I love Paris, I have visited the French capital on several occasions and, living in Britain, the Euro Star makes it very easy to travel to the city for a weekend break. I have even cycled from London to Paris a few times as my vacation for the year, pedalling through the French countryside of Normandy, Picardy and Nord en route to the French capital. Like any other country in the European continent, France has a long and varied history and has a huge amount of romantic appeal to both other European nations and Americans alike. Paris is a clean and tidy city and is an absolute joy to travel around on. The Parisian people take an awful lot of pride in their personal appearance and no matter the weather you will never see a local wearing shorts in the summer. So when visiting the city of love – here are what I consider the best things to see and do.
1. Eiffel Tower — The Eiffel tower is perhaps the most iconic building in the capital and a journey to the top should be high on the list of any tourist. Built in 1889 to celebrate 100 years since the French revolution, the viewing tower at the top offers outstanding views of central Paris and out to its suburbs. Of course, on a day with low or poor visibility the views will be significantly reduced but well worth the effort none the less.
2. The Louvre — The Louvre is of course the home of Leonardo Da Vinci’s world famous Mona Lisa and is situated not too far from the Eiffel Tower which is on the opposite bank of the Seine. The Louvre and it’s pyramid form the largest art museum and hold some of the greatest paintings ever committed to canvas. So enormous is the museum that is houses some 35,000 pieces of artwork on its walls and it would take you weeks to see everything. Your best bet for getting the most out of your visit is to research what you want to see before you go and then stick to your plan.
3. Les Invalides — Les Invalides is a building complex which contains museums and monuments relating to France’s military history. In addition to this it is also a hospital and retirement home for war veterans as was the buildings original purpose. Built in 1679 the building is also used as a burial site for France’s most famous war heroes, most notably, Napoleon Bonaparte.
4. Notre Dame Cathedral — Built on one of the natural islands the Seine River, Notre Dame Cathedral is widely considered around the world as one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. If you make the effort to visit this magnificent building it’s well worth making the effort to climb to the top of the towers and take in the view of the surrounding area. Early morning or late in the afternoon is the best time to climb the tower as the cue can get log during the day.
5. Champs Elysees — If you are a cycling fan then the Champs Elysees and Arc de Triomphe symbolise the end of arguably one of the most gruelling sporting events in the world today. Every July the carnival that is Le Tour de France descends on Paris for its final stage and professional cyclists from around the globe rocket around the Champs Elysees for several laps before the sprinters contend for the stage victory. The Arc de Triomphe stands as Napoleon’s most notable contribution to the Parisian skyline and commemorates all of his military successes.
About the author
Alex is a freelance internet marketer and copywriter working for Wexas, a company that specialises in tailor made holidays. You can find him on Twitter @harvey1dash8.
By Olivia GrilHey Folks! I'm Olivia from California, United States. I'm a blogger, travel lover, I can travel anywhere, whether it's a new place or already visited. I love meeting new people, clicking photos of every movement, and documenting my adventure. I also, write about travel, travel movies, the best places to visit, etc. Read my stories.
