Paris is at the top of the preferences in Europe, while it is first in most travel categories. Something similar happens to me, since Paris always "figured" at the top of my list, while it was also the first trip without my family. The first time I visited it was with the school, on the standard seven-day school trip. A city taken from a movie, whose beauty and picturesqueness could not leave me untouched? And because the "killer" always returns to the crime scene, so I visited it a second time to have a more complete view.
A few words about the city
Paris is the capital of France, the Ile-de-France region and at the same time one of the most historic towns of the European World. It is one of the largest cities in Europe and the whole world, with the population in the wider area reaching 13.000.000 inhabitants! Moreover, it is the cultural and economic capital of France, its most important hub and the seat of many international organizations, such as UNESCO. The city of light (Ville lumiere), as they call it, did not get this nickname because of the undoubted influence of Paris in the Arts, Culture and science, but rather from something completely literal, since it was one of the first metropoleis that supplied its main avenues with gas lamps in 1828. So I will try to present you Paris through my own eyes and share with you what I think should be seen by someone who visits it for the first time.
Tour Eiffel
If we were looking for the most famous symbol of Europe, I think that the Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel) would definitely "figure" in the first places. It was built to "live" only for the duration of the 1889 International Exhibition and for many years was the tallest building in the world. Naturally, the charm of the huge iron tower was irresistible to the Parisians and so it stands haughtily in the heart of Paris to this day. It took more than two years to complete, with each of the approximately 12,000 pieces of iron being designed separately to give it exactly the shape it needed. All the pieces were prefabricated and assembled with about 7 million nails! The Eiffel Tower is divided internally into three levels, which you can visit either by elevator or on foot (do not make the mistake of trying to climb). On the first level, you will find souvenir shops, as well as restaurants and cafes, on the second there is the famous restaurant Le Jules Verne, while on the last level you will be able to see the magnificent view of Paris from almost 300 meters high. Tickets cost 18e, and I would suggest booking them online to avoid huge queues and save valuable time.
Notre Dame de Paris-Hotel de Ville
On the banks of the River Seine stands Notre Dame, certainly not the largest cathedral in the world, but undoubtedly one of the most famous. This Gothic masterpiece is located on the Ile de la Cite, a small island in the heart of the city, which has always been the religious center of Paris, regardless of the religion of the local residents. Its construction began in 1163 and was completed in 1345, as the design was constantly changing during construction. The result is a huge building 128 meters high, with two towers of 69 meters each, while the mythical Spire, which many will know from the homonymous animated film, was added much later in the 19th century. Its interior is equally impressive, with colorful stained glass windows, medieval frescoes and ornate sculptures, making Notre Dame one of the city's main attractions.
Just opposite is another impressive building, the City Hall of Paris (Hotel de Ville). It is the headquarters of the municipality of Paris since 1357, and today performs multiple functions, houses the local administration, the mayor of Paris (since 1977) and serves as a venue for large receptions. Its southern wing was originally built by Francois I starting in 1535 until 1551, while the northern one was built by Henry IV and Louis XIII between 1605 and 1628. In May, 1871, it was almost completely burned down along with all the records of the city it contained, but was rebuilt following the original design in the following five years.
Arc de Triomphe
In the middle of Charles de Gaulle Square (Place Charles de Gaulle), you will be faced with the spectacle of the Arc de Triomphe. This particular arch is considered one of the largest arches in history and was erected by Napoleon in 1806 to celebrate his victories, but passed away before its completion. Its design is based on the Arch of Titus in Rome, and only the Arch of Napoleon is taller by 35 meters even though they have exactly the same proportions.
After admiring the arch, do not hesitate to cross the Avenue des Champs-Elysees that starts from it. It is the most commercial and at the same time, the most expensive boulevard in Europe. There you will admire along the way luxury shops, many star hotels, theaters, cinemas and many stylish restaurants and cafes.
Pantheon
On the Left Bank of the river Seine and in the" youthful" district of Quartier latin, since there is the Sorbonne University and generally all the student bars and bistros, you will see the Pantheon. It is an imposing building of the 19th century, originally designed as a church dedicated to Saint Genoveva, who is also the patron saint of the city. But after many changes, it now functions as a secular mausoleum, which contains the remains of prominent French citizens. Some of the most famous who are buried there are Victor Hugo, Voltaire, Jean Monnet, Marie and Pierre Curie, Emile Zola, etc.. Like the Arc de Triomphe, the Pantheon has elements from the architecture of Rome, since it has as a model the homonymous building in the Italian capital, while it is crowned by a dome, which has elements of the Tempietto of Donato Bramante in Rome (in San Pietro in Montorio).The Pantheon is available for free visit every first Sunday of the month for everyone, while admission is free for under 26 European citizens, as well as for the unemployed and children. If you do not belong to any of the above categories, then you will need to pay the price of 9e for your entrance.
Palais Garnier
Palais Garnier is the state opera of France and is said to be "the most famous opera in the world". This is due, at least in part, to its use for Gaston Leroux's 1910 novel The Phantom of the Opera. It is one of the symbols of the city and was built from 1861 to 1875, with a capacity of 1979 seats. It was originally named Salle des Capucines (Capuchin Hall) because it was located on the Boulevard des Capucines in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, but soon became known as the Palais Garnier in recognition of its splendor and architect Charles Garnier. If you are in the city and there is a show, do not miss the opportunity to watch it.
The museums
Even if you've never visited a museum in your life, I think the Museum of Louvre (Musee du Louvre) is the perfect museum to start with. The most important, the most famous and full of myths and legends Louvre was a royal palace in the 14th century, then turned into a fortress, until at the end of the 18th century it took its present status as a Public Museum. Of course the Louvre not only worth for Mona Lisa, Victory of Samothrace and Aphrodite of Milos, since this museum offers the visitor the opportunity to wander through the three wings of the former palace and admire the "enfant gateaux" of art from antiquity to the present day. Sculptures from Ancient Greece, Egypt and other Oriental cultures, Renaissance masterpieces by Michelangelo, Raphael and Botticelli, up to paintings by Da Vinci, Rubens and Delacroix are on display. As for the well-known outer pyramid, which adorns the courtyard of the museum, it was added later, in 1989, by the famous American architect I.M. Pei and allows sunlight to reach the basement. Tickets cost 15e (free for persons under 18), and on the first Sunday of each month admission is free.
On the left bank of the Seine, you will have the opportunity to visit another very interesting art exhibition, the Orsay Museum (Musee d'Orsay). It is a museum, housed in a large railway station of 1900 and counts a large collection of sculptures and paintings by the Impressionists, which make it one of the most popular in Paris. In the museum there are three levels, on the ground floor the exhibition rooms are distributed on both sides of the main hall, in which mainly sculptures are exhibited, while the side rooms mainly include exhibits of paintings. On the middle level there are balconies, which give access to the exhibition halls, and on the third (top) floor, which extends along the banks of the Seine, there is the possibility of access to the balcony, from where the visitor can see the river, the Louvre Museum diagonally opposite and, at a greater distance, facing the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Basilique de Sacre-Coeur), the Temple located on the top of the Montmartre hill and is the highest point of the city. Admission to the museum costs 12e.
Finally, the Centre Pompidou deserves special attention. It is a building dedicated to contemporary art, which opened its gates in December 1977, under the presidency of Georges Pompidou (hence its name). Inside it is home to a huge public library, the Musee National d'art Moderne, the largest museum of Contemporary Art in Europe, and the IRCAM, a center for music and acoustic research. The museum exhibits more than 59,000 works, covering a wide range of the arts of the 20th century. It includes works by Matisse, Kadinsky, Miro, Picasso, between 1905 and 1965 and covers styles such as Fauvism, Abstract art, Surrealism and Cubism. The ticket to the museum and individual exhibitions costs 14e.
Montmartre
Montmartre is one of the most picturesque quarters of Paris. Many of you will know it from the film Amelie, which automatically makes it a mobile attraction. It is located in the north of Paris, on a hill, which reaches a height of about 130 meters. The word Montmartre translates to "mountain of martyrdom" and comes from the martyrdom of Saint Denis, Bishop of Paris, who was beheaded on the top of the hill in 250 AD. Of course, today this quarter has nothing to do with martyrdom, as the romantic aura it exudes, is suitable for walking along the cobblestone streets, drinking hot beverages in the beautiful bohemian cafe-bars and climb to the Church of the Sacred Heart, to admire the dazzling view of Paris from above.
Palais Royal
The Royal Palace (Palais Royal), which in ancient times was called "The Palace of the Cardinals", is a palace that housed kings and prominent personalities, in the 1st arrondissement of Paris. It is located directly opposite the Louvre and is an attraction of great historical and architectural importance. Construction began in 1633 to be Cardinal Richelieu's personal residence and was completed six years after 1693. After the cardinal's death, the royal residence passed to the King and was renamed Palais-Royal. Many prominent personalities of the then aristocratic world lived in the palace, while in the theater housed inside the palace; the greatest teacher of comedy in Western literature, Moliere, sometimes presented his plays. Today the palace belongs to the Ministry of Culture and houses the National Library with over 30,000,000 books and books. Admission is free.
Cimetière du Père Lachaise
The cemetery of Pere Lachaise (Cimetière du Père Lachaise) is the largest necropolis in Paris (110 acres) and receives more than 3.5 million visitors annually, thus being the most famous necropolis in the world. It was opened in 1804, at the behest of Napoleon, and its name is derived from Louis XIV, Pere Francois de la Chaise, who lived at that spot. The cemetery is an open-air museum, with elaborate funerary monuments and statues. In it are buried famous French citizens from all spectra of Arts and culture, such as Moliere, Oscar Wilde, Eugene Delacroix, Francois Chopin, Maria Callas, Edith Piaf and many others.
Disneyland
Because we all have a child inside us, I could not mention Disneyland. This Disney theme park is located about 30 km outside Paris and takes us straight to a fairytale and fantastic reality. The park opened its gates in 1992 and covers an area of 4,800 acres (about a fifth of the size of Paris), includes two theme parks, Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park, Hotels, markets, entertainment complex, golf course and several additional recreation and entertainment areas. There you will find castles and ships of natural size, towers of sweets, trains of terror and carousels and of course the established parade of all our favorite heroes. I would suggest that you purchase the map of the park and the schedule of daily events at the entrance, so that you can perfectly organize your tour and catch up to see as much as possible. The adult daily pass for one of the two theme parks starts from 49€ for both parks, from 64€, while for children there are discounted tickets of about 50%.
Chateau de Versailles
Of course, my report could not miss the Palace of Versailles (Chateau de Versailles). The palace of the palaces, the one that all the kings envied and tried to copy, but without success. You will find this palace 20 km south-west of the center of Paris, in the city of the same name. In the past, Versailles was a village, which was the political center and capital of France, until the French Revolution began and the end of the kingdom came to the country. This palace was developed after 1660 by King Louis XI and is one of the most imposing and luxurious in the world (for many it is the most luxurious), with the majesty it exudes is unquestionable from the very entrance. The notable gardens of the palace, covering an area of 800 hectares, look like a painting with dozens of fountains and statues pushing you to discover them, whatever season you visit. In the building there are about 700 rooms, 2,143 windows, 1,252 fireplaces, and 67 stairs (!). While in the center of the building the famous Hall of Mirrors, a huge hall 70 meters long, decorated with expensive crystals, candles and the most expensive mirrors of the time. The ceiling and walls of the hall are dominated by murals and other works of art by the most famous European artists of the period. Today it houses National Museum of France and is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The entrance costs 14e.
How to go
There are three airports in Paris: Beauvais Tille Airport, which houses mainly the so-called low cost companies, Charles de Gaulle, which is the largest in the city, and Paris Orly Airport, which is the one closest to the center. The most economical option to travel to Paris is that of Ryanair (Beauvais Tille Airport), which with proper planning can find tickets starting from € 39 (!) round trip. If you want a more comfortable flight, you can choose Airserbia (Charles de Gaulle) with a stopover in Belgrade, from 202 € return.
Where to stay
Paris as I said above, is one of the largest and most beautiful cities in the world. This means that tourist interest in the city is particularly high, which is equivalent to high prices in hotels or houses. The hotel I have to recommend is not some hidden diamond, as it belongs to the most famous hotels and is none other than the Holiday Inn. This property is a 4-star hotel, which enjoys a great location and provides guests with all the amenities imaginable. The price per night is a little high, but if booked long enough before the visit, you can achieve some great discount.
How to move
The public transport network of Paris is considered one of the best in the world. With 16 metro lines, 347 bus lines (of which 31 are night lines), 6 tram lines and 5 suburban lines, you can reach every point of the city. Depending on the days you will stay in the town, I would suggest that you take the appropriate pass to save mainly money and time, since otherwise you will have to issue a ticket for every move. The “Paris visite” pass is valid for 1, 2, 3 or 5 consecutive days for Zones 1 to 3 or 1 to 6 and costs 12e, while the Navigo pass is weekly or monthly, for Zones 1 and 2, 1 to 3, 1 to 4, 1 to 5 or 1 to 6 and is obviously more expensive. Taxis are somewhat expensive, but they are an easy way to travel as you can stop them on the road or find them in one of the dozens of squares in the city. Finally, Paris is one of the most ideal cities to use a bike, as there are bike lanes everywhere and generally they show respect for the cyclist. You can rent one from the company Velib, at a daily cost of 1.70e.
What to eat
French cuisine is one of the most famous in the world and of course in the capital you will have the opportunity to taste some authentic French flavors. First you should start with a soup, an Onion Soup (Soupe A L'oignon) or perhaps a fish soup, known to many as Bouillabaisse. As main dishes, I would suggest you try rooster in wine (Coq au Vin), braised veal (Boeuf Bourguignon), ratatouille, snails and of course steak tartare, i.e. raw meat. Finally, when it comes to sweets, you should not forget to eat a Quiche Lorraine, a Creme brulee, a Mille Feuille and of course, Crepes.
Useful information
In France we travel with a passport or a new type of Police ID, where the details are indicated in Latin characters.
In Paris the language used is, of course, French. Although most people know English, they may not speak to you on purpose, as the French are known to be a bit chauvinist.
The currency of the country is the euro.
Paris is an hour behind Greece (GMT +2).
The Greek Embassy in Paris is located at 17 street, Rue Auguste Vacquerie and its phone is + 331 47237228.
Getting to and from Paris airports is simple, since there are continuous bus and suburban trains connecting with the city's metro.
The climate of France is temperate Mediterranean, that is, it has mild, wet winters, warm, dry summers and enough precipitation, so the ideal visiting period is autumn or spring.
Recommended excursions → Versailles, Fontainebleau, Deauville, Reims
If this article seemed interesting or contributed to your quality information, then you can like my facebook page: o_thessalonikios or follow me on instagram!
Mouzakidis Pantelis
