T | out Paris |
The Top 40 Sights and More |
Home | Front Page | Index | Blog | New | Contact | Site Map
Belleville
Paris 1999
Travel 2005
Berlin Travel 2004
Mexico 2004 |
Can anybody ever see all that there is to see in Paris? No, but we ("Gerry") tried. The following list(s) show all the great sights and most of the lesser ones. If we did not visit it in 1999 or 2005 then it is in italics. You will note there are very few in italics.
Arc de Triomphe One of the most remarkable landmarks in Paris is the colossal Arc de Triomphe. This great stone arch rises 50 meters (164 feet) at the western end of the city’s famous boulevard, the Avenue des Champs Élysées. Construction on the arch began in 1806 and was finally completed 30 years later. Built by Napoleon to celebrate his military successes, it is inscribed with the names of 386 of his generals and 96 of his victories. After World War I, France buried its unknown soldier beneath the arch. Basilique du Sacré-Cœur Built in crystalline white stone, the ornate dome of the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur offers a magnificent 360-degree panorama over Paris. The interior of the basilica contains one of the largest mosaics in the world. Catacombs Catacombs are quarry tunnels housing millions of bones, moved there in 1785 to relieve the overflow in nearby charnel houses and cemeteries. Château de Vincennes The Château de Vincennes preceded the Château de Versailles as a royal residence and was later used as a state prison. Today it is notable for the museum in the medieval keep, the Gothic chapel, and a moat. Cimetière de Montmartre Cimetière de Montmartre contains the graves of such prominent figures as painter Edgar Degas, composer Hector Berlioz, and filmmaker François Truffaut. Cimetière du Père-Lachaise Numerous writers, artists, and composers are buried in the vast Cimetière du Père-Lachaise, ranging from Molière and Honoré de Balzac to Yves Montand and Jim Morrison. École Militaire Napoleon was trained at the École Militaire, founded by Louis XV in 1751. Fondation Cartier The Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, now housed in a building designed by architect Jean Nouvel, supports living artists and promotes contemporary art forms, ranging from sculpture and painting to photography and video. Gare St-Lazare Claude Monet chose the Gare Saint-Lazare, the city's first railway station, as the subject of a series of paintings. Grande Arche Grande Arche is the highlight of La Défense, the main business district in Paris. While the commercial area was developed in the 1960s and 1970s, Grande Arche itself was built more recently to commemorate the 1989 bicentenary of the French revolution. The monument is placed in a direct line through the Place Charles de Gaulle toward the Avenue des Champs Élysées. The huge structure, about 110 meters (about 360 feet) high, is one of many high-profile projects undertaken by governments of the Fifth Republic in recent years. Hippodrome d'Auteuil Hippodrome d'Auteuil, a racetrack located in the Bois de Boulogne, specializes in steeplechases. Hôtel de Ville The Hôtel de Ville, the ornate city hall, is a 19th-century reconstruction of the Renaissance original. Jeu-de-Paume The former home of French Impressionist works, Jeu-de-Paume now showcases contemporary art. Madeleine Inspired by Greek and Roman architecture, Madeleine is one of the most architecturally unusual churches in Paris. Its design changed completely from the time construction began in 1764 and its consecration 78 years later. Maison de Radio France The Maison de Radio France, an imposing circular building, houses a museum dedicated to the history of radio and television, as well as radio and television stations. Musée d'Orsay The Musée d'Orsay, housed in a former train station, displays the city's major collection of 19th-century French art. Musée du Petit Palais The Musée du Petit Palais displays decorative arts, furniture, painting, sculpture, and drawings from antiquity through the early 20th century. Musée Rodin Selections from the work of Auguste Rodin, including The Kiss, The Thinker, The Gates of Hell, and the once-controversial Monument to Balzac, are displayed in the Musée Rodin, housed in a mansion where the great French sculptor had a studio at the end of his career. Opéra Bastille The massive Opéra Bastille was opened in 1989—the bicentennial of the French Revolution—in Place de la Bastille, the square that symbolizes the start of the Revolution. Opéra-Garnier The 19th-century Opéra-Garnier, now used mainly for ballet, is one of Europe's most opulent and boasts a ceiling painted in 1964 by Marc Chagall. National Natural History Museum The National Natural History Museum offers displays on natural history within the Jardin des Plantes (Botanical Gardens). Notre-Dame Reflected in the waters of the Seine, storm clouds gather over the monumental towers and portals of Notre-Dame. Construction of this famous Gothic cathedral began in 1163 and continued well into the next century. Although it was severely vandalized during the French Revolution, the restored landmark is today the centerpiece of historic Paris. Palais de Chaillot The Palais de Chaillot, now containing various museums and theaters, was constructed for the 1937 World Fair in the imposing classical-revival style of the day. Panthéon The domed neoclassical Panthéon contains the crypt that is the final resting place of famous French figures such as Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Émile Zola, Marie Curie, Louis Braille, and wartime Resistance leader Jean Moulin. Parc des Princes Soccer and rugby matches draw crowds at the Parc des Princes. Palais de la Bourse Napoleon ordered the construction of the Palais de la Bourse. Also known as the Palais Brongniart, the building is home to the Paris stock exchange. Place de la Bastille The infamous Bastille prison, where the Revolution of 1789 began, is no longer standing. However, an imposing column, the Colonne de Juillet, honors the victims of the July Revolution of 1830 at the Place de la Bastille. Place de la République Designed by Baron Haussmann in the mid-19th century, Place de la République has a monument to the French republic at its center. Place d'Italie Several large streets radiate from the Place d'Italie, which is located near the city's Chinatown. Roland-Garros The Roland-Garros stadium hosts major international tennis championships. Tour Eiffel Reaching 320 meters (1,050 feet) to pierce the sky, the grand iron latticework of the Tour Eiffel has become synonymous with the city of Paris. This landmark tower, designed by engineer Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel for the Centennial Exposition of 1889, offers a spectacular view of the entire City of Light. St.-Germain-des-Prés Saint-Germain-des-Prés is Paris’s oldest church, founded in the 6th century and sacked on several occasions. Sorbonne The most famous university in Paris, the Sorbonne was originally established for theology students in 1253. Zoo The Zoo, the city's zoo, is located in the Bois de Vincennes.
|