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Paris
Founded as Lutetia in the 3rdc. BC, it became a Roman stronghold. By 1100 Paris University is attracting students from all over Europe. Paris becomes the French capital in 1598.
Visit the museums and art galleries, walk in the gardens, explore the Marais or take a restful boat trip on the river Seine for a different view of Paris.
The area surrounding Paris has some spectacular sites, the Palace of Versailles and Chartres Cathedral being the best known.
Remember that it is now possible to take a day trip to Paris from London on the Eurostar train.
Chartres Cathedral |
The Louvre. A royal fortress built 1190 and transformed into a royal residence 1360. Europe's largest royal palace before it became a museum. The best known works of art are the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory of Samothrace and Venus de Milo.
Eiffel Tower. Built for the Universal Exhibition of 1889, it was expected to be a temporary structure. The world's tallest building until 1931.
Arc de Triomphe. Napoleon started this monument to his triumphal army in 1806. The tomb of the Unknown Soldier lies beneath the arch.
Place de la Concorde. Site of the guillotine during the French Revolution.
Ste. Chapelle. A wonderful gothic chapel built in 1248, with luminous stained glass windows.
Notre-Dame. The cathedral for Paris was founded in 1163 on the site of a Roman temple.
Conciergerie. Part of the Palais de Justice, it was used as a prison from 1391-1914. Queen Marie-Antoinette was held here during the French Revolution.
Montmartre. An area still associated with artists. Corot, Utrillo, Toulouse-Lautrec, Modigliani all knew the area.
Sacré-Coeur. A basilica built to commemorate Paris being spared during the Franco-Prussian war.
The Marais. Originally a marshy area, it became a fashionable residential area in the 1600's. Place des Vosges and the house of the writer, Victor Hugo.
Musée d'Orsay. An art gallery housed in a transformed railway station. Impressionist paintings.
Musée de Cluny. One of the world's finest collections of medieval art, including the Unicorn Tapestries.
Les Invalides. It was built to house wounded and homeless soldiers, part now houses the Army Museum. The Dome Church contains Napoleon's tomb.
Environs
Chartres. A gothic masterpiece with glorious stained glass windows from 1210-1240.
Versailles. Started by Louis XIII as a hunting lodge and enlarged by Louis XVI to the magnificent palace we see today. The Hall of Mirrors is where the Treaty of Versailles was ratified in 1919. Marie-Antoinette played at the hamlet.
Fontainebleau. An abbey was built in 1169 and transformed by Francois I into a Renaissance palace in 1528. Napoleon abdicated here in 1814.
Vaux-le-Vicomte. A private chateau built by Nicolas Fouquet. Impressive formal gardens.
Local qualified guides in Paris and the surrounding area:
Angelo (if you get a password request, click 'Cancel')
Christophe (will probably only work in Internet Explorer)
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