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Arc de Triomphe
Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris
Metro: Charles de Gaulle-Etoile
RER: Charles de Gaulle-Etoile
BUS: 73
The Arch is most easily (and safely) reached by tunnel from the north side of the Champs Elysées.
Commissioned in 1806 by Napoleon, shortly after his victory at Austerlitz, it was not finished until 1836. There are four huge relief sculptures at the bases of the four pillars. These commemorate The Triumph of 1810 (Cortot); Resistance , and Peace (both by Etex); and The Departure of the Volunteers , more commonly known by the name La Marseillaise (Rude).
La Marseillaise by François Rude; One of four reliefs on the pillars of the Arch. The day the Battle of Verdun started in 1916, the sword carried by the figure representing the Republic broke off. The relief was immediately hidden to conceal the accident and avoid any undesired associations or interpretations as a bad omen.
Engraved around the top of the Arch are the names of major victories won during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic periods. The names of less important victories, as well as those of 558 generals, are to found on the inside walls. Generals whose names are underlined died in action.
Beneath the Arch is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and eternal flame commemorating the dead of the two world wars. |
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Musée du Louvre
Pyramide - Cour Napoléon, A.P. 34, 36 quai du Louvre, 75058 Paris cedex 01, 75001 Paris
METRO: Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre
BUS: 21, 27, 39, 48, 68, 69, 72, 76, 95
Open : Museum: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. - Pyramid: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. - Museum late night opening: Monday (Richelieu Wing) and Wednesday: 9.45 p.m.
Closed : Tuesday, certain bank holidays.
The Musée du Louvre, the former home of the kings of France, is for two centuries one now of the largest museums in the world. its collections are distributed into 7 departments: Oriental antiques, Egyptian antiques, Greek, Etruscan and Roman antiques; Paintings, Sculptures and Objets d'Art from the Middle Ages to 1850. Still in its development stage, the Grand Louvre project shall only be totally finished in 1997. The first stage of the project was finished in 1989 (opening of the new access via the glass pyramid designed by I.M. Pei and discovery of the vestiges of the medieval Louvre). In 1993, the Richelieu wing was opened. It exhibits French sculptures, objets d'art, paintings from the Northern schools and French paintings (up to the seventeenth century, oriental antiques and the art of Islam. The Carrousel du Louvre, was inaugurated in parallel. This is a large underground complex with stores, car parks and areas for exhibitions and prestigious events. In October 1994, new rooms presenting foreign sculptures were inaugurated. During the last phase of the project many rooms will be redeveloped in the Sully and Denon wings (with namely Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan and Roman antiques and Italian paintings), the Jardin des Tuileries will also be renovated. |
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Notre Dame de Paris (Cathédrale)
Place du parvis de Notre Dame , 75004 Paris
METRO Cité
RER Châtelet-Les Halles, Saint Michel-Notre Dame
BUS 21, 24, 27, 38, 47, 85, 96
A gothic masterpiece. Notre Dame, conceived by Maurice de Sully, was built between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries (1163-1345). Road distances in France are calculated on the basis of the "0 km" marked on the square in front of the cathedral. |
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Basilique du Sacré Coeur
Parvis du Sacré Coeur, 75018 Paris
TEL 42 51 17 02
METRO Anvers, Abbesses, Château Rouge, Lamarck-Caulaincourt
BUS 30, 54, 80, 85, Montmartrobus Ouverture : Basilique: 6h45-23h, Dôme et crypte: 9h-18h - Nocturne : Basilique: 23h
Tarifs : Basilique : accès libre - Dôme, crypte: 15 F - Réd. : Dôme et crypte: 8 F
Open : Basilica: 6.45 a.m.-11 p.m., Dome and crypt: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. - late night opening: Basilica: 11 p.m.
Prices : Basilica: free access - Dome, crypt: 15 FF. - Red. Dome and crypt: 8
Church built by the national will following the defeat in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870.The basilica was consecrated in 1919. Architect: Abadie (1875-1912)
Collections : History, Painting, Sculpture, Architecture
Practical Information : Group, Handicapped Persons, Handicapped Persons (with help), Book Shop, Gift Shop, Photography Allowed, Panorama |
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Sainte Chapelle
4, boulevard du Palais, 75001 Paris
METRO Cité
RER Saint Michel-Notre Dame
BUS 38
Built by Louis IX in the 1240's to house relics from the Holy Land believed to be the Crown of Thorns and part of the True Cross, this small gothic chapel is one of the inspiring visual experiences of Paris. Much of this is due to its stained glass windows which essentially surround the entire upper floor.
The chapel itself is now surrounded by the Palais of Justice on the Ile de la Cité near Notre Dame. It has two "tiers", the first one at ground level being rather dark and close, the second one having radiant tall windows, as well as a small balcony. |
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Tour Eiffel
Champ de Mars, 75007 Paris
METRO Bir Hakeim
RER Champ de Mars
BUS 42, 69, 72, 82, 87
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.
However it was not accepted by all at first, and a petition of 300 names - including those of Maupassant, Emile Zola, Charles Garnier (architect of the Opéra Garnier ), and Dumas the Younger - protested its construction.
At 300 metres (320.75m including antenna), and 7000 tons, it was the world's tallest building until 1930. Other statistics include:
- 2.5 million rivets.
- 300 steel workers, and 2 years (1887-1889) to construct it.
- Sway of at most 12 cm in high winds.
- Height varies up to 15 cm depending on temperature.
- 15,000 iron pieces (excluding rivets).
- 40 tons of paint.
- 1652 steps to the top.
It was almost torn down in 1909, but was saved because of its antenna - used for telegraphy at that time. Beginning in 1910 it became part of the International Time Service. French radio (since 1918), and French television (since 1957) have also made use of its stature.
During its lifetime, the Eiffel Tower has also witnessed a few strange scenes, including being scaled by a mountaineer in 1954, and parachuted off of in 1984 by two Englishmen. In 1923 a journalist rode a bicycle down from the first level. Some accounts say he rode down the stairs, other accounts suggest the exterior of one of the tower's four legs which slope outward.
However, if its birth was difficult, it is now completely accepted and must be listed as one of the symbols of Paris itself.
The tower has three platforms. A restaurant (extremely expensive; reservations absolutely necessary), the Jules Verne is on the second platform. The top platform has a bar, souvenir shop, and the (recently restored) office of Gustave Eiffel.
From its platforms - especially the topmost - the view upon Paris is superb. It is generally agreed that one hour before sunset, the panorama is at its best. |
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