Monuments and Sites of Paris

The Arc du Carrousel is a triumphal arch built by Napoleon from 1807 to 1808 to celebrate the victory of the French imperial army in Austerlitz. The Arc du Carrousel was designed by Charles Percier and Pierre-François-Léonard Fontaine on the model of the Arch of Septimius Severus and the Arch of Constantine in Rome.

Built on the Ile de la Cité, majestic and elegant, Notre-Dame has watched over Paris while the city goes about its business for almost a thousand years. Being one of the most prestigious architectural works in Paris, it is a source of constant creative inspiration to Parisians. http://lgcrcdlu.preview.infomaniak.com/notre-dame-de-paris/

Among the many parks and gardens of Paris, the Luxembourg Garden is certainly one of the favourite green spaces of Parisians, students and tourists. Fascinated by this area of scenic beauty in the centre of the capital, visitors enjoy the greenery punctuated with a multitude of statues, playgrounds and the famous Guignol puppet show. http://lgcrcdlu.preview.infomaniak.com/jardin-du-luxembourg-paris/

The picturesque Place des Vosges is located in the Marais district in Paris, at the junction of the 3rd and 4th arrondissements. This excellent example of Louis XIII-style architecture is the oldest planned square in Paris and its charm comes from the regularity of the façades. Often considered as one of Europe’s most beautiful squares, the Place des Vosges, formally named “Place Royale”, is a perfect symmetrical square (140 m X 140 m) bordered by 36 buildings. http://lgcrcdlu.preview.infomaniak.com/place-des-vosges-paris/

The celebrated Avenue des Champs-Élysées is synonymous with glitz and glamour. The Avenue and its district are part of the Voie Triomphale (Triumphal Way): the Historical Axis. This magnificent vista runs through some of Paris’ most celebrated monuments and squares: from the Louvre and the gardens of the Tuileries to La Défense, passing through the Champs-Elysées, which are dominated by the famous Arc de Triomphe. The Grand-Palais and the Petit-Palais are grand additions to the area from La Belle Epoque period. http://lgcrcdlu.preview.infomaniak.com/avenue-des-champs-elysees-paris/

The Obelisk, ideally placed in the middle of the Place de la Concorde, is part of the strange geometrical layout and perspective along the Historical Axis, evoking the symbols of Ancient Egypt. http://lgcrcdlu.preview.infomaniak.com/place-de-la-concorde-paris/

The Palais de Chaillot is situated on the Trocadéro hill. Chaillot refers to a former village. It was designed in classic "moderne" style by architects Louis-Hippolyte Boileau, Jacques Carlu and Léon Azéma. The building features two wings shaped to form a wide arc which are independent buildings with no central element to connect them. Between them, a wide esplanade leaves an open view from the place du Trocadéro to the Eiffel Tower and beyond.

La Tour Eiffel – The Eiffel Tower sounds like a magical name that describes a sight that everyone hopes they will see one day. Paris had already proved its charm to the world before the tower was even built with many amazing monuments: the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe and Notre-Dame. Now the Eiffel Tower surpasses them all in height and can be seen from each of these three buildings from a different, interesting, angle. The iron tower still remains one of the most visited monuments in the whole world. http://lgcrcdlu.preview.infomaniak.com/fun-facts-about-the-eiffel-tower/

The monumental basilica of Sacré-Cœur stands like a crown atop the hillock, its white mass and singular domes and Romanesque-Byzantine architecture at odds with its surroundings. http://lgcrcdlu.preview.infomaniak.com/montmartre-paris/

Situated in the Grands Boulevards area, the Opéra Garnier (or Garnier Palace) was built from 1861 to 1875 by architect Garnier. Its great and opulent auditorium seats 1,979.

The Conciergerie was the seat of the medieval Kings of France from the 10th to the 14th centuries before becoming a prison. Hundreds of prisoners (including Marie-Antoinette) during the French Revolution were taken from La Conciergerie to be executed on the guillotine at a number of locations around Paris. It is now part of the larger complex known as the Palais de Justice, which is still used for judicial purposes.

The famous Place Vendôme in Paris’ first arrondissement ranks amongst France’s most beautiful squares. Located to the north of the Tuileries Garden, it is a magnificent example of neoclassical architecture in France, similar to the squares of Place de la Concorde (Paris), Place de la Bourse (Bordeaux) and Place Stanislas (Nancy). A mecca of money and luxury, Place Vendôme provides a base for renowned and prestigious establishments: the Ritz hotel, Cartier, Rolex, Chanel jewellery, as well as the Ministry of Justice; and in its centre the celebrated Column of Vendôme sits enthroned. http://lgcrcdlu.preview.infomaniak.com/place-vendome-paris/

The City-Hall of Paris houses the city's local administration. It is situated on the place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville (formerly place de Grève) in the 4th arrondissement. The previous building was destroyed by fire during the events of the Paris Commune in 1871 and rebuilt from 1873 through 1892 in Renaissance style. Today, it is the seat of the Mayor of Paris (since 1977) and also serves as a venue for large receptions.

Since 1873 the Palais de l'Élysée has been the official residence of the President of the French Republic. It was formerly known as Hôtel d'Évreux and was the residence of the Marquise de Pompadour, favourite of Louis XV, during the 18th century. It is located near the Champs-Élysées in the 8th arrondissement of Paris.

The neo-classical Panthéon stands at the top of the Sainte-Geneviève hill. The majestic dome is surmounted by a lantern tower reaching 83 metres that filters a little light into the centre of the sanctuary. Formerly a church in 1885 it became a necropolis of France’s greatest citizens and a popular national monument. The crypt contains the tombs of many great French notables: Voltaire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Émile Zola, Jean Jaurès, Pierre and Marie Curie, Jean Moulin. http://lgcrcdlu.preview.infomaniak.com/pantheon-paris/

The Pont Alexandre III was built in the same period as the Grand and Petit Palais for the 1900 World Exhibition. Its first stone was laid by Nicholas II on the 7th October 1896, celebrating Franco-Russian friendship and was dedicated to the Tsar’s father, Alexander III. Engineers Resal and Alby designed the proposed bridge according to the technical requirements of the day: to not interrupt river traffic passing along the Seine, by building several arches and to avoid masking the beautiful perspective leading to the Invalides. Technically, the Pont Alexandre III was an engineering success, with a 6m high single-span steel arch across the Seine. http://lgcrcdlu.preview.infomaniak.com/pont-alexandre-iii-paris/

Palais Bourbon is located in the 7th arrondissement in Paris, overlooking the Seine and facing the Place de la Concorde. The palace was built in 1722 except for the grand pedimented portico with its majestic columns facing the Seine River which was completed in 1806 during the Napoleonic Era. The hemicycle of the National Assembly seats the 577 députés (MP), each elected by a single-member constituency through a two-rounds system. http://lgcrcdlu.preview.infomaniak.com/palais-bourbon-paris/

The calm little Île Saint-Louis has nothing in common with its larger neighbour Île de la Cité. Named after King Louis IX (Saint-Louis), it includes no great monuments except a few interesting mansions such as Hôtel Lambert. Nevertheless, the island is appreciated for its beautiful quays and peaceful residential district in the centre of Paris. http://lgcrcdlu.preview.infomaniak.com/quais-de-la-seine-paris/

The Tour Montparnasse (Montparnasse Tower) is a high-rise building overlooking the district of Montparnasse in the 15th arrondissement and borders the 6th and 14th arrondissements. Its panoramic terrace offers one of the most beautiful views over Paris. In 2013, the 210 m tall tower is France’s second tallest building after the Tour First (La Défense) reaching 231 m. http://lgcrcdlu.preview.infomaniak.com/tour-montparnasse/

Palace of the Kings and Queens of France, the Louvre has now become one of the world’s most visited museum. The Louvre and the Tuileries are the starting points of the grand Historical Axis. This magnificent vista runs through some of Paris’ most celebrated monuments and squares: the Glass Pyramid of the Louvre in the Cour Napoléon, the Arc du Carrousel, the former Palace of the Tuileries destroyed in the 19th Century, and the gardens of the Tuileries. Beyond, the axis crosses the majestic Place de la Concorde and its Egyptian obelisk before running through the Champs-Elysées, dominated by the famous Arc de Triomphe. http://lgcrcdlu.preview.infomaniak.com/palais-du-louvre-paris/