Cheer Cheer for Notre Dame of Paris and other Paris, France Things to Do Tips

Since the city of Paris originated on the Ile de la Cite and Ile St Louis, I thought it appropriate to begin my Paris journey here. Notre Dame de Paris is located on Ile de la Cite, in the center of the Seine. It is indeed the center of the city.

The first stone was laid for the cathedral in 1163, by Pope Alexander III. It took some 170 years to complete it. Many historical events were held here, including in 1804 when Napoleon crowned himself Emporer of France, and Charles de Gaulle's state funeral in 1970

Masses are still held here, and confessions are taken. The cathedral also hosts many concerts - check their website for more details (the schedule is in French)

Quite an impressive place, by day, in the evening or night.

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Address: Place du parvis de Notre Dame , 75004
Directions: Métro: Cité; RER: Châtelet-Les Halles, Saint Michel-Notre Dame
Website: www.cathedraledeparis.com/EN/0.asp

As impressive as Notre Dame is on the outside, the inside is utterly amazing. The ceilings, the stained glass windows, the paintings, the statues. Each with it's own story to tell. When you see something that grabs your fancy, stop and reflect on it for a while. Think of all that's gone on here, the people who've worshipped here.

One thing I found interesting is that there are no pews there that I saw. The faithful seem to worship in chairs. It must be quite an experience to hear Mass in this place.

Picture taking is permitted while Mass isn't being celebrated, though do be respectful of where you are. Notre Dame is still very much a working church.

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Address: Place du parvis de Notre Dame , 75004
Directions: Métro: Cité; RER: Châtelet-Les Halles, Saint Michel-Notre Dame
Website: www.cathedraledeparis.com/EN/0.asp

Invalides is one of the most interesting parts of Paris, especially if you enjoy history. The Hotel des Invalides was built in the 1670's by Louis XIV as a military hospital - in fact, it still houses a small number of France's military veterans.

Outside, the highlight is the Dome Church and Napoleon's Tomb, one of the higlights of the Paris skyline. It's as ornate on the inside as imposing on the outside. Indeed, Napoleon Bonaparte is entombed there. You can see it, with admission as part of the Musee de l'Armee. He's buried inside the Dome in a huge red sarcophagus.

There's so very much to Invalides. If you're looking to learn a bit of French history, this is a good place to visit.

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Address: Hotel des Invalides 75007
Website: www.invalides.org

When you visit Invalides, be sure to stop by the various museums dedicated to military history. The Musee de l'Armee and Musee de l'Ordre de la Liberation have several exhibits you'll find interesting...and it's all for one price too!

The Musee de l'Armee isn't just about France - it is, indeed, a comprehensive museum of weaponry and military history dating back to the Stone Age.

The Musee de l'Ordre de la Liberation is a fascinating look at the fight to free France from the Nazis. General Charles de Gaulle, head of the Free French at the time, set up the Order de la Liberation to reward bravery in this fight. Many hundreds of brave Frenchmen and women were awarded this honor, before it closed for good in 1946; indeed, it's the second highest military honor in France.

See exhibits on the Free French, the French Resistance. Learn about some of these heroes (note that many exhibits are in French). There's also a sobering look at the deportations to concentration camps.

There's one admission fee to all of these museums, along with the Musees de Plans Reliefs, with things like military maps. You can also walk around the courtyard at Invalides.

Quite a place, especially if you enjoy history (like me).

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Address: Hotel des Invalides 75007
Website: www.invalides.org

It's that place you've seen on TV and in the movies. Come to Paris and see the Eiffel Tower in real life. Take tons of pictures. From all different angles. Like I did. To say that it's a Paris "must-see" is quite the understatement. It is, indeed, a very symbol of Paris.

A few facts about the Eiffel Tower:

* Built in 1889, it was the world's tallest building until New York's Empire State Building in 1931. No big apes have ever tried to climb the Eiffel Tower, though.

* It replaced the Washington Monument as the world's tallest building.

* The lower elevators are moved by pullies that, if you look under the Tower, are quite visible. The elevator ride to the first level is at an angle. Kinda cool, actually.

* It weighs 7300 tons. The souvenirs are much easier to take home than the originals.

* Radio towers were installed there by the U.S. Army during World War II. It has TV and radio towers there to this day.

* There's a skating rink on the first floor, open during the winter.

Not much more to say here except, when in Paris, go see the Eiffel Tower. :-)

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Address: Trocadero
Directions: You can't miss it!!!
Website: www.tour-eiffel.fr

I waited some 90 minutes to get to the top of the Tower, on a Tuesday afternoon in December. To be honest with you, I have some vertigo and was quite apprehensive to do this. My original plan was to go to the second level only, not all the way to the top. However, I decided to "go for it", and I'm glad I did. What an amazing view, all the way around. You can see everything. And it's very secure up there, with glass and steel railings - it's not wide open like I thought it would be.

Admission depends on how high you go - there are three different levels, and the highest level is also the most expensive: the elevator ride to the top costs 11 euros for adults, 6 euros for kids 3-11. If you want to save some money and are in good shape, consider climbing. No, I don't mean climbing the outside of the Tower - you climb the stairs. It's cheaper, but you can only go to the second level.

By the way, there are restaurants on the first and second levels.

Enjoy the view!

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Address: Trocadero
Directions: You can't miss it!!!
Website: www.tour-eiffel.fr

...and grandeur and majesty is what comes to mind when seeing this magnificent place. It was commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1806, but not completed for 30 years. So much history occurred here: victory parades after World War I, the Liberation of Paris during World War II, just to name a few.

There's so very much to the Arc de Triomphe, really too much to mention here, so I thought I'd share my first encounter here with you:

While riding in the van coming from the airport, the driver didn't say a word to me for a long time. Then he took me into the Place Charles de Gaulle, the big traffic circle that surrounds the Arc. It's famous for it's crazy traffic patterns, and it didn't disappoint me. There were cars coming at us at all directions, including head on, and my van driver was driving just as crazy as the rest of them. It was nuts!

When we finally got out of the circle, he turns to me and says in English, "are you OK". I told him "that was fun!"...and it WAS fun too!

My very first Paris encounter...and one that'll last a lifetime too.

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Address: Place Charles-de-Gaulle Etoile
Directions: Metro Line 1, 2, RER A : Charles-de-Gaulle Etoile
Website: www.paris.org/Monuments/Arc

The only (sane) way to get below the Arc de Triomphe is by an underground tunnel on the north side of the Champs Elysees. Once there, spend some time looking up close at the intricate detail in the Arc, a tableau of French history. You can also go to the top of the Arc, for a fee, to get a great view of the city.

As it says on the website sited below, the Arc is "the most famous symbol of (France's) national history". Spend a few minutes here, and you'll really feel that history.

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Address: Place Charles-de-Gaulle Etoile
Directions: Metro Line 1, 2, RER A : Charles-de-Gaulle Etoile
Website: www.monum.fr

France's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is buried right below the Arc de Triomphe. Indeed, Rememberance Day ceremonies are held here every November. This unknown French soldier is from World War I.

I'm sure his family missed him and loved him very much.

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

The entrance to the Louvre is actually a giant courtyard. Just walking into the courtyard told me all I needed to know about the Louvre's grandeur and importance. You're surrounded by three magnificent walls, with the "Pyramid" in the middle. The three walls really are the three wings of the museum, and you enter the Louvre throught that pyramid.

The original Louvre was a fortress constructed in the late 12th century, to protect the city against the Vikings. Obviously, the Vikings are gone and it's anything but a fortress now. Generations of French rulers have expanded the Louvre to what you see today.

Before you go in and see all that the Louvre has to offer, take a few minutes outside and admire where you are. It really is quite magnificent...part of the Louvre experience, really.

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Directions: Métro: Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre
Website: www.louvre.fr