General information about the city
Paris (Paris) is the capital of France, the most important economic and cultural center of Europe, located in the north of the central part of France, in the Ile-de-France region, on the banks of the Seine River.
Paris is not just a city. This is a dream, this is a living legend, this is "a holiday that is always with you." He is both the keeper of history, and the personification of modernity, and the creator of the future. Paris belongs not only to France, it belongs to the whole world, it is loved not only by Parisians, but also by residents of different parts of the world. Everyone seeks and finds something different in Paris.
“Paris is so well described,” Baron Pelnitz remarked in 1732, “so much has been said about it that even those who have never seen the city know what it looks like.” More than two centuries have passed since the writing of this phrase, but nothing has changed. The main symbols of Paris - Notre Dame Cathedral, the Church of Saint-Germain-des-Pres, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe are also known to those who have never been to it. Paris exists in their imagination as real as it does in reality.
Paris is the capital of France, the administrative, political and industrial center in which the financial and commercial activities of the country are concentrated. Paris is also the center of the cultural and intellectual life of France.
Paris is located in the geographical center of the northern part of the country on the banks of the Seine River and 145 kilometers from the English Channel. It is located in the center of a vast chalk basin - the Paris Basin, about 65 meters above sea level. The basin is drained not only by the Seine, but also by its numerous tributaries, including the Marne and the Oise.
The region surrounding Paris is located in the heart of France.
Since the 6th century, it has occupied this privileged position, since even then it became the core of the kingdom of the Franks. Rich agricultural lands, picturesque plains, green forests, temperate climate, convenient transport routes - all this provided the region with dominance over other French provinces.
At the end of the 18th century, the entire territory of the country was divided into about 90 departments, which made it difficult to accurately determine the boundaries of the area, which for a long time was called the "Paris region". But in 1976, France was divided into 26 regions, each of which included several departments. The Paris region was officially returned to its historical name of Ile-de-France. Today, the region includes Paris and seven other departments surrounding the French capital. The region is governed by the Regional Council, which is elected for a six-year term and works closely with the Committee on Economic and Social Affairs.
Konstantin Paustovsky wrote: “The charm of Paris takes possession of you suddenly, as soon as you touch the Parisian land. But only if you knew Paris and loved it long before this first meeting. For those who know Paris from books, from painting, from the total amount of knowledge about it, this city immediately opens up, as if covered with a bronze reflection of its majestic history, the brilliance of glory and human genius ... "
The boundaries of the city are outlined by Periferik Boulevard - a ring highway. The territory of Paris includes the Bois de Boulogne located to the west of the city and the Bois de Vincennes located to the east. The area of the city is 105 km2.
“If you are lucky and you lived in Paris in your youth, then wherever you are later, he will remain with you until the end of your days, because Paris is a holiday that is always with you.”
E. Hemingway.
The Seine River flows through the city from east to west, on the right northern bank dominated by the hill of Montmartre. On the left bank, the dominant vertical is the Montparnasse tower. In the center of Paris, the river splits into branches, washing two islands - the island of Cité and the island of St. Louis (Saint-Louis). Another island - Lebyazhy, is located in the western part of the city.
In modern France, there is a parliament, government and president.
Parliament is represented by two chambers: the National Assembly, which discusses and adopts laws, and the Senate, which performs an advisory function. The National Assembly is elected for a five-year term, while members of the Senate are elected for nine years. The National Assembly meets in the Bourbon Palace overlooking the Place de la Concorde, and the Senate in the Luxembourg Palace.
The Paris meridian, which was defined in 1718 by Jacques Cassini and measured more precisely in 1806 by the French physicist Arago, was the prime meridian until 1884. It passes through the Paris Observatory and is marked with bollards throughout Paris, as well as with special marks on pavements, sidewalks and buildings, including the Louvre.
The government is headed by the prime minister, who is appointed by the president. The government is accountable to the National Assembly. The residence of the Prime Minister is located in the Hotel Matignon in the Faubourg Saint-Germain district.
The President of the Republic is elected for 7 years. The president not only appoints the prime minister, but also presides over cabinet meetings and is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The President serves as the guarantor of the independence of the judiciary and is given special powers in emergency situations. The official residence of the president is the Elysee Palace.
All the political parties and trade unions actively participating in the political life of the country, as well as nationwide print media, are located in Paris. The capital also hosts embassies from around the world and the headquarters of major international organizations such as UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development). Paris often hosts international congresses, meetings and conferences.
Since 1977, Paris has enjoyed the unique privilege of a dual status in terms of administrative-territorial division: it is both a commune and a department. As a commune, or municipality, Paris has its own mayor and is divided into 20 arrondissements with their own prefects. The mayor of Paris is elected by the city council for a term of 6 years.
“Paris conquers from the first day of the meeting! Literally after an hour of being in it, you feel easy and simple, as with an old friendly friend. The charm of this wonderful city is in its soft cheerfulness and lightness, amazing lightness in everything! And, above all, in the architecture of its countless palaces and squares, mansard roofs, in its boulevards ... In the friendly life of the streets, in witty, sociable people, in the climate, finally!
Georgy Zhzhenov, actor. From the book "Experienced".
Paris received the status of a department after the formation of the Île-de-France region. With the advent of new departments, the department of the Seine, with its main city of Paris, and several departments around the capital were transformed. Paris, home to one fifth of the region's population, was given the status of an independent department governed by the Council of Paris.
Local self-government received real power and shared responsibility with the state for the greatest architectural heritage of Paris.
The modern architectural appearance of Paris took shape by the middle of the 19th century, when work was carried out on the reconstruction of the capital. At this time, the main greened Champs-Elysées Avenue, new highways, two large forest parks - the Bois de Boulogne and the Bois de Vincennes - were created.
Truly magnificent are the world-famous masterpieces of Paris architecture: Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre Palace Ensemble, the Luxembourg Palace and the Palais-Royal Palace, the ensemble of Les Invalides.
In the 18th century, the central architectural ensemble of Paris was created - Place de la Concorde, recognized as one of the most beautiful in the world. In the second half of the 18th century, the Pantheon was built - the tomb of the great people of France. In the first half of the 19th century, the city was decorated with triumphal buildings in the Empire style: the arch on the Carousel Square and the Arc de Triomphe on the Place de l'Etoile. 12 avenues diverge from the Place de l'Etoile ("star"). In the skyline of Paris, an important place belongs to the Eiffel Tower - a 300-meter metal structure built on the occasion of the 1889 World Exhibition.
The last decades have changed Paris: entire districts, which had been in a deplorable state for a long time, were either restored, for example, the Marais quarter, or completely reconstructed - like the area of the former Les Alles Central Market. The redevelopment of the eastern districts was begun on the basis of the latest principles of urban development. Thus, the northeastern district of La Villette was turned into the largest cultural center of the capital.
“Anyone who plunges into the abyss of Paris experiences dizziness. There is nothing more fantastic, more tragic, more majestic."
Victor Hugo
The population of Paris exceeds 2 million people. The population census in 1999 showed that 2,125,246 people live in the capital, on a land area of 10,540 hectares, that is, more than 20,000 inhabitants per square kilometer. This is the highest population density in France. True, the areas within Paris differ in population density. The most populated districts are XV, XVIII, XX, and the least populated are I, II, IV. Paris is a fairly young city with a lower death rate than the rest of France.
"Paris is the world, all other lands are only its suburbs."
Pierre Marivaux, French playwright and novelist.
Paris and its environs is a zone of intense economic activity. Most industrial enterprises are located in the western and northern suburbs of Paris, mainly along the banks of the Seine and along the Canal Saint-Denis. The leading branches of heavy industry are represented by large enterprises, such as automobile factories, electrical engineering enterprises, and rubber factories. Developed industries such as mechanical engineering, metalworking, automotive, electrical and electronic industries.
Of great importance are the aviation industry, machine tool building, the production of precision mechanics and optics, the military industry and other branches of engineering. The main branches of the chemical industry are rubber, fine chemicals (pharmaceuticals, photographic materials), plastics production.
Thanks to the concentration of national and international firms in the city, Paris provides about a third of the country's GDP. One of the problems of the city remains unemployment, the level of which corresponds to the unemployment rate in all of France.
Paris is an international trendsetter with a well-developed clothing industry. The production of toilet articles, haberdashery and jewelry, souvenirs is world famous. The paper, printing, furniture and food industries, the production of building materials and the construction industry have received great development.
Half of all banks in the country are concentrated in Paris. It plays a leading role in France's internal and external trade. Large trade fairs are regularly held here. The city is visited by millions of foreign tourists every year.
Paris is the main transport hub of France, important international routes pass through it.
Railway lines of 6 Parisian stations connect the capital with all regions of France and neighboring countries. Communication between the stations is well established with the help of public transport.
Saint-Lazare - Normandy, UK (to Dieppe, then by ferry).
North Station - northbound (high-speed train TGV), UK (Eurostar), Belgium and Holland (Thalys - via Brussels to Cologne and Amsterdam), Scandinavian countries.
Vostochny station - east direction, Germany, Switzerland, Austria.
Gare de Lyon - Regions Center and South East (TGV), Alps, Italy, Greece.
Station Austerlitz - southwest direction (TGV), Spain, Portugal.
Gare Montparnasse - Brittany and the West of France (TGV).
For cargo transportation, the Le Bourget stations, located in the commune of the same name, and Vaires, with the Grand Ring Road (Grande Ceinture) running from it, are used.
The most important highways and inland waterways converge on Paris. The Seine has been canalized as far as Rouen and is accessible to ships with a displacement of up to 2,000 tons. Through a system of canals coming from the Seine and its tributaries, Paris is connected to the rivers Rhine, Rhone, Loire, and also to the northern industrial region. The main cargoes moving on water are building materials, oil products, coal, and metals. The main port is Gennevilliers.
Paris is a major hub for international air lines. Paris is served by three international airports and 155 airlines. Airport "Charles de Gaulle" occupies the third place in Europe in terms of the number of passengers. Orly Airport receives primarily domestic flights from southern countries. The older Le Bourget Airport is used mainly by private jets and smaller airlines.
Paris has an extensive network of metro lines and bus routes.
The most convenient and fastest transport in Paris is the metro, consisting of 16 lines (14 full and 2 supplementary; some lines have branchings at the ends) with a total length of 212.5 km, which makes it one of the largest in the world.
There is also a regional express metro (RER) - commuter train lines that run underground in Paris and intersect with metro lines. The RER network consists of 5 lines, labeled A, B, C, D, E.
Since 1992, tram lines, which were destroyed in the 60s and 70s, began to be built again in Paris.
The Parisian tram network consists of four lines, three of which connect the Parisian suburbs, and only one (TK) runs within the city.
Paris has an extensive bus network. It includes not only ordinary buses, but also special lines that run along the tourist routes of Paris.
The appearance of Paris was changed in the middle of the 19th century as a result of a grand rebuilding. For many centuries before that, it was a labyrinth of narrow streets and wooden houses. In 1852, Baron Haussmann's plan to improve the city destroyed entire blocks of dilapidated buildings, and in their place appeared wide avenues and neoclassical stone buildings lined up in a single line.
The requirements of the times of Napoleon III for the development of Paris have not lost their relevance even now: the height and dimensions of buildings are subject to a single law of uniformity, and since the middle of the 19th century only a few exceptions to these rules have been made.
Paris is a city that is a living museum. He preserves his great heritage, makes it the property of the whole world. A significant number of different organizations have moved or are planning to move to convenient suburbs. Already outside the historical city are the business district of Defense, a large food market (Rangi district), important educational institutions (Polytechnic Institute), world-famous scientific laboratories, sports facilities and even ministries (for example, the Ministry of Transport).
District Defense
Paris is a city of students. The most prestigious educational institutions in France are located in its capital. It houses the University of Paris, the College de France, the Higher Practical School, the National Polytechnic Institute, the Higher Normal School, the Higher National School of Technical Education, over 40 so-called independent institutes, 2 conservatories (dramatic art and music), the Louvre School, the National High School fine arts and other educational institutions.
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne, which became more and more popular after its foundation, eventually became the largest and most prestigious educational institution in Paris and France. Around the Sorbonne, the famous Latin Quarter was formed, whose name then spread to the student quarters of other cities.
The Sorbonne University, named after its founder Robert de Sorbonne, confessor of King Louis IX, dates back to 1258. At the beginning of the XIX century. The Sorbonne gradually gained true fame, reaching its apogee by the beginning of the 20th century.
The university building was rebuilt in 1884–1901. designed by the architect Eno. From the boulevard Saint-Germain, a magnificent staircase leads to the monumental hall of the Rector of the Paris Academy, which is also located in this building. In a rectangular courtyard, next to the statues of the romantic poet Victor Hugo and the philosopher Victor Cousin, there is a church where the ashes of Cardinal Richelieu, sometimes called the “second founder” of the university, are buried.
In 1972, the Sorbonne, or the University of Paris, was reorganized into 13 universities, differing in areas of study. They belong to 3 academies of Paris and Ile-de-France. Four of these universities are located mainly in the historical buildings of the Sorbonne, the rest - in other quarters of Paris and its suburbs. Sorbonne Universities have authority all over the world.
The Pantheon-Sorbonne, also called Paris I, owes its name to the Pantheon Square where it is located. About 40 thousand students study here. The university includes the faculties of law, economics, art history and archaeology, fine arts and art history, business law, administration and management, international and European relations, geography, history, philosophy, political sciences, social sciences, common law, mathematics and computer science . Its structure also includes four institutes (demography of Paris, economic and social development, social issues of labor, tourism) and a network of specialized higher educational institutions engaged in training in banking, finance and insurance.
The University of Paris II, or the University of Paris Panthéon-Assas, is a state French university, the main successor of the Faculty of Law of the University of Paris. Assas is the best law university in France. 80% of the total number of students study at the faculties of law, 11% of the total number study at the faculties of management and economics.
New Sorbonne - University Paris III, located on Sorbonne Street, has a pronounced humanitarian focus. About 20 thousand students study here at the faculties of French and Latin languages and literature, general and applied linguistics and phonetics, general and comparative literature, teaching French as a foreign language, German, the English-speaking world, Hispanic studies and Latin American countries, regional studies of Italy and Romania , Oriental and Arabic studies, theater studies, film studies, mass media. There are two specialized educational institutions at the university: the Institute of Latin American Countries and the Graduate School of Translators.
The University of Paris-Sorbonne, or Paris IV, is located on rue Victor Cousin and has over 25,000 students. This educational institution includes the faculties of French literature, French, Latin, Greek, English and North America, Italian and Romanian, Slavic, Hispanic and Latin American studies, history, geography, philosophy, art history and archeology, music and musicology, applied humanities. The university has established a research institute for the study of civilizations of the modern West, as well as the Higher School of Information Sciences and Communication. Institute of Religious Studies, Institute of Physical Culture and Sports.
René Descartes University, aka Paris V University, is located on rue École de Medein. The number of students is about 30 thousand. The university includes faculties and departments of biomedicine, childhood diseases, dental surgery, physical education and sports, pharmacy and biology, mathematics and computer science, humanities and social sciences, psychology, and law. A separate structure is the Institute of Technology (with the status of a university), which has a department of medical law.
All universities are linked into a single whole by a network of organizations and institutions of general purpose - such as, for example, the Center for Professional Development, the Center for Career Guidance, the Interuniversity Center for Physical Education and Sports.
In the system of the University of Paris, a special place is occupied by higher schools (Grandes Ecoles). Their diploma is highly regarded in France. The first of them were created even before the French Revolution: the School of Mines - in 1783, the Royal School of Bridge and Road Construction - a year later. As a rule, the path to big business and big politics lies through them. The most famous higher schools are Ecole Normale Superieure, where future teachers are trained. Higher Agronomic School (Ecole Nationale Superieure Agronomique), Higher Commercial School (Ecoles des Hautes Etudes Commerciales), Polytechnic School (Ecole Polytechnique), Central School of Civil Engineers (Ecole Centrale des Arts et Manufactures), Military Combined Arms School (Ecole Speciale Militaire Interarmes) .
The Library of the University of Paris opened its doors for the first time on December 3, 1770. Then it contained 20 thousand volumes, which was quite a lot for those times. Access to this treasury of knowledge from the very first days was open not only for students and teachers, but also for everyone. The library funds, constantly replenished, reached by 1936 an impressive figure of a million volumes. By 1997, the number of books had tripled. Today, the Sorbonne Library is the world's largest collection of the intellectual heritage of all mankind.
The Institute of France (Institut de France) is also located in Paris, consisting of 5 academies, the main and most prestigious of which is the French Academy (Academie fran^aise), which became part of the Institute in 1803. Since that time, it has been located in the building of the College of the Four Nations “College des Quatre Nations” opposite the Louvre. In Paris, there is a French page - x. Academy, Academy of Architecture, Academy of Surgery, Maritime Academy, Academy of the Latin World, National Academy of Medicine and other academies, research institutes and scientific societies in all branches of scientific knowledge.
Paris is also the largest libraries in France - the National Archives and the National Library, as well as about 50 libraries of academies, universities, research institutes and scientific societies.
The largest library in Paris is the National Library of France, founded in 1368 by King Charles V from his personal library in the Louvre. At the time of its foundation, the library consisted of only 911 manuscripts, since in those days it was customary to destroy all his documents after the death of the monarch. This custom was violated by Louis XI, from whom the expansion of the fund began. On July 14, 1988, President François Mitterrand announced the construction of a new building for the National Library, which began in December 1990. The building was designed by the architect Dominique Perrault and commissioned on December 20, 1996. Now the library has more than 10 million printed publications.
The National Archives of France, located in the Soubise mansion, in addition to manuscripts and documents of the French kings, contains the most important documents related to the history of France, for example, a letter from Jeanne d'Arc or an order to take Robespierre into custody Paris - these are the most interesting museums in the world - the Louvre Museum, the Museum Carnaval (history of Paris), the Museum of Modern Art, the Rodin Museum, the National Museum of Natural History and many other museums.
Opened in 1793 in the former residence of the French kings, the Louvre Museum contains one of the largest and most important collections in the world. The collection consists of 30,000 exhibits from ancient times to the end of the 19th century. The museum building is located in the very center of Paris between the right bank of the Seine and Rivoli Street.
The Musee d'Orsay is located in the building of the former Orsay railway station on the right bank of the Seine opposite the Tuileries Gardens. The station building was designed by Victor Lalu in 1900 for communication between Paris and Orleans, but was closed in 1939 and in 1978 received the status of a historical monument. From 1980 to 1986, under the leadership of Gae Aulenti, the building was converted into a new museum. The Musée d'Orsay is famous for its collection of French Impressionist works. At the same time, paintings, sculptures, photographs and furniture from the period 1848-1914 of all possible directions of art are exhibited here.
Center Georges Pompidou
Built in 1977 and designed by Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers and Gianfranco Franchini, the Georges Pompidou Cultural Center is France's premier center of contemporary art. The building houses not only a museum of modern art, but also a library, cinema halls, bookstores and children's art studios.
The Picasso Museum is one of the most beautiful museums in Paris. The exposition consists of works by Picasso himself, as well as a collection of works by other artists he collected - Georges Braque, Paul Cezanne, Henri Matisse and Amedeo Modigliani. The museum is housed in the Salé mansion built in 1656-1659 in the Marais quarter.
The medieval palace of the abbots of Cluny now houses the Museum of the Middle Ages (Cluny Museum) with a collection of medieval art objects.
Interior of the Picasso Museum
For the World Exhibition of 1900, the Great and Small Palaces were designed as exhibition halls. The Grand Palace not only exhibits art, but also hosts various fairs, exhibitions, such as an automobile exhibition. In the Small Palace, they found a place for a collection of French and Italian Renaissance paintings, as well as paintings by Flemish and Dutch masters.
Theatrical Paris is more than 60 theaters - Grand Opera, Comedie Francaise and other theaters.
The Paris Opera plays an important role in the development of opera. Opened in 1875 and named after the architect, the Opéra Garnier is the largest opera house in the world. The "new opera", Opéra Bastille, has been in existence since 1989. She is technically well equipped. Since the opening of the new opera, the Palais Garnier has been used mainly for ballet performances and classical opera performances. Opéra Bastille has its own ballet company and a ballet school.
Medieval Museum
The famous theater Comédie Francaise, which arose in 1680 as a result of the merger of the former theater of Moliere with several theater companies, is still popular. Such outstanding artists as Sarah Bernhardt and Jean-Louis Barrault played on the stage of the Comédie Francaise. Today the theater performs mainly with the classical repertoire.
The Théâtre des Champs Elysées, built between 1911 and 1913 by Auguste Perret and the Belgian Henri van de Velde, is known for its architecture and sometimes scandalous performances.
For fans of variety shows in Paris, a large number of cabarets are open. The most famous of them are the Moulin Rouge, Lido and Paradise Latin in the Latin Quarter. Parisian cabarets are famous for their cancan.
Rock concerts are most often held in the Zenith concert hall in La Villette park or Bercy park.
The French telecommunications market is located in Paris. The largest concerns in this market include Vivendi Universal, Groupe Lagardere, Groupe TF1. In Paris, there are publishers of the largest daily newspapers Le Figaro, Le Monde, Liberation and many other publishers.
The best time to visit Paris is from April to October (especially the spring and autumn months). In Paris, the coldest month is January and the warmest is July. August in Paris is hot and stuffy, which is why most Parisians take vacations during this time and leave the city. Many establishments are closed during this time. But on the other hand, the city is flooded with tourists who have come from around the world to explore Parisian sights.
Winter in Paris is mild, it rarely snows. The temperature almost never drops below -10 °C.
More than 300,000 foreigners live in Paris. These are mainly immigrants from Africa, Turkey, Portugal, Spain and Asian countries.
80% of Parisians are baptized and 75% identify themselves as Catholics. Most of them are Catholics of the Latin rite, some are adherents of the Armenian and Ukrainian rites. In total, there are 94 Catholic communities, 15 Orthodox churches, 7 synagogues, 2 mosques in Paris.
Paris is the hometown of many world famous people. However, the history of Paris was made not only by native Parisians, but by thousands of provincials and foreigners who came to Paris and made it their hometown.
Paris has hosted two Summer Olympics, 1900 and 1924. In addition, the city competed for the right to host the 2012 Summer Olympics but lost to London.
The final stage of the Tour de France is traditionally held in Paris: since 1975, the last kilometers of the race have been held along the Champs Elysees. Paris hosts the French Open every year, one of the four Grand Slam tournaments. author Yudin Alexander Vasilievich
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Paris also includes two islands (Saint-Louis and Cité), which are the oldest part of it. The landscape of Paris is hilly. The largest hill is called Montmartre, having a height of 130 meters above sea level. The territory of Paris is 87 square kilometers. Paris is divided into 14 quarters.
The Ile de la Cité is the oldest part of Paris. Now Notre Dame stands here, but a few dozen centuries earlier, a Celtic tribe lived here, who called themselves the Parisians. After the Romans left the territory of modern France, the Frankish king Clovis the First created a city that stretched along both banks of the river and gave it the name Paris. Soon the city was destroyed by the Normans.
1210 - a wall was erected around Paris, including about 500 towers, and about 100 thousand people lived behind the wall. With the coming to power of Napoleon, Paris was recognized as the capital of Europe.
After the end of the Franco-Prussian War in 1871, Paris became a city of artists. Major exhibitions are held here almost every year.
Since 1937, the number of high-rise skyscrapers has been growing. The business part of the city became known as La Defense, and the residential area of Tours de Montparnasse is inhabited by more than 30 thousand inhabitants of Paris.
Probably, it is not necessary to say once again that Paris is full of all sorts of attractions. In addition to the world-famous Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Champs Elysees and Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris has many unfamiliar yet attractive corners. One of them: the newest architectural building of the National Center for Science and Industry, which hosts fairs and exhibitions.
Paris is the focus of France's political, administrative and cultural activities. Paris was practically not damaged during the two World Wars, so it retained all the elegance of architectural buildings from the time of Napoleon.
The carefully preserved history of Paris, which is saturated with every street and every boulevard, is not afraid to dissolve in the latest architectural projects and solutions. Paris is the city of love and art. Numerous unforgettable experiences await those who decide to stroll through the streets of Paris, getting to know its inhabitants and their customs and traditions. The main attractions of Paris are located at a considerable distance from each other. To see the Arc de Triomphe and Place de la Bastille in one day, you need to cover a distance of 7 km. And from the Sacré Coeur in Montmartre to the Montparnasse tower - 5 km.
Despite the fact that Paris has a high population density, it is not difficult to get lost in it, you just need to stay close to the banks of the Seine. Historically, the city is divided into left- and right-bank Paris. The expanded metro network will allow you to quickly get anywhere in the city.
The Eiffel Tower is a visiting card of Paris and France. The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 by Gustave Eiffel as part of the World's Fair. The Eiffel Tower consists of three levels: the height of the lower level is 57m, the middle one is 115m and the upper one is 274m. If you climb to the highest level, you can take in the beautiful Parisian panorama within a radius of 70 km. Directly below the Eiffel Tower is the green Champ de Mars. It used to be a military parade ground, which was later transformed into a beautiful park.
The Louvre is a royal palace that has been so for eight centuries. There is also a famous collection of masterpieces of world art, in which there are about 400 copies, including works by Leonardo da Vinci.
Notre Dame Cathedral is located in Notre Dame de Paris in one of the oldest quarters of Paris. Its construction began in 1160 under the direction of Maurice de Sully, bishop. The construction of the cathedral was completed only two centuries later, in 1345. The height of the towers of the cathedral reaches almost seventy meters in height. And the height of the spire is 90 meters. The bell weighing 15 tons rings only on major holidays. The walls of the cathedral are almost completely soundproof. The silence inside the cathedral is in stark contrast to the traffic noise outside. In front of the cathedral is the Place de la Papère, where there is a reference point for the distance of all roads in France - kilometer zero.
The Champs-Elysées is a large street with the Arc de Triomphe, which enjoys worldwide fame. Whether there are military parades or luminous Christmas lights, the street is always filled with a cosmopolitan crowd eager for entertainment. The idea of creating such a lively street belongs to Marie Medici, who at one time ordered to lengthen the avenue lined with elms along the Seine and leading to Alma Square. The Avenue Champs-Elysées was originally called the Cours de la Reine.
The Champs Elysees is crowned by the Arc de Triomphe at the top of the hill of Cheio. On this hill is the Place des Stars Charles de Gaulle. From here, the largest highways of the city diverge in different directions.
The Arc de Triomphe was built by order of Napoleon Bonaparte in honor of his Grand Army. And since 1920, under the Arch there is the tomb of the unknown soldier with an eternal flame and an observation deck.
The Défense quarter is famous for the fact that in the 19th century, Parisians resisted the Prussian soldiers in this very place. Hence the "defense-resistance".
The Île Saint-Louis was formed from two islands in 1614: Yours and Notre Dame. Already in the 17th century, the island was completely built up, so today it is a concentration of quite numerous architectural monuments. The Hotel Lozen and the Hotel Lambert have been preserved here since the 17th century.
The Island of the City is famous for its ancient historical past: here is the world-famous Sorbonne University, as well as the tomb of French writers, famous throughout the world: Voltaire, Emile Zoli, Victor Hugo.
Parisians love to spend their weekends in the Luxembourg Gardens. There is everything for a good rest: gardens, fountains, tennis courts and the Luxembourg Palace, where the Senate sits today.
Les Invalides is a complex of buildings, the cathedral and the church of San Louis for disabled soldiers, built in 1671 by order of King Louis the Sixteenth. Under the majestic vaults of the cathedral is a crypt with the tomb of Napoleon.
The Tuileries Garden in 1563 was conceived by Catherine Midici as a landscape work in a purely English style. However, she failed to complete her plan. Already in 1663, the gardener of Louis XVI was able to decorate this area with geometric shapes, but in the traditional French style.
Saint Chapelle is an architectural work in the Gothic style. King Louis the 9th ordered the construction of the famous chapel to store the Passion of Christ.
The ancient church of Saint-Germain des Pres houses the tombs of such historically famous personalities as Descartes and the Polish king Jan Casimir. Many centuries ago, this church was repeatedly destroyed by the Normans, yet it has always been restored in the clear lines of early Romanesque architecture.
Moulin Rouge - translated from French means "red mill", which is a historical symbol of Paris at night. Moulin Rouge is an incendiary cancan, fireworks and shows and a taste of classic French champagne.
Attractions
Guide
Paris is the capital of France, the most important economic and cultural center of the country, located in the northern part of central France, in the Ile-de-France region on the banks of the Seine River. About 2.2 million people live in Paris. More than 10 million inhabitants live in greater Paris (together with the suburbs). It is one of the most romantic and culturally rich cities in the world.
The Seine divides Paris into the Left and Right Banks. The atmosphere of the Left Bank was determined by the Sorbonne and the Latin Quarter. This area has traditionally been considered bohemian - students and professors, artists, poets and musicians lived here. The right bank is administrative and more business. Here is the royal palace of the Louvre and the city hall, and more recently, the business center of Defense with skyscrapers. And on the small island of the City, located in the middle of the Seine, there are two pearls of Paris - Notre Dame Cathedral (Notre Dame) and the royal chapel of Saint-Chapelle.
Getting to know Paris is a great opportunity to get in touch with French history and culture. For thousands of years, Paris has been the capital of France. And in the treasury of his riches only arrives with time. And now the city is decorated not only with Notre Dame Cathedral on the Ile de la Cité and the Sacré Coeur on Montmartre, the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay, but also the Champs Elysees, the Eiffel Tower, the Georges Pompidou Center for Contemporary Art and the ultra-modern shopping and banking center La Defense.
Paris was founded by the Romans in 59 BC. In the Middle Ages, it increases, such architectural monuments as the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Sainte-Chapelle chapel, the Sorbonne University are built, block after block is being built. Louis XIV, Napoleon Bonaparte continue the construction of the city. The appearance of Paris was finally completed in 1848 under the leadership of the prefect of the city, Haussmann. Grand boulevards were laid out, the Arc de Triomphe square and the prospects of the streets were created. To this day, the city has completely preserved its ancient medieval center and is one of the most beautiful and richest cities in the world.
Paris has a huge number of attractions, which include not only architectural buildings, but also streets, bridges and squares. The French capital has about: 160 museums, 200 art galleries, 100 theaters, more than 650 cinemas, more than 10,000 restaurants.
With its beauty, refined style and luxury, Paris has inspired and continues to inspire artists and thinkers. The three most famous Parisian sights are the ancient Notre Dame Cathedral, built on the Ile de la Cité back in the 12th century, the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, constructions of the 19th century.
The openwork metal tower, built according to the project of the engineer Eiffel, oddly enough, was conceived as a temporary building serving as the entrance to the World Exhibition of 1889, but not only survived this event itself, but has since become a true symbol of the city.
On the opposite sides of it, the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, built on the top of the Montmartre hill, and the lone Montparnasse tower, which stands out against the background of its “flat” area, rise above the horizon line.
The historical axis of architectural monuments crosses the city from the center to the west. Starting from the world-famous Louvre Museum, it continues through the Tuileries Garden, Avenue Champs-Elysées to the Arc de Triomphe in the center of the Place des Stars. In the 1960s the line was extended even further, through the entire quarter of Defense, the center of which was the Great Arch of Defense, as if parodying its older sister. The ultra-modern La Defense, built up with tall glass and concrete business buildings, contrasts sharply with the ancient Paris located nearby.
In the very center of the historical part there is Les Invalides, which houses a military museum, the remains of famous French commanders, one of which is Napoleon Bonaparte, are also buried here. There is also the Pantheon Church, guarding the eternal rest of the once famous Parisian figures. The former royal palace of the Conciergerie became a prison for the defeated monarch during the French Revolution, from where he was subsequently escorted for public execution.
The Palais Garnier, better known as the Opéra Garnier, built during the Second Empire, is the home of the Parisian opera and ballet. And the royal palace of the Louvre has the honor of becoming the most famous art museum in the world. The famous Sorbonne is only part of the large University of Paris, located in the old Latin Quarter.
Another symbol of Paris was the Arc de Triomphe, connected to the Place de la Concorde by the famous Champs-Elysées street. To the Place de la Concorde on the east side along the axis of the Champs-Elysées adjoins the Tuileries Garden, laid out in the French style, and further in the same direction, the famous Louvre - the centuries-old residence of the French royal family, and now one of the richest world museums of painting and sculpture.
Architectural trends of the 20th century have left the city with such monuments as the Cultural Center named after Georges Pompidou, which now houses the Museum of Modern Art, the new opera house on Place de la Bastille, the Les Halles shopping center, built on the site of the "Womb of Paris", as well as the Défense district, representing is an architectural complex of skyscrapers and buildings and structures with avant-garde forms. Also of undoubted interest is the Park Ensemble of the Scientific and Industrial City (North-East of Paris), inspired by the ideas of futurism, which houses a large museum of science and technology, as well as a series of multimedia attractions of three-dimensional and spatial cinema.
At the beginning of the 19th century, new cemeteries were founded on the site of old cemeteries - one in the center of Paris (Passi cemetery) and three beyond its former borders (Montmartre cemetery in the north, Montparnasse cemetery in the south and Père Lachaise in the east). Many celebrities are buried in the cemeteries, which makes them a favorite destination for tourists and city residents who appreciate the silence of the cemetery alleys. In the far suburbs of Paris is the Russian cemetery of Sainte-Genevieve-des-Bois.
The cultural life of Paris is rich and varied, here you can find an event for every taste, whether it be concerts, exhibitions, film festivals, fashion shows or sports shows; there are Film and Music Festivals, countless art exhibitions, various festivals that are very successful and much more. The Seine embankment was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1991, as well as the suburban Palace of Fontainebleau in 1979 and the Palace of Versailles in 1981. The near and far suburbs of Paris also actively enrich the cultural part of Parisian life, which is so attractive for tourists.
The menu of Parisian restaurants offers a full range of masterpieces of French culinary art: traditional cuisine and fine wines in famous restaurants, regional dishes and “nouvelle cuisine” (“new cuisine”), fusion dishes (mixing different traditions) and all kinds of exotic combinations, and also legendary eateries open 24/7.
Each guest of the French capital will find in Paris a corner to their taste. During the day, the shady alleys of its impressive Monceau and Buttes Chaumont parks, and the Tuileries and Luxembourg gardens are suitable for a short rest, and in the evening, after countless walks, you can take a boat trip on the Seine.
Every year, Paris receives some 25 million visitors from all over the world who come to re-experience the magic of its elegant streets, experience the delights of the Parisian way of life, appreciate the works of local designers and the treasures of the city's museums. "Paris of the Parisians" is an open and harmonious city, a cultural and historical capital, which remains a permanent center of attraction for tourists and business people, a real window to Europe.
Paris is the epitome of stylistic excellence - the most captivating and exciting city in Europe, as well as a trendsetter in the intellectual and artistic fields, and at the same time a metropolis with established traditions. Fashionable boutiques are surrounded by a variety of shops, and old-fashioned cafes are adjacent to trendy entertainment establishments.
The history of the city seems multifaceted and vibrant - it is a long story about the monarchs who lived in luxury and the revolutions that overthrew them. From the very beginning, the French rulers gradually extended their dominance to the fiefs, gradually centralizing power over the administrative, legal, financial and political systems. The exquisitely aristocratic Louis XIV turned the city into the most magnificent symbol of his royal greatness, and this tradition was successfully followed by his successors.
Napoleon Bonaparte added extensions to the Louvre and built the Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Madeleine and Carousel, while Napoleon III commissioned Baron Haussmann to rebuild the city center. The custom of demolition of architectural structures continued with the construction of the amazing Center Pompidou, the new glass and steel Pyramid of the Louvre, and the huge hollow cube of the Arches on the Place Défense. Feel and enjoy the city is best on the streets and the busy banks of the Seine.
Few cities in the world can compare with the local cafes, bars and restaurants (restaurants for every taste are presented: trendy and traditional, preserving national traditions and cosmopolitan, modest and pretentious), which dot all the streets and boulevards. The compact nature of the city's layout implies the opportunity to explore its individual and characteristic quarters (quartiers).
It is easy to walk here, from the quiet areas of the almost provincial Montmartre and the Latin Quarter to the lively shopping centers of the Bourse and the Opéra or the relaxing Marais with its chic. The majestic landscape is created by the monumental architecture of the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower, as well as an endless series of bridges over the Seine. There are many things to do in Paris. It is the capital of world cinema, and its club scene is famous throughout (including the most interesting African music on the continent).
Paris is divided into twenty postal districts, or arrondissements, which are used in local addresses. The first (premier, or abbreviated 1) numbers here refer to the city center and the Louvre, the others (abbreviations such as 2, 3, 4) refer to districts that go clockwise. The first six districts (arrondissements), where the main attractions and museums are located, make up the city center.
Arrival and information about Paris
There are two airports in Paris: Roissy - Charles de Gaulle () and Orly. Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is located 23 kilometers to the northwest and is connected to Gare du Nord by the RER B railway line (every 15 minutes, from 5.00 to 0.00; 30 minutes). The train can be reached from Terminal 2, and from Terminal 1 of the same CDG airport there is a free shuttle bus to the station.
There is a Roissybus bus service from both terminals to the Opera metro station (every 15 minutes, 5.45-23.00; 45 minutes), you can also use two Air France bus routes, which are organized from both terminals to the metro station Charles de Gaulle-Étoile and Port Maillot (every 15 minutes, 5.45-23.00) or to Montparnasse and Lyon stations (every half hour, 7.00-21.30).
Orly Airport (ORY), 14 kilometers south of Paris, has two bus routes: Orly-Rail and on the RER line to Austerlitz station and the Left Bank (every 20 minutes, 5.50-22.50) and Orlyval - a high-speed train on the line RER B to Antony station and further to Denfert-Rochereau, St.-Michel, Chatelet metro stations (every 4-8 minutes, 6.00-23.00).
Air France buses go to Gare des Invalides via Montparnasse (every 15 minutes, 6.00-23.30), Orlybus buses go to Denfert-Rochereau metro station (every 15 minutes, 6.00-23.30), Jetbus buses (every 15 minutes, 6.15-22.15 ) go to the final metro station Villejuif-Louis Aragon. For two days, you can order a Blue Vans minibus, which goes from any airport to the place you need (6.00-19.30, 14.50 euros per person for two or more people or 22 euros for one passenger).
There are six main stations in Paris, which are also served by metro lines. On any of them you can buy tickets for domestic and international routes. Eurostar trains from as well as northern France, Northern Germany and the Scandinavian countries arrive at the Gare du Nord/Gare du Nord, on one side of which there are Eurostar ticket offices and booking offices.
Gare d'Est / Gare d'Est serves routes from the east of France, from Luxembourg, South, North, and Eastern Europe. Station Saint-Lazare / Gare St-Lazare receives trains from the coast, Lyon Station / Gare de Lyon - from the south, from the Alps, Western Switzerland, TGV lines pass here to the southeast of France.
Trains from Chartres, from the Atlantic coast, arrive at Montparnasse / Gare Montparnasse station, and TGV lines go to the south-west of the country. Austerlitz Station / Gare d'Austerlitz serves the territory, southwest and. Most intercity buses arrive at the main international bus station, or gare routiere, in Bagnolet/Bagnolet in eastern Paris (Gallieni metro station, last stop of line 3).
Tourist offices can be found in different parts of the city. The main office is located at 25 rue des Piramides (Monday-Saturday 10.00-19.00, metro Piramides/RER Auber) and branches can be found at stations. Other branches are located at 11 rue Scribe and Carrousel du Louvre (daily, 10.00-19.00). The hotels have maps of the city, where you can also buy phone cards and Paris City Passport.
Urban transport and accommodation in Paris
The metro (denoted M) is the easiest mode of transport and is distinguished by the fact that in the city center there are only short hauls between stations. The lines are provided with color codes and numbering, and the line is indicated by the name of the end station. The metro operates from 5.30 to 00.30, after which Noctambus night buses run on eighteen routes from Place du Chatelet / Place du Chatelet near the Town Hall / Hotel de Ville (every half an hour to an hour). Their stops are marked with a black and yellow owl.
Regular bus traffic starts at 6.30 and lasts until 20.30. Longer trips around the city or to the suburbs are best done on RER electric trains (express trains), whose network intersects with metro lines. Free city maps are available at metro stations, bus stops and travel agencies. Flat fare tickets are valid for travel on buses, metro and RER lines within the city limits (zones 1-2).
These tickets can be purchased individually or in blocks of ten. If you plan to use this network intensively, then it is worth buying a Mobilis day hag (5.30 euros for zones 1-2 and 12.10 euros for zones 1-5) or Paris Visites cards for 1, 2, 3 or 5 days, providing also minor discounts when visiting attractions. costs 0.60 euros for 1 kilometer plus 2 euros for landing.
Accommodation in Paris
Relative to many European capitals, Paris is relatively inexpensive to spend the night: a double room in a decent hotel in the city center can cost less than 40 euros, but advance booking is always required. There are also numerous cheap hotels here - both independent and affiliated to one of the four following organizations: MIJE, UCRIF, the official association FUAJ and the French League, which is reserved for HI members only. The campsite, located west of the center, can be reached from the Porte Mailor metro station on bus 244.
I). Paris Hotels
1). Bonsejour Hotel– Friendly establishment with clean and economical rooms in a quiet street in the center of Montmartre. Metro Abbesses. Location: 1 Rue Burq;
2). Hotel du Commerce“A well-established budget hotel in the heart of the Latin Quarter, with bright, even dazzlingly decorated rooms. Metro Maubert-Mutualite. Location: 14 rue de la Montagne-Ste-Genevieve;
3). Grand Hotel du Loiret- A simple economical establishment. Hotel de Ville metro station. Location: 8 Rue des Mauvais-Garcons, 4;
4). Henri IV Hotel– A well-known cheap establishment on the beautiful Place Dauphine (Isle de la Cité). Breakfast is included in the price. Reservation required. Metro station Pont Neuf. Location: 25 Place Dauphine;
5). Jerry Hotel“A simple, clean hotel in an immigrant neighborhood. Much better than others on the same street. Metro Gare-de-l'Est/Chateau-d'Eau. Location: 6 rue Jarry;
6). Marignan Hotel– One of the best tourist hotels in the city with free laundry and self-catering options. During the summer season, reservations are required one month in advance. Metro Maubert-Mutualite. Location: 13 Rue du Sommerard;
7). Medicis Hotel- Rumors that James Morrison stayed here for a week in 1970 made this hotel popular with a good location and low prices. RER Luxembourg. Location: 214 rue St-Jacgues;
8). Rivoli Hotel– The hotel is not new, shared bathrooms, a bit noisy, but everything is redeemed by the location right next to the Town Hall. Metro Hotel de Ville. Location: 44 rue de Rivoli.
II). Hostels in Paris
1). Hostel Aloha– A popular and noisy independent establishment with its own bar, where beer is cheap. Volontaires metro station. Location: 1 Rue Borrome;
2). Auberge Internationale des Jeunes Hostel– Secluded yet noisy independent establishment in a great location, 5 minutes from Place de la Bastille. Metro station Ledru-Rollin. Location: 10 Rue Trousseau;
3). Hostel BVJ Paris Quartier Latin– Good, somewhat official hostel of the UCRIF network in the center. Maubert-Mutualite metro station. Location: 44 Rue des Bernadins;
4). CISP Hostel– Stylish rooms in a good location. Metro Porte Vincennes. Location: 6 av Maurice Ravel;
5). Jules Ferry Hostel– Not so big and located closer to the center, one of the two hostels of the FUAJ network (in a busy area). The establishment fills up quickly, and you should arrive here early. Metro Republique. Location: 8 Bd Jules-Ferry;
6). Hostel Le Fauconnier– The MIJE youth hostel is located in a beautifully restored 17th century mansion with a courtyard. Breakfast is included in the price. Metro St. Paul. Location: 11 Rue du Fauconnier;
7). Le Fourcy Hostel– The MIJE youth hostel is located in a beautiful mansion and has small bedrooms for four and eight people. Breakfast is included in the price, there is a restaurant. metro station Paul. Location: 6 Rue de Fourcy;
8). Hostel Le Village– Attractive, new and independent establishment with good facilities and a terrace overlooking Montmartre. Metro Anvers. Location: 20 Rue d'Orsel;
9). Maubuisson Hostel– The MIJE Youth Hostel is located in a majestic medieval building on a quiet street. Breakfast is included in the price. Metro Pont-Marie. Location: 12 Rue des Barres;
10). Three Ducks Hostel– A good independent establishment with a bar, beer and kitchen. Advance booking required from May to October. Metro Felix Faure. Location: 6 Place Etienne-Pernet;
11). Woodstock Hostel– An independent establishment in the center of Montmartre. Friendly staff, cheap bar, patio and lively atmosphere. Metro Anvers. Location: 48 Rue Rodier;
12). Young and Happy Hostel– An extravagant and popular youth hostel. Location: 80 rue Mouffetard.
Sights of Paris
The Seine River divides Paris into two parts. The northern part is the Right Bank (rive droit) with beautiful boulevards and most of the monumental buildings, many of which date back to the period of urban planning under Baron Haussmann (XIX century). The largest museums are located here - suffice it to name the Louvre and the Pompidou Center, there are many shops in the area of Rivoli and Les Halles streets.
There are also fashionable neighborhoods like the Marais, designed for walking. The Left Bank (rive gauche) differs significantly from the Right Bank, and its very name has become synonymous with the district of Bohemia and intellectuals. Its very spirit is in the local restaurants and bars, and the most visited places, such as Saint-Germain and Saint-Michel, are full of all sorts of attractions.
Some places in Paris are so distinctive that it is difficult to categorize them. So, Montmartre, rising to the north of the center, has managed to maintain a rural spirit, despite the daily crowds of tourists, and the abandoned quarters of the eastern part of the city, not spoiled by tourists, offer to plunge into multinational street life.
Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees and surroundings
Triumphal Avenue (Voie Triumphale) starts from the Louvre and goes to the skyscrapers on Place Défense / La Defense, 9 kilometers to the northwest. Here are the most remarkable places in the city. The best view opens from the top of the Arc de Triomphe, erected in honor of Napoleon's troops and himself (Charles de Gaulles-Etoile metro station) and located in the center of Charles de Gaulle Square (or Place de l'Etoile (Stars)), where twelve avenues converge.
From here begins the most famous Parisian highway, the Champs-Elysées, beautifully winding southeast to the equally busy Concorde (Concord) Square, in the center of which rises an obelisk brought from the temple to (it was bestowed by the Viceroy in 1829). The symmetrical square is continued by the Tuileries Garden (daily 8.00/9.00-19.00/20.00; Metro Concorde), which extends to the Louvre.
In the direction of the river is the Orangerie Museum, where Monet's famous series of water lilies is exhibited, as well as paintings by Cezanne, Matisse, Utrillo and Modigliani. A short route south from the Arc de Triomphe leads to the Museum of Modern Art of Paris at the Palais Tokyo at Av. du President Wilson 11 (Tuesday-Sunday, 10.00-17.45/18.45, admission free; metro Lena).
The work of major painters of the early 20th century is widely represented here, especially those who lived and worked in France: Braque, Chagall, Delaunay, Derain, Leger, Picasso and many others, and the focus is on the "Dance of Matisse" and 250 colorful panels by Dufy, illustrating the history of electricity from the time of Aristotle to the power stations of our day.
In the dilapidated west wing of the building there is an exposition of the Site de Creation Contemporaine (Tuesday-Sunday, 12.00-24.00, entrance fee depends on specific exhibitions, Iena metro). Near the river is the Trocadero, where from the terrace of the Palais de Chaillot a magnificent panorama of the river and the Eiffel Tower opens up.
On the east side of the Tuileries Garden, the Mona Lisa lives in the majestic building of the Louvre (daily except Tuesday 9.00-18.00, Wednesday and Friday until 21.45; 8.50 euros; after 18.00 6 euros, metro Palais Royal-Musee du Louvre / Louvre-Rivoli) . This building was first opened to public access in 1793 during the French Revolution, and in the Napoleonic decade, the largest collection of works of art in the world, collected from all over the empire, was formed here.
To examine in detail such a hulk, it will take months. The impressive glass pyramid by I. Pei is the main entrance to the museum, and the other entrance comes from the side of the Lion's Gate. The Oriental Antiquities section houses relics of the Sumerian, Babylonian, Assyrian and Phoenician civilizations, as well as ancient Persian art and a Muslim collection. The collection of Egyptian rarities includes many jewelry, household items, sarcophagi and a sphinx tomb made of pink granite.
Ancient Greek and Roman artefacts are divided between the museum wings of Denon and Sully, which mainly feature nude sculptures such as the famous Venus de Milo. The collection of applied arts presents the best examples of tapestries, ceramics, jewelry and furniture, which were created by order of wealthy French citizens from the Middle Ages to the 19th century.
In the section of sculpture, one can trace the development of this art form in France from the Romanesque era to the Rodin period. All this is concentrated in the Richelieu wing, and the sculptures of Italy and Northern France are collected in Denon, including Michelangelo's "Slaves", which were created for the tomb of Pope Julius II.
The largest and most visited section of the museum is devoted to painting. The works of French masters until the middle of the 19th century (especially the works of Poussin) are located in the Richelieu wing, the Dutch, German and Flemish collections are also exhibited there. Don't miss Rembrandt's masterpiece "Christ at Emmaus" and two delightful paintings by Vermeer. In the Denon wing there is a constant crowd in the Italian hall near the famous "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci.
Other works of his are on display in the nearby, quieter Grand Gallery, alongside wonderful works by Giotto, Botticelli, Titian, Tintoretto and Mantegna, including Paolo Veronese's impressive and huge Marriage at Cana. The two rear halls house gigantic canvases by the great 19th-century artists David, Ingres and Delacroix, as well as the tragic painting The Raft of the Medusa by Géricault.
Opera Garnier, market and Center Pompidou
A short path north of the Louvre leads to the Opéra-Garnier building on the Place de l'Opéra. It was erected in 1875 for the opera house, and after the completion of the Bastille Opera in 1989, it became mainly used for ballet performances. The building is famous for its magnificent interiors (daily 10.00-17.00; Opera metro), including a hall with a ceiling painted by M. Chagall. To the south is the area of the former covered market, which was rebuilt in the 1970s despite many protests. Pedestrian streets are full of new international retail outlets, and the center of this commercial area is the Forum, where it can be unsafe, especially at night.
During the daytime, the main human flow is directed east from here to the Center Pompidou (Metro Rambuteau). This seminal project by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers was designed for the first high-tech public building. All communications of this building are brought out into colored transparent pipes, due to which the internal space is increased. In the center is the National Museum of Modern Art (11.00-21.00, closed on Tuesdays) with an excellent collection of art in styles such as Fauvism, Cubism and contemporary pop art.
The Marais, the Bastille and the Ile Saint-Louis
A little east of Beaubourg is the former fashionable and aristocratic district of Marais, which has become one of the poorest city districts. The impoverishment of the nobility has helped refurbished mansions become museums, institutions and posh residential apartments, surrounded by trendy clothing stores and cafes where media members dine.
A little further along Rue Francs-Bourgeois is one of the most grandiose mansions of the Marais quarter, which houses the Carnavalet Museum (entrance from the corner of rue Sevigne 23; Tuesday-Sunday 10.00-18.00, admission free, St. Paul metro), which tells about the history of Paris from the time of King Francis I to the beginning of the 20th century with the help of models, maps, plans, reconstructed interiors and relics of the French Revolution of 1789.
A little further north at rue du Temple 71 is the Museum of Jewish Art and History (metro Rambuteau) with an interesting collection of Jewish relics, historical documents and paintings by artists such as Chagall and Soutine. A short walk and you are in front of the 17th century mansion Hotel Juigne Sale on rue de Thoringny 5, which houses the Picasso Museum (Metro St. Paul). Here is a stunning collection, mostly from the artist's personal property, including the largest collection of his work.
At the far end of the rue des Franc-Bourgeois on the right is the vast Place des Vosges, a masterpiece of the urban planning of the aristocratic quarter, with stone and brick symmetrical buildings from the eras of Henry IV and Louis XIII. In house number 3, the Victor Hugo Museum (metro Bastille) is the former home of the author of Les Misérables. A short road to the southeast leads to a gilded memorial column - the "Genius of Liberty" in Place de la Bastille, where the famous prison was stormed in 1789.
The column was erected not in memory of this event, but in honor of the July Revolution of 1830. Although every year on July 14 everyone celebrates a national holiday - Bastille Day. The bicentennial anniversary of the storming of the Bastille was commemorated in 1989 with the opening of the new Opéra Bastille (Bastille Opera) on the far side of the square, a pompous building that caused controversy in society (one critic called it "a hippopotamus in the bathroom").
A little to the south, behind the Henry IV Bridge, is one of the chic central quarters - the island of Saint-Louis, where there are no museums and monuments, and only houses rise on one-way streets. This tranquil route leads to the Île de la Cité, where you can stroll along the shop-filled rue Ile-St-Louis. On weekends, many of the strollers rush for ice cream at the famous Bertillon cafe or on the banks of the Seine.
Island of the City
Paris began from the Ile de la Cité. Initially, an ancient Roman garrison settled here, and later there was a palace of sovereigns from the Merovingian dynasty and the counts of Paris, who in 987 became French kings. Now the biggest local attraction is the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, or Notre Dame Cathedral (daily 7.45-18.45, closed on Saturday 12.30-14.00; Metro Cite), the construction of which began in 1163 under the patronage of Bishop de Sully and was completed around 1345 year.
In the 19th century, Viollet-le-Duc undertook extensive restoration work here, altering many of the sculptures, erecting a new spire, and adding the sinister-looking gargoyles that can be seen up close if you venture up the 387 steps to one of the towers (daily 9.00/10.00-17.00 /21.00).
Particularly detailed are the sculptures of the portals of the western pediment, which date mainly from the 12th-13th centuries, and inside the cathedral, the spectacular contrast between the darkness of the nave and the light falling on the first grandiose columns near the choirs is striking. In front of the cathedral there is an archaeological underground chapel (Tuesday-Sunday 10.00-18.00), where the remains of the original buildings, part of the street and houses of the ancient Roman era are presented.
At the western end of the island rises the bulk of the Palace of Justice in the former palace of the French sovereigns, which served as their haven until the bloody events of 1358, when they moved to the safer Louvre. Only one part of the former complex has been preserved in its entirety - the Sainte-Chapelle of the Louis XI era at Blvd du Palais (daily 9.30 / 10.00-17.00 / 18.30.6, 10 euros, 9 euros with a visit to the Conciergerie; metro Cite).
This building was designed to contain sacred relics and became one of the best achievements of French Gothic, it amazes with its fragility, height and huge wonderful stained-glass windows, for the most part original. You can also visit the Conciergerie, the oldest Parisian prison, the entrance to which is from the corner of the I’Horloge embankment (the same opening hours and the same price as the Sainte-Chapelle chapel).
Before the execution, Marie Antoinette and later prominent figures of the Great French Revolution were kept here. The main attractions are the huge Late Gothic Armory (which served as a dining room and rest room for servants under the monarch), the chamber of Queen Marie Antoinette and the gloomy relics of the victims of the guillotine. Outside the Conciergerie, you can see the city's first tower with a street clock - the Tour d'Orloge (1370).
Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides and Musee d'Orsay
The Eiffel Tower, although not distinguished by any traditional beauty, is an interesting building 300 meters high, which at the time of its creation by G. Eiffel in 1889 was the highest in the world. The public reaction to it was very stormy, but the tower adorned the 1889 World's Fair, for which it was intended.
Elevators will take you straight to the top (daily 9.00/9.30-23.00/24.00; metro Bir Hakeim/RER Champ de Mars), but if you are fit enough, you can save money by climbing yourself to the second level (704 steps), where there are already You can take the elevator to the very top. Lines can get in the way on clear summer days, so consider visiting in the evening when the views are even more spectacular.
To the east, the Les Invalides stretches south from the river to the majestic façade of the Invalides, which was built for crippled soldiers by order of Louis XIV and crowned with a gilded dome that has become a characteristic Parisian landmark. Now there is a gigantic Military Museum (daily 10.00-17.00/18.00) with an extensive collection of weapons, armor, uniforms and relics of the Napoleonic Wars and an even more interesting collection in the wing, which is dedicated to the period of the Second World War.
One of the two pompous churches at the museum is the last refuge of Napoleon Bonaparte. To the east of here, in a beautiful house number 77 (an 18th-century mansion) on rue de Varenne, is the Rodin Museum (Tuesday-Sunday 9.30-16.45/17.45; metro Varenne) with many famous works of the sculptor, including the famous "Kiss".
To the northeast on the Quai d'Orsay by the river is the Musée d'Orsay (Tuesday-Sunday 9.00/10.00-18.00, Thursday until 21.45; free admission on the first Sunday of the month, metro Solferino/RER Musee d'Orsay), (which was organized in 1980- 1990s in the building of the former railway station and stores a broadcasting collection of paintings and sculptures of the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
On the ground floor, works by Ingres, Delacroix, Degas, Daumier, Corot and Millet are exhibited, and upstairs are Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings from Manet, Renoir, Pizarro, Monet to Cezanne, Van Gogh, Gauguin and Toulouse-Lautrec. The middle tier is dominated by sculpture, including interesting works by Rodin.
Latin Quarter, Saint Germain and Montparnasse
The quarter in the area of the boulevards Saint-Germain and Saint-Michel has been known since the Middle Ages as the Latin, because university students who spoke Latin lived here. And until now, the student body dominates here, and the main point is Place Saint-Michel, where cafes and shops are filled with people, mainly young people and foreigners during the tourist season. The streets in the rue de la Huchette were a meeting place for beatniks and other idle people in the 1950s and are now very popular with tourists.
Near the intersection of Saint-Michel and Saint-Germain, the walls of the ancient Roman baths of the 3rd century are visible in the park at the Hotel de Cluny on Paul-Poinleve Square. This 16th-century mansion was built by the abbots of the rich monastery of Cluny as their Parisian cloister, but now it houses the National Museum of the Middle Ages - Therme Cluny (daily, except Tuesdays 9.15-17.45; metro Cluny-La Sorbonne) - a treasury of medieval art with magnificent tapestries.
True masterpieces are the six tapestries of the 15th century "Ladies with a Unicorn" - allegories of the five human feelings and the Christian virtue that opposes them. South of here, Mount Sainte Genevieve rises to the domed Pantheon, which Louis XIV built in honor of this saint and patroness of Paris for getting rid of the disease.
During the French Revolution, the building was turned into a tomb for celebrities such as Voltaire, Rousseau, Zola and Hugo (Metro Cardinal Lemoine/RER Luxembourg). Further along rue Soufflot and Boulevard Saint-Michel, you can spend time in the elegant surroundings of the Luxembourg Gardens (metro Luxembourg), which was laid out by Maria Medici, the widow of King Henry IV, and was supposed to remind her of Palazzo Pitti and Giardino di Boboli in her native.
This is the main recreational area on the Left Bank, with tennis courts, a golf course, toy yachts for rent on the pond, a wooded and grassy area that is heavily used by sunbathing and entertaining students. Close to the Luxembourg Gardens, the northern half of the sixth arrondissement (argondissement) is one of the most attractive areas of the city, full of bookstores, art galleries, antique shops, restaurants and cafes.
This is probably the most significant part of the city in the cultural and historical sense: Picasso painted Guernica on rue Grands-Augustines, Delacroix painted on rue Visconti and Balzac unsuccessfully engaged in publishing, and Oscar Wilde died on the parallel rue des Beaux-Arts and the mad poet Gerard de Nerval walked with a lobster on a blue ribbon.
In the center of the quarter, on Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés, there is the cafe Deux Magots (Two monkeys), in which famous regulars from the sphere of politics and literature literally polished the chairs. On the south side of the Luxembourg Gardens is Montparnasse Boulevard, which also evokes associations with creative personalities of the interwar era, many of whom lived in the Select, Coupole, Dome, Rotonde cafes.
Nearby rises a 59-story colossus called the Montparnasse Tower on Avenue du Maine, which has become one of the most remarkable objects in the city since its construction in 1973. You can climb here like the Eiffel Tower (and even cheaper), although it is 100 meters lower (Metro Montparnasse-Bienvenue). A short walk along Boulevard Edgar-Quinet leads to the Montparnasse Cemetery (metro Raspail), where many famous personalities are buried - from Baudelaire to Sartre and from André Citroen to Serge Gainsbourg.
District of Montmartre and the eastern district of Paris
Montmartre lies among the mostly working-class 18th arrondissement, which was characterized by slums towards the Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est and respectable and almost rural-looking areas centered on the Montmartre hill. You can get there by funicular from Suzanne-Valadon Square (regular metro tickets and travel cards are valid here) or you can climb the steps through Abbesses Square more calmly and pleasantly.
Tertre Square (Hilly) is the center of the tourist Montmartre. Beautiful, but completely artificial, it is filled with onlookers, expensive restaurants and "artists" drawing the bright outline of the Eiffel Tower from memory. The hill is crowned with the classic silhouette of the Sacré-Coeur Basilica (daily 6.00-22.30, admission free, metro Anvers/Abbasses). A beautiful panorama opens from the top of the dome (daily 10.00-18.00).
At the winding Rue Lepic, the only thing left of the former forty windmills of old Montmartre is the Moulin de la Galette, which Renoir immortalized. Further down the Boulevard Clichy is the Moulin Rouge (Red Mill) cabaret, which was never really a mill. Near Pigalle Square - a hot spot that has always been known for the sex industry and strip clubs.
At its western end, a little further down Rue Caulaincourt, is the Montmartre Cemetery (Metro Place de Clichy) with the graves of Zola, Stendhal, Berlioz, Degas, Offenbach and François Truffaut among others. To the east of Montmartre are the Bassin de la Villette and the canals at the northeast entrance to the city, where for generations the urban proletariat has lived, an area that has recently become the object of new urban development.
Here in Villette Park is the opulent City of Science and Industry (metro Porte de la Villette), a building in old concrete slaughterhouses on the north side of the Urque Canal. Three times the size of the Center Pompidou, this is the most amazing monument of the capital in the last two decades, which is worth visiting if only to see its interior of glass and stainless steel, with cantilever platforms and suspension bridges.
The Explora's permanent exhibition here on the top two floors is a veritable science museum, showcasing every aspect of scientific thought, from microbes to outer space. South of La Villette are the eastern districts of Paris - Belleville and Menilmontant, which are among the poorest in the city and are not marked in most tourist routes.
However, a certain number of tourists are drawn to the Pere Lachaise Cemetery off the Boulevard de Ménilmontant (Metro Pere-Lachaise), with most visitors heading for the small guarded tomb of Jim Morrison on the east side of the necropolis and the more opulent tomb of Oscar Wilde. Here such famous personalities as Edith Piaf, Modigliani, Abelard and Heloise, Sarah Bernhardt, Ingres and Corot, Delacroix and Balzac found their last shelter.
Beaux Quartiers, Bois de Boulogne and La Defense
South and west of the Arc de Triomphe are the so-called Beaux Quartiers of the 16th and 17th arrondissement. This is an aristocratic, rich, bourgeois and respectable territory, where there is generally little of interest, with the exception of the amazing Marmottan Museum at rue Louis-Boilly 2 (La Muette metro), where Monet's paintings were donated by the artist's son.
Among the donated canvases are canvases entitled "Impression, Sunrise", an image of a foggy sun haze in Le Havre (1872), thanks to which the term impressionism was born. Next to the museum, on the west side of the 16th arrondissement, is the Bois de Boulogne, the largest open space in the city, modeled on London's Hyde Park. La Defense Square rises to one of the famous Parisian sights - the breathtaking Grande-Arche-de-la-Defense metro station, a 112-meter-high hollow cube made of white marble.
Inside it move open elevator cabins and there is a so-called "canopy under the clouds." Here you can climb onto the roof (daily 10.00-19.00), but the panorama of the six-kilometer Triumphal Avenue and the Arc de Triomphe is no more impressive than from the steps leading to the arch. All of the above attractions can be seen during.
Food, drink and entertainment in Paris
Food in Paris is not overly expensive. Numerous fixed-price menus from €12 offer simple, good French cuisine, and there's also a selection of ethnic restaurants: West African, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Greek, and more, but they're not always cheaper.
Vegetarians may have a problem, but there are also vegetarian restaurants: Indian, Jewish and Italian establishments provide a good choice for those who reject meat consumption. All ISIC card holders can apply for tickets to university restaurants at CROUS, where a list of addresses is provided, but tickets must be purchased at the restaurants themselves.
I). Snacks, sandwiches, cakes and ice cream in Paris
1). Institution Berthillon“There are always long lines for excellent ice cream and sorbet. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Metro Pont Marie. Location: 31 rue St-Louis-en-I'le;
2). Cafe de la Mosquee– Peppermint tea and oriental sweets are offered in this quiet oasis popular with ladies. Subway Jussieu. Location: 39 rue Geoffrey St Hilaire;
3). Cafe Very (Dame Tartine)– One of the many outdoor establishments with excellent sandwiches and snacks, popular in the artistic community. Metro Concorde. Location: Jardin des Tuileris;
4). Le Loir dans la Theiere“Peaceful, sometimes quirky hideaway with leather chairs and an inviting atmosphere. Sunday breakfasts and lunches, pies and omelettes in the middle of the day, and fruit teas and cakes all day long. Metro St. Paul. Location: 3 rue des Rosiers;
5). Institution Le Sancerre– Works from 7.00 to 14.00 and is popular among young people and fashionable public. Located under the southern slope of Montmartre. Metro Abbesses. Location: 35 rue des Abbesses;
6). Henri IV Tavern“An old-fashioned wine bar with large portions of meats and cheeses. Subway Pont Neuf. Location: 13 pl. du Pont Neuf, Ile de la Cite.
II). Restaurants and eateries in Paris
1). Bistro Au Virage Lepic- In a noisy, hospitable and old-fashioned bistro, simple and good meat food. Metro Abbesses. Location: 61 rue Lepic;
2). Bistro de la Sorbonne- Large portions of traditional French and North African dishes in a noisy and welcoming environment. Metro Place Monge. Location: 4 rue Touiller;
3). Restaurant Le Bistrot du Peintre“A delightful Art Nouveau bistro serves large salads and good Auvergne cuisine—meat with cheese and potatoes. Metro Ledru-Rollin. Location: 116 av Ledru-Rollin;
4). Institution Chardenoux“A real old-fashioned place where hearty meat dishes are prepared at reasonable prices. Closed on Sundays and in August. Metro Charone. Location: 1 rue Jules-Valles;
5). Institution Chartier“Good inexpensive food in a splendid original dining room from the end of the last century. There may be a queue. Metro Le Peletier. Location: 7 rue du Faubourg-Montmartre;
6). Bistro Chez Gladines– Tiny and welcoming corner bistro serves good Basque food. The establishment is located next to the trendy bars on Butteaux-Cailles. Metro Corvisart. Location: 30 rue des Cinq-Diamants;
7). Flo's“A pleasant old-fashioned diner where customers sit all together at a long table. Excellent cuisine and traditional atmosphere. Metro Chateau-d'Eau. Location: 7 courses des Petites-Ecuries;
8). Foyer du Vietnam– A very popular place with students where you can have a good meal, including wine, for 10 euros. Metro Monge. Location: 80 rue Monge;
9). Goldenberg Restaurant– The best Jewish restaurant in Paris, where you can try borscht, pancakes, strudel and other Central European dishes. The beef goulash is especially good. Metro St. Paul. Location: 7 rue des Rosiers;
10). Grand Appetite Restaurant– Vegetarian and macrobiotic food (about 15 euros per serving) in a specialized eco-vegetarian restaurant. Metro Bastille. Location: 9 rue de la Cericaie;
11). L'Aas du Falafel“The best falafel in town. Also try the pita with cabbage, eggplant, hummus and Tabasco sauce. Metro St Paul. Location: 34 rue des Rosiers;
12). Restaurant Le Mono– Lively and colorful Togolese restaurant offers excellent grilled fish and meat. Closed on Wednesdays. Metro Abbesses. Location: 40 rue Veron;
13). Restaurant La Petite Legume– Tiny vegetarian restaurant with natural products. Closed on Sundays. Subway Jussieu. Location: 36 rue des Boulangers;
14). Institution Le Potagerdu Marais– A bright modern establishment where they eat natural vegetarian food and fish at a common table. Closed on Sundays. Metro Rambuteau. Location: 22 rue Rambuteau;
15). Restaurant Le Temps de Cerises– A well-organized cooperative restaurant with great prices for workers with a cheerful audience. Metro Corvisart. Location: 18-20 rue de la Butte-aux-Cailles;
16). Institution Lo Sushi- The sushi is not bad, but the real admiration is caused by computer terminals, through which you can communicate with other visitors to the restaurant. Open daily until midnight. Metro station Pont Neuf. Location: 1 rue de Pont-Neuf;
17). Bistro Perraudin– Well-known traditional bistro in the Latin Quarter offers a good lunch menu at reasonable prices. Metro Cluny-La Sorbonne. Location: 157 rue St-Jacques;
18). Bistro Polidor“Traditional bistro filled late into the night with noisy crowds. Metro Odeon. Location: 41 rue Monsieur-le-Prince;
Drinks in Paris
Most of the squares and boulevards are filled with street cafes, and drinks are usually the most expensive in them. It is worth dropping into such establishments for a cup of coffee and watching passers-by. The most famous and oldest cafes and bars are located on the Left Bank, especially in the university quarter and the Saint-Germain-des-Prés area.
The Bastille district is considered to be a fashionable and lively place, while the Marais quarter offers its small cafes, bars and original non-traditional establishments. Montmartre is a good place to visit old-fashioned wine bars, where food is often offered, and bars and pubs can be found throughout the city.
1). Bar Budda– In this former one of the most fashionable bars, the sophisticated public still drops in for a drink. Gorgeous oriental decor. Daily 16.00-2.00. Metro Concorde. Location: 8 rue Boissy d'Anglas;
2). Cafe Charbon– Successfully resurrected fin-de-siecle cafe where you can relax during the day and in the evenings it is full of young people. Metro St. Maur/Parmentier. Location: 109 rue Oberkampf;
3). Bar Chez Georges“An old-fashioned, smoky wine bar upstairs and a busy basement downstairs. Tuesday-Saturday 12.00-02.00, closed in August. Metro Mabilon. Location: 11 rue des Canettes;
4). Pub The Frog and Princess– Lively English pub open until 2.00. Metro St-Germain-des-Pres/Mabillon. Location: 9 rue Princesse;
5). Bar La Folie en Tete- A quiet "alternative" bar on a busy street that offers cheap drinks. In the daytime you can have a good snack, Monday-Saturday 17.00-02.00. Metro Place d'ltaty. Location: 33 rue Butte-aux-Cailles;
6). Cafe-bar La Fourmi– The cafe and bar with high ceilings is filled with fashionable Parisian youth. Open Monday-Thursday 8.00-2.00, Friday and Saturday 8.00-16.00, Sunday 10.00-2.00. Metro Pigalle/Abbesses. Location: 74 rue des Martyrs;
7). Cafe-bar Pause– Busy day and night trendy cafe-bar with tables on the sidewalk, calm music. Tuesday-Saturday 8.00-2.00, Sunday until 9.00. Metro Ledru-Rollin. Location: 41 rue de Charonne;
8). Bar Rhubarb The noisy student bar is owned by the Irish. From Monday to Friday, a drink costs 2 euros. Until 10:00 is happy hour. Metro Maubert-Mutualite. Location: 18 rue Laplace;
9). Bar Le Rubis– One of the oldest wine bars in Paris with excellent appetizers and specialties. Open Monday-Friday 7.30-22.00, Saturday 9.00-15.00, closed in mid-August. Metro Tuileries. Location: 10 rue du Marche-St. honore;
10). Cafe Le Select– The least spoiled of Montparnasse's chic cafes has been popular ever since its heyday in the 1920s. Open until 3:00 or 4:00. Metro Vavin. Location: 99 boulevard du Montparnasse.
Nightlife in Paris
Paris' reputation for live music is impeccable, it's the musical capital of the world, jazz is superb, and the selection of classical music and opera is virtually unlimited. Club life is developing as fast as in other big cities, and a couple of old establishments will not let you down.
Most clubs open around 23.00 and are open until 1.00, some establishments are open until dawn and even longer. For information on current events, the best place to look is the weekly Parisscope, which is published on Wednesdays, and the small English-language section Time Out. Tickets are best purchased at FNAC, Forum des Halles, 1-5 rue Pierre-Lescot, level 3 (Les Halles metro), and Virgin Megastore, 56-60 avenue des Champs-Elysees (Franklin Roosevelt metro).
More than 350 films are shown in Paris every week. Tickets cost about 8 euros and 5 euros for students. Almost all foreign films are shown in French, which is indicated in advertising by the letters v.o. (as opposed to v.f., which implies dubbed French text).
Moviegoers should head to the smaller cinemas (cinematheques), which show over 50 films a week, and tickets cost just €4.75. Forum des Images at Forum des Halles, 2 Grande Galerie, Porte Eustache (metro Les Halles) is a great place to watch all sorts of eccentric and quirky tapes on the thematic repertoire, and there is a huge selection of cassettes in the video libraries for home viewing.
I). Live music of Paris
1). Au Limonare“A tiny place with real Parisian chanson. Poetry evenings are arranged. After eating an inexpensive lunch, you get the right to stay for a 10-hour show. It's hard to get here any other way. Metro Grands Boulevards. Location: 8 Cite Bergere;
2). The Caveau de la Huchette– A very popular jazz cellar. Be-bop and big band, there are dances. Metro St-Michel. Location: 5 rue de la Huchette;
3). House of Live– French rock/pop/soul is played in the spacious bar-restaurant. After the show - club hour. Free admission. Subway Franklin D. Roosvelt. Location: 124 rue de la Boetie;
4). Zdriving Le Bataclan– A classic theater venue with the best and eclectic selection of events from foreign and local dance and rock music to opera, comedy and techno evenings. Subway Oberkampf. Location: 50 bd Voltaire;
5). Le Divan du Monde– Cafe with the most interesting and eclectic programs in the city - from techno music to Congolese rumba, with dancing until dawn on weekends. Metro Pigalle. Location: 75 rue des Martyrs;
6). La Guinguette Pirate- A beautiful Chinese barge is moored at the waterfront in front of the National Library, where relaxing and cheerful music is played from Tuesday to Sunday. Metro Quai-de-la-Gare. Location: Quai Francois Mauriac.
II). Nightclubs in Paris
1). Nightclub Batofar“A good inexpensive place to hang out in a night club with a trendy backdrop in an old ship by the National Library. Metro Quai-de-la-Gare. Location: Quai de la Gare;
2). Nightclub Les Bains- An institution in the old Turkish baths with a pool. Mostly house, hip-hop and garage music. Open from midnight to dawn. Metro Etienne-Marcel. Location: 7 rue du Bourg-l'Abbe;
3). Man Ray Night Club- The hippest place ever. If you can convince the doorman to let you into this ultra-exclusive establishment, you won't be sorry. Metro Blanche. Location: 32 rue Marboeuf;
4). Nightclub Nouveau Casino“A big trendy club with an eclectic and inventive mix of musical styles. Metro Parmentier. Location: 109 rue Oberkampf;
5). Point Ephemere nightclub– A very modern place with DJs, live music and a dance show. Open until 2.00. Metro Pigalle. Location: 200 Quai de Varmy;
6). Nightclub Rex- A popular club, spacious and serious about music (purely electronic). Performances by famous DJs. Metro Grands Boulevards. Location: 5 bd Poissoniere;
7). Triptyque night club– Acid jazz and electronic music every day for only 10 euros. Metro Bourse/Grands Boulevards. Location: 142 rue Monmatre.
III). Classical music, opera and ballet in Paris
1). Cite de la Musique Concert Hall– Concert hall for 800-1200 seats with a varied program: baroque music, contemporary music, jazz, chanson and world music. Metro Porte-de-Pantin. Location: 221 av Jean-Jaures;
2). Theater Opera-Bastille– The ultra-modern Parisian opera. Tickets cost 10-160 euros (the cheapest seats are available only to those who applied in person), the remaining tickets are sold at a discount to students 5 minutes before the start. Metro Bastille. Location: 120 rue de Lyon;
3). Theater Opera-Garnier– Small opera and ballet performances are now staged in the former opera house. Metro Opera. Location: place de l`Opera;
4). Theater des Champs-Elysees- The abode of the National Orchestra of France, which also welcomes foreign stars, ballet companies and opera companies. Metro Alma-Marceau. Location: 15 av Montaigne;
5). Theater Musicale de Paris (Chatelet)- Local programs, along with ballet, also include visiting ballet groups, concerts and solo performances. Metro Chatelet. Location: 1 place du Chatelet.
Paris on the map of France
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