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La Samaritaine: a famous Parisian department store (Note: This store is closed for renovation works): London has Harrods; New York has Bloomingdales – Paris has La Samaritaine. This is one of the city’s oldest and best loved department stores, occupying not only a central site (close to the Marais, the Hotel de Ville and the Pompidou Center), but also a place in the hearts of serious shoppers... The Pont Neuf: If you find yourself looking for a bit of a shortcut to the Latin Quarter, the historical Pont-Neuf offers a nice walking option for which to do so. The 238 structure is the oldest bridge in Paris. Its name can now be seen as somewhat of a paradox as when translated, it means 'new bridge'... Place des Vosges: In the Marais quarter, a stone's throw from the Nouvel Opera Bastille and near the Place de la Bastille, Place des Vosges is tucked neatly away from the street noise of the 3rd district... Victor Hugo's House in Paris: “Adversity makes men and prosperity makes monsters”, according to Victor Hugo. This did not apply, however, to the famous French writer himself... St Germain des Prés and Odeon, Heart of the Latin Quarter: A walk across the charming Pont des Arts (the Bridge of the Arts) will lead you to the left bank of the Seine and directly to Saint-Germain or the Odeon districts... St Germain des Prés and Odéon, Cour du Commerce St. André: In the midst of the Latin Quarter district lies a beautiful passageway that one cannot afford to miss when passing through St. Germain-des-Prés. It is situated across from Boulevard St. Germain, and behind one of the oldest streets in Paris, the rue de l'Ancienne Comédie. Saint Severin Church: One of the most beautiful Gothic churches in Paris, Saint Severin, on the Left Bank, cannot fail to impress any visitor. This huge and cavernous church is filled with interesting statues, paintings and chapels and provides something new to discover on every visit... The History of Montmartre: Montmartre is without a doubt, one of the most picturesque and historic areas of Paris, but the one thing that can't be agreed on is the origin of its name. Some historians think the name was derived from martyrs killed in the area around AD 250 (latin: mons martyrium)... Montmartre, the hill, its staircases, its magnificent views: As with all the central parts of Paris, Montmartre is well-served by public transport. You can catch several different bus routes to and within the area, and the two most convenient metro stations are Abbesses and Lamarck-Caulaincourt... Sainte Chapelle, The Holy Chapel: The Sainte-Chapelle was built by orders of King Louis IX to house what was believed to be Jesus's crown of thorns and other relics from the crusades. The king had acquired these sacred relics from the Emperor of Constantinople-Baudouin II, and he is said to have spent more money on collecting them than on building this monument to shelter them. Montmartre, Windmills and Vineyard: Montmartre has sights you would not expect to find in the heart of a huge city. This hilly neighborhood in the north of Paris, as well as being famous for its artistic associations, is also well-known for its picturesque windmills and its one-of-a-kind-in-Paris vineyard... Paris Montmartre, The Artists of The Hill: Montmartre has long been famous for its artists, bohemian types and hangers-on. This hilly neighborhood was originally outside of the city, and was named the Village de Montmartre... Notre-Dame Cathedral, Victor Hugo's Book of Stone: Crusaders prayed here before going to their Holy wars; Mary, Queen of Scots was married here and Napoleon crowned himself emperor here. Notre-Dame Cathedral is perhaps the most impressive Gothic cathedral, inspirational in its beauty and architecture... Dining on The Seine River: Travellers who want a perfectly romantic dinner experience and have some money to spend on it have several possibilities to eat out with a view on the river Seine. One of these is to take a “bateau-mouches”, a cruise ship going upstream and downstream. There are several cruise lines, each offering their own brand of dream... Eiffel Tower Fact Book: Date opened to public: May 15, 1889, during Universal Exposition celebrating 100 th anniversary of the French Revolution. Owners: The City of Paris. Height: 324 meters (with antenna); First Floor: 57.63m, Second Floor: 115.75m, Third Floor: 276.13m... History of The Construction of The Eiffel Tower: Had it not been M. Gustave Eiffel who won the $800 first-place prize in the design competition for 1889's Exposition Universelle, the Paris skyline would look very different today. On May 2, 1886, the Centennial Exposition Committee invited French architects and engineers to submit building designs for the upcoming World Fair in Paris... The Controversy about The Eiffel Tower: It's hard to believe that these words were once used to describe what today is considered to be the world's best-known monument — an icon that brings historic, exotic Paris to life in the minds of people everywhere... Planes, Parachutes and Pachyderms, The Untold History of The Eiffel Tower: World famous and widely documented for its unusual architecture and unprecedented engineering achievement, the Eiffel Tower also possesses a lesser-known history of frivolous, unexpected, “who knew?” anecdotes, rarely found in traditional travel guides. Gustave Eiffel, The Man Behind The Masterpiece: When nearly two million visitors besieged the newly opened Eiffel Tower during the Paris Centennial Exposition of 1889, Gustave Eiffel remarked, “I ought to be jealous of the tower, it is much more famous than I am.” A lighthearted remark perhaps, but true nonetheless... The Montparnasse Cemetery: The Montparnasse Cemetery is the final resting place of many of France's great intellectuals, although it also contains the graves of many celebrated foreigners... The Graves of The Montparnasse Cemetery: To an American, spending an afternoon in a cemetery reeks of the macabre. To a Parisian, though, it's another cultural option. Cemeteries there are filled not only with the graves of the famous, but also with beautiful landscaping and outstanding memorial sculpture... Opera Garnier, An Introduction: Even though there are two opera houses now in Paris, the Opera Garnier is usually the one referred to as "the" Opera. Home to the infamous Phantom of the Opera, the Opera Garnier was built in the neo-classical style and is an eclectic mix of Classical, Baroque, and Renaissance architecture... The Garnier Opera House: The Garnier Opera is one of the largest older opera venues in the world and is the thirteenth building to house the Paris Opera since the Operas foundation in 1669. It is a monument of the second empire and displays a solid example of Baron Haussmann's urbanism... The Shakespeare & Co. Bookstore: No visit to Paris is complete without a trip to Shakespeare & Co. This rambling bookshop with its romantic associations with the Lost Generation and the Beatniks provides a haven for book-lovers and writers. The three floors are filled with books of all kinds, including First Editions and novels signed by their authors... The St. Ouen Flea Market: Of course, Paris is renowned for its shopping, and has some of the finest and most expensive shops in Europe. But at the other end of the shopping spectrum lies the huge flea market at St. Ouen, in the northern outskirts of Paris. One of Europe 's largest, it is absolutely worth a visit... Cosette, Victor Hugo’s Heroin in Les Misérables: Paris has a lot to occupy the eyes and the mind – all different glamorous stimuli, in all different colors and languages. But what gripped me most the very first time I visited Paris, eleven years ago, was not the colors of the Pompidou Center, the steel of the Eiffel Tower or the air along the Seine's banks... Le Louvre: At the start of this summer, I had the privilege to visit some of the most famous museums in Paris. For me the most memorable would be Le Louvre. This massive museum is not what it appears to be, unless you think it looks like a palace. If so, this thought is true... The Louvre Museum: The Louvre Museum in Paris is situated in the Rue de Rivoli close to the Tuillerie Gardens. Probably the most famous museum in the world, the Louvre contains the largest number of exhibits anywhere all under the same roof... Sacré-Coeur at Montmartre: Sacré-Coeur is a mirage as you wind your way toward it through Pigalle, Montmartre unfolding all around. It darts around far corners of narrow streets that suddenly dead end, as if body-guarding the basilica, protecting it from anyone who does not have legitimate business there... The Sacré-Coeur Basilica and its Stone Gargoyle:Dominating the Paris landscape from the Montmartre hill, the stunning white Sacre Coeur basilica is a must-see for any visitor to Paris. Inside are striking stained glass windows and a brilliant mosaic... Mistaking Molière, A Walk at the Père Lachaise Cemetery: The Cimetière du Père Lachaise is a city within a city, a necropolis teeming with Paris's most celebrated dead, and with the living visitors who stop there to pay their respects... The Luxembourg Gardens, An Encounter with Marie de Medicis: Getting to know Queen Marie de Medicis in the Luxembourg Gardens is a rewarding experience. Approach from the left bank via the Rue de Tuornon, and enjoy a pleasant stroll... Paris' Best Kept Secret: The Hotel Dieu Hospital: Steps away from the Notre-Dame, smack in the heart of tourist-filled, car-clogged Paris, lies a cool and serene haven, known only to a few visitors, although it's well-known to most Parisians... The Belleville District: I live in the Belleville (meaning Beautiful City) area of Paris. Located at the northeastern end of the city, it is truly a 'beautiful part of the city'. Hills and parks dominate. Belleville used to be and still is somewhat of a village... Lady Liberty, The US and France: Our visit to Paris was wonderful! We rented an apartment in the 6th arrondissement (district), and became Parisians for the month of September. While the main purpose of our trip was to attend a French language school, we of course did a lot of sightseeing... Hope and the “Viaduc des Arts”: Artisans, craftspeople and other blue-collar workers laboring in workshops and smithies: that describes the neighborhood around the Gare de Lyon in the 12th arr. of Paris ever since the Middle Ages. Today the recently restored Viaduc des Arts reflects that history... The Paris Catacombs: You will no doubt see the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Notre-Dame on your next visit to Paris. How about something different for your travel itinerary? Take a journey under the City of Lights to the dark tunnels known as the Paris Catacombs... The Pantheon: Tucked neatly away on a café-lined square only blocks from the beautiful Jardin du Luxembourg, the Pantheon is an excellent alternative to the boring waits and vast size inseparably connected with Paris' most popular attractions... The Jacquemart-André Museum: There is a treasure to be discovered at 158 Blvd. Haussmann, in the 8th district of Paris. It is the Jacquemart-Andre Museum, a magnificent neo-classical mansion built in the 1870s. It was the home of Edouard Andre, a prominent banker... The Bonbonnière St Honore: A Remarkable Chocolate Shop: To lose oneself in Paris is to find certain adventure. Along the grand boulevards or small cobble-stoned back-alleys, a wealth of the unexpected, or as the French would say “imprévu,” await those who seek its treasures... The Rodin Museum: Musée Rodin, housed in Hôtel Biron, is located at 77 Rue de Varenne in the 7th district. The museum is directly across the street from les Invalides, home to the tomb of Napoleon. A Poem to Henry, My Friend in Paris: On the Pont Neuf bridge, that's where it all started. It was there where we met. The end of August golden sun set was caressing the Seine. While I was looking at him I suddenly realized how many centuries separated me from the charming man and proud king whose impenetrable face was now watching over Paris... Spending Time in the Latin Quarter: When my wife and I decided to go to Paris, we knew little of the city, other than what we had seen on television and movies. We knew the Left Bank was the traditional haunt of noted writers and philosophers so, being booklovers, we looked for an inexpensive hotel in the 6th district... The Pont des Arts, The Heart of Romantic Paris: If a river is a symbol of life, and a bridge is a symbol of change, then the River Seine and its bridges symbolize the life of Paris, where “plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose”. One thing will never change, and that is the frisson of nostalgia, the romantic flush that overcomes you when you stop on the Pont des Arts and gaze upriver towards the Ile de la Cité... Place Vendôme: In the 16th century, Charles IX was the first to undertake the significant changes that led to what is now known as Place Vendôme. During that time, the Duke of Retz built one of the famous buildings that now adjoins the square... Place Charles de Gaulle: It took a century to complete the Arch of Triumph in the center of Place Charles de Gaulle-Etoile (today, the "Etoile", which comes from the star-like shape of the Place, has been dropped) and the surrounding mansions... Place de La Concorde: Known as Place Louis XV until the Revolution, Place de la Concorde's initial purpose was to serve as the setting for a grandiose equestrian statue of Louis XV and the starting point of the Champ-Elysées Avenue... A Photo Walk of Paris in Winter: There is no bad time to visit Paris, but we like it in the winter. My 13-year-old son, Joe, and I have gone to Paris, and once to London, every February for 5 years, now. We don't go for long... Marmottan Museum, Claude Monet: For even those with the most casual interest in les beaux arts, a visit to Paris cannot be considered complete without a glimpse of what the city's innumerable museums have to offer. If you find the lines at the Musee d'Orsay daunting...
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