Every part of Paris oozes beauty and history. The whole city is worth exploring but there are some monuments and landmarks that simply cannot be missed. If you’re considering a city break to Paris, here are ten of the best attractions and sights to help persuade you, chosen for their historical importance, popularity or aesthetic appeal.
- Firstly, the Louvre art gallery contains some of the world’s most diverse and largest collections of sculpture, decorative objects and paintings. This is undoubtedly one of the best attractions in Paris. With the Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa on display, millions of visitors flock here every year.
- The next attraction is Notre Dame Cathedral. No visit to Paris is complete without witnessing this fine example of Gothic architecture. The dramatic spire, towers, stained glass and statuary are simply breath-taking. This is one of the finest cathedrals in the whole of Europe and took over a century of hard labour to complete.
- The Eiffel Tower, more than anywhere else in Paris, has come to represent this contemporary and elegant city. Built for the World Exposition in 1889 by Gustave Eiffel, the tower was almost torn down as it was so unpopular at the time. However, since then it has attracted millions of visitors and has come to symbolise Paris in a way that no other building has.
- Paris has many splendid museums, with the Musee d’Orsay being one of the best known. The museum houses Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings from the most important collections in the world. Visitors can see Monet’s Water Lilies, Gauguin’s Leafy Jungles and the Ethereal Dancers of Degas. There are major works as well by Delacroix, Van Gogh and Manet. The museum can be reached by crossing the bridge by the Louvre.
- For centuries, high learning has flourished at Paris’s Sorbonne University in the Latin Quarter. A small group of theologians founded the university in 1257. Philosophers such as Jean Paul Sartre, Rene Descartes and Simone de Beauvoir were some of its most notable students.
- Everyone is familiar with the iconic Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysees. The Emperor Napoleon I commissioned the Arc de Triomphe to evoke military power and victory. The Arc was built at a time when great leaders erected monuments in honour of themselves, scaled to their inflated egos. Napoleon’s soldiers and generals are commemorated in the Arc’s stunning reliefs and sculptures.
- The Centre Georges Pompidou is considered by Parisians to be the city’s cultural pulse. This cultural centre and modern-art museum opened in 1977 in honour of the French President, Georges Pompidou. The collection at the museum features works by Matisse and Modigliani.
- Sitting at the highest point of the city is Sacre Coeur. With its iconic white dome, the basilica is best known for its superb gold mosaic interiors. There is a dramatic terrace from which visitors can enjoy panoramic views over Paris on a clear day. You can buy a metro ticket and take the funicular up to Montmartre knoll, on which Sacre Coeur stands. After exploring the building, most people take a walk through Montmartre’s winding streets.
- Many of the world’s most interesting cemeteries can be found in Paris. Pere Lachaise Cemetery is undoubtedly the most well-known. This is the final resting place of many famous figures. Oscar Wilde, Richard Wright and Edith Piaf are buried here, as is Moliere, the French playwright. A constant vigil is kept over the tomb of the lead singer of The Doors, Jim Morrison. The site attracts a steady stream of fans, many of whom take the flight to Paris solely to pay their respects. When the weather is good, it is worth climbing to the summit and looking down on the crypts, many of which are lavishly designed.
- Finally, a boat trip on the River Seine is an absolute must when visiting Paris. Many of the city’s most beautiful sites can be viewed from the comfort of the river trips. Bateaux Parisiens offer 10-euro tours of the river all year round. Visitors can hop on at the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame.
