Do you know the Notre Dame from the Sacre Coeur? Trafalgar has compiled a list of the top 10 landmarks in Paris.
The Tuileries Garden
This iconic park located right beside the ranks of the river Seine has a rich history and is between is Champs-Elysées Avenue and the Louvre Museum. This public park is the largest in Paris and it features a French style garden with beautifully manicured trees.
Louvre Museum
Louvre Museum. Picture: Supplied.
You will find Da Vinci’s masterpiece artwork – the famous Mona Lisa here in this museum. It is the largest art museum in the world. Every day there are long lines of people waiting to enter the museum to discover its wealth of treasures. This former grand palace used to be a main residence of the French Kings from the 1546.
Notre Dame Cathedral
This medieval Catholic cathedral is a historical monument. It is open every day and is free to visit. It is over 850 years old is an architectural gem with its iconic stained-glass windows. Napoleon crowned himself emperor here at the church, and in 1768, geographers decided to measure all distances in France starting from Notre-Dame.
Sacre-Coeur Basilica
Sacre-Coeur Basilica. Picture: Supplied.
Sacre-Coeur Basilica is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in Paris, France. Construction of this church was completed in the early 20th Century and its architecture is a Romanesque-Byzantine style. The church was built using white stones and hence its nickname “the white church” because of its prominent white exterior.
Montmartre
Head to this bohemian-style enclave that has been the inspiration to artists like Picasso, Van Gogh and Renoir. Located 130 metres above the city on the hill, the neighbourhood is buzzing with activity. For those looking to find souvenirs to bring home, head onto Rue de Steinkerque which is lined with little shops selling T-shirts and various knick knacks. There are many cafes to enjoy a croissant and coffee as you people watch.
Shakespeare and Company Bookstore
Shakespeare and Company Bookstore. Picture: Supplied.
This independent English language bookstore is a Parisian institution rich in history and likely one of the largest in the world. It has even been featured in two Hollywood films: Richard Linklater’s “Before Sunset” and Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris”. With its first owner, Sylvia Beach, it was a place where literary legends like as Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ezra Pound would hang out.
Palais-Royal
Originally known as the Palais-Cardinal, this imposing building was home to Cardinal Richelieu until his death in 1642. It later became the property of the King and was renamed Palais-Royal. It was the home of royal families until the Palace of Versailles was built. It is now a popular spot to enjoy the contemporary sculptures and soak in the truly Parisian atmosphere as you dine in the heart of the city.
Pont Alexandre III
Pont Alexandre III. Picture: Supplied.
As you walk across this elegantly designed bridge across the River Seine with the Champs-Élysées on the Right Bank to the Eiffel Tower on the Left Bank, you can admire the views on each side. It was built low at a height of only 6 meters to ensure it did not obstruct the views on either side. The bridge was built in 1892 to commemorate a new diplomatic relationship between France and Russia and was named after Tsar Alexander III.
Passage Verdeau
Discover another world of Paris as you explore the shops along this covered arcade. Located in the 9th district of Paris, just near Passage Jouffroy, this passage was built in 1847 and was named after its developer, Monsieur Verdeau.
Find collectable gems like old postcards, vintage stamps, rare books and French memorabilia as you visit the shops.
Eiffel Tower
Originally designed by Gustave Eiffel as a temporary exhibit for the 1889 World's Fair, this 324m-tall art-nouveau tower continues to be the most prominent landmark of Paris. The Eiffel Tower is the number one most visited paid monument in the world. Since opening in 1889 over 300 million visitors have enjoyed the views of Paris that it affords.