Paris

Paris - Things to see and do:

Arc de Triomphe — The Arc de Triomphe exudes grandeur and offers a central view of the city

Catacombs — Used to store the exhumed bones from the overflowing Paris cemetery. (There is a limit to the number of visitors allowed within the Catacombs at one time (200 persons). So, if you arrive just after opening, you must wait until someone exits, approximately 45-60 minutes, before anyone is admitted).

Château de Versailles (Versailles)— Must be seen. France's most exquisite chateau, on the outskirts of the city, easily visited by train. Once the home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel) — No other monument better symbolizes Paris.

Grand Arche de la Défense (La Défense)— A modern office-building variant of the Arc de Triomphe. Has a viewing platform.

Notre Dame Cathedral — Impressive Gothic cathedral that was the inspiration for Victor Hugo's novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Climb to the top!

Opera Garnier — Masterpiece of theatre architecture of the 19th century built by Charles Garnier and inaugurated in 1875 housing the Paris Opera since it was founded by Louis XIV.

Pantheon — Underneath, the final resting place for the great heroes of the French Republic including Voltaire, Victor Hugo, and Marie Curie; above, a marvellous view of the city.

Père-Lachaise Cemetery — Unlike any cemetery in the world. Ornate grave stones, monuments set among tree lined lanes. See the graves of Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, and Frederic Chopin, amongst many others.

Sacré Coeur — A church perched on top of the highest point in Paris. Behind the church is the artists' area, in front are spectacular views of the whole city.

Sainte Chapelle — Exquisite stained glass chapel. More beautiful interior than the gloomy Notre Dame Cathedral.

Museums and galleries

The Louvre, — One of the finest museums in the world of art and culture. Home of the Mona Lisa and innumerable others. Enormous building and collection, plan at least two visits.

Musée d'Orsay, — Incredible collection housed in a former railway station. Works by the great artists of the 19th century (1848-1914) including Monet's "Blue Water Lilies, Renoir's "Bal du moulin de la Galette", van Gogh's "Bedroom in Arles", Whistler's "The Artists Mother", etc.

Rodin Museum, — His personal collection and archives, in a charming home with garden.

Picasso Museum — Contains the master's own collection. Visitor should note this museum will be closed until 2012 due to renovations of the building.

Musée Marmottan-Monet — Over 300 paintings of Claude Monet. Also, the works of Berthe Morisot, Edgar Degas, Édouard Manet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. "Impression Soleil Levant" by Monet is on display.

Musée de l'Orangerie, — [Jardin des Tuileries] Houses "The Water Lilies" (or "Nymphéas") - a 360 degree depiction of Monet's flower garden at Giverny. Also, impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings by Cézanne, Matisse, Modigliani, Picasso, Renoir, Rousseau, Soutine, Sisley and others.

Musée Delacroix— Housed in the home of painter Eugene Delacroix.

Centre Georges Pompidou, — The museum of modern art. The building and adjoining Stravinsky Fountain are attractions in themselves.

Les Invalides, — Very impressive museum of arms and armor from the Middle Ages to today. Also contains the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Cluny — A medieval museum exhibiting the five "The Lady and the Unicorn" tapestries, housed in a part Roman, part medieval building.

Le Musee des Arts Decoratifs — Showcasing eight centuries of French savoir-faire.

Carnavalet — Museum of Paris history; exhibitions are permanent and free.

Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie - La Villette — Science museum primarily for children.

Mémorial de la Shoah  — Paris's Holocaust Memorial Museum, in the heart of the Marais on rue Geoffroy l'Asnier. Free Entry, weekly guided tours. Second Sunday of the month there is a free tour in English.

Jacquemart-Andre Museum — Private collection of French, Italian, Dutch masterpieces in a typical XIXth century mansion.

The Chateau de Monte-Cristo - home of Alexandre Dumas (12 miles west of Paris)
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