CITY MAP PARIS At a Glance Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées, Louvre, Notre-Dame, Montmartre, Latin small arc of the Carrousel du Louvre, runs to the mid arc of the Arc de Quarter, Mecca of fashionable society, multi-cultural metropolis; for Triomphe and ends to the far west at the modern Grande Arche de La many, it is the eternal myth and the unique ambience that make the Défense. capital city of France the most beautiful city in the world. With its population of about 12 million in Greater Paris, it is the political, 3 ARC DE TRIOMPHE cultural and economic centre of the country. Spreading to the right and The 50 m tall landmark designed by Jean François Chalgrin and left of the Seine, and with Montmartre (129 m), the Buttes-Chaumont inspired by Antiquity rises up on the impressive line of vision between (101 m) and the Montagne de Sainte-Geneviève (60 m) towering over the small arc at the Louvre and the Grande Arche de La Défense. After it, the city is extraordinarily attractive. UNESCO has declared the Napoleon commissioned the Arc de Triomphe in 1806 in honour of his magnificent buildings on the banks of the Seine between Pont de victory at the Battle of Austerlitz, it would be another 30 years before Sully and Pont d’Iéna, Notre-Dame, Pont-Neuf, Louvre and Hotel des it was completed. Daily, Apr–Sep 10 am–11 pm, Oct–Mar 10 am– Invalides, and the Île St-Louis as world heritage sites. The parks, the 10.30 pm, Place Charles de Gaulle, www.paris-arc-de-triomphe.fr quiet streets of the older residential areas, the cafés and bistros, the colourful markets, the classic elegance and the madness of the fashion 4 NOTRE DAME studios, restaurants and the endless profusion of culture also contribute This Gothic masterpiece was built between 1163 and 1345 on the to the unique flair of this French metropolis. order of Bishop Maurice de Sully. There was already a Roman temple on this spot 2,000 years ago. The interior of the 5-aisle nave holds 9,000 people. Particularly impressive are the three large entrance History portals, the gigantic flying buttresses around the chancel and the roses that are over 10 m in diameter. Mon–Fri 7:45 am–6:45 pm, The Gallic fortress, Lutetia Parisiorum, situated on the Île de la Cité Sat/Sun 7:45 am–7:15 pm, Île de la Cité, www.notredamedeparis.fr was captured by the Romans in 52 BC. They established a city on the left bank. Under the Merovingians, Paris became the capital city of the 5 LOUVRE Frankish Kingdom and under the Capetians in the 10th Century it be- The Louvre houses one of the largest and most famous art collections came the heart of the French Kingdom. As far back as the 13th century, in the world and attracts over 9 m visitors each year. You really need Paris was a centre of occidental culture with a very famous university. to plan your visit to this most extensive museum in the world. There In the 15th century, the Hundred Years’ War restricted further growth. is much more to admire in the Louvre than just the venerable ladies Under King Francis I, construction activity started anew (Louvre, Tuileries, such as "Venus de Milo", Leonardo da Vinci’s "Mona Lisa" or Jan Ver- Hôtel de Ville), but the real boom only began after the end of the reli- meer’s "The Lacemaker". Even if you don’t wish to see the museum, gious wars under Henry IV. Louis XIV had many monumental structures it is worth visiting at least the buildings of the Louvre that developed erected in Paris: Louvre Colonnade, Hôtel des Invalides, churches, Place from a fortress in the 12th century to a renaissance palace today. Vendôme. Paris was the centre of Europe in the First French Empire. Wed–Mon 9 am–6 pm (Wed and Fri until 9:45 pm), www.louvre.fr The July Monarchy eagerly continued the expansion begun under Napoleon I: Over 100 m gold francs were spent on roads, churches, state 6 MUSÉE DE L’ORANGERIE buildings, bridges etc. Any building activity to date was surpassed The Jardin des Tuileries adjacent to the Louvre contains the re- under Napolaon III who made Georges-Eugène Haussmann "prefect". markable collection of the art dealer Paul Guillaume and includes Under Haussmann, Paris, that had retained its parochial mediaeval works from Auguste Renoir, Pablo Picasso, Paul Cézanne, Henri character up to then, became the city we know today. About 25,000 Matisse and Amedeo Modigliani, among others. The highlight is buildings were demolished, 70,000 built. Claude Monet’s Water Lilies. Wed–Mon 9 am–6 pm, Place de la Concorde, Jardin des Tuileries, www.musee-orangerie.fr Sights 7 MUSÉE D’ORSAY The painters of light, the Impressionists, take centre stage in the 1 EIFFEL TOWER light-filled halls of the railway station that was converted in 1986. Paris wouldn’t be Paris without the Eiffel Tower. The 300 m tall land- Works of pioneers of modernity such as Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin mark was built by Gustave Eiffel on the occasion of the 1889 World and Paul Cézanne can also be seen here. Tue–Sun 9:30 am–6 pm Fair and the centenary of the French Revolution. From the second (Thu until 9:45 pm), 1 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur, www.musee-orsay.fr platform at 115 m there is a magnificent panoramic view across Paris and from the top level at 274 m you can see far into the Paris Basin 8 CENTRE GEORGES POMPIDOU on a clear day. Daily, mid-Jun–early Sep 9 am–12 am, otherwise This futuristic-looking tubular structure will give you a thorough over- 9.30 am–11 pm, Champ de Mars, www.tour-eiffel.fr view of the art of the 20th century. The inter-disciplinary approach that incorporates graphics, architecture, design and media is also very 2 CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES appealing. Wed–Mon 11 am–10 pm (Thu until 11 pm, Atelier Brancusi This world-famous avenue is part of a line of vision that starts at the 2 pm–4 pm), Place Georges-Pompidou, www.centrepompidou.fr Travelling with Kids 9 MUSÉE RODIN 12 CITÉ DES SCIENCES ET DE L’INDUSTRIE It was none other than the German poet Rainer Maria Rilke who Visitors become researchers at the futuristic science museum, in sub- impelled Auguste Rodin to establish himself in this splendid marines, flight simulators and planetarium. The giant silver globe, La building. In addition to well-known works such as "The Kiss" or Géode, offers 360° large cinema films on scientific topics every hour. "The Cathedral", a number of creations by his lover, Camille Claudel, Tue–Sat 10 am–6 pm, Sun 10 am–7 pm, 30 Av. Corentin Cariou, Porte can also be seen here. The Sculpture Garden and the café offer de la Villette, www.cite-sciences.fr respite amidst the art. Tue–Sun 10 am–5:45 pm, 77 Rue de Varenne, www.musee-rodin.fr 13 PARC ASTÉRIX A good, somewhat smaller but French alternative to Disneyland with 10 SACRÉ-COEUR numerous rides and also replicas of the small Gallic village. Apr–Aug The dazzling white Basilica high over the city on the hill at Montmartre daily 10 am–6 pm (not open every day), in Sep on weekends only, seems almost unreal. The most striking thing inside the church is the 60128 Plailly, www.parcasterix.fr enormous golden Byzantine mosaic. Each day, thousands of tourists climb the many steps to enjoy the remarkable view of Paris from the forecourt of Sacré-Cœur . You can take the short funicular if you General Information prefer to travel in comfort. Daily, 6 am–11 pm, 35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com TOURIST Information CENTRE - MEETING POINT Hôtel de Ville, 29 rue de Rivoli, 11 PALACE OF VERSAILLES 75004 Paris, Le Marais, 4th District, http://de.parisinfo.com A visit to the enormous palace of Louis XIV is an absolute must on any visit to Paris. Nowhere else is the concept of state power implemented so consistently and impressively and at the same time so tastefully and Please do not hesitate to contact the front desk for further harmoniously as here in Versailles. Apr–Oct Tue–Sun 9 am–6:30 pm, information about the attractive A-ROSA excursions and Nov–Mar Tue–Sun 9 am–5:30 pm, Place d‘Armes, Versailles, city tours. www.chateauversailles.fr 12 13 10 3 2 6 8 5 7 9 1 Pont Neuf 4 11 © 2017 MAIRDUMONT, MAIRDUMONT BUSINESS SOLUTIONS, Marco-Polo-Straße 1, 73760 Ostfildern, Tel. 0711/4502-156, Fax -351, mail: [email protected], www.mairdumont.com Cartography: © OpenStreetMap contributors.