Paris, acknowledged as the 'City of Lights,' is the largest as well as the capital city of France, located on the Seine River, in the heart of the Ile-de-France region. Also the capital of the France's Ile-de-France region, Paris is regarded as the political and cultural center of the country. Paris is perhaps the greatest of all the cities that receive maximum number of tourists in Europe.
Some consider Paris as an artistic city while some consider it as a romantic destination. Since it attracts fashion firms from across the world to open fashion stores, Paris is also sometimes fondly referred to as the 'Fashion House' of the world. With great number of museums, nature parks, beautiful gardens, and squares, sightseeing options in Paris are truly endless. Hence, it is not a wonder why more than 30 million foreigners visit here per year.
Some of the must-see destinations in Paris are:
Eiffel Tower : Built on the Champ de Mars near the Seine River, this iron tower is unquestionably the greatest of all attractions in Paris, and in deed, stands as the city's icon. Inaugurated on March 31, 1889, it is the tallest of its kind in Paris, and was once the tallest in the world until the erection of Chrysler Building in 1930. Rising up to a height of about 985 feet, Eiffel Tower's top can be seen anywhere from Paris. As per the records of the Paris Office of Tourism, Eiffel Tower alone drew about six million tourists to Paris in 2002.
Louvre : Situated in the heart of Paris, Louvre is the one of the world's largest museums, sprawling over an area of about 60,000 square foot expansive building. On display are more than 350000 pieces of art, covering Egyptian sculptures, 18th century furniture and books, engravings, paintings, and drawings.
Most popular among the collections in the museum are the paintings of Leonardo Da Vinci, such as Monolisa. Apart from its amazing collections, Louvre, once served as a royal residence, is also much famed for its mind blowing architectural style. The entry to the museum was earlier restricted to the royal visitors. But, after the French Revolution, the museum was opened to the public.
Notre Dame Cathedral : This gothic cathedral would be the most famous of all cathedrals in the world. Located in the heart of the city on a small island, namely, Ile de la Cite, Notre Dame Cathedral serves as the seat of the Archbishop of Paris. The cathedral is regarded as a fine example of French Gothic architecture. Built during the 14th century, its interiors, sculptures, and gargoyles were destroyed during the revolution. Later, the cathedral was renovated by Eugene Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc, a Persian architect.
Arc de Triomphe: One of the most visited attractions in the country, Arc de Triomphe is credited to the largest traffic roundabout in the world. Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 in order to commemorate his military successes as well as the bravery of his armies, Arc de Triomphe was however completed in 1836, many years after the passing away of the emperor. The sides, front and back of the Arc De Triomphe are graced with beautiful sculptures as well as intricate designs. A specialty of this roundabout is that it is the meeting point of about 12 avenues.
Concorde Place : The largest public square in Paris, Concorde Place is situated between Champs Elysees and the Tuileries garden. Earlier known as Place Louis XV, the square's focal point is a huge Egyptian obelisk beautified with hieroglyphics. The obelisk has been brought from the temple at Luxor, and was French king Charles X in 1829 by Mohammed Ali, the then Viceroy of Egypt.
Highlights in Paris also cover Avenue Champs-Elysees, a vibrant area packed with a plenty of shops and restaurants; Latin Quarter, boasting of some of the finest Roman as well as medieval monuments in the city; Rodin Museum, which exhibits the works of the renowned French sculptor, Auguste Rodin; D'Orsay Museum; and St.Chapelle and Conciergerie.
With these scores of attractions, Paris is a wonderful vacation whose memories last for a lifetime. Hence, the city has an array of accommodation choices to cater to every type of visitors. Mostly, they come with most sophisticated facilities and amenities.
