Paris France » Paris Sights

Grand Arche Paris

admin — Thu, 21 Oct 2004 06:18:27 +0000

Grand Arche is an impressing high-rise building inside of Europes biggest office district called “La Defense”. It was designed by the Danish architect Otto von Spreckelsen. The area is characterized by modern towers with mirroring glass facades.

Elevators made of glass provide a speedy transport upward to the top of the building. There a pretentious viewing platform awaits the visitor, and offers a delightful view on the Arc de Triomphe and the surrounding neighbourhood.

Metro 1: La Defense

Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise Paris

admin — Thu, 21 Oct 2004 06:00:31 +0000

By a surface of 44 hectare, 12.000 trees, and more than 1,5 million graves, Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise is the biggest cemetery of Paris.

The attraction of this place consists in the partly pompous gravestones. This is also the reason that some people call Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise the most spectacular cemetery of Paris.

Doors singer Jim Morrison found his last resting place there, but also former personalities like Edith Piaf, Baron Haussmann, Honore de Balzac, Marcel Proust, Oscar Wilde, as well as Frederic Chopin are buried in Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise.

The cemetery can be found in Rue du Repos 16. Metro 2 and 3: Pere Lachaise.

Cimetiere de Montmartre Paris

admin — Thu, 21 Oct 2004 05:48:39 +0000

The cemetery of Montmartre serves as resting place for many famous and interesting personalities of the history.

Cimetiere de Montmartre has also a picturesque character, and can be labeled as highly worth seeing.

Especially artists and literati are buried in this place. Some of them are Hector Berlioz, Heinrich Heine, Alexandre Dumas, Edgar Degas, Jacques Offenbach, Francois Truffaut, and Emile Zola.

The cemetery can be found in Avenue Rachel. Metro 2: Blanche and Metro 13 La Fourche.

Les Catacombes Paris

admin — Thu, 21 Oct 2004 05:35:51 +0000

Subterranean quarries were the source of Paris buildings. Today those places are a touristical attraction. The subterranean burrow system amounts more than 300 kilometres.

Les Catacombes also served as gravesite until the 18th century, because Parisian cemeteries were quite overcrowded in those times. The bones of former generations can be found decorative stacked in the areas which are opened for the tourists.

Metro 4 and 6: Denfert Rochereau

French National Library Paris

admin — Wed, 20 Oct 2004 11:37:44 +0000

The French National Library is a glamorous project done by the architect Dominique Perrault, and known under the official name “Bibliotheque Nationale de France”.

The whole site is an impressive and sensational creation of ingenious architecture and creativity. Four giant tower blocks in the form of open books surround a little forest.

The construction works were finished in 1996. Critical observers claim that the books in the library are exposed to a too high solar radiation.

Institut de Monde Arabe Paris

admin — Sat, 16 Oct 2004 10:27:01 +0000

Institut de Monde Arabe is something for travellers who are interested in Arabic art, culture, and lifestyle. The building has a conspicuous frontage of glass and aluminium, and is known as a succeeded example of modern architecture.

The creator of such an impressive sensation was the architect Jean Nouvel. He included several interesting attributes to this building, which makes it to a popular touristical attraction. So also if you are not interested in Arabic culture, the building itself is rather well worth seeing.

The insitute serves the simple purpose to guarantee breedy cultural exchange between Europe and the Islamic world. 20 Arabic countries present themselfes in the institute. The visitor is able to find temporary exhibitions, libaries, and a restaurant. The restaurant “Le Ziryab” offers a fantastic view over the roofs of Paris.

The Institut de Monde Arabe Paris can be found in Rue des Fosses Saint Bernard 1, in the Ile de la Cite district.

Metro 7 and 10: Jussieu.

Conciergerie Paris

admin — Sat, 16 Oct 2004 05:39:31 +0000

Conciergerie was a prison and known as the antechamber of the guillotine during the French revolution. This building looks quite powerful and has a tragical history.

One of its most famous prisoners was the French Queen Maria Antoinette, as well as the revolutionaries Georges Danton and Maximilien de Robespierre.

The whole building exists since the 10th century and was the palace of the Capetians. Conciergerie is located in the heart of Paris, in the district called “Ile de la Cite”.

Metro 4: Cite

Opera Bastille Paris

admin — Tue, 12 Oct 2004 19:59:04 +0000

Opera Bastille is the new opera of Paris. It was the idea of former president Francois Miterrand to build such a new institution in the French capital.

The Canadian architect Carlos Ott made the French presidents dream come true. The contruction works of the opera were finished in 1989.

The building is made of glass, steel, and granite. The sight-seeing of the new opera is a true impressing experience, althought if there is even no interest in operas at all.

Metro 1, 5 and 8: Bastille

Maison de Victor Hugo Paris

admin — Tue, 12 Oct 2004 06:40:14 +0000

Maison de Victor Hugo was the noble residential house of the writer Victor Hugo between 1832 and 1848.

The place offers a wonderful view over the square “Place des Vosges”. The rooms of the house are kept in Asian style.

Documents, objects, and furniture of Victor Hugo are still in the house, and submit a close impression of those times. Maison de Victor Hugo even shows some pictures of Victor Hugo. It seems he was also a good painter.

Maison de Victor Hugo can be found in the district called “Marais”.

Metro 1: Saint Paul

Hotel de Ville Paris

admin — Tue, 12 Oct 2004 05:38:17 +0000

Hotel de Ville was the city hall of Paris until it was destroyed in an incendiary attack. In 1882 the rebuilding works were finished, and the building beamed in neo-renaissance style. Now it was ready to serve as city hall again.

Hotel de Ville is known to be the biggest city hall in Europe. The special attractions of Hotel de Ville are the sculptures in the frontage. The sculptures show the images of more than 100 personalities who were born in Paris.

In the middle ages the square infront of the building bordered on the shore of the Seine river. Public festivals and executions were part of the daily business on the square in those days.

Metro 1 and 11: Hotel de Ville