Paris
City Of Light
General Information
Other Name: -, District: NA, State: Ile de France, France
Area: 0 -
Languages Spoken: French
Long Distance Code: -
Importance: -
Best Time to Visit: March to May and July
International Access: -Description
Paris is the capital of France and the country`s largest city.An important settlement for more than two millennia, Paris is today one of the world`s leading business and cultural centres, and its influence in politics, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world`s major global cities.Paris is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, with over 30 million foreign visitors per year.Paris, world capital of art and culture, gathers some of the most famous museums and monuments in the world.Location
-Climate
An Oceanic Climate
Stretching for two kilometers and lined with trees, les Champs-Elysees has become the center for festivities and official parades. It is a magnet for tourists and for the multitudes who enjoy evenings spent strolling along the broad and picturesque avenue.
The arch is a site of memories, current events and celebrations. The lists of the dead will move you. And the cars that drive around the monument will terrify you! Standing in a direct line between the Louvre and the Grande Arche de la Defense , the monument links the past with the present and offers amazing views. A truly impressive landmark, 50 meters high and 45 meters wide, Paris would not be Paris without it.
This Romano-Byzantine basilica overlooks Montmartre, one of Paris''s most picturesque districts. Its distinctive dome rising up over the rooftops, the basilica offers the perfect vantage point from which to survey the city. Inside, the mosaic of Christ and the crypt are of particular interest. Commissioned by the Catholic Church, construction began in 1875 under the watchful eye of architect Paul Abadie, and was finally completed in 1914.
Climbing the 387 steps to the top of this masterpiece is well worth the effort for the spectacular view. Construction of the first great Gothic cathedral began in 1163 and was largely completed by 1212. The rebuilding of the two transept gates in 1270 marked its completion. The west face is adorned with three richly decorated doorways and crowned with two 69m towers.
Commonly known as the Beaubourg, this distinctive building was commissioned in 1968 by the then President Georges Pompidou, and opened in 1977. Most Parisians were initially shocked by its unconventional ''inside out'' architectural style: air conditioning, escalators and lifts are all on the outside, giving the interior unparalleled freedom.
Paris just wouldn''t be Paris without the Eiffel Tower. Designed by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World Fair, at 300m it was then the world''s tallest building. Not everyone was happy when it was first built; many considered it an eyesore and wanted it pulled down, but today it is one of the world''s most visited monuments. The first and second floors can be reached using the stairs, and lifts take visitors to the magnificent view at the top.
Situated in a part of the Palais de Justice (Law courts), the Conciergerie became Paris'' first prison in 1391. Behind its medieval façade are reconstructions of cells, the 14th century Salle des Gardes (Guardroom), the Salle des Gens d''Armes (Arms room), which is a fine example of Gothic architecture, the Cour des Femmes, where the prisoners took their daily walk, and the Bonbec Tower in which they were interrogated.
Distinguished architect I. M. Pei has constructed this 450-seat, oak paneled auditorium. It fuses state-of-the-art audiovisual technology with world-class architecture evolving into one of the Louvre''s grandest structures. The auditorium offers a multitude of programs including lectures, concerts, and exhibitions. Children are also catered to as this space was originally intended to introduce young ones to the museum''s famous collections.
Nearly 2.5 million visitors each year come to see the largest collection in the world of impressionist artwork, found in the splendid Musee d''Orsay. The building itself, called the Gare d''Orsay, was built for the World''s Fair of 1900.
This is where Auguste Rodin spent the last years of his life, from 1908 to 1917. Since then, his superb sculptures and private art collection have been housed here. There are a number of sculptures in the garden, including his best-known piece, the Thinker. Trees provide welcome shade and the benches placed beneath make these peaceful surroundings the perfect spot for meditation and relaxation. An annex to this museum - the Villa des Brillants, which the artist bought in 1895 - is located in Meudon.
Napoleon Bonaparte (b.1769) died in exile on the Isle of St. Helena in 1821. Apparently the French thought better of him after his death and in 1840 his remains were returned to France and this magnificent memorial that was built between 1843-53 now serves as his final resting place.
Opera Garnier, named after the architect who designed it in 1862, was immortalized by writer Gaston Leroux in his Phantom of the Opera. The architecture is a mixture of baroque, classical, Greek and Napoleonic styles. Adorned with mosaics, the foyer has a cupola decorated by painter Marc Chagall and an impressive Rococo staircase, which leads to the theatre''s magnificent reception rooms. Outside, four stone statues represent allegories of Music, Lyric Poetry, Lyric Theatre and Dance. Since the opening of the Opera Bastille, the Opera Garnier has concentrated on dance.
Located in the center of the city within the Palais de Justice complex on the Île de la Cite, La Sainte Chapelle (Holy Chapel) is a small Gothic chapel constructed in the Rayonnant style. Built by King Louis IX from 1238-1244, the chapel housed holy relics from the Passion believed to be Jesus'' Crown of Thorns and a piece of the True Cross. These items were purchased from the Byzantine emperor Baldwin II in 1239 for a huge sum of 135,000 livres (the church cost 40,000 livres to build) due to the King''s desire to elevate France as the leader of Western Christianity. La Sainte Chapelle provides visitors with a spectacular visual experience, since the entire upper tier of the chapel is surrounded by enormous stained glass windows.