At least once in a lifetime everyone wants to visit Paris. But, having arrived here for a few days, you can easily get confused: after all, in this city the number of attractions is very large, and of course you won’t be able to see everything at once. Therefore, it is better for a tourist to plan ahead where to go in Paris in the first place: something to see in the daytime, something at night, and somewhere you have to buy a ticket in advance, otherwise you might not get there.
The most famous sights
In the capital of France, there is a whole list of world famous objects that every tourist wants to visit, but some of them will require a lot of time to review. Therefore, such excursions must be planned in advance.
The most popular places to go in Paris are, of course, the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, which are the most visited tourists. In this regard, in order to save time, it is better to book such excursions in advance via the Internet, otherwise a confused tourist risks not getting there or standing in line for several hours, having lost valuable time.
The Eiffel Tower
This tower, built in 1889 on the Champ de Mars for the World Exhibition, is a symbol of the city. At one time, it caused a storm of indignation of some layers of the artistic elite of the city. And in 1909 they were even going to demolish it, but they managed to save the tower only because of the height and the ability to place transmitting antennas on it, necessary for radio broadcasting in the capital of France.
So this place is the most popular for tourists who come to Paris, where it is imperative to go. Due to its height (324 m), the Eiffel Tower is visible from almost half of the city, and climbing to the observation deck, any tourist can see and see almost the whole of Paris.
Louvre Museum
In order to go around and inspect all the works exhibited in the Louvre, it is necessary not even a whole day, but a whole week or a month. The entire palace complex (the former residence of Napoleon) occupies an area equal in area to 22 football fields. And all this space is filled with thousands of works of fine and monumental art and many jewelry, ceramic and decorative items. Every day 25-30 thousand people visit it.
The main sections of the museum are dedicated to the Ancient East and Egypt, Ancient Rome and Greece, painting (paintings by Raphael, Titian and about 6 thousand more), sculpture and decorative art. If even a person is not very interested in art, then most likely he will definitely want to look at the famous “Madonna” by Rafael. Ticket price 10 euros.
Other Parisian museums
There are also museums and interesting places in Paris, where a tourist interested in art wants to go:
- The Museum d'Orsay is one of the most popular and most visited in the capital of France. It houses collections of impressionist artists. It is located directly opposite the Louvre in the former building of the railway station of the same name, built in 1900 also at the beginning of the World Exhibition to receive visitors. However, after the event, the movement of trains in these directions was not in demand, and they wanted to demolish it. In 1971, with the support of J. Pompidou, it was decided to reconstruct it into a museum, and some of the collections from the Louvre were moved here.
- The Orangerie Museum - appeared on the site of the greenhouse in the Tuileries Garden in 1927, and after reconstruction in 2006 it became a full-fledged exhibition, which displays the collections of impressionists (1st floor), and its main highlight is 8 huge canvases with water lilies K. Monet, occupying almost the entire 2nd floor. According to visitors' reviews, water lilies even change slightly in different weathers: in the rain they become more gray, on a sunny day they glow themselves.
- The Georges Pompidou Museum (opened since 1977) presents exclusively contemporary art forms; exhibitions are constantly held here, where all lovers of unusual and extraordinary forms of art will definitely want to go to Paris.
- Museums of artists of Salvador Dali, Picasso, sculptor Rodin.
- For lovers of French literature - the museums of Balzac and Victor Hugo.
- As well as museums of advertising, erotica, fashion, playing cards, magic, even sewers and many others.
The famous Notre Dame de Paris
Notre Dame Cathedral is another place to go in Paris. It is located on the island of Cité, from which the city itself once began to be built. This year the cathedral turns 855 years old, and it was built over two centuries, and over the years its style has changed from Romanesque to Gothic, incorporating the best features of both.
Even after reading the famous book of V. Hugo or having familiarized himself with it from textbooks or films, it is impossible to personally experience the beauty and grandeur of this monumental structure without visiting it. Seeing with his own eyes his portals and the terrible figures of gargoyles on the facade, visiting him with a guided tour or during a Sunday Mass passing to the sounds of an organ (the largest in France), each person will get an indelible impression that will be remembered for a lifetime.
Montmartre and Sacre Coeur Church
For more than 100 years, the Montmartre district has been famous for the workshops of artists located here, some of which are engaged in their art in the nearby streets. At the highest point of the Montmartre hill is the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Christ - one of the most beautiful churches, where many experienced tourists will recommend going to Paris.
The Sacre Coeur church was laid in the place where bloody revolutionary battles took place before that at the end of the 19th century, and was built for 40 years, and got its name in honor of one of the Catholic holidays.
The Cathedral, 94 m high, is built of snow-white limestone, the property of which is that under the influence of rain the stone is covered with a brilliant coating, from which the building itself sparkles with such whiteness. The architecture of the basilica mixed elements of Gothic, Romanesque and Byzantine architecture, which is why the locals gave it the nickname "national cake".
Triumphal Arch
This monument of military valor was built in the northern part of the Champs Elysees under the Emperor Napoleon, who dedicated this construction to the valiant French army. The Arc de Triomphe today is a symbol of the military power of France, from where every year on the day of the capture of the Bastille (July 4) a military parade of French troops and equipment begins. Therefore, choosing places to go in Paris, it must be included in the list.
Another solemn ceremony takes place here every evening at 18.30, when a fire is lit on the grave of the Unknown Soldier in honor of the fallen soldiers in World War II. The building has beautiful reliefs, the names of 300 French generals are engraved.
Theatrical Paris
The capital of France is considered one of the most famous theatrical cities in Europe. It once hosted the premieres of Moliere's productions, such famous theater actors as Sarah Bernhard worked , and the Grand Opera, the world famous opera house operating since the 17th century , is also located here.
The most beautiful building of the Grand Opera was built in 1875 according to the project of the architect S. Garnier, the famous singer F. Chaliapin once performed in it, danced
V. Nizhinsky and S. Lifar. For classical music lovers who do not know where to go in the evening in Paris, you can also recommend the Bastille Opera and the Champs Elysees Theater, which regularly show opera, ballet performances and symphony concerts.
Drama theaters of Paris "Comedy Francaise" and "Odeon", "Palais Royal" and "De la Ville", where they show performances in various genres: dance performances, comedies and tragedies.
Moulin Rouge and night tours
Another side of Paris, more fascinating and frivolous, is various cabarets, of which the most world-famous are: Moulin Rouge, Lido, Bobino restaurant-cabaret and others. Classical cancan, whole rows of soaring long female legs in contemporary directorial productions combine a dance and song show, intended only for an adult audience. Therefore, a visit to a cabaret is one of the most attractive places where you need to go to Paris at night in order to feel the cheerful mood and national charm of France.
Due to the great popularity it’s almost impossible to get to such performances offhand, so you can take advantage of the possibility of booking via the Internet (entrance costs 90-120 euros).
Night trips along the Seine in a boat, which allow you to see the whole city in a beautiful and original multi-colored illumination, are very popular with tourists in Paris. There are also buses at night and night excursions for lovers of unusual experiences who have no time to sleep.
Spring Paris
Paris at the beginning of spring is the fresh bright colors of the emerging greenery and the first flowering magnolias. Tourists at this time of the year should stock up on warm clothes and an umbrella, because the weather is changeable. When asked where to go in Paris in March, you can advise a walk through the famous parks of the French capital:
- Champs Elysees - one of the busiest central streets, planted with trees, beautiful flower beds, stretching 2 km from Concord Street to the Arc de Triomphe. Here once there were vacant lots and swamps, while in the 17th century. Louis the 14th did not think of breaking park alleys in their place.
- Tuileries Garden - located in the center near the Place de la Concorde and the Louvre.
- The Luxembourg Gardens is a palace and park ensemble in the Latin Quarter, there is also the palace of the same name, in which the French parliament sits.
- Monceau Park is located near the Arc de Triomphe.
Paris in March is not filled with huge masses of tourists, so you can safely walk to all museums and attractions almost without queues.
The main events taking place in early spring, where to go in Paris (reviews of tourists confirm this) are listed below:
- Famous couturier fashion week;
- festivals of contemporary art;
- book and music fairs.
Such events will allow you to have fun and informative time with friends or enjoy solitude, having a rest after a snowy winter.