Paris, the City of Light, and without a doubt – one of the most romantic places in the world. It is a city you can explore for weeks, even months, and still find new things to do every day, new places to see and visit.
Whether you are a lover of art, history, culture, fashion, there for a romantic getaway, or a business trip, these are some locales no tourist should fail to see when in Paris.
- The Eiffel Tower
Originally constructed between 1887 and 1889 for the 1889 World’s Fair, it has become the most recognizable symbol of Paris and one of the most well-known structures in the world. Initially hated and derided when it was being made – the intellectual elite of France at the time were certain that it was an eyesore that marred the beautiful vista of Paris, it soon caught on as a massive tourist attraction.
In 2015, almost 7 million people visited it, and it holds the record as the most visited paid monument in the world. Considering the amazing view from the very top, when the entire Paris stretches out before your eyes, it’s easy to see why.
- The Louvre
Another Paris record-holder – the Louvre is, with over 10 million visitors, the world’s most visited art museum. Originally built as a castle that served as the residence of French kings, it was later refitted as a museum during the French Revolution. Since then, it has housed some of mankind’s most beautiful and important pieces of art.
The museum is divided into eight curatorial departments, contains over 380.000 objects and 35.000 works of art, and spans over 652,000 square feet (0.06 square kilometers). It is a place that is quite literally impossible to go through in just one visit, so be prepared to return to it again and again.
- The Notre-Dame Cathedral
Unfortunately, Notre-Dame de Paris (“Our Lady of Paris”) was severely damaged in a fire in April 2019, but it is still nonetheless a wonder to behold. Construction started in 1160, and it was functionally complete by 1260. It is a prime example of French Gothic Architecture, and became popular worldwide thanks to Victor Hugo’s influential novel “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”, which was adapted several times for the stage and screen.
- Moulin Rouge
Moulin Rouge (“Red Mill”), is the most well-known cabaret in the world. Opened in 1889, it soon became synonymous with the Belle Époque (“Beautiful Era”), a time in Western history during which great strides were made in the fields of technology, sciences, and social consciousness. Alas, this era was ended with World War I.
Perhaps best known as the birthplace of the can-can dance, it was also a place that attracted the intellectual and artistic elite of the day. People such as the artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec often frequented this establishment, and many of the dancers who performed there, like la Goulue, Jane Avril, la Môme Fromage, Grille d’Egout, Nini Pattes en l’Air, Yvette Guilbert, and Valentin le désossé, just to name a few, are still celebrated even today.
