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Top 5 best places to visit for a short stay in Paris


“Paris is always a good idea.”

Audrey Hepburn

It’s done, your first vacation in Paris is booked! You’ve checked your flight tickets, your reservation, you even already have some euros in your pocket. Great you’re almost ready…   But where and what to visit for your very first holidays in the French capital city ?  Discover the top 5 best places to visit for a short stay in Paris! 

The Louvre, world’s most visited art museum

It’s probably already on your to do list (and if you don’t have one, grab a piece of paper or create a new to do list on your smartphone), you cannot miss this must! The Louvre is the world’s largest art museum with more than 38,000 objects from prehistory to the 21st century. It’s a part of the Louvre Palace originally built as a fortress in the 13th century under Philip II. In 1546, Francis I converted it into the main residence of the French King, you will walk in the footsteps of the Kings of France!!! In 1682, Louis XIV moved to the castle of Versailles leaving the Louvre to display the royal collection. During the French Revolution, the National Assembly decreed the Louvre as a museum for the nation’s masterpieces, the museum opened on 10 August 1793, the first anniversary of the monarchy’s demise, with an exhibition of 537 paintings. In 1983, the Chinese-American architect Ieoh Ming Pei proposed to the project of the Grand Louvre of the French President François Mitterrand to build a glass pyramid that will be a new entrance in the main court. The pyramid and its underground lobby were inaugurated on 15 October 1988 and the Louvre Pyramid was completed in 1989. The second phase of the Grand Louvre plan, the Inverted Pyramid, was completed in 1993. Plan an entire day to visit the 8 collections of the museum, and the Pavillon de l’Horloge to learn more about the history of the Louvre.
  • Paintings : 314 works, European school from the 13th century to 1848.
  • Egyptian Antiquities : 226 works, vestiges from the civilizations in the Nile Valley from the late prehistoric era (4000 BC) to the Christian period (4th century AD).
  • Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities : 306 works, from Neolithic times (4th millennium BC) to the 6th century AD.
  • Near Eastern Antiquities : 186 works, a nine-thousand year period from prehistory to the early Islamic Period.
  • Sculptures : 113 works, Medieval, Renaissance and Modern Sculpture.
  • Decorative Arts : 320 works, from the early Middle Ages to the first half of the 19th.
  • Islamic Art : 60 works, 1300 years of history from Spain to Southeast Asia.
  • Prints and Drawings : 215 works.

The Pavillon de l’Horloge

Level -1. From Palace to museum Level 1. One museum, many collections Level 2. The Louvre today and tomorrow

Mona Lisa, the masterpiece of the Louvre

La Gioconda is a portrait of Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a Florentine cloth merchant named Francesco del Giocondo, by Leonardo Da Vinci in 1503.

Exhibitions 

  • France Viewed from the Grand Siècle, drawings by Israël Silvestre (1621-1691) until June 25, 2018.
  • Power Plays until July 2, 2018.
  • Delacroix (1798-1863) until July 23, 2018
Practical information : The Louvre is open every day (except Tuesday) from 9am to 6pm. Night opening until 9:45pm on Wednesdays and Fridays. More information on www.louvre.fr/en

Where to stay in Paris for the first time for a romantic stay 

Where to stay in Paris for family holidays 

The Eiffel Tower, the Parisian Lady 

It’s a beautiful day and yesterday you were inside all day visiting the Louvre and all its amazing collections. Now you would like to enjoy the beauty of Paris and breathe fresh air. Jump into the lign 9 of the subway and stop at Station Trocadéro, you arrived to the Trocadéro Gardens where you will have a splendid view of the Eiffel Tower. Around, you will have the Palace of Chaillot, The Museum of Man, the Museum of the quai Branly and the Aquarium of Paris.   The Eiffel Tower was built in 1887-89 for the 1889 World’s Fair, on the Champ de Mars, and named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel. It becomes the cultural icon of France all over the world  but was initially criticized by some of France’s leading artists and intellectuals. Did you know? The Eiffel Tower is the most visited paid monument in the world, it is 324 meters tall and the tallest structure in Paris. The design wasn’t the work of Gustave Eiffel, but of two engineers working for his company: Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier. The opening, on 26 May, was a success with 30,000 visitors climbing the 1,710 steps to the top. They could send letters and postcards from the post office at the top of the tower. Since 1889, 300 million people have visited the Eiffel Tower. The Esplanade : In the basement  you will see the 1899 lift machinery, it is more than a century old and was designed by Gustave Eiffel. Of course, you cannot miss the beautiful views of the tower and its iron structure. Now look at the North pillar, you can see the bust of Gustave Eiffel made by the sculptor Antoine Bourdelle in 1929. At the West Pillar, you will find the information desk and the “Groups” desk. Also, the Esplanade Buffets, the West Pillar gift shop and the convenience store at the East Pillar. The 1st Floor : The most spectacular and attractive location in Paris with its oblique, transparent architecture. 57 meters above the ground, the transparent floor offer a breathtaking view, perfect for your Instagram pictures! Also, At the Ferrié Pavillion, you will find the CinEiffel, the panoramic 58 TE restaurant, shops and an area designed for relaxation. The 2nd Floor : Enjoy clear views of all the French capital’s monuments like the Louvre, the Grand palais, Montmartre, Notre Dame… And book a table at the Michelin-starred restaurant, the Jules Verne, by the Chef Alain Ducasse. Don’t miss the delicious macaroon bar! The Top : The last floor, you’re 276 meters up. Forget marathons, you’ve reached the top of the Eiffel Tower: the 1,120 steps of the first and second floors and the queue for the 3rd floor elevator, congratulation! Now you can enjoy a flute of Champagne at the Champagne Bar, do the perfect marriage proposal or visit the Gustave Eiffel’s office.

Events

  • In March, join the race of the Eiffel Tower Vertical and climb the 1,665 steps.
  • Come celebrate the most romantic day in the most romantic place with your valentine on February 14th.
  • Experience the magic of winter from December to February on the first floor of the tower.
Practical information : www.toureiffel.paris/en

Where to stay in Paris near the Eiffel Tower

Champs-Elysées Avenue & Arc de Triomphe

1.9 kilometres long and 70 meters wide, this is the biggest and the most fashionable avenue of Paris! The Champs-Elysées is the French name for Elysian Fields, the paradise for dead heroes in Greek mythology, it’s famous for its luxury shops, theatres, cafés, for the Bastile Day military parade and the finish of the Tour de France cycle race, or the celebration of popular events, such as New Year’s Eve, or when France won the 1998 FIFA World Cup. From the east of the Avenue, on Place de la Concorde, admire the beautiful Obelix of Luxor ; to the west, on Place Charles de Gaulle, is located the Arc de Triomphe, built to honour the victories of Napoleon Bonaparte. Until Louis XIV, the land where the Champs-Elysées runs today was largely occupied by fields and kitchen gardens. It is André Le Nôtre, the famous royal gardener, who originally laid out, as an extension of the Tuileries Garden, in 1667. He planned a wide promenade between the Palace and the modern Rond Point, lined with two rows of elm trees on either side, and flowerbeds in the symmetrical style of the French formal garden. Before 1709, the Champs-Elysées was named the Grande Promenade. In 1855, the avenue was chosen to be the site of the first great international exposition : the Exposition Universelle of Paris.

What to do at the Champs-Elysées during the day

The Arc de Triomphe, of course!! You can’t walk the avenue and not stop at one of the most famous monument of France. The petit plus is to take a picture from the middle of the road to have the best view, but be careful to the cars. To have the best petit-déjeuner and delicious macarons the best address is Ladurée (75 Av. des Champs-Elysées) ; a little bit up of the street on the same side, stop for a lunch at the Restaurant Fouquet’s Paris, you will maybe have a chance to sit next to a french celebrity. If you love Disney movies, the Disney store is the magical place of the Champs-Elysées,  from Ladurée, go a little bit down on the other side of the street. And it’s not only in New York that you can take a breakfast at Tiffany, the French Avenue is full of luxury stores as Tiffany, Cartier, Longchamp,  Louis Vuitton, Lancel…

What to do at the Champs-Elysées during the night

You have plenty of restaurants and theaters to enjoy the Parisian night. Let’s start with the Buddha Bar (8-12 rue Boissy d’Anglas), the restaurant is located next to the Place de la Concorde close to the Louvre at the beginning of the Champs-Elysées. It’s the place to be with a beautiful decor and a DJ playing music all night, plus you might say yes to their cocktails. Next stop, the restaurant La Maison Blanche (15 Avenue Montaigne), with an amazing view from the rooftop of the Seine and the rive gauche (Left Bank). And last but not least, the cabaret Lido de Paris (116 Av. des Champs-Elysées), famous for its dinners with french can-can dancers on the scene of the 1150 seats’ panoramic room. You might also like : Titty Twister (5 rue de Berri): A trendy bar with Chesterfield armchairs and a pool room. Sir Winston (5 rue de Presbourg): Baroque decor and world music bar restaurant. L’Oiseau Blanc (19 Avenue Kléber): Elegant hotel restaurant with traditional French cuisine and its large glass roof. Le Speakeasy (25 rue Jean Giraudoux): Concerts of jazz, soul, blues in a cosy bar restaurant with a smokehouse. Queen Nightclub (22 rue Quentin-Bauchart): Electro, house and hip-hop nightclub with international DJs. Le Baron Paris (6 Avenue Marceau): Trendy club-bar in an old brothel with decoration of the 20s. Le Duplex (2 bis Avenue Foch): 3 rooms with mainstream music.

Where to stay in Paris best locations 

Montmartre, the artist’s city

Montmartre comes from the Latin Mons Martis, “Mount of Mars”, and is the historical artistic district of Paris. With the white-domed Basilica of the Sacré-Coeur on its summit, the Place du Tertre on the left side, the funicular railway, its cafés and art museums, the hill of Montmartre is one of the most touristic area of Paris. From 1872 to 1914, during the Belle Epoque, many artists lived and worked in their ateliers in Montmartre. At this time, you could meet in the street famous painter like Modigliani, Monet, Renoir, Matisse, Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec, Mondrian, Picasso, Van Gogh… It’s in his atelier at the 12 rue Cortot that Pierre-Auguste Renoir painted the Bal du moulin de la Galette in 1876, and the house is now the Musée de Montmartre ; it’s also at the 13 rue Ravignan in the building called “Le Bateau-Lavoir”, Picasso painted one of his most important masterpieces: Les Demoiselles d’Avignon

The emblematic poster of Montmartre: Le Chat Noir by Théophile Steinlen

What to do in Montmartre during the day

You have so many things to do and so many places to visit in Montmartre it could take you an entire day! The Place du Tertre with lots of cafés and artists, the Basilica of the Sacré-Coeur and its esplanade with a beautiful view of Paris (Butte Montmartre and Square Louise Michel), the Hall Saint-Pierre (2 rue Ronsard), the Montmartre Museum (12-14 rue Cortot), close to the museum there is a small vineyard Les Vignes du Clos Montmartre (rue des Saules) and a wild garden (rue Saint-Vincent), Atelier Picasso (49 rue Gabrielle), Dalí Paris (11 rue Poulbot), the Van Gogh House (54 rue Lepic), the Moulin Radet and the Mire du Nord (5 hameau des artistes), the Tristan Tzara House (15 avenue Junot), the Passe-Muraille (place Marcel Aymé), Montmartre Village close to the Place du Tertre and around 11 rue du Mont-Cenis, the Wall of Love in 250 languages (square Jehan Rictus). Stop at the famous café Les Deux Moulins (15 rue Lepic) from the movie Amélie with Audrey Tautou and Mathieu Kassovitz.

What to do in Montmartre during the night

Moulin Rouge (82 boulevard de Clichy): The world famous cabaret with its Belle Epoque decor, its shows and dancers, and its real mill. Chez Michou (80 rue des Martyrs): A crazy night of cabaret shows. Madame Arthur (75 bis rue des Martyrs): A burlesque cabaret. Silencio (142 rue Montmartre): A private club conceived by David Lynch. Divan du Monde (75 rue des Martyrs): Old theater of the nineteenth century transformed into a concert hall and disco with bar on the balcony.

The best photo locations in Montmartre

The Carousel on the Place Saint-Pierre, the Butte Montmartre on the forecourt of the Sacré-Coeur, La Maison Rose (2 rue de l’Abreuvoir), the Sacré-Coeur from the Place du Tertre (33 rue Lamarck), the view from the Sacré-Coeur (300 steps to the top), the Stairs of Montmartre around the Sacré-Coeur.

Where to stay in Paris with family 

Ile de la Cité & Notre-Dame 

There is two natural islands in Paris, one is the Ile de la Cité and it’s the heart of Paris where many historical monuments were built. The most famous is the cathedral Notre-Dame, built from 1163 to 1345, worldwide known for the Victor Hugo novel, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, and for the Disney movie. The Ile de la Cité is originally the medieval city of Paris, from 52 BC when Vercingetorix was fighting against Julius Caesar, a small tribe was living on the island and it was a refuge in times of invasion. Romans described Lutetia (old name of Paris until 310 AD) as “a small island lying in the river, a wall entirely surrounds it, and wooden bridges lead to it on both sides”. The island remained an important military and political centre throughout the Middle Ages. There is nine bridges connecting to the Left and Right Banks of the city, the Pont Neuf is the oldest bridge in Paris and was built by Henry IV in 1607.

What to visit

The Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris. The Palais de Justice, or Palais de la Cité, was originally Merovingian palace and the main place of the medieval Kings of France. The Conciergerie next to it, was a prison built by Philip IV (Philip the Fair) and was the prison where Marie-Antoinette awaited her execution in 1793. The Tour de l’Horloge is the oldest public clock of Paris, built by Charles V in 1370. The Place Dauphine, built in 1609, named for the Dauphin of France, the future King Louis XIII. The Flower Market since 1808. At the 36 Quai des Orfèvres, was the center of the criminal investigation police. From the Pont Saint-Louis, walk to the Ile Saint-Louis, the other medieval natural island of Paris.

Where to stay in Paris for the first time 



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