Tour Eiffel, Champ de Mars 75007 Paris

theme:cultural charm, eiffel tower, eiffel, france, paris, paris sights, paris attractions, france attractions, eiffel-tower, climb eiffel tower, climbing eiffel tower, seine, tour eiffel, champs de mars, 7th arrondissement

Thu May 28 03:26:07 +0000 2009

1 Autumn and spring are the best times to head to Paris, so as to avoid the big school-holiday crowds and the touristy atmosphere which hovers behind them. The Eiffel Tower often undergoes repainting and minor repairs, but they shouldn't interfere with planned visits. Make sure to ascend when the weather's clement. Storms, frosts and heatwaves can occur with little warning, so try to pick a day with a reasonable amount of sun shine. Climb the Eiffel Tower; The Trendsetter of Tall 224 48.8585599391126 2.29451179504395 Elevator tickets take you either to the second-floor or the top-floor. Make sure you specify which one you want: top-floor tickets cost around €13, second-floor about €8. Under-4's climb free. The French can be known for their snobbery, but a lot of it is based around language. If you simply attempt to speak French you'll find the locals treat you with more respect, become relaxed, and even start chatting to you about their lives and day-to-day gripes. Pack your phrasebook and get your nasal accents on. Two restaurants grace the Eiffel Tower's heights, 58 Tour Eiffel and Jules Verne. The latter has a reputation for hosting celebrated artists and public figures throughout its history. Both are worthwhile if you want the view, but it's a lot more cost-efficient to grab some pastries and bread from one of the many boulangeries in the area. The presence of numerous French soldiers packing assault rifles doesn’t deter local pickpockets and scammers: keep an eye on your valuables and only buy your ticket at the official glass booth. Unfortunately, the over-priced food stalls and souvenir shops are completely legal. Climb the Eiffel Tower and send your senses soaring when you travel to Paris, France. Climb The Eiffel Tower eiffel-tower

Mon Jun 29 04:38:18 +0000 2009

Climbing the Eiffel Tower, one the great charms of Paris, is a leisure best enjoyed in the spring. If, however, circumstances conspire in such a way that you end up in Paris’ 7th arrondissement between June and August, craning your neck at the confabulation of steel lace that stretches upward to its apex in the sky, it is a pleasure not to be refused. Climbing the Eiffel Tower is a difficult task even without the cloying heat of the summer months. Despite what seem like insurmountable obstacles and annoyances of a tireless stop along the Parisian tour route, the Eiffel Tower will not only raise your range of vision, but send your senses soaring. Built in just over two years for the Paris Exposition of 1889, the Eiffel Tower pioneered the tall trend, standing over 300m high. Gustav Eiffel’s masterwork was once thought to be the most odious thing since mouldy baguettes, but it’s long since cemented its place as crown jewel in the Parisian tourist industry. As such, the queues are already forming when the gates open at about 9 in the morning, and by around midday you’ll find yourself faced with a swarming morass of tour groups and hot tempers. Waits can be upwards of three hours on a sweaty July day before reaching the ticket booths. With 1671 steps, it might make you think twice about climbing the Eiffel Tower. There are three floors in the Tower, but the only way to get to the top is via the lift, saving your legs the forty-or-so minute walk up a hard iron staircase. Climbing the Eiffel Tower by foot, however, will mean drastically shorter queues. If you do decide to go au pied, remember to bring lots of fluids and stay hydrated. It’s a long and windy way up, and even though the Tower’s designed to take the Paris gusts, it has a tendency to sway and creak in a rather ominous fashion. Sways of up to 12cm can occur in the Eiffel Tower caused by wind. If you choose to ascend by the lift, you’ll be presented with a giddily surreal view of Paris beneath your feet. Literally. The elevator’s glass bottom is not for the vertiginous, but it gives you a stark appraisal of how tall the Tower really is. At the top of the Eiffel Tower send your sight wandering over the Champs de Mars, up the Seine and around to the Arc de Triomphe which, so imposing from the ground, looks squat and dense from this height. Gaze over the horizon at the green edges of Paris, and take in the skyscrapers and jardins alike. Then, when you’re done, close your eyes and listen to the wind howl around the iron girders. That’s the sound of history in your ears. If you’re in the City of Lights on honeymoon or just want to beat the crowds, consider climbing the Eiffel Tower for a late-night view of the city. The lifts close at 11pm each night, but the sparkling cityscape under the night sky is a magical experience. Time can get away from you when in the city of love, so if for some unforeseen reason you miss going up the Eiffel Tower, the view from the bottom is also one to relish, even after hours. A simple gaze up while directly under the Tower will gently fade away the hum of the surrounding nightlife and distance the trickle of tourists. Silent awe ensues, and thoughts of endless imagination occur. With a variety of places and ways to enjoy the Eiffel Tower, one of the simplest is often the most satisfying. A blanket under a quiet tree near the Tower; paired with a ripe local wine, brie and a crusty baguette, is a deliciously relaxing way to enjoy the view.

Tue Jul 07 22:30:06 +0000 2009

24 eiffel-tower 100 16

Sacre Coeur, Paris, France

theme:cultural charm, theme: rest and relaxation, sacre coeur basilica, sacre coeur basilica paris, sacre coeur basilica montmartre, paris, montmartre, france, sacre coeur, montmartre cafe, culture, walking, sacre coeur paris, sacre coeur france, sacre coeur montmartre, saint jean cafe, sancerre cafe, saint jean montmartre, sancerre montmartre

Sun Jul 05 13:36:01 +0000 2009

1 Most major airlines have direct flights to one of the city's main airports: Roissy-Charles de Gaulles and Orly, with a variety of transport options to get to the city proper. Be aware that Paris-Beauvais is a hefty 55 miles from the French capital, adding an extra ninety minutes to your journey. As a world famous tourist destination, Paris gets very crowded in summer. Consider travelling in off-peak times like spring and autumn, but be prepared for rain! The best time to visit the Sacre Coeur Basilica is during the morning before the crowds set in and it is still cool. Another good option is a mid-afternoon visit to enjoy a picnic on the grass under the Basilica. See all of Paris from the Sacred Sacre Coeur Basilica 316 48.8862436261959 2.34341382980347 The Paris transport system is priced very equitably, and you will find you can traverse the city on the extensive metro network for very little cost. A single-journey ticket costs just €1.60, and you can transfer to as many different lines as you like on one ticket provided you do not exit to street level. A range of passes and travel cards are available, but for visitors the simplest and cheapest option is to buy a carnet, or ten-ticket book, from any corner shop for €11.40. Tip: You can share these little white tickets among your travel party and they are also valid on Paris bus lines. The Metro stop at Places des Abbesses, on Line 12, leaves you a ten-minute walk from the Sacre Coeur Basilica. The service runs from just after 5 a.m. until 1 a.m. Another option is to go on the district's dedicated bus line, and starting from Place Pigalle, the Montmartrobus takes you to all the principal spots of the district. It runs daily from 7.30 a.m. to after midnight. For religious visitors to the Sacre Coeur Basilica, there is a Roman Catholic Mass celebrated three times daily, with confession and other special services throughout the week. All visitors are asked to dress appropriately and observe silence as much as possible. Travel to Paris and enjoy sweeping panoramas of the city in all directions from atop of the Sacre Coeur Basilica. Sacre Coeur Montmartre sacre-coeur-basilica

Tue Oct 06 19:49:37 +0000 2009

Standing tall in the heart of the City of Lights, the elegant stone edifice of the Sacre Coeur Basilica rivals only the Eiffel Tower in defining the Paris skyline. The dome top of the Sacre Coeur Basilica, which reaches over 200 meters high, is open to tourists and offers a view over all of Paris up to 30 miles away in every direction. As well as gaining an unrivalled view of the city, you can observe people from all walks of life that gather on the steps outside the Basilica and stream into the charming streets of Montmartre. A venerated pilgrimage site, Sacre Coeur Basilica welcomes thousands of tourists from all over France and around the world every year. Perched over Montmartre, the name signifies the ‘Mount of Martyrs,’ christened after Saint Denis (the first bishop of Paris dating from the 3rd century) who is buried at the Sacre Coeur Basilica site. The site of this huge church originally hosted an abbey which was destroyed during the French Revolution. The Sacre Coeur Basilica itself was approved afterwards in 1873, although construction headaches and World War I meant it was not consecrated until 1919. The Sacre Coeur Basilica’s Romano-Byzantine interior features a great mosaic entitled ‘Christ in Majesty,’ which is among the largest in the world. You can also see the beautiful stained glass windows and fine pipe organ. However, the highlight of the Sacre Coeur Basilica is the Dome, which reaches 83 meters high from within the church. Once you have taken in the view from atop the Sacre Coeur Basilica and weaved back down the many steps, enjoy a break at the bottom by riding the carousel featured in the famous movie Amélie. Afterwards, why not drop over to Place des Abesses and get something to eat while admiring the view of the Sacre Coeur Basilica. 'Saint-Jean' and 'Sancerre' are the Montmartre district's oldest and most popular cafes. Art fans will not want to miss nearby Place due Tertre, known as the city's 'Artists Square'. There you'll find the home of almost three hundred artists as well as samples of some of the finest art to come from Paris in recent centuries. By now, you'll have visited one of the world’s most famous holy sites and got a real sense of the beguiling beauty of the Montmartre district.

Thu Oct 08 21:57:41 +0000 2009

137

33 sacre-coeur 100 17

10.0

theme:cultural charm, theme:festivals and celebrations, moulin rouge, moulin rouge paris, paris, moulin rouge show, le moulin rouge, the moulin rouge, can-can, cheesy, music, dance, singing

Sun Jul 05 14:10:40 +0000 2009

2 The Moulin Rouge will always be a busy destination. Even visiting during the off-peak tourist season you can expect to wait in a forty-five minute queue stretching three city blocks to get in. This is the case even with tickets, but rest assured that the spectacle to behold on the other side of those doors is certainly well worth the wait. Indulge in Old-Time Parisian Kitsch at the Moulin Rouge 318 48.884167 2.332222 The Moulin Rouge does require "elegant attire" in order to get into the show, but there were many people in jeans and a t-shirt among the audience. You can pay upwards of €130 for dinner and a show earlier in the evening, and a minimum of €90 if you opt for the 11 p.m. show with two drinks of your choice or a bottle of champagne included. There is quite a bit of female nudity in the Moulin Rouge show. The costumes are no more than thong bodysuits with a skirt over the top, and many of the costumes are topless. There are also animal rights considerations in the Moulin Rouge show. Miniature ponies are paraded around stage, and a naked woman dives into a giant pool full of large snakes, frolicking among them and holding up snakes for the audience. Kick up your feet at the Moulin Rouge classic cabaret show, and enjoy the famed Can-Can dance. The Moulin Rouge moulin-rouge

Thu Oct 08 16:56:11 +0000 2009

The most famous twilight cabaret, the Moulin Rouge, was born during a time of cultural profusion in Paris. Situated in the historic Montmartre district, the Moulin Rouge resides among the seediest nightclubs in Paris—a diamond among gems. Although the Moulin Rouge may not be the seediest of its peer group, it is the oldest and the most kitsch. It recently celebrated its 120th birthday; and while the prices are steep (starting at €90), I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share in a 120-year-old Parisian tradition. The Can-Can was born at the Moulin Rouge, and during the performance cabaret dancers wear traditional "frou-frou" (a long dress with bunches of frills sewn to the inside of it). As time went on, the dancers realized how shorter skirts meant bigger audiences. A few went even further and removed their underwear. The vice police were then created to monitor the length of skirts and to make sure all the dancers were wearing underwear. It was a very coveted job. Nowadays, the Moulin Rouge dancers routinely wear underwear, which is on display all night long as the frou-frou skirts are donned only for the Can-Can performance. The costumes are basically absent of any upper part, and naked breasts are the accessory of choice. We got through the doors around 11:30 p.m. and were seated fairly quickly close to the stage. A bottle of cheap champagne was included in our ticket price. The Moulin Rouge show, entitled “Féerie,” lasted for about an hour and a half. It featured a troupe of a hundred artists and dancers, a thousand costumes of feathers, rhinestones and sequins all made in Parisian workshops, and lavish shimmering sets designed by Italian artists. The outstanding international acts included jugglers, ventriloquists, tumblers, miniature ponies, and a giant snake aquarium. Enraptured? Absolutely! The Moulin Rouge show ended with the famed Can-Can routine, and frou-frou skirts in red, white and blue engulfed the stage. The men took their turn among the women: kicking their legs into the air and doing back flips and the splits while howling the Can-Can signature shriek. The intense finale lasted for what felt like twenty minutes, but being happily engrossed, it could have gone on all night. Leaving the illustrious red windmill of the Moulin Rouge behind, we felt like glamorous cabaret patrons of old time Paris. As a cab pulled up to the curb the driver crudely asked us if we liked sex. This quickly reminded us of our decadent surroundings, and was a proper end to an improper evening at the notorious Moulin Rouge.

Thu Oct 08 20:38:21 +0000 2009

237

19 moulin-rouge 100 14

theme:cultural charm, notre dame, notre dame paris, notre dame gargoyles, le notre dame, notre dame france, notre dame cathedral, paris france, paris, france, notre dame de paris, paris cathedral, paris church, france cathedral, france church, notre dame de paris cathedral, our lady of paris, catholic church

Sun Jul 05 13:54:35 +0000 2009

1 Notre Dame Cathedral is open every day of the year from 8:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. (7:15 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays). Although there is something to be said for Paris in the springtime, I visited the city in autumn and found it very agreeable. Airfare and hotels were less expensive, attractions were populated but not overcrowded, and the weather was crisp but not cold. Go Gothic Visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris 317 48.8528702899653 2.35015153884888 Entrance to Notre Dame Cathedral is free, but the Tower visit and the Treasury, (which houses holy objects such as chalices, crosses and medallions) have entrance fees. The South Tower is 387 steps to the top, so be prepared for a climb! The Tower is €8 for adults, €5 for 18-25 and seniors, and free for children under 18. The Treasury is €3 for adults, €2 for 12-25 and seniors, and €1 for ages 5-11. Weekday masses are held at the main altar at 12:00 p.m. Saturday masses are held at 12:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and Sunday masses are held at 8:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 12:45 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The Batobus shuttle boat is a convenient way to get from attraction to attraction, and a great way to travel the Seine River. A one day pass is €12 (€6 for children under 16,), a two day pass is €16 (€8 for children) and a five day pass is €19 (€9 for children). Visit the famous Gothic Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris, the site of Victor Hugo’s dramatic and passionate tale, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." Notre Dame Cathedral Paris notre-dame-cathedral

Wed Nov 04 18:56:31 +0000 2009

Europe’s churches and cathedrals are celebrated for various reasons: breathtaking architecture, deep-seated history, and stunning stained glass windows. Religious convictions aside, Europe’s cathedrals house beautiful works of art and offer a chance for quiet reflection. Throughout my travels I’ve toured many impressive churches, but Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is a spire above the rest. The abundance of sights available in Paris can be daunting, especially if you are tight on time. If unsure where to begin, a shuttle boat called the Batobus which travels along the Seine River is a good start as it stops at eight of Paris’ main attractions: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the Notre Dame Cathedral, to name a few. As we approached Notre Dame Cathedral, the misty grey afternoon made the large Gothic building seem all the more sombre and imposing. It’s no wonder the Cathedral was the site of Victor Hugo’s dramatic and passionate tale, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." A stunning example of French Gothic architecture, the construction of the Notre Dame Cathedral began in 1163 and was completed in 1345. Notre Dame has suffered copious amounts of destruction over the years, beginning with discontented Huguenots who destroyed features they deemed to be “idolatrous” in 1548. During the French Revolution, Notre Dame Cathedral was re-dedicated to the cult of reason, and many of the treasures were destroyed or plundered. In 1845, a twenty-five year restoration program was instigated, returning Notre Dame Cathedral to its former glory. Three beautiful rose windows, originally constructed in the 13th century, are one of Notre Dame Cathedral’s most arresting features. A gift from King Saint Louis, the South Rose Window is nearly 19 metres in height and has 84 panes. The famous gargoyles are another impressive feature of Notre Dame Cathedral. Some are functional, serving as drain pipes to drain rainwater off the roof; others are only decorative, keeping watch over the city from atop the Cathedral’s towers. Because of its historical significance, architectural merit and stunning beauty, the Notre Dame Cathedral is a must-see sight in Paris. When I left the Cathedral, night had fallen. The façade and the towers were illuminated, creating a glowing silhouette against the darkness. I didn’t think it was possible, but Notre Dame Cathedral was even more beautiful by light of the night sky.

Wed Nov 04 18:56:32 +0000 2009

229

19 notre-dame-cathedral 100 17