Paris, France’s capital, has been a major European city for over two millennia. Paris is one of the most important cities in the world when it comes to commerce, fashion, entertainment, art, and culture, and it goes by many monikers. The very name of the city, Paris, evokes mental pictures of the city’s many iconic monuments, museums, and cathedrals.
Top 10 Places to Visit in Paris
Paris, often referred to as the “City of Fashion,” is home to some of the world’s most prestigious fashion houses, including Yves Saint-Laurent, Lancôme, L’Oréal, and Christian Dior.
There is a wide variety of retail options in the city, including malls, farmer’s markets, boutiques, and even flea markets. An outline of Paris’s most popular sights:
1. Eiffel Tower
Most visitors to Paris regard seeing the city’s most recognisable landmark as their top priority while there. This iron edifice, which stands at almost 300 metres in height and dominates the Champ de Mars park, was built for the 1889 World’s Fair.
The Eiffel Tower, one of the world’s most visited landmarks, is a fantastic subject for photographs at any time of day or night. Take the lift up to one of the tower’s two excellent restaurants and enjoy breathtaking views of the city below.
2. Louvre
The Louvre Museum, housed in the Louvre Palace and recognised by its distinctive glass pyramid, is consistently ranked as the most popular museum in the world. The Louvre is home to over a million things, including the “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci, “The Dying Slave” by Michelangelo, and the “Venus of Milo” by the ancient Greeks.
Other well-attended displays include Egyptian artefacts, works by Rembrandt and Rubens, and Napoleon III’s opulent palaces.
3. Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe, one of Paris’s most visited landmarks, was built in 1806 to honour Napoleon Bonaparte’s victories in battle.
The arch commemorates those who fought and died for the emperor and is 164 feet in height, 148 feet in width (50 by 45 metres). The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was laid to rest beneath the arch after the First World War.
4. Notre Dame de Paris
You must see the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral on your trip to Paris. This magnificent church, which is more than 400 feet (120 metres) in height and features two towers and a spire, is widely regarded as the pinnacle of French Gothic design.
Visitors can take in the breathtaking rose windows, Gothic carvings, stunning sculptures, and relics on display on a tour of this 13th-century masterpiece.
5. Sacre-Coeur
The stunning Sacre-Coeur basilica, with its white dome, is one of Paris’s most recognisable sights. This beautiful basilica, perched atop the highest point in the city on Montmartre hill, receives a steady stream of visitors who come to marvel at its white marble exterior and ornate interior.
One of the largest clocks in the world, gold mosaics, and stained glass windows await tour-goers.
6. Jardin du Luxembourg
The Luxembourg Gardens, or simply the Gardens, are Paris’s second-largest public park. Beautiful lawns, formal gardens, and fruit orchards with several artistic statues and fountains welcome visitors for picnics and leisurely strolls.
There are jogging trails, tennis courts, and exercise equipment available for use. The large playground features pony rides, a puppet performance, and a pond where kids may race model boats.
7. Musee d’Orsay
The Musee d’Orsay has the world’s best collection of impressionist art and is a must-see for art enthusiasts. This magnificent museum, housed in a converted train depot, displays thousands of artworks and artefacts from the 1850s through the early 1900s.
Many great artists, including Monet, Van Gogh, Cezane, Degas, Pissarro, Renoir, and Jean-Francois Millet, are represented in the exhibition, which spans multiple rooms.
8. Centre Pompidou
Centre Pompidou, located in the Beaubourg section of the 4th arrondissement, is a cultural institution built in the style of high-tech architecture. It includes a big public library, a bookstore, a movie theatre, a panoramic terrace, and Europe’s largest modern art museum, the Musée National d’Art Moderne. The museum’s permanent collection is on levels 4 and 5, while the library comprises the first three floors.
Large-scale exhibitions take place on both the ground and mezzanine levels. Georges Pompidou, President of France from 1969 to 1974, was the driving force behind the creation of the Centre, which bears his name.
9. Sainte-Chapelle
The construction of the Sainte-Chapelle began after the year 1239, and today it is regarded as one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture. King Louis IX of France commissioned its construction so that he could store his collection of Passion Relics, which included the Crown of Thorns worn by Jesus.
It has one of the most intact collections of stained glass from the 13th century, despite being destroyed during the French Revolution and restored in the 19th century.
10. Place de la Concorde
The largest square in Paris, Place de la Concorde is located at the eastern end of the Champs-Elysées and offers breathtaking views in all directions. The guillotine was used to execute numerous people in this plaza during the French Revolution, including King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and many others.
The massive Egyptian obelisk, which dates back 3,200 years and was relocated there from the Temple of Luxor in the 19th century, now stands in the middle of the Place de la Concorde.
