1. Louvre Museum
The Musée du Louvre is the most visited museum in the world and it houses over 35000 objects from the 6th century BC to the 19th century. The collection is divided among Egyptian Antiquities; Near Eastern Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities; Islamic Art; Sculpture; Decorative Arts; Paintings; and Prints and Drawings.
Opening hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day except Tuesday, until 10 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday evenings.
The Pyramid and Galerie du Carrousel entrances are open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., except Tuesday.
The Passage Richelieu is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., except Tuesday.
The Porte des Lions entrance is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except Tuesday and Friday.
Price: €9 for full-day access to the Louvre, except for temporary exhibitions in the Hall Napoléon. It is also valid for the Musée Eugène Delacroix.
€6 (from 6 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.) This ticket provides access to the Louvre, except for temporary exhibitions in the Hall Napoléon, on Wednesday and Friday evenings.
Plan: floor plans
Metro: Palais-Royal-Musée du Louvre station.
Website: http://www.louvre.fr/llv/commun/home.jsp?bmLocale=en
The Pyramid and Galerie du Carrousel entrances are open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., except Tuesday.
The Passage Richelieu is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., except Tuesday.
The Porte des Lions entrance is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except Tuesday and Friday.
Price: €9 for full-day access to the Louvre, except for temporary exhibitions in the Hall Napoléon. It is also valid for the Musée Eugène Delacroix.
€6 (from 6 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.) This ticket provides access to the Louvre, except for temporary exhibitions in the Hall Napoléon, on Wednesday and Friday evenings.
Plan: floor plans
Metro: Palais-Royal-Musée du Louvre station.
Website: http://www.louvre.fr/llv/commun/home.jsp?bmLocale=en
2. Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel
Built by Napoleon in 1806-1808 as an entrance to the former Palais de Tuileries, its marble columns are topped by solders of the grand Armée.
It is part of the so-called Grand Ax of Paris which consists of the Grande Arch de la Defense, the Arc de Triomphe at Etoile, the Champs-Elysees, the Obélisque de Luxor at the Place de la Concorde, the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel and continues on to the Louvre.
Metro: Palais Royal Musée du Louvre
3. Jardin des Tuileries
These formal gardens were once the gardens of the old Palais des Tuileries and were redesigned in French formal style by André Le Nôtre, the celebrated gardener of King Louis XIV, the Sun King.
The gardens include several fountains, two large basins, numerous sculptures and two museums, the Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume and the Musée de l'Orangerie, which displays Claude Monet's large water lily paintings.
The gardens include several fountains, two large basins, numerous sculptures and two museums, the Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume and the Musée de l'Orangerie, which displays Claude Monet's large water lily paintings.
4. Place de la Concorde
The original place was built between 1754 and 1763 and was called the Place Louis XV. Between 1793 and 1795 it became the Palace de la Révolution and held in its center the guillotine that executed Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette, Danton, Robespierre and many others. The name symbolize the end of a troubled era and the hope of a better future.
5. Place de la Madeleine
The place de la Madeleine was created on the same time as the Madeleine church, which was designed in its present form as a temple to the glory of Napoleon’s army. A colonnade of 20 m high (64ft) Corinthian columns encircles the building and supports a sculptured frieze.
The edifice is impressive, colonnades guarding the entrance, but the real attraction of the area is the stores that surround the church.
6. Place Vendôme
At origin this place served as a monument to the glory of the arminies of Louis XIV. The present column was erected by Napoleon, inspired by the Trajan's Column, to celebrate the victory of Austerlitz.
7. Palais Royal
Palais Royal was at first the the home of Cardinal Richelieu and then it passed to the Crown on his death and became the childhood home of Louis XIV. After the Revolution, the palace became a gambling house and now it houses the Conseil d'État, the Constitutional Council, and the Ministry of Culture.
The palace is not open to the public, but you can visit the courtyard and the garden. The courtyard, known as Cour d'Honneur, is dominated by a large sculpture by Daniel Buren, installed in 1986.
The palace is not open to the public, but you can visit the courtyard and the garden. The courtyard, known as Cour d'Honneur, is dominated by a large sculpture by Daniel Buren, installed in 1986.
Metro: Palais Royal Musée du Louvre
1. Notre Dame de Paris
The cathedral is a Gothic masterpiece and is one of the most related building with the Paris history. The first stone was laid in 1163 by the Pope Alexander III. It was finished arround 1330. The south tower houses the cathedral's famous Emmanuel bell.
Opening hours: every day, from 8:00 am to 6:45 pm (7:15 pm on Saturdays and Sundays).
Price: free of charge, during the opening hours.
The Notre-Dame tower (387 steps (there isn’t an elevator) to the top of the South Tower)
The entrance for the visit of the tower is located OUTSIDE of the cathedral, on the left-hand side of the facade, Rue du Cloître Notre-Dame.
2. Square Jean XXIII
Since the 17th century, this area was occupied by the archbishop's palace, but later it was vandalized by rioters and in the end demolished. The presend day square was designed and built by the Prefect of Paris. The Square is named in honor of Pope John XXIII, who was pope from 1958-1963. The Gothic style fountain of the Virgin nas been there since 1845.
3. Marché aux Fleurs et Marché aux Oiseaux
Metro: Cité
The Marché aux fleurs was established in 1808 and since then has always been known as having beautiful metal pavilions that offer the most amazing variety of plants, trees and flowers. On Sundays, the flowers are replaced with the popular caged bird market and you will find for sale many bird cages of the rarest species.
4. Conciergerie (2, Boulevard du Palais)
This function was confirmed over the centuries, and in 1793, the Conciergerie became the main prison of the revolutionary law courts. The building was renovated in the 18th century and now retains the 11th century torture chamber, the Bonbec Tower and the 14th century public clock tower on the Tour de l'Horologe. Several cells have been reconstituted, including that of Marie-Antoinette where she was imprisoned before being executed on the guillotine
Opening hours: every day, from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm (until 5:00 pm - November to 28 February)
Price: Adults : 7 €
5. Sainte-Chapelle (Boulevard du Palais)
The Sainte-Chapelle was built in 1248 by Louis IX to house Christ's purported Crown of Thorns(now housed in the Notre-Dame treasury).
The upper chapel is resplendent in its Gothic architecture — light, color, and space blend to inspire a sense of harmony between art and religious faith. The lower chapel is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, whose statue stands freely next to the central pier of the portal.
The building was classified as an Historic National Monument in 1862.
The upper chapel is resplendent in its Gothic architecture — light, color, and space blend to inspire a sense of harmony between art and religious faith. The lower chapel is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, whose statue stands freely next to the central pier of the portal.
The building was classified as an Historic National Monument in 1862.
Opening hours: every day, from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm (from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm - November to 28 February)
Price: Adults : 8 €
6. Palais de Justice (4, Boulevard du Palais)
The beautiful stone buildings of Palais de Justice were erected by the Roman governors as administrative and military headquarters and witnessed important actions in France's history. From the 16th century onwards the palace was the seat of the Parliament de Paris, the highest French court of justice, whose assent was necessary for all laws promulgated by the king. Today the site embodies Napoleon's great legacy, the French judicial system.
7. Place Dauphine
Commissioned by Henri IV in 1607 as part of the city's redevelopment, Place Dauphine was dedicated to his son and heir apparent, the future Louis XIII. It was considered as the second “royal square”, the first one being Place Royale (now Place des Vosges).
Commissioned by Henri IV in 1607 as part of the city's redevelopment, Place Dauphine was dedicated to his son and heir apparent, the future Louis XIII. It was considered as the second “royal square”, the first one being Place Royale (now Place des Vosges).
8. Square du Vert-Galant
This square commemorates Henri IV, who was known as the Vert Galant ("Lusty Gallant"). There is an equestrian statue of the king on the terrace above the garden. The place offers splendid views of the Louvre and the Right Bank of the Seine, where Henri was assassinated in 1610.
9. St-Louis-en-l'Ile (19 bis Rue Saint-Louis en l'Ile)