Paris
The City of
Lights
Paris Geography
When people talk about where in Paris something is located, they use
two basic terms: which "bank" the place is on, and which
"arrondissement" it is in.
The bank refers to which side of the river (if you are
facing downstream). Since the Seine is flowing west
towards the English channel, the area north of the
river is the Right Bank (or Rive Droit), and the area
south of the river is the Left Bank (or Rive Gauche).
The arrondissement refers to a system of districts
within the city. These districts are numbered 1-20.
They start in the heart of the city at the Louvre, and
spiral around to the outside.
All kinds of things are organized by arrondissement,
including postal codes, etc.
There are also two islands: Ile de la Cité and Ile St
Louis.
La Seine, les Bateaux Mouches
& les Ponts
The river Seine arches through the historic core
of Paris, separating it into its two banks.
For first-time visitors, and even some returning
tourists, a boat tour along the river is a
must. The most famous of the boat tours are the
Bateaux Mouches, although there are several
other companies that also offer tours. Many of
the most beloved and famous sites in Paris can
be seen from the boats. Tour guides describe
the passing scenery in multiple languages for
the many tourists on board.
Ponts:
Over 30 bridges span the river within the city,
some of which are notable in and of
themselves. Some people say that everyone
who knows and loves Paris has a favorite among
her bridges.
Le métro
The Paris subway system is called the métro. You
can quickly get anywhere in the city through the
use of its various lignes (lines).
Each ligne has a number, and two endpoints. To
use the subway you need to know the number and
which endpoint you are traveling towards (the
direction).
Whenever two or more lignes meet in a station
(where you can change from one to the other) it’s
called a correspondance.
Buy your tickets from the vending machines in the
station. It's cheaper to buy them in carnets,
packets of ten tickets. You can also buy tickets at
the ticket booths if you want to ask questions or
the lines at the machines are long.
You have to put the ticket in a slot in the turnstile
to enter. Follow the signs to the ligne and direction
you need.
Many of the older stations have interesting decor
inside, and can be entered through great Art
Nouveau entrances.
First Arrondissement
This is in some ways the center of the
city of Paris and is located mostly on
the Right Bank (Rive Droit). In addition
to the Louvre, it also contains the
Tuileries Gardens and the ritzy Place
Vendôme. Forum des Halles is also in
this district.
A little bit of the Ile de la Cité falls into
the 1st also, including the Palais de
Justice, containing Sainte Chappelle
and the Conciergerie.
The Louvre
The Louvre is probably the most
famous art museum in the world.
It is certainly one of the largest.
The most crowded room is the
room where the Mona Lisa (called
La Jaconde by the French) is
kept. She has a special glass box
protecting her, not to mention the
guards.
Other famous works of art here
include Venus de Milo and Winged
Victory.
Enter through the glass pyramid in
the courtyard.
The Tuileries Gardens
The Tuileries Gardens lie between the bustling
Place de la Concorde and the popular Louvre
Museum. The central walkway continues the
line of the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de
Triomphe du Carrosel and ultimately the
Pyramid du Louvre.
The Tuileries name comes from a separate
palace near the Louvre, the Tuileries, which
was built by Catherine de Medici. The palace
was attacked during the Revolution, and then
burned to the ground during the uprising in
1871.
Today's Tuileries offer a peaceful rest on
benches beneath the trees, along the gravel
walkways.
They also offer entertainment. In summertime
there are carnival rides and attractions along
the northern edge of the park. Year round,
you can ride the huge Ferris wheel the French
call La Grande Roue.
Place Vendôme
At the center of Place Vendôme is
a bronze column, made from
melted cannons. Napoleon had this
Column of the Grand Army built to
honor his soldiers. On its top is a
statue of Napoleon himself.
Around the sides of the square are
found some of the more expensive
stores in Paris. Jewelry stores such
as Cartiers and Van Cleef & Arpels
are here, along with the exclusive
Ritz Hotel.
Forum des Halles
This location has actually been a center
of commerce for a thousand
years. Obviously, it has undergone
some changes in that time.
Les Halles is the name of the old
central Paris food market. For
hundreds of years, farmers and other
vendors brought their goods here to the
center of the city.
However, the traffic congestion just got
too impractical for the center of the
city, and the food market moved to the
outskirts of the city.
In its place was left a huge hole, and
eventually this unusual, mostly
underground mall, the Forum des
Halles, was built. On four underground
levels are 300 shops, movie theaters,
fitness center, pool, etc.
Sainte Chappelle
Sainte Chappelle was intended to hold
the crown of thorns and other relics
Louis IX (later canonized by the
Roman Catholic Church as Saint
Louis) believed he had purchased.
Louis built the upper chapel in high
gothic style. Its style emphasizes
height and light, with tall stained glass
windows virtually covering all the
walled surface above head height.
For the most gorgeous display from
the windows, visit on a sunny day in
the late afternoon. To visit, go to the
Palais de Justice, and follow the signs.
Conciergerie
The Conciergerie was originally part of
a fortress built on the island by the kings
of France. Later it became a prison. Its
tourist attraction lies primarily in its
years as a prison.
During the French Revolution, this is
where prisoners were held before being
taken to the guillotine. The cell in
which Marie-Antoinette was held has
been restored to look as it might have
been during her stay there. It even has a
wax dummy simulating Marie herself.
You will also see the vast chambers in
which the soldiers lived and ate, the
kitchens, and cells in which various
other famous people were imprisoned,
as well as a small courtyard in which the
prisoners might have taken some air.
Second Arrondissement
Located on the right bank,
the 2nd Arr. is home to the
stock exchange (La
Bourse) and the business
district. The eastern end is
the garment district.
La Bourse
La Bourse is the Paris stock
exchange. Visitors may watch the
trading from a gallery.
Some audio-visual aids are
available to help you figure out
what is going on but most of it is a
mystery to those who are not
brokers themselves.
Third Arrondissement
The Marais, a former swamp
that is now a trendy art
neighborhood. This Picasso
museum is here. This area also
has a great Jewish quarter, with
excellent restaurants and shops.
Le Musée Picasso
When Pablo Picasso died, his
heirs gave hundreds of
paintings, sculptures, and other
art to the French government to
pay his estate taxes. This
collection became the National
Picasso Museum.
The museum is organized
chronologically, so visitors can
trace his career from the early
days through his late work.
There is also art by some other
artists of the same period (that
he had purchased) which
complements his own work.
Fourth Arrondissement
The heart of Medieval Paris,
this district includes most of
both islands and part of the
right bank. It has many sights
for the tourist; Notre Dame, the
Hotel de Ville, and the
Pompidou Center are here.
The Marais spills into the 4th
Arr. and the Place des Vosges,
known as the most beautiful
square in Europe, is here as
well.
Notre Dame (de Paris)
The cathedral of Notre Dame lifts its towers from the true
heart of the city. Located next the the Seine on the larger of
the two major islands in Paris, it lies above the ruins of the
Roman era Lutece. You can visit the ruins of homes from
2000 years ago.
Inside, the light is dim. Outside light trickles in through the
many stained glass windows. Candles glow at many shrines
around the sides of the interior.
Outside, there is an entrance to the stairs climbing up the
north tower. Wind your way up the worn steps. On the
bridge, greet the gargoyles, up close and personal. (The
gargoyles are the stone statues and monsters which decorate
the towers).
In the south tower, you can enter and visit the big
bells. You can also climb (again) to the very top of the
south tower for a view over the entire city.
It has been added to and changed and renovated. It is,
essentially, however, a building that has watched over the
city for 800 years.
Hôtel de Ville
This ornate building is Paris City
Hall. The current building was
constructed in 1871, after the
previous building was burned
down. The style of architecture
was chosen to resemble the
Renaissance original.
Pompidou Center
(Beaubourg)
The Centre Pompidou was built during
the 1970s. Many people disliked the
unusual architecture, saying it looked
like an oil refinery. Others like it as a
breath of fresh air, something new in a
city filled with the old. The alternate
name, "Beaubourg," comes from the
name for that neighborhood.
On the third and fourth floors is the
National Museum of Modern Art. It
has works by artists such as Matisse,
Picasso, Dali, and Warhol.
On the southern side of the building is
the Stravinsky fountain., created by
French artists, inspired by and named
for the Russian composer.
Place des Vosges
Place des Vosges is Paris's oldest
public square. It is also one of the
more pleasant squares in Paris. Its
quiet center is a park, with fountains,
grass, and shaded benches. Around its
sides are small restaurants, antique
stores, and small boutiques.
It is also home to the Victor Hugo
museum. Victor Hugo lived at number
6 Place des Vosges. He is remembered
as one of the great French writers. His
novels include such works as Les
Miserables and Hunchback of Notre
Dame.
Fifth Arrondissement
This left bank (Rive Gauche)
arrondissement has been known
as the Latin Quarter. It
houses such intellectual
landmarks as the Sorbonne and
the Pantheon.
Latin Quarter: La Sorbonne
The most famous part of the University of Paris is
La Sorbonne. The college was founded in 1257 by
a Catholic Canon named Sorbonne.
For most of its history, its students were required
to speak in the language of academics, which was
Latin. Not only were classes conducted in Latin,
but students had to speak Latin even when they
weren't in class! So the neighborhood around the
campus was full of people speaking Latin, hence
its name: The Latin Quarter.
Nowadays, the students speak French, of
course. But the streets of the neighborhood are
still multilingual. The bookstores sell books in
many languages, the restaurants serve cuisine from
all over, but especially Greek, Arab, and Asian
food.
The Pantheon
The Panthéon is the resting place
for great writers, philosophers, and
other leaders of France.
It contains the remains of such
greats as Victor Hugo (Les
Miserables, and The Hunchback of
Notre Dame), Emile Zola, Voltaire,
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Jean
Moulin (resistance fighter).
Sixth Arrondissement
The Luxembourg gardens are
in this district. Also found here
are the old church of Saint
Germain des Prés and the
Deux Magots café popular
with writers such as
Hemingway and Sartre. Cluny,
a museum of medieval art, is
also in the 6th.
Luxembourg Gardens
The Luxembourg Gardens are one
of the most popular parks in
Paris. Located just off the Latin
Quarter, they also house the
Luxembourg Palace, which is the
home of the French Senate.
There is a large octagonal pond,
which is often busy with children
sailing toy boats. You can rent a
toy boat at a nearby booth.
Saint Germain des Prés
This is the oldest church in Paris.
The first church at this location was
built in the 6th century. This
building came later, around
1000. There was a Benedictine
abby here, which was largely
destroyed during the Revolution.
Deux Magots
Famous writers such as Jean-Paul Sartre and
Earnest Hemingway sat at the now famous
Deux Magots café next to Saint Germain des
Prés on the boulevard Saint Germain. They
talked, drank, and wrote at the tiny tables
while watching the world go by.
By the way, the magots here are a apparently
a reference to some Chinese statues and Deux
Magots was the name of a store in this
location before the café was here (the café
was founded around1885).
Cluny
Officially called the National Museum of
the Middle Ages, Cluny is Paris' medieval
specialist. Built above the ruins of Roman
baths, this old mansion houses tapestries,
statues, furniture from the Middle Ages.
At Cluny you can see the heads broken
from the facade of Notre Dame during the
French Revolution.
You can view the furniture and tapestries
from a Europe of 600 years ago. The most
famous tapestries in the collection are the
Lady and the Unicorn.
Seventh Arrondissement
The Eiffel tower, one of the
most recognized landmarks in
the world is located in this left
bank district. The Invalides,
which holds Napoleon's tomb,
the Rodin Museum, and the
Musee d'Orsay are also in this
arrondissement.
La Tour Eiffel
Paris's most well-known landmark, the Eiffel Tower, was
never meant to last. For the hundred-year anniversary of
the French republic, Gustave Eiffel built a tower of iron,
for a Paris showcase in the World's Fair (or Universal
Exposition) of 1889. It was meant to be demolished at
the end of the Exposition. After the Fair was over, the
tower was kept for its usefulness as a radio tower.
There are elevators up to the first and second floors in
the legs of the tower. From the second floor, one rides to
the third and final level directly up the center of the
tower.
There are restaurants and exhibits to see on the various
floors. At the base are tourist shops and street vendors
selling toys, key chains, post cards, and on hot days, cold
soda.
The tower is so vast that it can only be fully seen from a distant vantage point. This
view, the most commonly photographed, is from across the river at the Palais de
Chaillot. The opposite view is from the military school seen under and through the
base of the tower here.
Les Invalides (Hôtel des Invalides)
Louis XIV founded Les Invalides as the first
Veteran's Hospital. The hospital held as
many as 7000 wounded or disabled veterans
at its peak. Today, there are only a few
living there. Most of the building is taken up
by museum space and military offices now.
The Musée de l'Armée (Army Museum)
houses a large collection of weapons. It was
founded in 1794 and includes weapons and
other equipment, uniforms, prints and
paintings, and other memorabilia. It has
everything from stone axes up through World
War II, including an extensive Napoleon
collection, up to and including his horse and
dog (stuffed)!
Under the Dome of les Invalides lie
Napoleon’s remains, in the center of six
nested coffins.
Rodin Museum
The sculptor Rodin, most famous
for his Thinker, lived and worked
in Paris.
This former home is now a
museum filled with his sculptures
and drawings.
The gardens are also filled with his
work, and are a very pleasant place
to go on a nice summer
afternoon. There is a nice little
cafe, a fountain, and many benches
on which to rest and relax from the
hectic pace of Paris tourism.
Musée d’Orsay
The building that now houses one of the most
popular places in Paris started out as a train
station. In the 1980s the building was
transformed inside to its present use.
Its galeries display artwork from 1848 to the
early 1900s. One of the reasons this museum is
so popular is that this was the time period of the
Impressionist art movement.
The central hall of Musée d'Orsay is filled with
sculptures by Rodin and others.
The galeries house decorative arts (like
furniture, glassware, etc.) in addition to works
of Monet and the other Impressionists. Dégas
paintings and sculptures are both on display.
Van Gogh, Cézanne, and the other PostImpressionists are also well represented.
Eighth Arrondissement
This right bank arrondissement
is where you'll find the
glamour of Paris. The Champs
Elysees, Arc de Triomphe,
and famous fashion houses, are
all in the 8th. Place de la
Concorde and the Madeleine
are also in this district.
Les Champs Elysées
The Champs Elysées is one of the most
famous streets in the world. Lined with
chestnut trees and broad sidewalks, this is
the location for major celebrations and
parades for the French capital.
It runs in a straight line from Place de la
Concorde to Place Charles de Gaulle and
allows sight of the Obelisk from the Arc de
Triomphe, and vice versa.
It is home to cafés, fast food, shopping, and
just strolling.
A famous song by Joe Dassin claims that
you can find anything you want, day or
night, rain or shine, on the Champs-Elysées.
L’Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe was built by Napoleon
Bonaparte. He wanted to honor his army and celebrate
their victories. The design is based on Roman triumphal
arches, which were, however, much smaller.
In the center, under the arch, is a memorial to French
soldiers killed in the line of duty. It's called the Tomb of
the Unknown soldiers, and was originally constructed for
the soldiers of World War I, which the French call the
Great War. It also commemorates soldiers killed in
World War II and other conflicts.
Inside the top section is a small museum. The top can be
visited by climbing up a long spiral stairway inside one
of the four legs of the arch. (Disabled visitors can use the
one small elevator).
You can also visit the open top platform, which allows
you a great view down the Champs Elysées. You can
also get a clear view of the Bois de Boulogne, the Eiffel
Tower and La Défense from the top.
Place Charles de Gaulle
(Place de l’Étoile)
Place Charles de Gaulle is one of the
two names for the open area
surrounding the Arc de Triomphe.
It is also known as Place de l'Étoile
(Star) for the star configuration of the
twelve streets which converge and meet
here, with the Arc itself as the center of
the star.
Looking down from the top of the Arc
de Triomphe also affords the best (and
safest) view of the traffic flowing
around the Place Charles de Gaulle.
Place de la Concorde
In the center of Place de la Concorde is the
Obelisk. Standing over 70 feet high, this stone mass is
over three thousand years old, from Luxor, Egypt, and
was a gift to Louis-Philippe in 1833. On one side of the
square stands the Hotel Crillon, one of the most
exclusive in Paris, with the American Embassy next
door.
The Place de la Concorde is also known for its bloody
past. During and after the French Revolution, over a
thousand people were executed here, at the guillotine in
what was then being called Place de la Revolution. It
was renamed Place de la Concorde in 1795.
Place de la Concorde lies at a great crossroad of
Paris. The Champs-Elysées sweeps down from the Arc
de Triomphe, ending in this busy, bustling square. On
the opposite side from that great boulevard are the
Tuileries Gardens leading to the Louvre. On the south
lies a bridge over the Seine, with the National Assembly
(Palais Bourbon) framed by the view from Place de la
Concorde. Looking north, its facade is mirrored in the
Greek temple facade of the Madeleine church.
La Madeleine
Named for Mary Magdalen, the
Madeleine church was designed
and redesigned and started and
restarted from 1763 until it was
finished in 1842. It finished with a
neo-classical Greek temple style,
based on the Greek Parthenon.
Ninth Arrondissement
This district stretches to include
the glitz of the Opéra Garnier
and the seediness of Place
Pigalle, including the famous
Moulin Rouge. It also includes
some great department store
shopping.
Opéra Garnier
The Opéra Garnier is the older of Paris' two
opera houses. It has served Paris for
centuries. It was the inspiration for Gaston
Leroux's Phantom of the Opera (The Andrew
Lloyd Weber musical based on it is now a
movie). His story included the lake, or
reservoir, which lies underneath the
building. Like many old theaters, the Opéra
Garnier has many stories to tell and visitors
can see old costumes and sets on display.
Now the building houses performances
primarily of ballet. The needs of the Paris
opera outgrew the building and the opera
performs at the newer Opera Bastille.
Moulin Rouge/Pigalle
Among the nightclubs and bars at
the foot of the Montmartre hill is
the most famous, or notorious,
Moulin Rouge. At one time,
Montmartre was virtually covered
with windwills and wineries. The
hill location was ideal. The
vinyards are all gone (except for
one tiny plot) as are all but two of
the windmills. The red windmill
(Moulin Rouge) at this club
became its trademark.
Les Grands Magasins
Paris, like most older cities, is blessed with
several great, old department stores.
Three of the most popular are the Galeries
Lafayette, Au Printemps, and Samaritaine.
Galeries Lafayette and Au Printemps are
found in the midst of a great shopping
district in the ninth arrondissement, near
the Opéra Garnier. Galeries Lafayette is
worth visiting just for the splendor of the
atrium space. Au Printemps has a rooftop
terrace and café.
Samaritaine is the first arrondissement,
right by the Seine, within a couple blocks
of the Louvre. One of its features is a cafe
with a view on one of the top floors, and
also a viewing deck above.
Tenth Arrondissement
There is little to recommend
this area for tourists; it has
businesses and train stations
and not much else.
Eleventh Arrondissement
The Opera Bastille has helped
to revitalize this once dreary
area. There are a few good
restaurants here to tempt you
too.
Place de la Bastille &
Opéra Bastille
This square is named for a pre-Revolutionary
prison. A French mob stormed the Bastille prison on
July 14, 1789. They released the political prisoners
held there and tore the prison apart and down. This
event marked the "official" beginning of the French
Revolution. It is this event that the French celebrate
on their national holiday each July.
The Bastille itself (the prison) is thus long gone. In
its place stands the Colonne de Juillet
(commemorating that long-ago day).
A more recent addition to Place de la Bastille is the
Opéra Bastille. When Paris decided to build a new
opera house with modern facilities, this striking
modern building was constructed. Seating 2700, it
opened for the Bicentennial in 1989.
Twelfth Arrondissement
The Parc de Bercy is a 26-acre
garden at one end of this
Arrondissement; at the other
end you will find the
restaurants, shops, and cinemas
that are making this a hip part
of town.
Thirteenth Arrondissement
This area centers around the
Gare de Austerlitz, and is
another area that has little to
offer the tourist, unless you
have a passion for tapestries.
The Manufacture des Gobelins
is located here at 42 ave des
Gobelins. Situated on the Left
Bank of the River Seine, it is
home to Paris's main
Chinatown, which is located in
the southeast of the
arrondissement in an area that
contains many high-rise
apartment buildings.
Fourteenth Arrondissement
The north end of this area,
known as Montparnasse, was
the home to many American
writers such as Earnest
Hemingway, F. Scott
Fitzgerald, and T.S. Eliot. The
Catacombs are also located
here.
The Catacombs
The catacombs were originally dug thousands of years
ago. Early settlers and Roman occupiers wanted stone
for their buildings and they quarried it from deep
underground.
Over the centuries the tunnels have been used for many
purposes. During war times, armies, revolutionaries,
and resistance fighters have hidden there. Gypsies hid
from persecution in the damp tunnels.
Now TV shows such as "The World's Scariest Places"
highlight its depths for its 19th century use. When the
streets of Paris were redrawn to broaden the avenues
and highlight the city, paupers' cemeteries were cleared,
and the remains brought to the tunnels. A doorway into
this part of the tunnel is labeled "Stop! This is the
empire of death."
Approximately six million skeletons have been stacked
here in these tunnels. Signs label the remains with the
location from which they were brought and the date they
were moved.
Fifteenth Arrondissement
This is a quiet residential
area. There are few tourist
sights here except for the Parc
de Expositions.
Sixteenth Arrondissement
This district is home to the Bois
de Bologne park and some
smaller museums including the
Marmottan. You can get a great
view of the Eiffel Tower, just
across the river, from the Place
Trocadero. Also at Trocadero,
of course, is the curved Palais
de Chaillot.
Bois de Boulogne
The Bois de Boulogne is a huge (over 2000 acre) park
on the western side of Paris. Bois means wood,
which tells you of the wooded acres found here.
It's very popular for jogging, riding, roller-skating,
boules, and all the usual park activities, but has a few
added features:
It contains a small château (castle) called La Bagatelle.
It has a children's park (the Jardin d'Acclimatation)
which includes donkey rides, petting zoo,
skateboarding rink, and a miniature railroad (see
picture).
It has not one, but two, horse racing courses.
It has two man-made lakes, one of which has islands
big enough to be home to a café, reached by ferry.
The French Open Tennis tournament is held at Roland
Garros stadium in the park.
Trocadero/Palais de Chaillot
The Palais de Chaillot is mostly seen by tourists only in
its relationship to its neighbor across the river. From the
Eiffel Tower, its curved shape is easily seen. From its
plaza, the best pictures of the Tower can be taken.
Skateboarders and roller bladers also like its expanses of
pavement and broad stairs. Street vendors spread out
their products on cloth on the plaza.
Inside are four museums and a theater. The museums
are the Maritime Museum, which covers ships and naval
life; the Museum of Man, an anthropology museum
which covers mankind from the pre-historic times
forward; the Monuments Museum, which has models of
French monuments and covers the artistic style and
periods of French monument construction; and the
Cinema Museum, which covers movies, from the first
moving pictures to more recent independent film genres.
Seventeenth Arrondissement
This area is not home to any
major tourist
destinations. There are some
good restaurants, but it is
primarily a fairly quiet part of
town.
Eighteenth Arrondissement
The 18th is home to
Montmartre. This hill
neighborhood is popular with
tourists for Sacré Coeur and
the artsy feel of the Place du
Tertre.
Montmartre
Overlooking Paris from the north is the hill of
Montmartre. This hill neighborhood used to be
a separate town. It is still the highest point in
the city, and the streets are steep and often
linked with pedestrian walkways up the steeper
parts.
In previous centuries, artists came to
Montmartre for the good northern light and to
escape the sweltering life in the city. You can
still see the remnants of the artistic climate in
the tourist artists on the Place du Tertre.
Nowadays, Montmartre is known for two other
things. From all over the city you can see the
white dome of the Sacre Coeur Basilica which
crowns the tip of the "mount."
The other thing that Montmartre is known for
is the nightlife.
Place du Tertre
Place du Tertre is found at the peak of
Montmartre. Within a stone's throw of
Sacré Coeur, it is at the top of the highest
hill in town.
Place du Tertre is also tourist trap at its
finest. Taking its cue from Montmartre's
past as an artist colony, the square is full of
street artists hawking their wares to the
tourists. The sides are lined with tourist
shops and cafés.
That said, it is a reflection of Montmartre's
past and present. This part of town is
known for selling what the customer
wants. The painters paint the Paris the
tourists want to buy. The shops sell the
postcards, key chains, and cheesy souvenirs
that tourists buy
Sacré Coeur
Sacré Coeur ("Sacred Heart" in English) sits
high on the Montmartre hill, overlooking the
city. It glows white above the city on a sunny
day. Inside, its mosaics glow the the dim light.
Its design is inspired by the Trinity, so you can
see towers, doors, windows, everything in sets
of three.
To reach it, you can climb up the stairs in front,
or ride the funicular train on the hill to the west
of the main lawn (just to the left in the
trees). The funicular takes regular metro
tickets.
On any day the terrace in front of Sacré Coeur
affords a wonderful view of the expanse of the
city below. At sunset you can watch the sun set
over the city and the lights of the city begin to
come on.
Nineteenth Arrondissement
The Museum of Science and
Industry at La Villette is great
for the kids. The Parc also
houses concerts and other
activities.
La Villette
La Villette is a large recreational
development. It includes a concert arena
developed from an old cattle market, a canal,
a museum, and a unique Omnimax
theater. There are also food stands and
cafés.
The museum is a hands-on Science and
Industry center, opened in the mid 1980s. It
has various parts, including an aquarium, a
planetarium, and an old submarine you can
explore, in addition to the usual science and
industry type exhibits.
On the south side of the museum is a large
sphere of polished steel. Inside is a cinéma,
showing super-large Omnimax format films.
Twentieth Arrondissement
The most famous landmark in
the 20th Arr. is the PereLachaise cemetery that is the
final resting place for Jim
Morrison of the Doors, along
with other famous people as the
composer Chopin.
Père Lachaise Cemetery
Père Lachaise is the best known of Paris'
old cemeteries.
It is the final resting place of many
beloved French celebraties as well as a few
non-French ones.
Here you can find composers like Chopin,
singers such as Edith Piaf and Maria
Callas, artists Delacroix and David, writers
like Molière, Proust, Gertrude Stein, and
Balzac. Don't forget the great lovers
Heloïse and Abélard.
For the youth of the world, and those not
so young now, Jim Morrison of the group
The Doors may be the presence that draws
them here.
Outskirts
Saint Denis
La Défense
Saint Denis
Saint Denis is not as well-known as the
churches closer to the city center. A
fact which might amaze many of those
buried within.
Though the church now lies off the
beaten path of most tourists, it is filled
with the heritage of France.
For centuries, the kings and queens of
France were buried in this church and
its crypt. Anyone who has studied the
history of this country will want to
make the trip out here. The tombs are
decorated with statues and inscriptions
and seem to be a Who's Who of prerevolutionary France.
La Défense
La Défense is primarily a business center. Its tall buildings
are home to international corporations and their
offices. There are also large hotels for business travelers.
Tourists can also enjoy visiting this area. There is shopping
(including the 4 Temps mall). There is an IMAX
theater. There is a large open plaza, where one can enjoy
nice weather and people watching.
On the plaza is the Grande Arche de la Défense. This huge
square arch continues the straight line which begins with the
small (comparatively) Arc de Triomphe de Carrosel in the
courtyard at the Louvre, continues through the Tuileries
gardens, across the Place de la Concorde, up the Champs
Elysees and through the Arc de Triomphe, then ends here at
La Défense.
For those, like me, who like to go up to high places and look
out over the city, the Grande Arche de la Défense has a
rooftop viewing platform.
Further Out
Disneyland Paris
Versailles
Disneyland Paris
Disneyland Paris originally opened as
Euro-Disney. It struggled financially for
years, but has been doing better in recent
years.
For those who have been to Disneyland
in California or Disneyworld in Florida,
this park will seem eerily similar. The
main difference is that everyone is
speaking French.
For those who have never been to one of
the Disney parks, the park has five areas
with different themes: Main Street USA,
Adventureland, Frontierland,
Fantasyland, and Discoveryland.
Versailles
Versailles started out as a royal hunting lodge. Louis XIV expanded it into a huge palace.
One of his reasons was to keep the aristocrats out of the city and under his control.
Louis XIV understood power and used this palace to show himself as the center of power,
the Sun King.
The regular tour takes you through the state rooms, including the Hall of Mirrors, where
the treaty that ended World War I was signed.
Other tours allow you to see other parts of the main palace, such as the bedrooms
of the king and queen, the chapel, the opera theater, etc.
Versailles: the Trianons
Around the grounds, in addition to the
many statues, etc. are two significant
buildings:
The Grand Trianon was where Louis
kept a mistress, and has since seen many
state visitors, including US Presidents.
The Petit Trianon was the queen's
getaway. Marie-Antoinette came here
to play cards and games with friends.
Versailles: the Hamlet
Also in the grounds, near the Petit Trianon,
is the hamlet, or hameau in French. This
picturesque village was Marie-Antoinette's
escape from the royal life. When the
young queen was unhappy with the
complications and politics of palace living,
she imagined life would be better if she
were a simple farm girl. So she came here,
and milked cows and petted sheep.
This is just one example that shows how
far removed the royals were from the
realities of life. She had no idea how hard
the life of real farm living was.
Versailles: the Grounds
Last, but definitely not least, there are
hundreds of fountains on the grounds of
Versailles. The expense of running them
limits their use, however. Check the
Versailles website, but typically they turn
them on only on weekend afternoons in the
summer, for a couple hours. Hope for a
sunny day, but it is definitely worth
scheduling your visit to see them in action.
Credits
All photos were taken by Jane Rauschenberg (mostly in the summer of 2000)
The text comes primarily from her Paris website:
ms.loganhocking.k12.oh.us/~madame/paris.htm