La Grande Roue (Ferris Wheel), Paris

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“The best of America drifts to Paris. The American in Paris is the best American. It is more fun for an intelligent person to live in an intelligent country. France has the only two things toward which we drift as we grow older—intelligence and good manners.”
— F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940)

A grand way to see Paris from an elevated point other than the Eiffel Tower is la Grande Roue de Paris, a simple but magical ferris wheel.

La Grande Roue, 197 feet tall, entertains on the northern edge of Jardin de Tuileries and rue de Rivoli. Adults and kids will enjoy this different perspective on the City of Light.

We rode the Big Wheel when it was originally erected in Place de la Concorde for the millennium celebrations in 1999. It was dusk when we went spinning around in the fading light of day; the twinkling lights of the Champs Élysées were on one side and the Jardin de Tuileries were on the other. This is a sight I will always remember.

The Big Wheel has not been without controversy. It was meant to stand for only a year; but that became two years. A judge ordered the wheel dismantled and the owner Marcel Campion refused. Finally, it was taken down and it went gallivanting around the world, Birmingham and Manchester England, Amsterdam, even Bangkok! Now, it is back in Paris.

Take a spin on la Grande Roue. Enjoy!

Ferris wheel at place de la concorde. You MUST try it. Very thrilling but after 2nd round (it goes 3-4rounds, depends on the mood of worker....french eh?:) finally you can open your eyes and enjoy the view.

Paris' "Grande Roule" -- or Big Wheel -- was built in 1999 as part of the city's Millennium Celebration. With 50,000 individuals light bulbs stretching its 200 foot height, the Wheel lit up the skyline like nothing else. Its central location on the Place de la Concorde -- between the Champs Ellysee and the Louvre -- ensured that all visitors to the city caught a glimpse, if not a ride.

It was supposed to be removed in 2000, but due to side agreements, delays, and controversy, it stayed far longer. Finally, after almost three years -- and after becoming another landmark of Paris -- the Big Wheel was removed in January 2002.

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Take a ride on the French Ferris Wheel - La Grand Roue - at the end of the Champs Elysées. It gives you a good view of the city looking back down it's most famous avenue towards the Arc de Triomph. You can watch the locals and the tourists on the promenade shopping or eating cafes and get a birds eye view....

Photo taken from on top of the ferris wheel. View right ahead of The Louvre museum, on the left you can see Rue de Rivoli, and below the Tuileries garden..
It's a pleasant ride and a fun way to see Paris!

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This is bigger than one in Vienna, but that is rather large also. Rides can be taken and been going for 100 years, or so?

Even not the biggest ferris wheel in the world, but it worth to see it and especially when on top, can see the view of Paris, especially at nite with full of lighs! amazing! And not far from Louvre.