The Louvre Museum is home to an incredible collection of art and artifacts from all around the world. Pieces on display come from ancient Egypt, the civilizations of Greece and Rome, medieval Europe, and the era of Napoleon in France. Some items, however, have been at the center of debate because they were taken from their original countries during times of war or colonial expansion.
Inside the museum’s grand halls, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa remains the most well-known attraction. Tourists gather in large groups, often vying for the perfect photo of the iconic portrait. Beyond the Mona Lisa, hundreds of other works fill the galleries, drawing both art lovers and casual visitors from around the globe.
The Louvre is one of the largest museums in the world, and just like Paris itself, it can feel overwhelming. Its vast halls are often crowded, especially during popular travel seasons. Most of the museum’s information and signs are written in French, which can be challenging for international visitors.
Exploring the entire museum in one visit is a big task. To view every exhibit, at least two full days are necessary. Many people choose to focus on certain sections or specific works, as the collection aims for completeness rather than focusing only on the most famous pieces.
Since July 2019, the museum requires visitors to book timed tickets in advance, including those with the Paris Museum Pass. These changes were introduced due to heavy crowding and to prevent ticket fraud. Visitors should plan their visit and book tickets before arriving to ensure entry.
Source - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louvre
There are many beautiful footpaths, a Buddhist Temple, and a lake with rowboats available for rental (about €10 as of 2009). The lake has many different kinds of birds, and islands accessible by footbridge.
One of the best-known and most beautiful churches in Paris, in the guise of a Corinthian order classical temple. Construction started in 1764, although the church was not finally consecrated until 1845. The Madeleine has a lavish interior of marble and gold.
An industrial design museum in Paris that houses the collection of the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (National Conservatory of Arts and Industry), which was founded in 1794 as a repository for the preservation of scientific instruments and inventions.
The magnificent setting of The Phantom of the Opera, the inside is as opulent as the outside. However, since the opening of the Opera Bastille (12th) in 1989, the Palais Garnier has been reserved mostly for dance performances, particularly ballet.
Famous people who stayed here include Marie de Rohan, intriguer during the Fronde; Jeanne Baptiste d'Albert de Luynes, future mistress of a duke of Savoy; Marie Angélique de Fontanges, mistress of Louis XIV, died here giving birth to his child who also died. Today its main cloister (illustration) forms part of the modern Hôpital Cochin.
For a taste of the French countryside, a visit to Bercy Village brings to life the spirit of market shopping inside Paris.
A monument to the French art de vivre, housed in a 19th-century wing of the Louvre that has been restored to beaux-arts splendour, its galleries and period rooms showcase eight centuries of Gallic taste in interior decoration.
For many visitors one of the must-see places in Paris is the Avenue des Champs-Elysées which was first created in 1667 by Louis XIV's gardener, Andre Le Nôtre, in order to improve the view from the Tuileries garden. This elegant and broad avenue was extended towards the end of the 18th century, now running from the place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe. It is noted today as one of the most prestigious shopping boulevards of Paris.
The house of the symbolist painter has now become a museum to his life and work.
The house in which the famous French novelist Victor Hugo once lived.
St. Geneviève was responsible for saving Paris from the Huns in 451 and her shrine in the church has been a popular place of pilgrimage ever since. The church as it stands dates from between 1492 and 1626 and is a mix of Gothic and Renaissance architectural styles. A unique feature is the Renaissance rood screen, the sole survivor in the city.
Contained within two historic houses (hotels), the museum explores the history of Paris through objects in over 140 separate rooms.
If you were a city planner in one of the great cities of our Earth and you discovered that a railroad right-of-way had been abandoned and would never be used again what might you do? Perhaps if you knew your stuff you'd convert it into a 4 mile long park, about half of which is elevated above street level on the old rail viaduct. This long narrow park pretty much allows the visitor to walk in carfree bliss from Place de Bastille to the Bois de Vincennes.
The Stade Charlety is a massive multi-sport arena, hosting football (soccer), tennis, rugby and squash matches.
One of the last remnants of medieval Paris outside of the 4th, this tower was once part of a castle called l'hôtel de Bourgogne.
The Museum of Mankind, accommodated in the Palais du Chaillot, is an anthropological museum covering the history of mankind and human societies.
Recently reconstructed, the Paris branch of the National Maritime Museum, one of the three museums in the Palais du Chaillot, cannot accommodate any full-size ships, but has a wide range of smaller artifacts, artworks and models, covering both the Navy and commercial shipping.
The early Gothic Cathédrale de Notre Dame (Our Lady) has a 12th century design but wasn't completed until the 14th. Still it is a good example of the development of the style, though the west or main portal is a bit unusual in its rigidity. A April 2019 fire caused severe damage, but after extensive renovation the cathedral was reopened to the public in December 2024.
Guimard's own home, built in 1909-12. It is less decorated than Castel Béranger, but still beautifully shaped. Privately owned and not open to the public.