by VictoriaM.
Louvremetro:Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre
bus:21, 27, 39, 48, 68, 69, 72, 76, 95
Open: Museum: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. - Pyramid: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. - Museum late night opening: Monday (Richelieu Wing) and Wednesday: 9.45 p.m.
Closed: Tuesday, certain bank holidays.
The Musée du Louvre, the former home of the kings of France, is for two centuries one now of the largest museums in the world. its collections are distributed into 7 departments: Oriental antiques, Egyptian antiques, Greek, Etruscan and Roman antiques; Paintings, Sculptures and Objets d'Art from the Middle Ages to 1850. Still in its development stage, the Grand Louvre project shall only be totally finished in 1997. The first stage of the project was finished in 1989 (opening of the new access via the glass pyramid designed by I.M. Pei and discovery of the vestiges of the medieval Louvre). In 1993, the Richelieu wing was opened. It exhibits French sculptures, objets d'art, paintings from the Northern schools and French paintings (up to the seventeenth century, oriental antiques and the art of Islam. The Carrousel du Louvre, was inaugurated in parallel. This is a large underground complex with stores, car parks and areas for exhibitions and prestigious events. In October 1994, new rooms presenting foreign sculptures were inaugurated. During the last phase of the project many rooms will be redeveloped in the Sully and Denon wings (with namely Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan and Roman antiques and Italian paintings), the Jardin des Tuileries will also be renovated.
Collections: Archeology, Decorative Arts, History, Jewellery, Furniture, Painting, Sculpture, Textile, Graphic art
Museum D'Orsey
Metro:Solférino
RER:Musée d'Orsay
Bus:24, 63, 68, 69, 73, 83, 84, 94
Open: Winter: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Summer: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. - late night opening: Thursday: 9.45 p.m.
Closed: Monday, 01/01, 01/05, 25/12
A superb example of a successful reconversion, the musée d'Orsay was redeveloped in the old Gare d'Orsay, built by Victor Laloux and inaugurated in 1900 for the Universal Exhibition. After having received the first electric trains, the station was closed in 1939, the victim of progress. It was registered as a listed building in 1978. The museum was opened in December 1986 and was dedicated to all artistic production from 1848 to 1914. Paintings, pastels, sculptures, furniture and objets d'art, photography and documentary objects reflect the richness and diversity of this era.
Collections: Decorative Arts, History, Literature, Furniture, Painting, Photography, Sculpture
Notre Dame de Paris (Cathédrale)
metro:Cité
RER:Châtelet-Les Halles, Saint Michel-Notre Dame
Bus: 21, 24, 27, 38, 47, 85, 96
A gothic masterpiece. Notre Dame, conceived by Maurice de Sully, was built between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries (1163-1345). Road distances in France are calculated on the basis of the '0 km' marked on the square in front of the cathedral.
Collections: Architecture, History
Tour Eiffel
metro:Bir Hakeim
RER:Champ de Mars
Bus:42, 69, 72, 82, 87
Open: Winter: 9.30 a.m.-11 p.m. - Summer: 9 a.m.-midnight
Prices: Lift: 1st floor: 20 FF., 2nd floor: 38 FF., 3rd floor: 55 FF. Stairs: 1st and 2nd floors: 12 FF. - Red. depending on period - late night opening: Every night - Group: Res. 48 hours - Guided Tours, Conferences: Res. 1 month
The most famous monument in the world (317 metres, 10,100 tonnes). Built by Gustave Eiffel in 1889 for the Universal Exhibition of which it was the star. Information, historical and technical facts on all floors, show-window/office of Gustave Eiffel on the third floor.
Collections: History, Industry, Technology, Architecture
Sainte-Chapelle
metro:Cité
RER:Saint Michel-Notre Dame
Bus:38
Open: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Prices: 26 FF. - Red.: 7 FF. - Group: 17 FF.
Closed: 01/01, 01/05, 01/11, 11/11, 25/12
A jewel of gothic architecture, the Sainte-Chapelle was built in the thirteenth century by order of Saint-Louis to contain the crown of thorns. The high chapel with its 600 sq. metres of windows, 2/3 of which are authentic, offer one of the most complete sets of stained glass window from this era.
Collections: History, Architecture, Stained Glass
Arc de Triomphe
metro:Charles de Gaulle-Etoile
RER:Charles de Gaulle-Etoile
bus:73
History
Commissioned in 1806 by Napoleon, shortly after his victory at Austerlitz, it was not finished until 1836. There are four huge relief sculptures at the bases of the four pillars. These commemorate The Triumph of 1810 (Cortot); Resistance , and Peace (both by Etex); and The Departure of the Volunteers, more commonly known by the name La Marseillaise (Rude).
La Marseillaise by François Rude; One of four reliefs on the pillars of the Arch. The day the Battle of Verdun started in 1916, the sword carried by the figure representing the Republic broke off. The relief was immediately hidden to conceal the accident and avoid any undesired associations or interpretations as a bad omen.
Engraved around the top of the Arch are the names of major victories won during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic periods. The names of less important victories, as well as those of 558 generals, are to found on the inside walls. Generals whose names are underlined died in action.
Beneath the Arch is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and eternal flame commemorating the dead of the two world wars.
Here every Armistice Day (11 November) the President of the Republic lays a wreath. On 14 July - the French National Day (refered to as Bastille Day everywhere except in France) - a military parade down the Champs Elysées begins here. For important occasions of state, and national holidays, a huge French tricolor is unfurled and hung from the vaulted ceiling inside of the Arch.
Notes
Inside the Arch there is a small museum documenting its history and construction (price included in the FF31 to the top of the Arch).
From the roof of the Arch there are spectacular views of Paris. Looking eastwards, down the Champs Elysées, toward the Louvre, there is the Place de la Concorde,, the Tuileries Gardens, and the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel. In the opposite direction - westwards - in the distance is its larger and newer cousin, La Grande Arche de la Défense.
Basilique du Sacré Coeur
metro:Anvers, Abbesses, Château Rouge, Lamarck-Caulaincourt
bus:30, 54, 80, 85, Montmartrobus
Open: Basilica: 6.45 a.m.-11 p.m., Dome and crypt: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. - late night opening: Basilica: 11 p.m.
Prices: Basilica: free access - Dome, crypt: 15 FF. - Red. Dome and crypt: 8 FF.
Church built by the national will following the defeat in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870.The basilica was consecrated in 1919. Architect: Abadie (1875-1912)
Collections: History, Painting, Sculpture, Architecture
