Northern France
PARIS
Whether you’re visiting Paris for a weekend, or a week, there is so much to see and do that no matter how long you plan to stay – it won’t feel long enough.
The “city of love” is by far one of the world’s most popular cities and it is filled with historic buildings and monuments, museums, art galleries and natural attractions. From taking a cruise along the River Seine to eating snails and drinking champagne under the Eiffel Tower, Paris has something for everyone.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CITY INCLUDE:
The city views from the Basilica of the Sacre Coeur, a Roman Catholic Church built in the 1800s as a public monument to honour French citizens killed in the Franco-Prussian War. It also marks the spot of Monmartre Hill, the highest point in Paris, and is one of Paris’ most visited monuments.
The famous Opera House, or Palais Garnier, is the 13th theatre to house the Paris Opera since 1669 and the building’s exterior is decorated with marble friezes, columns and statuary, while the interior is rich with velvet, gold leaf, and cherubs and nymphs.
Notre Dame de Paris (French for Our Lady of Paris) is a well known gothic cathedral, which was completed in 1345 and is considered the finest example of French gothic architecture.
The Louvre is one of the largest and most famous museums in the world. A former Royal Palace, the building today houses the Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, along with works by Fragonard, Rembrandt, Rubens, Titian and Poussin, among others. Famous sculptures include the Winged Victory of Samothrace and the Venus de Milo.
And of course, no visit to Paris would be complete without going to the Eiffel Tower or getting on a bus and experiencing the Arc de Triumph roundabout for yourself – it will have you holding your breath!