Paris Attractions Guide

Synonym of elegance and style, Paris is a city which every kind of visitor fall in love with: the monumentality of Notre Dame, the industrial elegance of the Eiffel Tower or the spirituality of the Louvre Pyramid are just an example of what this metropolis can offer. In this page you will find a brief guide to the most important Paris attractions, so that you can start getting to know the many faces of this gorgeous city.

Île de la Cité:
Primal nucleus of Paris, this isle was the political and religious centre of the city until the Middle Age. The antique buildings which stood out in the isle were destroyed during the urban renovation carried out by Baron Haussman. Nowadays la Île de la Cité is known above all for the gothic cathedral Notre Dame and for the Saint Chapelle.

Notre Dame:
Main work of the gothic architecture, the Cathedral of Notre Dame was built between the 12th and the 14th Century on the project of Pierre de Montreuil and Maurice de Sully. The main façade of Notre Dame includes three portals: the Virgin portal, the Crack of Doom portal and St. Anne portal. Two towers, hosting on the one hand a 13 tons bell and a staircase with 387 steps on the other, dominate the whole building and offer a panoramic view over Paris and the Seine. The Cathedral is open every day from 7.45 am to 6 pm except during the Mass or during religious offices. The access to the towers is at the corner of the street of Notre Dame cloister. Open every day from 10 am to 5.30 pm, the towers are closed on Saturday from 12.30 am to 2 pm.

Louvre Museum:
The Louvre is one of the biggest museums in the world, storing one of the most important and complete art collections ever known. Built in 1200 to be a fortress, and converted in 1500 into a palace, it turned into a museum in 1793. In the yard of the museum is the famous Pyramid, which represents the entrance of the Louvre and which was designed by the architect Leoh Ming Pei. This aluminium and glass pyramid was inaugurated in 1989 by the former French president, François Mitterrand. It is 21,6 m high and has a total of 673 transparent plate-glass panels. The museum is open every day except on Tuesday from 9 am to 5.45 pm. Nighttime opening: On Wednesday until 9.45 pm.

National Art and Culture Centre Georges Pompidou:
The Centre Pompidou, designed by the architects Renzo Piano and Richards Rodgers, was built during the legislation of the French President Georges Pompidou, who died before it was completed. It was his successor, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, who inaugurated it in 1977. Restored between 1997 and 1999, it opened officially January 1st 2000.

Marais:
The quarter of Marais is characterised by its narrow streets and gorgeous small palaces, which date back to the 17th and 18th Century. Frequented by a lot of artists and students, the quarter has been for a long time one of the most fashionable and lively places of Paris. Among its architectural treasures is Place de Vosges: arcades, blue Angers slate roofs, windows framed by white and red stones and a perfect symmetry make this square one of the most wonderful squares in Paris.

For an accommodation in Paris in these areas, see our furnished and serviced apartments in Paris Marais, Paris Saint-Germain and Paris Bastille.

The Champs Elysées:
Probably, this is the most famous street in the world and one of the main reference points for fashion lovers, who can find here the most important fashion brands. The Champs Elysées, with a total longitude of 1880 metres connect Place de la Concorde with the stunning Triumphal Arch. Its name comes from the Greek mythology, where it designated the home of the departed, reserved to virtuous souls, the equivalent of the Christian paradise.

The Eiffel Tower:
The Eiffel Tower, which won a competition held during the exposition of 1889, was designed by Gustave Eiffel and built between 1887 and 1889. Despite the protests and the harsh critics of Parisians and French intellectuals during its construction, this metallic structure has become the symbol of Paris, attracting 6 million tourists every year.
Property of the local authorities of Paris and exploited by a private company "Société Nouvelle de l'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel", the Eiffel Tower has to be painted every 7 years with 50 tons of paint.

For an accommodation in Paris in these areas, see our lodgings in Paris Eiffel Tower, Paris Champs Elysées and Paris Trocadero.

Montmartre:
Famous for its nightlife (the Moulin Rouge is right here!) and for being a gathering point of writers and artists, the quarter of Montmartre is nowadays very lively. Famoso por la agitada vida nocturna que rodea el Moulin Rouge y antaño refugio de escritores y artistas, el barrio del Montmartre rebosa hoy en día de una gran vitalidad. Its uphill streets, its staircases and its unmistakable and welcoming cafés make this quarter a destination you can’t miss. Even if the whole neighbourhood is worth visiting, the most interesting place is the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, built between 1875 and 1919. The Basilica is accessible through the Montmartre funicular.

For an accommodation in Paris in these areas, see our holiday apartments in Paris Montmartre and Paris Opera.

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