How Paris will amaze you!
PARIS! When you hear a name of this amazing city, there are many words that you can describe of it. People say this city of love will always surprise you. How? With the beauty of architectural and interior buildings, the unique habit of Parisian (that’s how they call themselves for people who live at Paris), the delicious foods, the smell of lovely flowers everywhere, and of course interesting places to see at Paris! Paris is very busy and crowded, that’s very true! Paris can turn out to be the best “school of life” that you can enroll in.
You can’t possibly visit Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower. Even if you don’t want to visit this world famous structure, you will see its top from all over Paris. The tower rises 300 metres tall (984 feet), when it was completed at the end of the nineteenth century it was twice as high as the Washington Monument, at the time the tallest structure in the world.
The Louvre
The Louvre, originally a royal palace but now the world’s most famous museum, is a must-visit for anyone with a slight interest in art. Some of the museum’s most celebrated works of art include the Mona Lisa and the Venus of Milo. The Louvre Museum is one of the largest and most important museums in the world. It is housed in the expansive Louvre Palace, situated in the 1st arrondissement, at the heart of Paris.
The museum has a collection of over one million works of art, of which about 35,000 are on display, spread out over three wings of the former palace. The museum has a diverse collection ranging from the Antiquity up to the mid-nineteenth century. The Louvre was created in several phases. Originally built as a twelfth-century fortress by King Philip II, it was significantly expanded in the fourteenth century during the reign of King Charles V. As you can see from photos here, how historical the interior of the museum. The modern addition originally received mixed reviews, as it contrasts sharply with the classical design of the surrounding buildings, but today it is generally accepted as a clever solution which has given the museum a spacious central entrance without the need to touch the historic patrimony.
Arc De Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe is perhaps the most iconic of all French monuments, and without a doubt one of the most triumphal. Built between 1806 and 1836, it’s iconic in style and sculpture to the decoration popular at the first half of the nineteenth century and visitors can admire its delicate design and engravings. Instantly recognisable and deeply evocative of the military history of France, the Arc de Triomphe provides a glimpse into France’s social past as well as spectacular views across central Paris. The Arc de Triomphe is a masterpiece by a group of French sculptors; Jean-Pierre Cortot; François Rude; Antoine Étex; James Pradier and Philippe Joseph Henri Lemaire. They each created the sculptures we see on the arch pillars today; La Maraise by Rude, is perhaps the most famous as it is a depiction and inspiration of the national anthem. Visitors can admire the intricate detail of the external façade of the arch pillars, as well as on the inside where there are engraved names of the leaders of the First French Empire.
Pont Alexandre III
For many visitors, one of the most intriguing and inviting activities in Paris involves viewing the Seine from any of the city’s several spectacular bridges. All of them span the river with a requisite combination of French panache and charm, but one of the best is the Pont Alexander III, which joins the Champs Elysées and the Grand Palais on the Right Bank with Napoleon’s resting place, Les Invalides, on the Left. A bridge so highly visible would seem to harbor no secrets, but, as with the rest of Paris, there are indeed a certain number of surprises connected with the building.
Grand Palais
Paris’s Grand Palais (Great Palace) was built for the World Fair of 1900. The building is best known for its enormous glass roof. It is home to a science museum, the Palais de la Découverte. In 1900, Paris was playing host to the World’s Fair. Because of the importance of the event, the city undertook a number of building projects which included the construction of the Pont Alexandre III, the Grand Palais and the smaller but similar Petit Palais.
The Grand Palais is currently the largest existing ironwork and glass structure in the world, a title once held by London’s Crystal Palace, which was lost in a fire. The Grand Palais is one of Paris’ most recognizable landmarks thanks to its magnificent glass-domed roof. It was the work of three different architects but the project was overseen by famed French architect Charles Girault, who was then given carte blanche to design the Petit Palais. The building is a beautiful combination of a classicist stone facade, Art Nouveau ironwork and glass.
There is nothing more French, or more specifically Parisian than taking a few moments out of your day to sit with an espresso in one of the city’s thousands of cafes. This culture is a significant social and culinary life of being Parisian. Indoors on a cozy banquette or out on a sunny terrace, drinking and people-watching is one of the most cherished past-times in France. While there are charming and unique spots all over Paris, this list includes some of the classics famed artists, writers and musicians frequented many of these traditional Paris cafes, and most have done their best to retain that old-Paris glamour. Typical Paris cafés are not “coffee shops”. They generally come with a complete kitchen offering a restaurant menu with meals for any time of the day, a full bar and even a wine selection.
Now are you ready to explore this city of light? Let’s see how Paris will amaze you!