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Must-See
Attractions in Paris
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With all the museums, monuments and other sights and attractions that Paris has to offer, the first time visitor can easily become overwhelmed by the choices available. If this is your first trip to Paris, the following selection of some of Paris' most popular tourist sites should get you started in the right direction:
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La Tour Eiffel (The Eiffel Tower)
One of the most recognizable and beloved structures in the world,
when it was first constructed many Parisians were first horrified
by what they thought was an ugly, industrial-looking eyesore.
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Arc de Triomphe
Conceived by Napoleon I, it is the world's largest triumphal arch
and took some 30 years to build.
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Notre Dame de Paris (Notre Dame Cathederal)
A masterpiece of gothic architecture and construction, the cathedral
is the seat of the Archbishop of Paris.
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Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre
The basilica was completed in 1914 and was dedicated to the Sacred
Heart.
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Musée Du Louvre (The Louvre Museum)
Originally constructed as a fortress in the twelfth century, the Louvre
is one of the world's greatest art museums.
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Les Invalides
A complex of buildings that includes French military museums and monuments,
a hospital, a retirement home, the Dôme Church and Napoleon's
Tomb.
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Centre Georges Pompidou (Pompidou Center)
France's main cultural center includes the National Museum of Modern
Art/Industrial Design, the public information library (BPI), exhibition
galleries, cinemas, show and concert halls, and a contemporary music
research center (IRCAM).
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Musée d'Orsay
Re-opened to the public in 1986, this former railroad station is now
a world renowned museum exhibiting 19th century paintings, sculpture,
furniture, objets d'art and photography.
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Montmartre
Paris' highest hill, Montmartre was once a mecca for artists, writers,
poets and their disciples. It's physical charms remain and the village
atmosphere remains remarkably intact.
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Moulin Rouge
Built in 1885, turned into a dance hall in 1900 and immortalized in
the posters and drawings of Toulousse-Lautrec, it is one of Paris'
most famous cabarets and the home of the French can-can.
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Opéra Garnier (Paris Opéra)
Designed by architect Charles Garnier, the Paris opera house opened
to the public in 1875.
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Champs Élysées
The grand boulevard of Paris which runs fron the Place de la Concorde
to the Arc de Triomphe.
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Panthéon
The burial site for some of France's most honored dignitaries, housing
the tombs of Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Victor Hugo, among
others.
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Sorbonne
One of Europe's most respected and important institutions of higher
learning, the Sorbonne refers both to the University of Paris and
to the first college established in what became the university.
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Tour Montparnasse (Montparnasse Tower)
France's tallest building.
