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‘Paris’

Translated from the French, ‘La Ville Lumière’ means ‘City of Lights’. By now a commonplace description, there’s nothing commonplace about the place. Paris, for those who love… well, anything, is stellar. Read the rest of this entry »

The Eiffel Tower was originally intended as a structure to commemorate the French Revolution so who would have expected that 100 years later it would become the symbol of Paris itself? Read the rest of this entry »

The Cathédrale Notre Dame is second only to the Eiffel Tower as the recognized symbol of France. It is both a tourist destination and a working church. Read the rest of this entry »

Approaching the gates of Versailles, the feeling is of entering an entire city, not just a palace, and the impression is justified considering the massive scale of the building and the even larger grounds. Read the rest of this entry »

Unquestionably the most famous name in the world of art museums, The Louvre largely deserves its renown. Enormous and filled with irreplaceable treasures from around the world, this premier series of exhibits offers something for everyone. Read the rest of this entry »

Though less artistic than its older cousin of Porte Saint-Denis, the Arc de Triomphe de l’Etoile is the more famous and far larger. Set atop the hill of Chaillot it forms the center from which radiates a dozen busy Parisian avenues. Read the rest of this entry »

The Seine River flows nearly 800km (480mi) from Dijon through Paris and into the English Channel, but even the short section through the city provides enough sights to satisfy the most discerning traveler. A leisurely walk or one of the excellent boat tours will provide an unforgettable view.   Read the rest of this entry »

Known to Parisians simply as Beaubourg (after the neighborhood), The Centre National d’Art et de Culture Georges-Pompidou is a museum of modern art rivaling the best in New York or London. Read the rest of this entry »

The Champs-Elysées is not just a boulevard. In Greek mythology, the Elysian Fields was the resting place of heroes who dwelt in perfect happiness. Fortunately, visitors don’t have to die to reach it although some may think so after making their way through the French airports and into Paris. Read the rest of this entry »

Affectionately known as DLP by Mouseketeers the world over, Disneyland Paris is a cornucopia of rides, restaurants, exhibits and all out fun for everyone. Read the rest of this entry »

‘Maison’ is French for ‘house’ but in this case the word is slightly misleading. While no palace, although sited in the Place des Vosges (originally known as Place Royale), the site is no simple domicile. Read the rest of this entry »

Montmartre is a fascinating mixture of old and new, seedy and sacred, bizarre and blasé. Within this section of Paris, technically the 18th arrondissement, there is everything from Moulin Rouge and Musée d’Erotisme to the Sacré Coeur Basilica. There are several art shops, a Dali museum and even a winery. Read the rest of this entry »

The site of Sacré Coeur has long been an attraction for religious figures and groups, but, though dedicated to peace and brotherhood, the building owes its birth on the site to the misfortunes of war and violence. Read the rest of this entry »