Travel Bug Guides - Paris Travel Guide 2014: Essential Tourist Information, Maps & Photos

Travel Bug Guides: Paris

By Caroline Booth

2013 Caroline Booth

Table of Contents

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Paris

Paris has often been called the city of light, because of its educational institutions and its growth during the Age of Enlightenment. Parisian romantics enjoy calling it the city of love. It is often touted as the most beautiful city in the world. With its mixture of ancient and modern offerings, it is a popular tourist destination.

The name Paris came from the Parisi, a Gaulish tribe who inhabited the original Roman city of Luticia which was located on the left bank of the Seine River in what is now the Latin Quarter. It is believed the name may be Celtic in origin. It was later shortened to Paris by Julian the Apostate. Some remains of the original Roman city can still be seen on the grounds of the Museum of the Middle Ages.

Paris is divided into 20 districts called Arrondissements. The majority of popular sites are in the first eight of these including the Eiffel tower, the Champs- Elysees, the Louvre, the Pantheon and Notre Dame.

Greater Paris offers the attractions of Versailles and Disneyland Paris.

There are many world class museums and art galleries as well as beautiful gardens and parks to enjoy in the city. A day could be spent cruising on the Seine River or walking the length of the Champs-Elysees taking in the sites.

Many attractions are within walking distance of each other. There is good public transportation including the Metro underground train and busses that make it easy to reach any location.

Top 20 Tourist Attractions

1.Eiffel Tower

The City of Paris most famous landmark, the Eiffel Tower offers visitors a 42 mile view. The tower was first opened at the Paris Worlds Fair in 1889. At that time, it was the tallest structure in the world.

The lattice work iron structure is considered both an engineering feat and a work of art. It is named for Gustave Eiffel, the engineer whose firm designed and built it. On the first floor, there is a display of the towers 120 years of history. These include drawings, films and documents with some featuring the design and building of the tower.

The second floor is considered one of the best places for taking photos of the panoramic vistas. From here you can take an elevator to the top where the Champagne Bar is located. Foregoing the elevator and taking the 704 steps to the top is a feat many choose as part of their experience.

Many movies have been filmed on the tower including a James Bond film where he did a base jump off the top when being chased by an assassin. It is most likely that any film ever made in Paris will at some point have at least a view of the tower.

The tower is bathed in golden light at night making a walk around it magical and a draw for romantic couples.

The tower offers a variety of restaurants with menus ranging from a picnic to fine French cuisine. Wheelchair access is only available to the first and second landing via elevator.

Where : Champ de Mars 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris

Opening Hours: From June 15th to Sept 1st: 9 am to 12.45 am (lift), 9 am to 12.45 am (stairs). Rest of the year: 9.30 am to 11.45 pm (lift), 9.30 am to 6.30 pm (stairs)

Contact: http://www.tour-eiffel.fr | +33 892 70 12 39

2.Champs-Elysees

The Champs-Elysees is the most famous street in the world. Lined on the West end with sidewalk cafes, theatres, cinemas and famous luxury stores, it is often the scene of holiday celebrations. Since 1975 it has been the ending place for the Tour de France bicycle race.

The beautiful avenue runs in a straight line 1.25 miles from the 21 acre Place de la Concorde where the Obelisk of Luxor is located to the Arc de Triomphe where a dozen boulevards converge. It has wide sidewalks with benches and street lights. Pedestrians can walk leisurely, enjoying the historic buildings, gardens and scenery.

The Place de la Concorde is the location where Marie Antoinette, Louis XVI and thousands were executed during the French Revolution.

The glass topped buildings that can be seen from the street are the Grande Palais and the Petite Palais which were built for the World Fair in 1900. Today they are museums.

Originally the area was open fields and market gardens. The name came from the Elysian fields in Greek mythology. Its transformation began when Maria de Medici decided to extend the Tuileries Gardens with an avenue of trees in 1616. The gardens are just beyond the Place de la Concorde and end at the Louvre. It was not until the latter years of the 18th century that the area became a fashionable Parisian spot.

Where: Begins at Place de la Concorde and ends at Place Charles de Gaulle, Arrondissement 8th.

Contact: http://www.champselysees-paris.com/

3.Hotel des Invalides

The Hotel des Invalides was founded in 1671 by Louis XIV to provide accommodations for war veterans who were injured or impoverished. The front of the building is 163 ft. long and faces the Seine River. There are 15 court yards and two churches in the complex.

The church of Saint-Louis was opened in 1679 for the soldiers. They were required to attend mass here daily. Inspired by St. Peters Basilica of Rome, another church, the Domes des Invalides was erected for the exclusive use of the Royal family. Centrally placed, it dominates the Court of Honor. The dome is considered one of the triumphs of French Baroque architecture.

The complex is home to three museums dedicated to military history from the Middle Ages to the Second World War. Armor, maps, banners and weapons are exhibited from not only the Western world, but from Turkey, Japan, India and China. The military costume of Emperor Qianlong, sixth emperor of the Qing dynasty from 1711-1799 is in one of the displays.

The Emperor Napoleon is entombed here along with other military leaders including Marshall Foch. Though most of the buildings have been converted to other uses, there is still a small residence for military retirees in the complex.