According to Abbreviation Finder, Paris is the capital city of France. The French capital is an eldorado for those interested in culture and history, at the same time as it is very interesting to see here. We will now take a closer look at everything from the most obvious tourist attractions to more hidden gems.
Our Lady
The famous Notre-Dame Cathedral should be well known to most Norwegians, and is one of the “must-see” tourist attractions in Paris. Since the first stone was laid by Pope Alexander III in 1163, it took nearly 170 years for the cathedral to be completed. It was almost destroyed during the French Revolution, but was rebuilt and reconstructed in the mid-19th century. A completely unique building that should be visited.
Louvre Museum
Of course, you do not go to Paris without stopping by the “whole world” Mona Lisa. It is perhaps the world’s most famous painting, which was portrayed by Leonardo da Vinci in the 18th century. In addition, there is a lot of other famous art at the Musee do Louvre, which offers almost 35,000 different works of art. Even the building itself is a work of art in itself – it was built as far back as 1190, before it was replaced with the current building during the Renaissance.
the Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower should not need any further introduction, right? The tower is the very symbol of Paris, and people from all over the world have traveled here to take the tour up the tower since 1889. The tower extends a full 312 meters above the ground, and was the tallest building in the world until New York erected the Empire State Building in 1931.
Luxembourg Garden
The Luxembourg Gardens are located at the junction of Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter. The garden was laid out in 1612 by Queen Marie of Medici, after she had been inspired by the Boboli Garden in Florence. The garden has a French and an English part, divided by a beautiful forest and a small duck pond. Parisians go here to relax, to have a picnic, to let the children play, and when they want to take a romantic walk. There is a lot of fun to be had in the park, and cultural events are often held here.
Sainte-Chapelle kirken
Sainte-Chapelle is an incredibly beautiful church that is considered by many to be the finest church in Paris. It is beautifully decorated with decorated walls and incredibly elaborate stained glass windows. The church was built when Louis IX was in power in the years between 1242 and 1248.
Royal palace
Despite the name, the Palais Royal was not the residence of the royal family, but it is truly wonderful nonetheless. Cardinal Armand-Jean du Plessis de Richelieu was the man who had it built between 1633 and 1639. After the cardinal’s death, the palace was taken over by the royal family, hence its new name. The palace is a very impressive structure, especially due to the 260 black and white columns that stand in the courtyard. The Palais Royal is close to the Louvre.
Sacred Heart
Another famous building in Paris. The Sacre-Coeur is a giant cathedral, built on the highest point of the city. It took a full 46 years to build, and it was not completed until 1923 as a memorial to the French soldiers who were killed during the Civil War in 1870 to 1871.
Triumphal arch
The famous Arc de Triomphe is also a self-written visit when in Paris. The monument is located in a large, open square in Paris and was built to celebrate Napoleon when he reigned as emperor in France. The building is fifty meters high and it is possible for tourists to get to the top floor to enjoy an insane view of the French capital.
Place de la Concorde
Place de la Concorde is the largest public square in Paris, and is dominated in the center by the huge Egyptian obelisk. The place is also adorned with, among other things, two very beautiful fountains. Place de la Concorde has played an important role in French history, including as a place of justice during the revolution. The Sun King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Maximilien Robespierre and many others lost their heads here. This is also a great starting point to see other sights. The Champs-Élysées is to the west, the Jardin Tuileries and the Musee de l’Orangerie are to the east, and to the south is the Seine and the Pont de la Concorde.
Alexandre III Bridge
A walk along the river Seine that flows through Paris is a “must”, and then it is perfect to cross the Pont Alexandre III bridge that connects Invalide Square with the Champs-Élysées. The bridge is a beautiful sight and it was built in connection with the World’s Fair in 1900. It was built as a symbol of the friendship between Russia and France and is named after Tsar Alexander III.
Castle of Versailles
You can hardly travel to Paris without stopping by Versailles, even though the palace is located a bit outside the city center. This was originally a hunting area for the nobles, until Louis XIII built what can be called a cabin according to the royal standards of the time. Things took off, and eventually the cabin was expanded into a palace that the world has never seen before. Versailles also eventually became the main residence of the king, until the last occupier, and “unfortunate” monarch, ended his days in the guillotine during the French Revolution.
