Attractions
in France
The Eiffel Tower
Most
important! Walk up this metal monstrosity, and don't take the cable
car! Only by slowly walking up step by step through the belly of this
giant monument, can you get a real feel for its history and magnitude.
A Tourist Tip! - you can take the cable car down for free - no one checks
the tickets on the way down!
The Eiffel Tower was built for the International Exhibition of Paris
of 1889 commemorating the centenary of the French Revolution. The Prince
of Wales, later King Edward VII of England, opened the tower. Of the
700 proposals submitted in a design competition, Gustave Eiffel's was
unanimously chosen.
There are 2 stages that you can walk up to, and to get to the very top,
you need the cable car. At each stage, you can sit down, and enjoy coffee
- they do a good cappuccino! At 300 meters (320.75m including antenna),
and 7000 tons, it was the world's tallest building until 1930.
Notre Dame
A Gothic masterpiece situated in the heart of Paris. Entrance is
free, and the mass is highly recommended. At the end of the ceremony,
there is a procession through the narrow surrounding streets.
Constructed in three stages, the cathedral was completed in 1250.This
period witnessed Paris coming into its own force as a center of political
power and commerce. No expense was spared in creating a church that
would reflect the capital's newly won prestige.
A nice way to arrive is by river boat along The Seine. When you disembark,
take a few moments to marvel at the artists along the river , who for
a few Francs will sketch your portrait.
Arc de Triomphe
From
the Place de la Concorde to the top of the Champs-Elysees, you will
discover the Place de l'Etoile which is known today as the Place Charles
de Gaulle. And, here lies the Arc de Triomphe.
The Triumphal Arch dates back to 1806, when Napoléon commissioned
Chalgrin to build an arch to the glory of the French Army. Construction
on the Arch began in 1806, restarted in 1825, and was not finished until
1836. The Arc de Triomphe is built on the model of ancient Triumphal
Arches, but it stands alone because of its monumental size: 50 meters
tall and 45 meters wide (164 by 148 feet). The four magnificent high
reliefs are crowned by Rude's masterpiece, "The Departure of the
Volunteers in 1792".
Pompidou
Centre
An affront to Paris! An ugly monstrosity stuck among the 18th century
streets that surround it. The poor Parisians who have to wake up to
this building every morning. For others, a fascinating museum of modern
art. A place to gather outside and watch the street performers at work
- much like London's Covent Garden.
The Centre National D'Art et De Culture Georges Pompidou is dedicated
to the diffusion of today's creation, in all its forms. Conveniently
located in the Buaubourg district. in the heart of the capital, it is
housed in a building designed by Piano and Rogers. emblematic of 20th
century architecture. The Centre Pompidou boasts one of the largest
museums in the world, a large public library, theatres, cinemas and
a musical rsearch institute all in the same complex. Its multi-disciplinary
vocation is clearly reflected in the prestigious exhibits and events
it houses.
Opening Hours
Every day (except Tuesdays and May 1) from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm
Museum and exhibits : 11:00 am to 9:00 pm
Brancusi Workshop : 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Library : 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm, weekdays
11:00 am to 10:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday.
Admission
Central ticket office, level 0
(tickets sales end at 8 :00 pm)
National Museum of Modern Art and exhibition Adalberto Libera allowing
access to the Brancusi Workshop and the Children's Gallery
30 F (4,57 Euros) ; Reduced admission : 20 F (3,05 Euros)
Exhibits Hitchcock et l'art, Raymond Hains
40 F (6,10 Euros) ; Reduced admission : 30 F, (4,57 Euros)
Exhibit Les années Pop
50 F (7,62 Euros) ; Reduced admission : 40 F (6,10 Euros)
All the exhibition tickets are valid for the National Museum of Modern
Art on the same day. On presentation of a entry ticket to the Museum
or the exhibitions, access may be had to the viewing point for a panoramic
view over Paris.
Sacre Coeur Paris
The
Sacre-Coeur Catholic was built at the end of the 19th century at the
top of Montmartre hill in Paris. Its famous white architecture dominates
the city, and offers a wonderful view. The nearby streets of Montmarte
are full of artists and restaurants. Sit on the steps leading down to
Paris, and the cable car and listen to the many street musicians.
The interior of the church contains one of the worlds largest mosaics,
and depicts Christ with outstretched arms. The nearby bell tower contains
the ``Savoyarde''. Cast in Annecy in 1895, it is one of the worlds heaviest
at 19 tons.
The
Montmartre hill
Montmartre is the highest hill of Paris. Very rural until recently,
it still keeps a few windmills and a very subtle and unique atmosphere
in spite of the affluence of tourists from all over the world.
The many painters of Place du Tertre are always ready to sketch out
your face. They remind us of the many pennyless artists who lived there
a Bohemian life in the early 20th century (Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh,
Picasso among others).
Walking at random across the hill, you will discover gardens, old houses,
steep streets and staircases with magnificent views on Paris. Pay attention.
Montmartre can be very crowded during the weekends. Go there in the
morning and on weekdays.
Museums and Galleries
Chateaâu de Versailles
The Chateau de Versailles is a large and elaborately decorated palace
near Paris, France, built for Louis XIV in the mid-17th century. Versailles
was the political and administrative capital of the kingdom for 100
years starting from 6 May 1682. It is now a museum. The Treaty of Versailles
was signed there in 1919, ending World War I.
Before the Revolution the royal estate of Versailles covered more than
8.000 hectares. Surrounded by a 43-km long wall with twenty-two gates,
it consists of three distinct areas:
• the gardens, comprising ornamental flowerbeds, lawns and wooded
groves,
• the Small Park including the Swiss Pool, the Grand Canal, the
Menagerie and Trianon estate
• the Great Park, reserved for hunting, which took in many villages.
Split up at the Revolution with a large part of it confiscated, today
the domain is reduced to 815 hectares corresponding to the gardens and
a portion of the former Small Park. The gardens are adorned with over
three hundred statues and terms, busts and vases, in marble, bronze
or lead, making them the most important outdoor Museum of sculptures
in the world. It contains about twenty original antiques and some thirty
copies from the antique executed by pupils of the French Academy in
Rome. All the rest are original works due to the greatest sculptors
of their day. Some of them, damaged by pollution or vandalized, have
been removed for safety and replaced by plaster casts. The sculptures
are mainly placed around the ornamental gardens and along the Royal
Avenue.
Service d'information et d'Action Culturelle
Chateau de Versailles - 78000 Versailles
Tel : (33-1) 30 84 76 18, Fax : (33-1) 30 84 75 64
Voice server (33-1) 30 84 74 00, Information desk (33-1) 30 84 74 00,
Minitel 36 15 Versailles
The Louvre
The Louvre is the largest and almost undoubtedly the most famous
museum in the world. The building itself is 800 years old, and the treasures
within it represent centuries of priceless works of art. You will need
more than a day to take in this huge masterpiece. The very rooms that
house paintings and sculpture are amazing works of art in and of themselves,
with ornate ceilings and rich decoration.
It is recommended that you purchase your ticket on-line, and save precious
time!
The highlight is a visit to see the Mona Lisa painting by Leonardo da
Vinci on the first floor of the Denon wing.
Divided into 7 departments, the Louvre collections incorporate works
dating from the birth of the great antique civilizations right up to
the first half of the XIXth century, thereby confirming its encyclopedic
vocation.
Address: Cour Napoléon
Phone: 01 40 20 50 50
Hours: Mon & Wed 9:00am to 9:30pm, Thurs-Sun 9:00am to 6:00pm
Sale of tickets ends at 5.15pm or 9.15pm. Free for persons under 18
years. Tickets valid all day, re-entry allowed.
Permanent collections: FF 45 until 3pm - FF 26 after 3pm and on Sundays
all day. Free on the 1st Sunday of each month.
Temporary Exhibitions in the Hall Napoléon FF 30
Museum/Exhibitions ticket FF 60 until 3pm, FF 40 after 3pm and on Sundays
all day.
The Museum Pass provides free access without waiting at the Passage
Richelieu to the permanent collections. Valid for 1 day - FF 70 - 3
days - FF 140 - or 5 days - FF 200.
(33-1) 44 78 45 81
Orsay Museum
The Orsay museum, an old train station, bridges the gap between
the Louvre museum collections and those at the museum of modern art
at Pompidou Centre.
The Orsay museum is not only a place of exhibition for works of art.
It is also a place for entertainment, contemplation and learning.
• A program of concerts from the repertoire of 1848-1914 is continuously
played in the auditorium and the restaurant.
• The auditorium is also used for various film projections, notably
an annual festival devoted to early cinema.
• Regular conferences and debates are held on subjects relating
to temporary exhibitions. Cultural history courses are also available
to museum members.
• A number of educational activities have been arranged for ages
5-15 in particular. These take place in the rooms set aside for use
by young people.
• Various documentary devices are available for consultation in
the Passage des Dates (dates corridor) and the Salle de Consultation
(documentation room).
This magnificent museum, located in the old Orsay railway station built
in 1900, is dedicated to all forms of artistic expression: painting,
sculpture and photography of the 1848-1914 period. The era of the impressionist
painters is particularly well represented with the masterpieces of Manet,
Monet, Renoir, Degas... Admire the delicate brush strokes of Renoir,
the serious self-portrait of Van Gogh, the radiance of a Monet's landscape
amongst other artistic marvels.
Children's Amusement
Euro Disney Land
Pure fun for the whole family. A day in which you can't help smiling
from dawn to dusk (closes at 23.00 during the Summer months). Disney
is at its best as you wander around the truly magical kingdom.
From Paris, Take the RER, line A (direction Marne la Vallée).
The journey lasts between 35 - 40 minutes. Get off at the last stop,
and the Disney Village is on one side, with the park on the other.
From awesome rides to wonderful shows, to the very funny "Honey
I shrunk the kids", and the wonderful parades, Disneyland is an
opportunity to smile!
Our recommendation is spend 2 days at Disney staying overnight at one
of the resort's hotels. This way you can watch the lit up parade at
22.30, and the fireworks at 23.00, without worrying about catching the
last Metro ride back to your hotel in Paris.
Asterix Theme Park
Located Near Paris, and reasonably close to the Disneyland Resort, is
one of the best French theme parks. Based around the characters of popular
French cartoon Asterix, this park offers a selection of rides for all
ages including a very rare 7-inversion Vekoma Corkscrew Rollercoaster,
The Goudurix.
Playmobil
The best way to get to know PLAYMOBIL is to play with it! And the easiest
way to do that is at the PLAYMOBIL FunPark. Nearly 2,000 square feet
of pure fun, where children' s dreams - knights, pirates, farms, police/fire
rescues, dollhouses, trains, and more - can be realized.
At Playmobil Funpark, the children are actually playing among the building
blocks and of Playmobil's creations. There is a cafeteria on place for
the hungry and thirsty kids.
22-24, rue des Jacheres, Fresnes (94). Tel: 01 4984 9444. Open daily
from 10am to 7pm. Late nights opening until 9:00pm on Friday and Saturday.
France Miniature
An accurate reconstitution of more than 150 French monuments and a natural
background make France Miniature a remarkable site.
France Miniature showcases France as both an ideal and as something
that is very real, the France everyone loves for its countryside, its
historical monuments and its major tourist destinations. The really
ingenious idea was to reduce the scene to a size whereby you could see
it all in a day.