One of the Icons of Paris and other Paris, France Things to Do Tips

One of the most memorable feature of Paris are the Hector Guimard designs for Metro entrances. 141 entrances were built (1900-1904), all made of prefabricated cast-iron elements and 86 of them still remain . Of the canopied ones, only two examples of this design survive in Paris." One on the Porte Dauphine side of Avenue Foch and the other one accesses the Abbesses metro station in the 18th Arrondisement.

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The Pompidou Arts Centre

Do you remember at school, that there was always one child who seemed to wear his (it was always a he) his clothes inside out, and odd socks ? No ?, Just me then.

Anyway, the architectural equilvalent of this 'odd child' is this 1970's creation of Rogers and Piano. All the 'gubbins' of the building are on the outside. It created a storm when it opened, but is now almost considered ordinary.

Sourbugger doesn't care much for the modern arty-farty stuff that fill the place, but at least if you like esculators you can ascend to the top floor for a good (and FREE) view of Paris.

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Niki de Saint Phalle and Jean Tinguely created these wonderful sculptures in the 1980's. One must seriously wonder quite how much weapons-grade narcotics they must have ingested to achieve this.

Located next to the Centre Georges Pompidou the fountain consists of sixteen separate sculptures inspired by Stravinsky's music. They are wonderfully playful, and attract children like Jelly and Ice-cream - which must be a good thing.

My particular favourite is the 'firebird' thing.

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Address: Next to Centre Gorges Pompidou

I.M. Pei's pyramids certainly caused a stir in the archuitectural world when they appeared in the courtyard of this massive art gallery. Rather like a iceberg, most of the work is underground - the scheme neatly brings together the different sections of the complex.

Some will argue that the use of this ancient form is some reference to pagan rites or ancient mysteries, others that it is just a typically gallic juxtapostion of the old and the very modern.

I prefer to think of Pei's work in a different way.

Some women, of a certain age, make the decision to slap on a pancake of make-up, some bright lipstick, a pair of dangly earings, and skirt that is much too short for them in order to attract a younger audience. I think Pei's pyramids perform a similar function for the middle aged lady that is the Lourve.

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Some years back there was a lovely little film called the "Venus de milo instead", I can't remember the deatils now but missing out on seeing the Mona Lisa and seeing this artwork was some sort of metaphor for the lead characters' life.

The Venus (or in Greek Aphrodite) statue is not attributed to any known sculptor, but this work from the second century BC is considered to be one of the great art treasures of the world.

The famous lack of arms has led to extensive academic sepeculation about what (if anything) they would have held. Some sources claim it would be a shield and a mirror to reflect and thus admire her own beauty. Others claim she would have held an apple of love. Having seen pictures of a possible re-construction I personally reckon the old girl invented cricket, and as actually bowling a rather good Yorker.

Somehow I don't expect my theory to win much favour in the art world.

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Pei's Pyramid in the Lourve courtyard certainly works well in 'focussing' the main tourists mind to the main entrance to the enourmous art warehouse that is the Lourve : the consquence of this is often enormously long queues.

The more savvy traveller however get in through the Porte des Lions, in south-eastern wing of the Museum near the river. This is normally very quiet (though it is closed on Fridays). Arrive first thing and you'll have the best chance to see the Mona Lisa free of crowds.

You could also buy tickets in advance on the internet (www.louvre.fr) or by phone (0033 142 313228 - allow at least two weeks for postage). They are valid for entry on any day and allow admission without queuing at the special entrance in the passage Richelieu (between the Place du Palais Royal and the Cour Napoléon, or via the Carrousel du Louvre shopping area - access through 99 rue de Rivoli or the Carrousel garden). Go directly to the checkpoint at the entrance of the collections to show your ticket.

You can also buy advance tickets in several leading stores. Such as FNAC, Carrefour, Continent, Leclerc, Auchan, Extrapole, Le Bon Marché, Printemps, Galeries Lafayette, BHV, Virgin Mégastore.

I also believe there are some advance purchase machines in the shopping area. Simply use one of them and avoid the queues by taking your ticket to the pre-paid entrance - Voila !

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One area of the Louvre you should not miss is the royal state rooms and apartments of Napoleon III. This guy didn't do things by half - they will probably be the most extravagent, over-the-top and ornate first floor flat you are ever likely to see. Guilded stucco as far as the eye can see.

Be aware that they periodically are closed to the public - so check opening hours when you arrive.

The great chandelier - a whopping 9ft across - is typical of the grandiose furnishings

(first floor, Richelieu, rooms 83-89).

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Whilst the Louvre is perhaps most well known for Da Vinci's Mona Lisa and sculptures such as the Venus de Milo, it is also the home of some of the greatest works of one of my favourite artists - Vermeer.

'The Lacemaker' is perhaps the most famous here, and the delicate picture is a real winner. It uses some very advanced techniques to alter the focus in various parts of the picture, in a way similar to the 'camera obsura' technique. In this way it draws you into the picture in an almost hypnotic way, picking up the rhythm of the lacemaker at work.

'The Astromomer' picture is also nearby. I especially like the metaphysical references to heaven and hell as well as the human mind of reason (represented by the astromomer) directly facing the power of God represented by the shaft of light entering the room.

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Address: Louvre

If ever the world's most famous painting came up for sale (which I'm sure it never would) it is conservatively estimated that it would top 300 million pounds (over 600 million dollars)

This is somewhat surprising as the painting was not particularly well known until the mid- nineteenth century. The fact it once hung in Napoleon's bedroom may have something to do with that. Indeed would could speculate that the Mona Lisa's latent sexuality in her smile may have something to do with the immortal phrase "not tonight, Josephine". And I've always had my suspicions about why he is always pictured with his hand inside his jacket.

Anyway, despite these rather dodgy meanderings, it remains one of the "Must see's" of world culture. It now has a new home within the Louvre, protected by sheets of bullet proof glass. Despite all the hype, I must confessed that I have always found it slightly dissappointing as a painting, not helped by the fact that it normally viewed from behind the heads of several dozen Japansese tourists. It is, after all, just a portrait of a rich merchant's wife

A scientific anaylsis suggests that the picture has such an effect on some because it triggers the senses used in perpherial vision, but close up it appears very different. The eyes and smile seem to follow you around the room : until you are right in front of it - then the smile vanishes.

I suppose that's a bit like when you enter a room with a party going on. Your peripheral vision alerts you to the presence of a blonde in a tartan mini-skirt, but when you actually get up close she turns out to be a right old haddock - and probably called Lisa.

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Address: Louvre

I would have thought that a proposal of marriage on top of the Eiffel tower would have been the top place on earth to do the deed, if somewhat cheesy and naff.

It certainly was recently for Tom Cruise who proposed to fis future misses there. In fact according to the research, British men are a traditional bunch with 32% choosing a gondola on the canals in Venice as the ultimate setting for a proposal with the Trevi Fountain in Rome (21.4%) second and the Eiffel tower (18.3%) only third. I don't know what the figures are for Frenchmen.

Still, the chances are you may well come across a couple in the act (so to speak) or you may even be up for it yourself. In the past such proposals were traditionally done in private, but today's media driven attention-seeking society has changed all that.

So where did Sourbugger fall for another's charms for life ? Very traditional - Venice, although in a posh restaurant rather than in a Gondola.

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Address: Trocadero
Directions: You can't miss it!!!