Musee d'Orsay and other Paris, France Things to Do Tips

There are a lot of museums in Paris and most everyone heads to the Louvre on their first visit. But if you have time for more than one musuem, or you're in Paris for a repeat visit, I highly recommend the Musee d'Orsay.

The Musee d'Orsay is located in a converted train station. The physical space is quite impressive: tall ceilings made of windows, a light, airy and open feeling-- and most of all, the great clock that dominates the wall at the south end of the building. It is an excellent and inviting place to view art.

Musee d'Orsay is dedicated to 19th Century art, including a large collection of Impressionist paintings, sculpture, photography, graphic art and some abtract works. There are some wonderful pieces here, and Musee d' Orsay is not as large (or overwhelming?) as the Louvre. You don't need to spend all day here to see the collection. I highly recommend a visit to this musuem while in Paris.

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Phone: 45.49.48.14
Address: 1 rue de Bellechasse
Website: http://www.musee-orsay.fr/

Notre Dame de Paris is one of the world's most famous examples of gothic architecture. More than 700 years old, the cathedral is also known to people worldwide as the setting for Victor Hugo's masterpiece "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." It was here that Napoléon crowned himself emperor, and then crowned Joséphine as his empress. Notre Dame is a huge and imposing landmark in Paris and an absolute must-see while you are in the city.

The interior of Notre Dame is vast and impressive, with towering ceilings and ornate details in every direction.

For a look at the upper parts of the cathedral, the Siene, and a great view of Paris, climb the 387 steps to the top of one of the towers. The south tower holds Notre-Dame's 13-ton bell, which is rung on special occasions.

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Address: Ile de la Cité

The Jardins des Tuileries is a lovely park located between the famous Louvre and the Place de La Concord in Paris. They were designed by the same person who designed the gardens at Versailles. The gardens are a spacious recreation area for locals and tourists alike and they are a great place to spend some time while you're in Paris.

There are a number of statues and two large fountains, surrounded by chairs. Covering more than 2,500 acres, the gardens are a favorite place for local artists and art students to paint the landscape.

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Address: Place du Louvre
Directions: Metro:Tuileries,Concorde
Website: http://www.louvre.fr

The Arc du Triomphe stands at the north end of the Champs-Elysýes and the center of the Place de L'Etoile. Twelve streets meet at this point, so you'll want to take the tunnel under the street to reach the Arc.

The Arc du Triomphe is a definite must-see while in Paris. The monument was begun in 1806 and completed in 1836. Napoleon ordered it built as a memorial to the French Army and there is an inscription on the arch commenmorating the "departure of the volunteers in 1792." Beneath the arch you'll find France's tomb of the unknown soldier and an eternal flame.

Inside the arch is a museum dedicated to its history and filled with interesting photos and documents. It's really worth it to climb up the stairs to the top of the arch. The stairs are steep and winding, but when you reach the top you're greeted with one of the best views in Paris. From here, you can take amazing photos of the cityscape.

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

Ste-Chapelle is located on the Ile de la Cite, inside the Palais du Justice and just around the corner from Notre Dame.

The chapel was built by Louis IX in the thirteenth century to house the Crown of Thorns that Jesus wore during his execution and a piece of the True Cross. While the Crown of Thorns & the Cross are no longer located at Ste-Chapelle, the church remains one of the most dramatic and memorable in Paris.

The church is rather small (when compared to Notre Dame, certainly!) and a excellent example of gothic design. Its majestic stained glass windows are famous throughout the world.

When you walk into the lower chapel, you might not be suitably impressed. Take the wooden, circular staircase up to the Upper Chapel and prepare to be completely blown away. The stained glass in the Upper Chapel is magnificent, and particularly inspiring on sunny days.

It's interesting that Ste-Chapelle has not been fully restored. The church is definitely rough around the edges and the floors and walls are worn. The windows could use cleaning. However, it is still one of the most beautiful churches you'll ever see!

Ste-Chapelle is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. I believe that we paid about 8 euros each for admission. The lines can get long on the weekends. It's worth the wait to see it at mid-day, when the sun is shining through the windows.

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Phone: 01 53 73 78 50
Address: Boulevard du Palais
Directions: Sainte-Chapelle is inside the Palais of Justice on Ile de le Cité-- a few minute walk from Notre Dame. Métro : Cité, Staint-Michel, or Châtelet. RER: Chatelet -Les-Halles, Saint-Michel
Website: http://www.pbase.com/francist/chap&page=all

Sacre Coeur stands on a hill in Montmartre and is visible from most places in Paris. As a result, it is one of the city's major landmarks. This large, white basilica was built in a Roman-Byzantine style and is notable for its large dome and bell tower (with a 19 ton bell). The basilica was constructed largely of Chateau-Landon stone, which bleaches with age and gives the building its white color.

The basilica was built at the end of the 19th century. The interior of the church contains one of the worlds largest mosaics, depicting Jesus Christ with outstretched arms.

From the area in front of Sacre Coeur, you'll have an impressive view of Paris. This is great photo spot.

Sacre Coeur is located on a hill and can be a formidable climb. The stairs out of the Abesses metro station are quite a workout and then the climb to the basilica is mildly exhausting as well. You might want to take the tram that runs up the hill instead.

Hours:
Basilica: open from 6am to 11pm
Dome : open from 9ham to 5h30pm (7pm in summer)

Entry fees:
Free for the basilica; Dome: 5 euros; Crypt: Free

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Directions: Metro line 2 or 12 to Abbesses. Take the hill tram or walk up the stairs to Sacre Coeur.
Website: http://www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com/

The Luxembourg Gardens are my favorite oasis in Paris, an enormous (60 acre) area of natural beauty on the city's Left Bank. Here in the gardens, you'll find expansive lawns, fresh flowers, tons of statues (both modern and classical), a lily pond, a larger pond with fountain, the Medici Palace and lots of benches where you can sit and enjoy the scenery. There are also lots of attractions for children: ponys, a merry-go-round and even puppet shows.

I like going to the gardens in the morning, before it gets too crowded. At that time of day, you'll see Parisians jogging, doing yoga and tai chi. There's often an early morning soccer game going on and a few art students painting the morning light coming through the trees. Later in the day the crowds arrive. At that time, you'll see people playing chess and checkers at game tables, children sailing boats in the pond and tourists admiring the wonders of the area.

The gardens were first developed by Marie de Médici, who also ordered the construction of the palace that stands in the Park. Today, the park is open to everyone and there is no charge for admission.

Don't miss the Luxembourg Gardens when you are in Paris!

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The Palais du Luxembourg was built for Marie de Medici. After the assassination of her husband, Henri IV, Marie no longer wished to live in the Louvre (the royal palace at the time). She asked an architect to recreate her childhood home (located in Florence) on Paris' Left Bank. She lived in this splendid palace only briefly before being banished to Germany.

Today, the palace is the home of the French Senate. This has been the function of the property since 1852. You can tour the building the first Sunday of each month, by reservation only.

Inside the palace, you'll find Rubens paintings adorning the walls of the large gallery. The library features the works of Eugene Delacroix. There are impressive ceiling paintings throughout the building as well.

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Phone: 01.44.61.21.69
Address: 15 rue de Vaugirard
Directions: On the Left Bank, in the Luxembourg Gardens

Moulin Rouge is the most famous and enduring of the old Parisian cabarets. Established in 1889, it was a favorite subject of the painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, whose depictions of showgirls at the Moulin Rouge are legendary. The recent film "Moulin Rouge," starring Nicole Kidman, brought this old theatre back into the limelight.

The Moulin Rouge is located in Montmarte, a unique and artistic section of Paris. In its heyday, it was known for the dancing girls who performed the Can Can on stage. There is still a show at the Moulin Rouge, although I didn't attend because it's a tad expensive (125-155 euros with dinner, 79-89 without dinner). There are two shows (7:30pm and 11:00pm).

I was content to simply walk by and admire the exterior of Moulin Rouge. It looks great for its age and makes a great photo op!

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Address: 82, Boulevard de Clichy - Place Blanche - 75018 Pa
Directions: Take the metro to the Abesses stop.
Website: http://www.cofrase.com/moulin_rouge/indexuk.htm

The Alexander III bridge is usually considered to be the most beautiful of the bridges in Paris. Its detail and gold accents make it easy to spot and you should definitely take a stroll over this bridge and admire its craftmanship.

This bridge was built in the late 1800s to commemorate a Franco-Russian alliance and was unveiled for the Exposition Universelle of 1900 in Paris. The bridge is made of many different materials, including pink granite and lots of gold leaf. Each of the lampposts along the bridge are topped with globes of hand-blown glass. The statues on the pillars at each end of the bridge are also covered with gold.

A few years ago, this bridge was completely refurbished, so now it is extremely clean and the gold details shine in the sun. All the original details of the bridge are in excellent condition.

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Directions: Located inbetween Invalides and the Grand Palais, over the Seine.