Sightseeing in Paris - what to see. Complete travel guide

The city of love is not just a place where you will be able to enjoy an unforgettable romantic holiday. This beautiful city has prepared a myriad of attractions for its visitors. Numerous beautiful churches of different styles and periods will make you feel the genius of architects and builders. This is particularly true about the most famous cathedral in Paris, Notre Dame .

Louvre.
Famous Louvre is also one of main symbols of Paris . A former royal palace, starting from 1793 Louvre has been turned into a world-famous museum. It has gained an international fame, and one of main reasons for such a success is great works of art, including "Mona Lisa" and "Venus de Milo", that are exhibited here. The Louvre features a rich collection of paintings and sculptures that represent different eras until the XIX century. Here you will be able to see Eastern, Greek and Roman art, sculptures, and much more. The Egyptian collection occupies a significant part of the museum. Paintings by French artists of the XIV-XIX centuries, as well as works of Italian and Flemish artists are also very popular with visitors. It is better to devote one-two days to visiting the Louvre, or you will see only a very small part of the exhibitions. Louvre is not only a museum, but also a beautiful historic building, which also belongs to the French cultural heritage.

Tuileries.
The Tuileries Gardens are located in the immediate vicinity of the Louvre . This is a perfect place for slow walks. In the XVII century, Colbert (who was, among other titles, the supreme commissary of royal buildings during the reign of Louis XIV) ordered garden architect Andre Le Notre to make a beautiful park. The garden looks today just the way it looked during those days. If you walk through the park, you will find yourself on Concorde Square , which is decorated with a Luxor obelisk of Ramses II. Walk a bit further, and you will reach Place Vendome famous for its numerous jewelry shops. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The Royal Palace.
The Royal Palace (Palais Royal) is located opposite to the northern wing of the Louvre. The palace was built in 1632 by order of Cardinal Richelieu. During the Paris Commune of 1871 the palace was set on fire. The restoration works were started in 1875. After this the palace has become home to the State Council, the Constitutional Council and the Ministry of Culture. Beautiful arcades of Palais Royal are the place where you can walk to antique shops, which are located around 252 striped columns made by sculptor Daniel Buren. Visitors can also enjoy their free time in the garden created by Cardinal Richelieu. The garden is surrounded by buildings constructed during the reign of Louis Philippe d'Orleans.

Eiffel Tower.
Eiffel Tower , built for the World Exhibition in Paris in 1889, has already become a symbol of not only the capital of France, but also, perhaps, the whole country. Visitors are welcome to enjoy spectacular views of Paris from the top of the tower, at a height of 307 meters. If you go to the top on foot, you can reach only the first (57 m) or the second platform (115 m), which are 350 or 700 steps away respectively. Therefore, it is recommended to use elevators. There is only one elevator that brings visitors from the second to the third platform that is located at a height of 247 meters. The foot of the Eiffel Tower is the location of Champ de Mars . Many years ago it was used for military trainings and parades. On July 14, 1790 Champ de Mars became the place for a very solemn event – here was proclaimed the allegiance to the first French constitution. Today this is a quiet park perfect for unhurried walks.

Les Invalides.
Les Invalides is located not far away from Champ de Mars . The building of the XVII century is now the location of the War Museum. You will also find here the church with the tomb of Napoleon, gorgeous Les Invalides Cathedral (1675-1706) built in the French classic style, and the Military School (1759-1782).

The Avenue des Champs-Élysées has also become a symbol of Paris. "The most beautiful avenue in the world" is not only a street of shops and entertainment facilities, where one chic boutique is followed by another one. A part of the Champs Elysees that leads to Place de la Concorde is surrounded by green squares, in which you will find museums, theaters and restaurants.

Arc de Triomphe.
The opposite part of the Champs-Elysees ends at the Arc de Triomphe , the construction of which was started in 1806 by order of Napoleon. This way Napoleon wanted to honor the victorious French army. However, Napoleon didn’t see the finished monument (1836). In 1920, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was laid at the foot of the arch. The whole complex is 50m high and 45m wide. The outer side of the arch is decorated with huge sculptures and friezes that display start, victory and a triumphant return of the army. The inner side of the church contains names of generals and battles. The observation deck of the arc features a stunningly beautiful view of the city. By the way, pedestrians are prohibited to cross Etoile Square, in the center of which stands the Arc de Triomphe.

Besides historical sights, Paris is also famous for its football stadium, Stade de Paris . The stadium was built for the FIFA World Championship in 1998, and it became the place where France won its title of the champion. However, football is not the only sport that plays an important role in the life of the city. The famous Paris Marathon, that is held each year in April, attracts many athletes and sports enthusiasts from all over the world.

The famous Paris subway remains the most convenient way to get around the city and its suburbs . The subway is one of the oldest in the continent. Thanks to the well-developed network of subway stations, you will quickly get to absolutely every part of Paris or its suburbs.