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The capital of France, Paris, is bestowed with many titles such as the 'City of Flowers,' the 'Fashion Capital,' the 'City of Lights,' or the 'Daughter of the Seine River.' Naturally, travelers must seek out these tourist attractions to truly grasp her beauty...
6 Must-See Places When Touring Paris
1. Eiffel Tower
The magnificent Eiffel Tower stands as an artistic symbol of Paris and France as a whole. Situated on the Champ de Mars, next to the Seine River in Paris. At the time of its construction in 1889, this tower was the tallest structure in the world, a title it held until 1930.
Completed in 1889, towering 1,056 feet, the Eiffel Tower's construction is a world-renowned feat, with just the curved top section alone equivalent to a 10-story building. It houses two restaurants, Altitude 95 (on the 1st floor) and Le Jules Verne (on the 2nd floor), offering panoramic views extending over 40 miles across Paris.
If taking the stairs, there's no need to queue, but it consumes a lot of time. Therefore, tourists should purchase elevator tickets to ascend to the towering heights.
However, ticket prices will increase gradually based on the number of floors you wish to visit. The tower is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, and is one of the world's top destinations, attracting over 5.5 million tourists visiting Paris each year. Tourists can admire the tower from afar while cruising on the serene Seine River.
2. Champs-Elysées Avenue
As the main artery of Paris, it also hosts the local markets for the residents here.
This road stretches 1,800 meters, is 120 meters wide, with 10 lanes for traffic. Both sides of the street showcase the splendor and glamour of Paris with major banks, embassies, fashion stores, department stores, as well as entertainment spots for the upper class.
On the spacious sidewalks of Champs-Elysées, Parisians often come to relax and dine. In the distance, the monument 'July Column' commemorates the victims of the 1830 revolution, made of 47-meter-high granite, with a statue of the Statue of Liberty at its top.
3. Arc de Triomphe
Located in the Carrousel Square, standing 49 meters high, 45 meters wide, and 22 meters deep, the Arc de Triomphe was initiated in 1808 and extended throughout Napoleon's reign, known as the Arc de Triomphe of 'Napoleon's Grand Army.'
Adorning the walls of the Arc de Triomphe are large reliefs and the names of 386 generals who followed Napoleon into battle, below which lie the graves of unknown soldiers alongside an eternal flame and a group of guards standing watch. Tourists can ascend by stairs or elevator to the top to admire the panoramic view of Paris.
4. Notre-Dame Cathedral
Exemplifying Gothic architecture with its pointed arches soaring high like daggers into the sky, expressing the spirit of freedom. Construction began in 1163 under King Louis VII and lasted for two centuries until its completion in 1345.
The cathedral has left its mark on human culture through the renowned work 'Notre-Dame de Paris' by the great French writer Victor Hugo. The architecture of the cathedral in the capital city of Hanoi is modeled after Notre-Dame Cathedral here. When visiting Paris, tourists can climb up the cathedral to get a better view of the picturesque Seine River.
5. Louvre Palace
Situated on the northern bank of the Seine River, originally the palace of French kings, transformed in 1793 into the National Museum of Fine Arts, now renowned as the world's famous art treasure trove. The palace covers an area of 180,000 square meters, housing over 400,000 art pieces, though only a small portion is exhibited for public admiration.
On either side of the main palace are two auxiliary structures with the Carrousel Square at its center. To the east of the palace is a long corridor with a row of large columns, this architecture is truly magnificent, splendid.
Within the palace are 225 exhibition rooms divided into rooms showcasing Roman and Greek art, modern sculpture and works from the Renaissance era, rooms displaying paintings from various eras including Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece 'Mona Lisa,' and the immortal statues 'Venus de Milo' and 'Winged Victory of Samothrace,' considered 3 invaluable masterpieces of humanity.
6. Basilica of the Sacred Heart
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart, also known as the Sacré-Cœur Basilica or the Church of the Sacred Heart, was built from 1876 to 1914 in a stunning Romanesque-Byzantine style, gracing the summit of Montmartre hill. Its dome rises 273 feet high, making it the second-highest point in the city of Paris after the Eiffel Tower.
It's no coincidence that Paris is called the “City of Light” because when the sun sets, the city adorns itself with a mesmerizing charm.
Every scene in the city is immersed in a dazzling, romantic glow. At night, the scenery here blends harmoniously with its people, especially atop the Eiffel Tower with over 20,000 sparkling lights.
The strong light helps visitors perceive the surroundings in a much more tranquil manner, allowing you to gather by the Seine River or have an intimate moment with your loved one at quiet corner cafes.
Perhaps Paris is not only the capital of light but also the city of dreams.
By Quoc Vinh/Youth
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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour
MytourMarch 23, 2018
