PARIS
All the Monuments, Museums & Galleries, Viewpoints, and Icons of the city, plus some of my favourite places that are worth a visit.
Arc de Triomphe
The most famous arch in the world, and the second largest, this incredible icon of Paris is located at the start of the elegant avenue, the Champs Elysees. The arch was commissioned in 1806 by Napoleon to commemorate his victory in the famous Battle of Austerlitz and to honour the men who fought in his Grand Army.
One of my favourite places to visit in Paris, the Arc de Triomphe makes for some pretty incredible photos, but not only from the ground, you can also head inside the arch and climb to the roof for some breathtaking views. From here you’ll be able to see one of the ‘Axis of symmetry’. This is the name given to some of the road formations created in Paris during the late 19th Century, including the grand avenues that were designed to perfectly intersect with one another. The arch is positioned perfectly in the middle of the surrounding roundabout and the twelve perfectly symmetrically avenues that it brings together. This is also one of the best places in the city to get a photo of Eiffel tower with the backdrop of the Parisian skyline.
If you’re planning to visit the arch, make sure you don’t try crossing the massive roundabout that surrounds it. There are several tunnels built underground for pedestrians, providing much safer access. You can visit the arch any time of day but if you want to go inside and climb the 284 stairs to the top, you’ll need to buy a ticket. This monument is one of the few in Paris that is open late, so it’s a great place to check out any time of day.
A standard ticket will cost €13 and can be purchased either on arrival at the ticket office or online using the link below.
https://tickets.monuments-nationaux.fr/en-GB/session-products
Musee D’Orsay
This now museum was originally built as a train station for the 1900 World’s Fair and remained in used until 1936. During World War Two, the building was used as a mailing station to send packages to Prisoners of War. In 1977, the decision was made to turn the building into a museum, rather than demolish the building and build a new hotel. It was opened in 1986 by the President of the time, Francois Mitterand, and features artworks from 1848-1914 by artists such as Delacroix, Rodin, Van Gogh, Monet and more. Spanning over four levels the museum also houses a restaurant and shop and is conveniently located across the Seine river, directly opposite the Louvre Museum.
Tickets cost €16 and can be purchased online or at the door. I would recommend allocating between one and two hours for a visit. Start on the top level in the impressionist exhibition and make your way down from there. Make sure not to miss the stunning clock above the entrance, from the original building in 1900. On the far side of the museum, climb the stairs for a beautiful view back over the entire gallery.
You can buy tickets online at the following link. Tickets can also be bought at the museum on arrival but pre-purchasing tickets with an allocated time slot will allow you to skip the queue.
https://billetterie.musee-orsay.fr/en-GB/products?famille=1933737738230400130
Louvre Museum
The Louvre is the both the largest and the most visited Art Museum in the world. In the courtyard of the Louvre, you can see the famous glass pyramid that serves as one of the museum’s entrances. The building itself dates to the 12th century where it was originally a castle, the remaining ruins of which are visible in the basement. In the 16th century the Louvre was rebuilt and converted into the main residence of the French Kings until 1682, when the palace of Versailles was built as the new royal residence. From then, the Louvre became a place to display the royal collection and during the French revolution in the late 18th century, the Louvre was officially dedicated to its current purpose a museum to display the nations masterpieces.
Starting with only 537 paintings, the Museum is now home to over thirty-five thousand artworks, the most well known of which, the Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci. If you’re wanting to see the famous smile during your visit, prepare yourself to queue up in a room full of people to get a glimpse of the most famous portrait in the world.
If you decide to visit the Louvre, keep in mind that the museum is closed every Tuesday. I recommend buying tickets online in advance as you’ll need to select a time slot. Look to allocate about two hours for your visit if you’re just planning to see the essentials and tick off a visit to the world’s largest museum, but if you’re a fan of art you could certainly spend much longer.
Tickets cost €17 for standard entry. Make sure you check online for opening hours as they may vary. You can purchase tickets at the following link:
https://www.ticketlouvre.fr/louvre/b2c/index.cfm/calendar/eventCode/MusWeb
Place de la Concorde & The Tuileries Garden
‘Place’ is the French word for square, and this is the largest public square Paris. Place de la Concorde literally translates to ‘Square of Harmony’, an extremely ironic name considering this square was the site some of the thousands of beheadings that took place via guillotine during the French Revolution, even including Queen Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI.
Along one side of the square is a beautiful wrought iron gate, gilded with gold, serving as the entrance to the famous ‘Jardin des Tuileries’, the oldest and largest public garden in Paris. This used to be the location of the Tuileries Palace, a royal palace, until the French Revolution when it was burnt and destroyed beyond repair. If you’re a fan of Emily in Paris (guilty pleasure or otherwise) you might remember the scene where Mindy sings ‘La Vie en Rose’ in the gardens - it was filmed right here.
The garden connect the Champs Elysees with the Louvre Palace, so its a lovely place to go for a stroll if you’re headed to the museum. Parks and gardens like the Tuileries are a common hang out place for Parisians and tourists alike, surrounded by trees and fountains, it’s a lovely spot to seat and eat a baguette.
Better yet, take a little detour and visit the wonderful Angelina’s Patisserie on the avenue just adjacent to the Gardens, Rue de Rivoli. Grab one (or two) of their delectable pastries and find a spot under the trees, or nearby one of the fountains to really soak up the Parisian lifestyle.
Opening hours vary depending on the season but is always free to enter. In the summer months, between June and August, there is a small festival held here called the ‘Fête des Tuileries’, or Festival of the Tuileries. If you’re lucky enough to visit during the summer, it’s definitely worth checking out the fair, with a variety of different stalls and rides. There’s also a pretty tall Ferris wheel, providing some beautiful views over the gardens and the Louvre Museum.
Louvre Museum
The Louvre is the both the largest and the most visited Art Museum in the world. In the courtyard of the Louvre, you can see the famous glass pyramid that serves as one of the museum’s entrances. The building itself dates to the 12th century where it was originally a castle, the remaining ruins of which are visible in the basement. In the 16th century the Louvre was rebuilt and converted into the main residence of the French Kings until 1682, when the palace of Versailles was built as the new royal residence. From then, the Louvre became a place to display the royal collection and during the French revolution in the late 18th century, the Louvre was officially dedicated to its current purpose a museum to display the nations masterpieces.
Starting with only 537 paintings, the Museum is now home to over thirty-five thousand artworks, the most well known of which, the Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci. If you’re wanting to see the famous smile during your visit, prepare yourself to queue up in a room full of people to get a glimpse of the most famous portrait in the world.