The Sights of Paris
Paris has to offer much more than its numerous world-famous monuments. And nevertheless they stand of course in the focus of interest of 21 million tourists per year. A visit of the Eiffel Tower is obligatorically, also when you thoroughly have to wait especially on week-ends about one, two hours to enter its iron stairs. And a walk on the Champs-Élysées! And so on, and so on. You see, you will be spoilt for choice: The most important sights close already at 6 p.m., your day lapse must be well thought through.
But please do not forget: A holiday is thought for recreating. A holiday for recovery from the holiday would be paradox! And accordingly you should not resolve to do too much and hurry from museum to monument. Than you will miss the true magic of the city. A break in the many pleasure-grounds and an evening on the staircases in front of Sacré-Cœur with the gigantic look-out on the sea of lights at the feet of the Montmartre hill is real balsam for stress-troubled tourist souls – and their feet!
► Tip: Since July 2006 the «Carte Musées et Monuments» has a conciser name: In the meantime it is called «Paris Museum Pass». The concept is the approved one: With the pass valid for two (€ 30,00), four (€ 45,00) or six days (€ 60,00) you have free admission at 60 sights in and around Paris. And this – within the validity period – how often you ever want! Additionally you do not have to wait in the queues, you will be prefered at the entrances. Contrary to its forerunner the «Paris Museum Pass» is available no more at the métro stations (the public transport is no more included, too!) but only at the participating museums and monuments as well as the tourist informations.
Paris has to offer much more than its numerous world-famous monuments. And nevertheless they stand of course in the focus of interest of 21 million tourists per year. A visit of the Eiffel Tower is obligatorically, also when you thoroughly have to wait especially on week-ends about one, two hours to enter its iron stairs. And a walk on the Champs-Élysées! And so on, and so on. You see, you will be spoilt for choice: The most important sights close already at 6 p.m., your day lapse must be well thought through.
But please do not forget: A holiday is thought for recreating. A holiday for recovery from the holiday would be paradox! And accordingly you should not resolve to do too much and hurry from museum to monument. Than you will miss the true magic of the city. A break in the many pleasure-grounds and an evening on the staircases in front of Sacré-Cœur with the gigantic look-out on the sea of lights at the feet of the Montmartre hill is real balsam for stress-troubled tourist souls – and their feet!
► Tip: Since July 2006 the «Carte Musées et Monuments» has a conciser name: In the meantime it is called «Paris Museum Pass». The concept is the approved one: With the pass valid for two (€ 30,00), four (€ 45,00) or six days (€ 60,00) you have free admission at 60 sights in and around Paris. And this – within the validity period – how often you ever want! Additionally you do not have to wait in the queues, you will be prefered at the entrances. Contrary to its forerunner the «Paris Museum Pass» is available no more at the métro stations (the public transport is no more included, too!) but only at the participating museums and monuments as well as the tourist informations.
 Arc de Triomph (de l’Étoile)    On February 18th, 1806, Napoléon, I., decided about building a triumphal arch on the Place de l'Étoile, from which today twelve big avenues go off, named mostly after famous generals. Because of his fondness for the Roman antiquity the architects Chalgrin and Raymond took a leaf out of the Roman Titus Arch's book.
Since its inauguration 1836 the Triumphal Arch is the palladium of the French patriotism: Both the national commemorations on May 8th and November 11th and the national holiday on July 14th take place here. During state visits an oversized French flag flaunts between the four columns. At the feet of the arch (50 m high, 45 m width) the Grave of the Unknown Soldier in honour to the militaries killed in action in the First World War. From the terrace one has a wonderful view to La Défense and on the Champs-Élysées. ► Opening hours: April until September daily 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., October until March daily 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Last entrance 30 minutes before closing time. Closed on January 1st, May 1st, on the morning of May 8th, July 14th, November 11th and December 25th. Admission fees: € 8,00, reduced € 5,00, persons up to 18 years free. Address: Place Charles de Gaulle • F 75008 Paris (8th Arrondissement) • Internet:  www.monum.fr • Phone: 01.55.37.73.77 • Fax: 01.44.95.02.13 • Métro: Charles de Gaulle-Étoile
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 Arène de Lutèce  There are only less architectonical references of the Roman rule over Paris. The arena of Lutecia is such a relict of this epoch long passed ago. It is dated from the 1st or 2nc century A.C. and offered once a seat capacity of 15'000 spectators who while away their time from now to then with gladiator fights or circus shows. Until into the 19th century the amphitheatre was a phantom: The archaeologists knew that it exists but they did not know where exactly. Finally the construction was discovered in 1870 within the scope of excavations at the Quartier Latin in the rue Monge. Today the events in the arena are no more so martially like they were in those days: There are theatre performances, concerts and during the day a lot of boules amateurs who polish der technics up – without bloodletting, of course!
► Accessible publicly. Address: Rue des Arènes/rue de Navarre/rue Monge • F 75005 Paris (5th Arrondissement) • Métro: Place Monge |
 Assemblée Nationale  At the beginning of the 18th century the Palais Bourbon was built by Louise Françoise de Bourbon. Already in 1798 it was used as domicile by the «Council of the Fivehoundred», the today's French national assembly. From those days comes also the design of the Northern façade in style of the Madeleine church with its Greek columns. Located in direct neighbourhood the Hôtel de Lassay is already for all times the domicile of the president of the Assemblée Nationale.
When you strike lucky and enrol by phone at least a week in advance you can get witness of a session of the national assembly. But understandably the number of seats is limited. Please find the reservation hotline below. ► Opening hours: No regular visiting times with exception of the meetings. Admission fees: free. Address: 126, rue de l'Université/33, quai d'Orsay • F 75355 Paris 07 SP (7th Arrondissement) • Internet: www.assemblee-nationale.fr • Phone: 01.40.63.60.00 • Fax: 01.45.55.75.23 • Métro: Assemblée Nationale
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 Avenue des Champs-Élysées The most popular street of the world extends between Triumphal Arch and place de la Concorde, right through the «Beaux Quartiers». During the general renovation in 1994 the pavements have been broaded and trees have been planted – to the debit of the car parks, of course, as it is indeed usual in Paris. Since that time the saunter myth is at least for the hosts of tourists still higher than ever before. On the Champs-Élysées the Parisians celebrate at all times the year's turn, the French celebrate themselves on the national holiday (July 14th) and the Europeans celebrate the winner of the Tour de France. This parade street's impressive width of 71 m is surpassed in Paris only by the Avenue Foch – nevertheless very clear with a width of 120 m. ► Accessible publicly. Address: Avenue des Champs-Élysées · F 75008 Paris (8th Arrondissement) · Métro: Concorde, Charles de Gaulle-Étoile, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Champs-Élysées/Clémenceau |
 Bois de Boulogne The biggest green lung of Paris is located on 845 ha in the west of the city. In this recreation area the people relax regularly in the daytime on the two sees, the hiking trails, the horse race tracks Longchamp and Auteuil, in the world-famous rosarium of the little Château La Bagatelle – or in the evening at the brothel: It is bizarre but also the horizontal business offers its services on the game in the Bois de Boulogne...
► Accessible publicly. Address: Bois de Boulogne • F 75016 Paris (16th Arrondissement)• Métro: Porte Dauphine, Porte Maillot, Porte d'Auteuil |
 Bois de Vincennes Besides the Vincennes castle are also the town's biggest zoo and the most popular horse race track located in this 995 ha large wood dominated by ancient oaks. Since the 12th century the huge area outside the city was hunting-ground for the French kings. It has been remodeled the last time in the 19th century by the garden master of Nepoléon, III., Adolphe Alphand. The meaning of the Bois de Boulogne for West Paris has the Bois de Vincennes for the East: It is the green heart, but here in the East the land is a multiple more cultivated – a recreation area close to the town par excéllence. When the sun shines cruise especially on the Lac Daumesnil, a man-made sea, uncountable pedal and row boats that can be rented by everybody. A quiet walk in den twilight is warmly recommendable for stress-troubled tourist souls. It gives rise to real wonders (of condition) for the next day!
► Accessible publicly. Address: Bois de Vincennes • F 75012 Paris (12th Arrondissement) • Métro: Porte Dorée |
 Canal St-Martin (with Canal de l’Ourcq)  The canal was opened in 1825 and abridges still today the way of the transport-ships which do not want to wear out the wide Seine loop. The watercourse begins in the north at the bassin de la Villette and flows at the bassin d'Arsenal into the river Seine. Between them many locks have to be passed. In the meantime only less barges are chugging through the former worker quartiers, the tourist and excursion boats are dominating today. Along the on the left and right tree-flanked «water avenue» you can wonderfully relax apparently far away from the large city bustle.
Canauxrama offers boat trips e.g. on the Canal St-Martin. Further informations online at www.canauxrama.com, by phone under 01.42.39.15.00 or per fax under 01.42.39.11.24.
► Review: «On board along the old ways of the original Paris» (2007). Accessible publicly. Address: F 75010 Paris (10th arrondissement) · Métro: République
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 Château de Vincennes  In the closer environs Paris has with Fontainebleau, Versailles and Vincennes three proud castles. Vincennes, which counted once to the biggest and modernst military complexes of Europe, is probably the most unspectacular among them – but that should surely not mean that it is no visit worth. The Bois de Vincennes has been for all times the hunting-ground for the French kings. Already in the 12th century one raised on site a first, modest hut. It has been enlarged to a fortress during the unrests of the Centenary War – in the city the king did not feel secured anymore. The most obvious characteristic of the castle is the Donjon, the impressive «living tower» built in 1369. Equiped with drawbridge, deep ditch, pitch pipelines and wall thickness of three metres, it contained the chambers of the king in those days. At that time the Donjon stood out from the many others towers (besides it only the North Tower stands still today). The castle's area is of such a huge size that it could accommodate the whole royal household in cases of threats. In the 16th century Vincennes became at short notice a prison for the «prisonniers distingués», the first-class prisoners.
► Guided tours: May until August daily 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., September until April daily 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed on January 1st, May 1st, November 1st and 11th and December 25th. Admission fees: € 7,50, reduced € 4,80, persons up to 18 years free. Address: 1, avenue de Paris • F 94300 Vincennes (close to 12th Arrondissement) • Internet: www.chateau-vincennes.fr • Phone: 01.48.08.31.20 • Fax: 01.58.64.23.95 • Métro: Château de Vincennes
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 Cimetière de Montmartre From the boulevard de Clichy branches off the rue Caulaincourt and leads directly to the Montmartre cemetery. Of course here lay above all the big artists of times long passed away because Montmartre was formerly the artists' quartier of Paris. The in 1798 founded, picturesque realm of the dead abounds almost of spectacular mausoleums, little temples and chapels which were build by well-situated families in memory to their loved. Besides many others you find on the cimetière the tombs of Heinrich Heine (in the «27ème division»), who died 1856 in his Parisian exile, and Jaques Offenbach († 1880, «9ème division»). In the «31ème division» you see the grave of Louise Weber († 1929), world-famous as «La Goulue», the legendary dancer of the Moulin Rouge. The tomb of Emile Zola († 1902, «20ème division») is spectacular but empty meanwhile: His mortal remains were put into the Panthéon.
► Opening hours: From Dust until Dawn. Admission fees: free. Address: 20, rue Rachel • F 75018 Paris (18th Arrondissement) • Métro: Place de Clichy |
 Cimetière du Père-Lachaise (Cimetière de l’Est) The in 1804 inaugaurated necropolis is the biggest one in Paris and named after the father confesser Louis’, XIV., padre de la Chaise, who lived on site in a castle in the 17th century. With a size of 44 ha, avenues with trees along, numerous, spectacular tomb chapel, unique statues and phenomenal mausoleums it is so to speak a city in the city. Even an absolutely recommendable city-map has been prepared for the visitors, which guides you to the graves of all 40 celebrities. You can get it at the main entrance as well as from the kiosks around the church yard.
Classical legends like Molière († 1673, he was put into a Père Lachaise grave 144 years after his death) and Frédéric Chopin († 1893) lie here next to the mortal remains of Oscar Wilde († 1900), Edith Piaf († 1963, buried under her civil name Edith Lamboukas),Jim Morrison († 1971) as well as Yves Montand († 1991) and make the Père-Lachaise a real place of pilgrimage. On the avenue Circulaire you find memorials for the fallen of the war. ► Opening hours: Daily 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday from 8:30 a.m., Sunday from 9:00 a.m. Admission fees: free. Address: 16, rue du Repos • F 75020 Paris (20th Arrondissement) • Phone: 01.55.25.82.10 • Métro: Père Lachaise |   |
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