Paris Landmarks Quiz Study Guide
The Arc de Triomphe A monument commissioned by the Emperor Napoleon in 1806, it honors the French armies. The French tomb of the unknown soldier is beneath it, placed there in 1920, following World War I. It is 164 feet high, and 148 feet wide. It is located at the west end of the Avenue des ChampsÉlysées on the Place Charles de Gaulle, sometimes called L’Étoile, because of the many roads radiating out from the central arch.
Place Charles de Gaulle This is the roundabout that has the Arc de Triomphe in the middle of it. It is sometimes called L’Étoile because of the many roads radiating out from the central arch. L’Étoile is the French word for “star.”
Avenue des ChampsÉlysées This wide, treelined avenue is famous for its theatres, cafés, and luxury shops. It is named for the Elysian fields, the paradise for heroes from Greek mythology. It runs from the Place Charles de Gaulle on the west to the Place de La Concorde on the east. The famous Tour de France bike race finishes on this avenue.
La Grande Arche de la Défense
Located in the business district to the west of Paris, the Grande Arche houses government offices. It is 361 feet tall and wide. It was completed in 1989 as a monument to humanity, instead of to war.
Le musée du Louvre A former palace, the Louvre is the world’s most visited museum. It houses the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory.
L’Opéra de Paris Palais Garnier This opulent building is the setting of the novel The Phantom of the Opera and it is where the Paris ballet performs today. It was completed in 1875.
Entrance to the Métro This is one of the many entrances to the Paris subway, called the Métro.
La Conciergerie A former royal palace, this building was a prison during the French revolution. Prisoners, including MarieAntoinette, were taking from the conciergerie to be executed on the guillotine.
La cathédrale de Notre Dame A French gothic cathedral, located on the Ile de la Cité. It is famous for its stained glass windows, flying buttresses, and gargoyles. Construction began in 1163 and it was essentially completed in 1345.
Basilique du SacréCoeur High on a hill in the artist neighborhood of Montmartre, this Roman Catholic Church was completed in 1914. Tourists enjoy the architecture, the neighborhood, and the spectacular views of the Paris skyline.
Centre Pompidou This hightechstyle building houses a large public library and the largest modern art museum in Europe. The square in front of the museum often features street performers and mimes.
La Tour Eiffel Built by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World’s Fair, it was initially criticized as ugly, but has since become a global cultural icon of France and one of the mostrecognized structures in the world. It is 1,063 feet tall.
L'Hôtel National des Invalides
This complex of buildings contains museums and monuments of France’s military history, including the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte. The complex also contains a retirement home and health care facilities for disabled war veterans.
Le Parc de La Villette This park contains the museum of science and industry and three concert venues.
La Place de la Concorde A major public square in Paris, at the eastern end of the Avenue des ChampsÉlysées. It was in this square that many famous people were executed by guillotine after the French revolution, including Louis XVI and MarieAntoinette, former King and Queen of France. In the center of the place is the Luxor obelisk, a gift from Egypt, which stands 75 feet tall. It is 3,300 years old and was placed in the square in 1836.
La Place de la Bastille The Bastille prison once stood in this square, a symbol of royal authority. The prison was overrun by a mob on July 14, 1789, marking the beginning of the French Revolution. July 14 is the French National Holiday. Americans call it “Bastille Day” but the French call it “Le quatorze Juillet” (the 14th of July).
La Seine The Seine is the river that runs through Paris, dividing the city into La Rive Droite (the right bank) and La Rive Gauche (the left bank).