paris
Eiffel
Tour / The Eiffel Tower
Musee du Louvre / The Louvre
Notre Dame / Notre Dame Cathedral
Arc de Triomphe / Arch
Montmartre
Musée
Picasso / Picasso Museum
Pantéon / The Pantheon
Bibliothéque Nationale de France
/ National French Library
Place des Vosges
La Conciergerie
Eiffel Tour / The Eiffel Tower
Since the Eiffel Tower was raised in 1889 commemorating the centenary
of the French Revolution, it has become the most widely recognized
landmark in the world, an inseparable symbol of the city of Paris.
The steel construction designed by Gustave Eiffel was chosen out
of 700 proposals - to the dismay of several Parisians. At first
the Tower gathered contradictive opinions, celebrated and loathed
in equal measure. Today those emotions are history,
whilst the Eiffel Tower remains an ageless element of the horizon.
The construction stands tall at 300 metres, weighing 7000 tons.
From it’s highest platform the Tower provides a breathtaking view
upon Paris.
Musee du Louvre / The Louvre
Built in 1204, once a royal palace, today the Louvre is the Palace
of Arts and holds one of the richest museums of the world. The
collections range from Egyptian art of 5000 BC to nineteenth-century
work. The treasures of the Louvre are divided into seven departments:
Oriental and Islamic Antiquities, Egyptian Antiques, Greek &
Roman and Etruscan Antiques, Painting, Sculpture, Decorative Arts,
Graphic Arts. These collections were gathered through many centuries
by the great and mighty of France (Henri II, Catherine de Medicis,
Louis XIV, Louis XVI).
Other exquisite features of the Louvre and it’s surroundings is
the architecture and history. A chance to experience Medieval
Louvre through the remains of a medieval castle dated back to
1190 . Next to this stands the work of modern architecture
- a Glass Pyramid (1983), which gives access to the main entrance
illuminating it with golden light falling through the glass windows.
This, combined with must sees such as the Mona Lisa & Venus
of Milo, makes the Louvre extraordinary.
Notre Dame / Notre Dame Cathedral
Construction of Notre-Dame de Paris began in 1163 during the reign
of Louis VII and finished roughly 200 years later. The intention
was to convert the Romanesque church occupying the site into a
purely Gothic masterpiece. The most striking feature of the cathedral
is thereby unsurprisingly the Gothic interior. The dramatic contrast
between the darkness, that floods the church and the pure golden
light falling through glass windows, (which make up to two thirds
of the transepts), creates a feeling of entrapment in the heavy,
cold walls of the sanctuary.
Notre-Dame is now viewed as one of the key defining examples of
the style which was to become known as Ile-de-France
Gothic. During the turbulent centuries of French history it has
been the site of numerous official and other ceremonial occasions.
Interest in the medieval building was largely rekindled by Victor
Hugo's novel Notre-Dame de Paris.
Arc de Triomphe / Arch
The Arch was built in 1806 by Napoleon, to glorify the Grande
Armee, which brought him and France triumph and pride. There are
four huge relief sculptures at the bases of the four pillars depicting
scenes from the revolutionary era. On top of the arch are names
of generals and battles, in which the French army was victorious.
Beneath the Arch is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where an
eternal flame burns commemorating the dead of the two world wars.
The Arc de Triomphe lies at the end of
the prestigious Champs-Elysees. These where always the scene of
triumph or descent of France. To this day all state events and
holidays are staged there.
Montmartre
Topped by the large and white Sacre Coeur Catholic basilica, Montmartre
is the highest hill of Paris. Very rural until recently, it still
keeps a few windmills such as the illustrious "Moulin de
la Galette"(known from impressionists’ paintings). Montmartre
is the last village in the big city of Paris. It still keeps a
very subtle and unique atmosphere. Walking at random across the
hill, you will discover gardens, old houses, steep streets and
staircases with magnificent views on Paris.
Montmartre became known in the 20th century as an artistic district,
home to Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Picasso. The geniuses of the
artistic revolution depicted mood and life in the area. Many clubs,
cabarets, dance halls were thereby established at that time. Amongst
them the renowned Moulin Rouge. The Montmartre Cemetery dates
from 1795. Famous people from many disciplines are buried here,
composers: Berlioz and Offenbach, writers Emile Zola and the Goncourt
brothers, and the painter Edgar Degas. Aside from their memorial
value, many of the tombs in this cemetary are also very interesting
artistically.
Musée Picasso / Picasso Museum
The Picasso museum is housed in a beautiful mansion built in the
the XVIIth century by Jean Bourges. The museum founded in 1985,
gives an unique opportunity to follow Picasso’s evolution throughout
his career, beginning from 1894 to 1972. The works of Picasso, which
the museum offers, consist of the artist’s personal collection,
which where received after his death by the French State. The collection
compromises 250 paintings, 160 sculptures, 1500 drawings, engraving
works, ceramics etc.Following the chronologically arranged pieces,
we discover particular stages and influences
of Picasso and his life. Additionally there are many photographs
of the artist, his friends, family, wives, which allow to observe
not only his professional work, but also his private life.
Pantéon / The Pantheon
The Pantheon a church of spectacular size, surmounted by a huge
dome(height 85m) is a masterpiece designed by the architect Soufflot
in the XVIIIth century. The building’s design is based on classical
prototypes. The church was founded by Louis
XV after he was cured from a severe illness. It was preordained
to be a mausoleum for the bodies of great French men. Among the
61 honored men are Voltaire, Rousseau, Hugo, Zola, Mirabeau.
Bibliothéque Nationale de France / National French Library
The Bibliothéque Nationale de France was a royal library before
becoming a national institution. The Library has grown immensely
throughout the years. In 1996 a new site was opened merging the
the Bibliotheque Nationale of the Rue de Richelieu and the Bibliotheque
de France. Due to the fact that the decision of building the new
facility was made by Francois Mitterrand, today it is often referred
to as the Francois Mitterrand site.
The library’s mission is to collect and conserve
all published work to make it available for professionals and
researchers. Today the library carries 12 million books, among
them two copies of the Gutenberg bible, medieval psalm books,
600 000 coins and medals etc.
Place des Vosges
Many Parisians consider Place des Vosges one of the most beautiful
plazas in the city. The plaza was first constructed by Henry IV
and later rebuilt by Louis XIII in the early XVIIth century. The
Place des Vogues was a popular residence among famous Parisians:
Richelieu, Madame de Sevigné, Hugo in the past centuries. Today
in the center of the Place there is a statue of Louis XVIII from
1825. The original statue was destroyed during the French revolution.
Around the Place des Vosges you can
find many shops, cafes, restaurants, boutiques. Among them are
fine antique, book and record shops.
La Conciergerie
The Conciergerie is part of the Palais de Justice complex. The
name concierge is French for keeper. The building gained it’s
title after king Charles V moved his residence leaving the Parliament,
Chancery in place and appointing a concierge. The consiergerie
was thereby the residence of this officer. In French history though,
the Consiergerie is associated with imprisonment, torture, and
death. During the French revolution within 2 years it was the
scene of over 2 000 executions. Among the prisoners were Marie
Antoinette, the 21 Girodins, Robespierre. The Conciergerie ceased
to be a prison in 1914 and was declared a national historic monument.
