Deportation Point and other Paris, France Things to Do Tips

This memorial reminds the peoples of Paris and the world of the 200,000 individuals deported from France during the 2nd world war by the German Army. Of the 200,000 deportees I understand that around 30,000 were from Paris.

They came from all different walks of life though the vast majority of deportees being Jews. Their destination was concentration camps and, in many cases, gas.

The point is located on the other side of the bridge from Notre Dame and is a fairly stark monument provoking many emotions. That this sort of thing could be carried out by our 'enlightened' species is a testimony to the continuing stupidity still being seen around the world today.

It is weird after visiting Notre Dame and the Louvre with their beauty to visit the deportation point - a monument of significance for all the wrong reasons. It's open most days but not between 12 & 2pm.

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Address: Square de l'Ile de France (behind Notre Dame)
Directions: behind Notre Dame Cathedral

This church is a wonderful place to visit and a must on your tour.

Entry is gained through a small entrance to the left of the Palace du Justice with very thorough bag checks done. The church itself is split into to chapels - the lower & upper - both with their own unique architecture and aspects.

The insides of the church are quite basic with the steps etc very worn and seemingly uncared for but one step into the Haute Chapel and you'll thank yourself that you visited - it is just fantastic!!

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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 is one of Paris' most characteristic landmarks and can be seen from many points sitting on top of Montmartre. The crypt contains (what some of the devout believe) Christ's sacred heart hence the name of the church. Construction began in 1876 with consecration not happening until 1919 (though the church has been the scene of perpetual prayers of adoration day and night since 1885).

The interior is brilliantly decorated with mosaics including Christ on the ceiling and the mural of his Passion at the back of the altar. The original stained-glass windows were shattered during World War 2 (in 1944) but have been replaced.

The view from the gallery around the inner dome of Sacré-Coeur is excellent so make sure you take a look. The walk around the inner dome is an attraction even better than the interior of Sacré-Coeur itself!!

To get from lower street level to the Church you can ride in the Fenicular - a cable car type thing that makes the walk up some steep steps a lot easier - especially if you are older. As it turned out Mum took the Fenicular and I ran up the steps (too much time on the bus!!).

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Website: http://www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com/

As I understand it, in the 1970s this place was labled "the most avant-garde building in the world". The building was down to the ideas of former president Georges Pompidou hence his name being attached. It opened in 1977 and became the focus of a bit of controversy. You can see why with its brightly painted pipes and ducts crisscrossing its transparent facade (green for water, red for heat, blue for air, yellow for electricity).

Problem was the building quickly deteriorated and a major restoration was needed. The work apparently added 450 sq. m of exhibit space plus a rooftop restaurant and some other stuff including rooms for film screenings and performances.

The Centre Pompidou encompasses five attractions. Musée National d'Art Moderne, Bibliothèque Information Publique, Centre de Création Industriel, Institut de Recherche et de Coordination Acoustique-Musique and the Atelier Brancusi.

It is very big and really worth the time if you have it. Visit the website below for more comprehensive info.

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Address: Place Beaubourg, 75004
Directions: Métro: Rambuteau ; RER: Châtelet-Les Halles
Website: www.centrepompidou.fr

This church was completed in 1637 and really is a wonderful place to visit. The church has been known for organ recitals ever since Liszt apparently played here in 1866. There are a number of very good paintings with the most famous painting being Rembrandt's 'The Pilgrimage to Emmaus'. Other claims to fame by association are Madame de Pompadour and Richelieu who were baptized here and Molière's funeral which was held here in 1673.

There's a side entrance on rue Rambuteau.

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Address: 2, Rue du Jour, 75001 Paris
Website: www.st-eustache.org

Designed as the architectural centerpiece of the sprawling satellite suburb of La Défense, this massive steel-and-masonry arch rises 35 stories (it's tall enough to shelter Notre-Dame beneath). The arch is ringed with a circular avenue patterned after the one around the Arc de Triomphe. It extends the straight line linking the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, Champs-Elysées, Arc de Triomphe, avenue de la Grande Armée, and place du Porte Maillot. . An elevator carries you up to an observation platform, where you get a view of the carefully planned geometry of the surrounding streets. This all seems really impressive until you see the nets rigged up along the arch - bits started falling off so they were put in place to capture the bits (keeping unsuspecting tourists safe?)

It's open from 10am to 6pm each day and it'll cost you 7.50€ to go inside and ride to the top.

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The liitle Corsican who became Emporer of France and their greatest soldier, has his final resting place at the Hotel des Invalides. To allow the tomb to fit, architect Visconti had to redesign the church's high altar. First buried on St. Helena, Napoleon's remains were exhumed and brought to Paris in 1840 on the orders of Louis-Philippe, who demanded that the English return the emperor to French soil.

There is a whole lot of Napoleon stuff to see including field bed, his bedroom as it was at the time of his death on St. Helena, the hat he wore at Eylau, the sword from his Austerlitz victory and his "Flag of Farewell," (which he in theory kissed before departing for Elba). There is also an interesting oil by Delaroche painted at the time of Napoleon's first banishment (Apr 1814) depicting Napoleon rather worse for the wear (paunch and all).

The tomb room is interesting to visit if not just for the carved figures who will look at the box for eternity, a dozen Amazon-like figures representing Napoleon's victories.

Admission to Napoleon's Tomb (incl. Musée de l'Arméeand Musée des Plans-Reliefs) is 7€ and the place is open daily from 10am until 5, 6 or 7pm depending on the time of year.

A bit of trivia - the willow trees on the banks of the Avon River in my home town of Christchurch, New Zealand are cuttings from the trees on St Helena - where Napoleon spent his final days.

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Website: www.invalides.org

In 1670, the Sun King (Louis XIV) decided to build this "hotel" to house disabled soldiers. It wasn't an entirely benevolent gesture, considering that the men had been injured, crippled, or blinded while fighting his battles. A gilded dome by Jules Hardouin-Mansart crowns it and its corridors stretch for miles.

The best way to approach the Invalides is by crossing over the Right Bank via the early-1900s pont Alexander-III and entering the cobblestone forecourt, where a display of massive cannons makes a formidable welcome.

There are many things to see here with Napolean's tomb probably the top of most peoples list. It sits on a pedestal in a round room and is a suitable monument to France's most famous war soldier.

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This church is a key visit on the Da Vinci trail though is really worth a visit in its own right if you like art. Having read the DVC I was interested in the Rose line and other bits as described in the book but was really stunned with the fantastic sculptures and works by Delacriox. Delacroix has many amazing frescoes in the Chapelle des Anges (Chapel of the Angels). The chapel is the first on your right as you enter and is a must see in Paris.

My guide advised that work on the church began in 1646 with work on the bell towers continuing until 1780. The church has one of the world's largest organs, comprising 6,700 pipes which may give you a "so what" feeling until you see it - it's fairly impressive.

While you are here, if the need arises, you can also try to find the spot where a certain bady did a bit of digging in the DVC.

Admission is free and the place is open from 7.30am to 7.30pm every day.

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Address: Metro Line 4 : Saint-Sulpice

This is one of the MUST SEE items for anyone visiting Paris. From the base it's quite a spectacle but from Level 3 at 305' its amazing. It was built for the 1889 Universal Exhibition and has been one of the worlds most recognisable icons ever since.

You can either walk up the South Tower or take the lift. Get there early as the queues for the lifts (especially) can get very long and very slow. You can run up if you feel keen via the stairs at the South tower.

My favourite route to get here is by taking the #82 bus which has a stop very close to the Tower or alternatively Metro to Trocadero as you get a great view from the platform before wandering down the steps and over the Seine. I've also taken the #28 bus to Ecole Militaire and walked through the park - Champ de Mars.

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