Paris Things to Do Tips by spidermiss

Sandemans New Paris Tours

To update soon!

When I was in Paris in November 2009, I did two tours:

The Versailles Walking Tour
Free City Walking Tour

Website: http://www.neweuropetours.eu

Clasic Walks - Guided Walking Tours Walking Review

To update soon!

I did three walks: The Latin Quarter Walk, The French Revolution Walk and The Montmatre Walk

Address: 24 Rue Edgar Faure, 75015 Paris, France

Directions: Near Boulevard de Grenelle and The Eiffel Tower

Other Contact: info@ClassicWalksParis.com

Phone: 01.05.58.10

Website: http://www.ClassicWalksParis.com

Place de la Concorde Place de la Concorde Review

Place de la Concorde became a focal point in 1789 when the storming of the Bastille and revoluntionary activity happened. Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette along with thousands were executed by the guillotine there and in 1795 the square received its present name.

In the centre of the square there is an obelisk from Luxor and there are some 18th Century Palaces which is now the Hotel Crillon and a government department. The Place de la Concorde is adjacent the the Jardin de Tuileries (East) and Champs Elysees (West).

It's a busy intersection for traffic but look out for the beautiful fountains situated centre of the square.

Address: Metro 1, 13 : Concorde

Directions: Adjacent to Jardin des Tuileries and Champs Elysees

Palais-Royal & Jardin Palais Royal Review

Jacques Lemercier was commissioned to build the palace, known as the Palais Cardinal, in 1624. The palace was renamed as the Palais-Royal when it was the Louis XIV's home as a child. The palace, however, was damaged in 1871 during the Paris Commune but was rebuilt. The galleries is a shopping arcade with independent and expensive shops. It's nice to spend an afternoon exploring the courtyard and gardens.

Address: Place du Palais-Royal

Directions: Metro: Palais Royal Musee du Louvre

Place du Trocadero & Palais de Tokyo Palais de Chaillot Review

Place du Trocadero was built for the 1937 World Fair and now houses various museums; Musee de la Marine; Cite de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine. Further down the road, avenue du President Wilson, is the Palais de Tokyo (formerly the Electricity Pavilion) which is now houses Musee d'Art Modern de la Ville de Paris.

Address: Place du Trocadero

Directions: Metro:Trocadero
Facing the Eiffel Tower

Isle de la cite Ile de la Cité Review

Situated in the middle of the River Seine and the birthplace of Paris! It has been the topographical, spiritual and legislative centre for over 2,000 years! The Romans invaded the Parisii settlement in 53 BC and the built a palace, law court and a gods temple but over the centuries the island was replaced with different priorites according to needs of those in reign.

The focal point is Notre Dame de Paris (Under a separate tip entry); the Palais de la Cite complex which features the Conciergerie (Under a separate tip entry) and the Sainte-Chapelle which was built for Louis IX and the Palais de Justice (French Supreme Court). Exploring the Pont Neuf area at one end of the Island is worth exploring and learning a bit of French history including the Revolution.

Address: Metro - Cite - line 4

Directions: Metro: Cite and St Michel.
RER: St Michel

Jardin des Plantes Jardin des Plantes Review

This botanical garden was opened in 1640 for King Louis XIII. The gardens developed during the 18th and 19th Centuries where an amphitheatre and exhibition galleries were built along with a small zoo. The Galerie de Zoologie was opened in 1889 for explorers returning with millions of specimens from their expeditions abroad and for display. Also in the park there is the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle which houses the Grande Galerie de l'Evolution.

Address: 36 rue Geoffroy St-Hilaire, 5th

Directions: Metro: Gare d'Austerlitz

Phone: 01 40 79 54 79

Website: http://www.mnhn.fr

Chateau Versailles Versailles Review

During my visit to Paris in November 2009, I joined a Versailles Walking Tour where we walked around the gardens and parks and learnt about its history.

The grounds were designed by Andre Le Notre where the Grand Canal covers the grounds along with it's manicured formal gardens, hidden groves and pathways.

On a future visit I plan to visit the Palace itself and a day trip worth doing from Paris.

Address: Versailles

Directions: Versailles. RER Versailles-Rive Gauche

Phone: 01 30 83 76 20

Website: http://www.chateauversailles.fr

Jardin du Luxembourg Jardins du Luxembourg Review

Jardin de Luxembourg is in the The Latin Quarter and St-Germain and the gardens are beautifully landscaped where there is lake in the middle. You will notice the statues and flowering urns dotted around the park and look out for the Fontaine de Medicis. There is Musee National de Luxembourg, situated next to the Palais de Luxembourg, housed the first public gallery in France in the 18th Century. Nowadays the musuem houses temporary exhibitions.

Address: Rue de Vaugirard

Directions: Metro: Odeon, RER: Luxembourg

Phone: 01 42 34 23 89

Website: http://www.senat.fr/visite

Jardin des Tuileries Jardin des Tuileries Review

One of Paris' main parks links from the Louvre to Place de la Concorde. The grounds were originally part of the Palais des Tuileries that were burnt down during the French Revolution Years in the late 1700s. The centre point of the gardens is a pool where people can relax and people watch.

At one end of the park there is the Arc du Triomphe du Carrousel and at the other end there are two musuems, Galerie National de Jeu de Paume and Musee de l'Orangerie.

The Passerelle de Soferino, a footbridge, links to the Musee d'Orsay.

Address: Rue de Rivoli

Directions: Metro: Tuileries,Concorde