Place de la Concorde

The Place de la Concorde is a the largest square in Paris, it is situated between the Champs-Élysées and the Tuileries Gardens. The square was designed by Jacques-Ange Gabriel, construction began in 1754 and was completed in 1763. On the square are two beautiful fountains, one is called 'Fontaine des Mers' and was added in 1836. The other one 'La fontaine des Fleuves' was added in 1839, both were made by Jacques-Ignace Hittorff.

In the centre of the Place de la Concorde is the 3300 year old Obelisk of Luxor. It is a 23 meters tall pink granite monolith and weighs 230 tons. The obelisk once marked the entrance to the Amon temple at Luxor. It was given to the French in 1829 by the viceroy of Egypt, Mehemet Ali.

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Les Invalides

Les Invalides was founded in 1670 by Sun King Louis XIV to house disabled veterans. The architect of Les Invalides was Libéral Bruant, construction was finished in 1676. The Dome Church(photo) was built later, it was designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart and was completed in 1708.

Inside the Dome Church are the tombs of several military leaders, the most notable tomb is that of Napoleon Bonaparte. His remains were repatriated from St. Helena in 1840, where he was buried 19 years earlier. Other famous military leaders that are buried here are Turenne, Vauban and Marshall Foch.

Today Les Invalids houses various museums, the most important museum is the Army Museum with a main focus on Napoleon and Charles de Gaulle.

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Jardin des Plantes

The Jardin des Plantes is the main botanical garden in France. It is divided into several sections: alpine garden, iris garden, perennials garden, greenhouses and the botanical school.

The National Museum of Natural History in Paris is situated within the Jardin des Plantes. This museum includes four galleries: Evolution, Mineralogy, Paleontology and Entomology.

In addition to the gardens there is also an aquarium and a small zoo. The Menagerie Zoo was founded after the French Revolution of 1789, it's one of the oldest zoos in the world.

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The Notre Dame Cathedral

The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is one of the most famous cathedrals in the world. Construction started in 1163 by Bishop Maurice de Sully and was finished in 1345. The cathedral is a must-see for the beautiful Gothic architecture and the magnificent artworks. It stands on the Île de la Cité, one of the small islands in the centre. Easy to reach by metro, which stops very close to the cathedral.

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The Palace of Versailles

This famous Palace in Versailles is one of the largest palaces in the world. Originally a hunting lodge was located here, built by King Louis XIII in 1623. His son, Sun King Louis XIV, decided to transform it in a royal palace. Versailles became the royal residence of France from 1682 until 1789.
The Palace was designed by architects Jules Hardouin Mansart and Louis Le Vau, the beautiful gardens by Andre Le Nôtre. Highlights during your visit include: Hall of Mirrors, Grand Apartments, Clock Room, Opera House and the Royal Chapel.
Versailles is easy to reach from Paris by train, the journey can take up to 40-50 minutes.

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The Sacré-Coeur

The Basilique du Sacré-Coeur is located on the highest point of Paris, the butte Montmartre. It was designed by Paul Abadie in Roman-Byzantine style and dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The interior is dominated by the beautiful painted dome from which you can have a great view of Paris.

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The Moulin Rouge

Famous for the red windmill on its roof, the Moulin Rouge brings cabaret since 1889. The shows consists of more than 100 artists; 1000 costumes of feathers, rhinestones and sequins; sumptuous sets; international acts and original music.

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The Louvre

The Louvre, home of the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and many other masterpieces. It is one of the largest museums in the world and famous for its glass pyramid. The Louvre is divided into 3 parts with about 35.000 objects on display. To much for just one visit but you can't leave Paris without having a look in here.

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