A lot peoples associate this place with the Hunchback of Notre Dame and by the way you can climb the 387 steps of the south tower and see the gargoyles. You’ll see the Parvis of Notre Dame, like Quasimodo in the movie. Located under the Parvis is located the crypt, an archeological site, that is accessible from across the street.

Located on the Ile de la Cité, this gothic cathedral dates back to 1163. The year pope Alexander III laid the first stone. It took nearly 170 years to complete and after a series ups and downs it was restored to its present form during the 19th century, actually from 1840 to 1864.

When you visit Notre Dame, you’ll share the same space that was occupied by millions of people throughout the centuries. Some of history’s greatest figures were there; Joan of Arc, Marie Stuart, Napoleon and writer Victor Hugo who raised the money to save the cathedral in the 19th century... and today it’s your turn.

Visit their site:

Notre Dame de Paris

Arch of Triumph

The construction of this colossal structure began in 1806. Emperor Napoleon wanted to honor, the Great Army. He had promise his soldiers, they would pass under an Arch of Triumph on their way home. Since it was only completed in 1836, they never had a chance to live the experience. Since its completion, every army who either invaded France or help liberation it and of course the French army, on the Day of la Bastille (July 14th ) have marched through it.

This gigantic landmark has to be seen and it won’t take up too much of your day. It’s located close to the Charles de Gaule – Étoile Metro station (Line 1, 2 and 6), the station also accommodate the RER (Line A). Then you must locate one of the 2 tunnels that will get you safely across the Place de l’Étoile. There is one at Champs Élysées and the other at L’Avenue de la Grande Armée. Once on site an elevator that will take you to the top, you’ll have a great view of the Champs Élysées.

Liens locaux:

Arc de Triomphe

St Germain des prés

Located in the 6th arrondissement, this neighborhood orbits around the 6th century Abbey of the same name. It’s a magnet for tourists and Parisians alike. St Germain des Prés was the literary center of France, with the major editors spread all over the place. But, St Germain des Prés got its reputation of being a cool hangout after WWII. A little like Greenwich village and the Beat Generation.

That’s when Members of the Existentialist movement, American Jazz greats and members of the movie community like Simone de Beauvoir, Jean Paul Sartre, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Jean Luc Godard and François Truffaut would rub elbows and hang out on the terraces. While others would perform in the local Cafés, like singers, Léo Ferrer, Jacques Brel and Juliette Gréco. Some of those hang outs like the café Deux Magot, the Café Flore and the Brasserie Lipp, still exist to this day.

If you’re a movie buff, you should recognize certain landmarks. This neighborhood borders the Luxembourg gardens, Notre Dame of Paris and the Pantheon. Take line 4 and exit at St Germain des Prés

Dress code

Remember this is Paris, France, not Las Vegas Nevada. A lot of restaurants and night clubs will accept casual… Dockers, yes… stone wash jeans, unlikely.

Palais de Chaillot

Not a lot to talk about, but a lot to be seen. If you plan to visit the Eiffel tower and you have a little time on your hand, take line 9 and get off at Trocadero metro station. When you get to the Esplanade of the Chaillot palace you’ll understand why it’s called the best view of the Eiffel tower from anywhere in Paris. Located across the Seine River it offer the best place for having a picture of you taken.

Built in 1937 as a part of the world fair, it houses several museums. It is the place where the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.

Montmartre and Pigalle

Located at the top of the butte of Montmartre is the Sacré Coeur basilica. It’s the highest point in Paris. You’ll have a fantastic view of the skyline of Paris. Montmartre has been associated with famous painters like; Picasso, Modigliani, Toulouse Lautrec et Renoir to mane only those.

The famous Place du Tertre as lost a little of its luster, it has been invaded by a lot of wannabe painters. They will gladly draw a portrait of you for a few (well maybe more than just a few) Euros. There is place called I love You “The wall”, visit their site to know more.

A lot of people call Montmartre passé and a tourist trap, but it’s a must see. You could visit the Lapin Agile Cabaret, the famous hangout of the artist of la Belle Époque. There is a museum in Montmartre dedicated to that period. Take line 12 to the Abbesses Metro station. Close by you’ll find place Pigalle and the Moulin Rouge.

Links:

Sacre Coeur Basilica

I love you: The wall

Au Lapin Agile Cabaret

Place des Vosges

Originally known as the Place Royale, the Place des Vosges is the oldest square in the city, renowned for its beauty and elegance. Originally laid out in 1612, King Henri IV built a royal pavilion at the southern end and ordered that buildings bordering the square should create a natural symmetry. The result is a square surrounded by buildings with red-gold brick and white stone facades, slate roofs and dormer windows, all constructed over arcades.

It is located in the Historical district of Le Marais, famous for it restored medieval buildings. The square has seen some illustrious residents though out the ages, like Cardinal de Richelieu and Writer Victor Hugo. Hugo’s house is now a museum. It’s located at the center of a triangle made of 3 Metro stations; Bastille (Line 1,5 and 8) Chemin Vert (Line 8) and St Paul (Line 1)