Paris is like a fairytale town that will mesmerize you, whether the sun is shining on breezy cafes or fog wraps around Notre Dame Cathedral on the Seine River. Perhaps, just one look at the Eiffel Tower will get you started on your Parisian adventure – stroll around tree-planted streets and beautiful gardens.
Paris is known to have its own aura in every part. The Latin Quarter is a collection of fairly narrow streets, where bookstores occupy space between cafes very popular among university students. The Champs-Élysées is full of life and energy. Montmartre also retains a village feel outside the city center marked by its artistic history.
After you have gone to the museums and sightseeing, here is where it gets good – wonderful surprises, like bistros run on a family-owned basis, awfully small shops tucked away off narrow cobble streets or down quiet squares with pretty fountains in them; inviting little tea salons offering attractive pastries within their glassed displays.
But Paris charms you around every corner, even behind the scenes at more famous places. One visit may simply ignite a love affair with the city for life.
Let us show you the simple wonders that make Paris, the City of Light, so unique with our guide to top spots in the city.
- Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is like the face of France, standing tall in Paris. At sunset, the tower illuminates with a sparkling light demonstration for 5 minutes per hour.
The tower has three parts. The first two have restaurants, and the third is an observation deck. Initially, it was meant to be a temporary stop, but now it is one of the most famous places all over the world and demonstrates some unusual architecture. Imagine this way – the Eiffel Tower is to Paris as The Statue of Liberty is to New York or Big Ben in London.
Just to celebrate the 100 years of the French Revolution, this was supposed to be a temporary creation exhibited at the 1889 Universal Exposition and measures no less than 300 feet. At first, people did not like the idea but the “Iron Lady” still stands today. At once, it was turned into a radio-telegraph station, and nowadays is one of the most crowded tourist spots in Paris proving how unexpected can be an integral part of any city’s narrative.
- Notre Dame
The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is a timeless masterpiece of French Gothic architecture, sitting on the Île de la Cité Island. Notre Dame is famous for its beautiful interior, with colorful windows full of sunlight, ancient relics, big bells, and huge organs. However, it had to face challenges, especially during the recent fire nine months ago in April 2019 when everything was destroyed, including amazing artifacts and Charles Hawker’s installed organ. It has been closed for repairs, possessing the status of a beautiful emblem in the center of the River Seine.
Despite adversities, Notre Dame has a rich history marked by destruction during the French Revolution and even damage caused recently, all suffered in a fire that affected its roof and famous spire. Today, it represents a symbol of perseverance and rejuvenation.
- Sacre-Coeur
Sacre-Coeur is a Catholic basilica and church dedicated to the love symbol – the Sacred Heart of Jesus, standing on Montmartre hill in Paris. It’s the second-highest point in the city besides the Eiffel Tower, located on its observation deck with amazing views.
It was started in 1875 and completed in the year of Sacré-Cœur is not only a religious place; it’s also an icon of culture and politics. There are different activities, including night prayers that both locals and tourists visit.
French people were impressed by the Romano-Byzantine style of the basilica, which was very important back then. Sacré-Cœur is a symbol of bravery and revolution since the Franco-Prussian War in 1870.
- Pantheon
It is cool to see old-style architecture in the Latin Quarter of Pantheon. Important people such as scientists, writers, and thinkers, for instance, Alexander Dumas, Marie Curie, and Victor Hugo, are resting downstairs.
It was first a church for Saint Genevieve, just like Rome’s Pantheon. A French scientist by the name of Jean Foucault dropped a pendulum from the Pantheon’s dome to deduce how Earth rotates. It is a neat spot to visit, full of history and cool science stuff.
- Musée Rodin
Musée Rodin in Paris, France, is sort of a sanctuary to one of the world-renowned French artists Auguste Rodin. Inside, you can find his cool sculptures and drawings from the famous like The Thinker, The Gates of Hell, Balzac, and so on.
In 1919, this museum was established and consists of two parts, with the Hotel Biron being one part and Villa des Brillants forming an old home where Rodin used to stay. 1910 was the year that Rodin purchased the fancy mansion. It’s located on the Rue of Varenne in Paris, built between 1727 and 1732. It is here you can see more than 6,000 marble sculptures, terracotta, and bronze pieces, plus over 8,000 photos and drawings.
In addition to Rodin’s artworks, the museum also contains his collection of art and occasionally organizes temporary exhibitions. It was once Rodin’s workshop and it is now fun to visit art in Paris, accompanied by great views.
Also, you can see the greatest sculptures, including The Thinker, Balzac, The Gates of Hell, and Bourgeois de Calais by Rodin, waiting for you in the beautiful rose gardens. The museum also displays Rodin’s collection of paintings by Van Gogh, Monet, and Renoir. The front garden of the museum contains more sculptures by Rodin, including his work called “The Kiss” and it is a venue for art exhibitions.
- Musée Picasso
The Hotel Sale is a historic building located in the Marais neighborhood of Paris and seems to be a treasure chest full of art at the Musée Picasso. It’s a unique place that belongs only to the masterpieces of one famous Spanish artist, Pablo Picasso. You’ll see some of his best-known works there, such as Celestina, Girl Before a Mirror, and The Death of Casagemas.
But it’s not just about Picasso – there is also art by other cool artists like Rousseau, Degas, and Renoir in the museum. There’s also a collection of African art that influenced Picasso. Declared a historical monument in 1968, the museum is located at a renovated Hotel Sale redesigned by Roland Simounet from 1976 to 1985 for a more sophisticated feeling.
In the museum, there are over 5000 works of Picasso. It is not only paintings; there are also sculptures, prints, drawings, ceramics, engravings, and written notebooks. The museum also has the personal belongings of Picasso such as letters and photos. All these goodies were donated by Picasso’s family after his death, so the Musée Picasso is a special place to learn about the creative legacy of this awesome artist.
