Notre Dame and other Paris, France Things to Do Tips

The Notre Dame -- or "Our Lady" -- Cathedral sits in the center of Paris on an island in the Seine River. It is a famous and enduring symbol of Paris that has been in existence for over 700 years! Completed in 1283, the cathedral is a masterpiece of stained glass, flying buttresses, huge archways, and intricate sculpture.

Most people approach the cathedral from the west, so their first and most enduring image is of the two great towers harboring three huge arched doorways. You can also get a great view of the Notre Dame from across the river to the South or the Rive Gauche (Left Bank) as in my photograph here. It is certainly worth every second you will spend in the church admiring the colorful glass, the artwork, and the overwhelming feeling of history... Many visitors also climb the tower for a great view of the city and a close-up look at the famous gargoyle carvings on the upper levels.

Notre Dame is also famous for Victor Hugo's 1831 book, "Notre Dame de Paris," translated in English as "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" -- the story of Quasimodo and Esmeralda...

Entry to Notre Dame is free, there is a fee to climb the tower.

Note to my fellow Americans -- Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is pronounced No-Trah Dahm (Dahm almost rhymes with mom). Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana, USA, is pronounced No-Der Dame (Dame rhymes with game).

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Address: Ile de la Cité
Directions: Take RER Lines B or C to St-Michel Notre Dame Station

Notre Dame cathedral is decorated in intricate and amazing sculptures that cover much of the exterior. Many of the sculptures show biblical scenes (as appropriate for a grand cathedral!).

The sculpture in the attached photo is my favorite. If I remember correctly, it is to the left of the front entrance to Notre Dame. I think it depicts a former Bishop of Paris, named Denis, being beheaded and carrying his head away with him during the Roman rule of Paris.

The angel to his left seems to be saying, "No... you go ahead and carry it." At the same time, the one on the right just might be getting ready to slap him for some past indiscretion.

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Address: Ile de la Cité

Along with the Notre Dame, Champs Elysees, and the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower is one of the things EVERYONE in Paris sees if not visits. It would be hard to miss considering its massive 300-meter size towers over downtown Paris. It was constructed for the 1889 World's Fair by Frenchman Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel. The tower is made of about 7000 tons of iron.

Visitors can take the elevator up to one of the three observation decks. From there, you can walk the stairs to the other levels which have restaurants, bars, and gift shops. The cost in 2000 was 18 Franc or about 2.75 Euro.

The view from the tower is extraordinary... to the southeast, you will look directly over the Ecole Militaire (Military Academy), and the view to the opposite direction overlooks the Seine and the Palais de Chaillot. Looking southwest, your view will be right down the Seine; to the northeast, look for l'Arc de Triomphe. Because the city is so large and the major sites so far apart, the view from the tower is more a view of the city than a view of key attractions.

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Address: Trocadero
Directions: Take the subway to Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel

The Louvre is one of the greatest museums in the world. Not only does it house an amazing array of art and culture, the building itself is an architectural marvel.

In the 12th Century, a fortress was constructed at the site of the modern Louvre, along the northern bank of the Seine. Parts of this early construction can be viewed in the basement of the museum. In the 1500s, two palaces replaced the fortress. These were later merged and basically formed what we see as the museum building today. Though the kings of this era collected many works of art, it was not open for public viewing. In the late 1600s, Louis the 14th moved the royal government to Versailles and the palace stood empty for years.

Finally, after the French Revolution, the Louvre was opened to the public in 1793. During these early years, the museum collections were populated largely with war trophies from Napoleon's dominant armies.

Today the museum contains works by such famous artists as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. Perhaps its most famous work is the Mona Lisa ("Why does the Mona Lisa have no eyebrows?)

The area around the Louvre also has a few interesting sites to see. The architecture of the building itself is magnificent. The modern Pyramid, built int the 1980s is surrounded by fountains and provides a relaxing, yet busy, spot to sit. Continuing to walk west, you will see the Carrousel du Louvre, a large traffic circle with a Roman-style gate. Next, you will enter the Garden of the Tuileries, a huge park full of grass, trees, and fountains.

Admission to the Louvre costs between 8.50 and 13 Euros with reduced prices after 6pm. To really save money, plan to visit on the first Sunday of the month when entrance is free! There is never any admission fee for those under 18 years old.

To get to the Louvre, take the subway line 7 or 1 to "Palais Royal Musee dy Louvre" Station or Line 1 to "Louvre Rivoli" Station.

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Website: http://www.louvre.fr/

The Place de la Concorde is one of the most photogenic spots in Paris, but it also has a very colorful history. When visiting this area, the first things you will notice are the beautiful fountain and the Obelisk, which is covered in Egyptian hieroglyphics. From this spot, you can look right down the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Trimophe. In the other direction, you will see the Garden of the Tuileries and the Louvre.

The Place de la Concorde was originally built in the mid 1700s, and it was home to a statue of Louis the 14th. During the French Revolution, the statue was demolished, this area was dubbed the Place de la Revolution, and the people set up guillotines. On this site the revolutionaries beheaded Louis the 16th, Marie Antoinette, and over 1000 others.

The ruler of Egypt gave the famous Obelisk, which sits in the center of the place, to the French government in 1829. The tower, officially called the Obelisk of Luxor, stands 23 meters tall, and it took three years to transport the mass of stone to Paris. Carvings on the stone base display how the obelisk was transported and stood upright on this spot.

Every year, as I watch Lance Armstrong win the Tour de France, I watch for the "peloton" to pass the Obelisk and think of my travels to Paris.

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Address: Metro 1, 13 : Concorde

With a population of 2 million people spread over 1,100 square kilometers, Paris is an enormous city. Even for a veteran traveler, the first look at the Paris subway map is almost enough to bring you to your knees. The major sites are deceivingly far apart, and how could you ever figure out what attractions are located where?

After a half day of wandering around the city half lost and riding the subways like mad, I finally decided to try the Bateau Mouches boats that ply the Seine river. These boats are almost cliche when talking about Paris -- for the locals, a "tourist trap."

However, for a newcomer to Paris, the Bateau Mouches (pronounced Ba-TOH Moo-SHAY) boats are almost a godsend! Not only do they give you a chance to relax and get off your tired feet, but they offer a guided tour of the heart of Paris! The boats pickup along the north bank of the Seine, just west of the Louvre. The hour-long trip takes you west to the Eiffel Tower, then turns around, goes past the Louvre and turns again just past the Notre Dame. Along the way, you will hear the history of the city and see important sites such as the Grand & Petit Palaces, the National Assembly, the Musee d'Orsay, and the Ile de la Cite. In my opinion this is a must-see orientation journey for anyone's first trip to Paris.

The cost is about 7 Euros, and boats depart every 20 to 30 minutes in the summer months. In the winter months, there are only about 5 departures per day.

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Phone: (33) 1-4225-9610 or 1-4076-9999
Directions: Take Subway Line 9 to Alma-Marceau Station
Website: www.bateaux-mouches.fr

If after a few days in Paris, you are ready to leave the city for a quick day trip, Versailles is a good option. Just take a 30-minute ride on the RER train, Line C, to Versailles Rive Gauche Station, the last stop on the line. This station brings you within just blocks of the famous Chateau of Versailles and the Hotel de Ville.

The Chateau is the major tourist draw in Versailles. The original hunting chateau was completed in 1624, and after some expansion, it became the official residence of the King in 1682, moving from the Louvre in Paris. The Royal family remained in residence here, constantly building additions and upgrades, until the French Revolution. In 1837, the Chateau became a museum dedicated to displaying French history.

Also worth seeing are the gardens, the park, and the Grand Trianon.

The Chateau is open Tuesday - Sunday, 9 am until 6:30pm in the summer and 5:30pm in the winter. The fee is 7.50 Euros. Visitors may request a guided tour or tour on their own.

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Website: http://www.chateauversailles.fr/
Other Contact: e-mail: direction.public@chateau

The Champs Elysees is the Beverly Hills and Broadway of France, all rolled into one. Here you will see ritzy sidewalk cafes, classy French women walking their poodles, and expensive designer clothing stores. If you are not in a huge rush, this is a great place to take a leisurely 2 kilometer stroll on your way between the Place de la Concorde and the Arc D'Triomphe as there are huge sidewalks lined with leafy trees, French flags, and beauceau people. This street was designed as a city park in the 1660s, but few traces remain of its tranquil beginnings as you will watch the crowds and traffic roaring up and down the street.

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Address: Avenue des Champs-Elysées
Website: http://www.champselysees.org/

L'Arc de Triumphe -- or the Triumphant Arch -- is another of the world-famous sites of Paris. It sits at the northwestern end of the Champs Elysees and about 2 km north of the Eiffel Tower, so it is somewhat out of the way for visitors on a short stay in town.

The Arc de Triomphe was commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1810 to memorialize his great army and its conquest of Europe. Unfortunately for him it was not completed until 1836, long after his famous defeat at the hands of the Duke of Wellington, at Waterloo, Belgium in 1815. The arch stands 164 feet high and has the names of Napoleon's generals etched on the stone. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is under the arch, along with its flame to honor those who died for France.

To get to the arch, you can either run across the 10-lane traffic circle, or more wisely (and safely), use the pedestrian underpass which is located toward the western end of the traffic circle. Access to the top of the arch costs 7 Euro.

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Address: Place Charles-de-Gaulle Etoile
Directions: Metro Line 1, 2, RER A : Charles-de-Gaulle Etoile

The Grand and Petite Palais, with their glass and steel domes, were built in 1900 for the World's Fair. They are now landmarks of Paris along the Seine near the Place de la Concorde. Despite being called "Palais" these buildings were never palaces; they have always housed museums and galleries for the public.

Entry costs about 6 Euros. Taking a photo is free.

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Address: 3, Avenue du Général-Eisenhower, 75008, Paris
Directions: Champs Elysées-Clemenceau Metro Station