PARIS

Eiffel Tower
Eiffel Tower

Paris is probably the most attractive and splendid city in Europe. It is France's capital and located by the Seine. Its current name comes from the IVth century. The city has suffered frequently throughout its history but mainly during the French Revolution, the Franco-Prussian War and the I and II World War. Only a few years after the end of the II World War and totally recovered, the city of Paris was once again an important tourism, politics and cultural centre. The so called "city of light" is as traditional as a small village and in some places falling to pieces but if there is a criticism to be done it is to the contempt shown by its citizens to the thousands and thousands of tourists that visit Paris every day. Nevertheless, the high number of immigrants, mainly from Algeria and central and western Africa give the city a special taste and are the main reason for the success of this emblematic city.

Places of interest

Paris is a city full of possibilities. The streets and narrow streets of the Latin Quarter, Montmartre or Ménilmontant contrast with the monumental views from the Louvre to La Défense, or from Les Invalides to the Trocadéro. Another big contrast is the variety of markets, ancient pedestrian galleries and small shops compared to the underground shopping centres of Montparnasse, the Louvre and Les Halles. Paris's biggest charm is given shape through its urban life and by the benches and bridges by the Seine River. The city has plenty of cafés, bars and restaurants along each street or boulevard. Moreover, the city is built in such a way that each of its 20 districts seems to be a new city in itself. The Montmartre area is more like a village and contrasts with the noisy shopping centres of the Bourse and Opéra-Garnier or the aristocratic mansions of the Marais. Each of the districts has street marketplaces that can be visited. The presence of unexpected shelters like the mosque, Arènes de Lutèce and the Place des Vosges, as well as the patios of the great mansions as that of the Hôtel de Sully compensate the absence of open spaces. The garden of Les Halles has provided a green area to the centre for a long time while the paved roads and formal beauty of the Tuilleries act as a perfect background for the Parisians Sunday promenade. The docks on both sides of the Seine, the islands through which you can have a marvellous stroll or the splendid parks of the Latin Quarter, Luxembourg and the Jardin des Plantes, are the outdoor spots that provide the greatest well being feeling in Paris. The monumental and classic, or ancient, architecture of the Arc de Triomphe the Louvre, or the Eiffel Tower - characteristic symbol of the city and probably its most visited treasure - the Notre-Damme Cathedral - capital of Paris and also the biggest in Europe -, the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall), the bridges and government buildings make of the city an impressive view. This classic view of the city is also contrasted with the more modern buildings: Centre Pompidou, La Villette, the pyramid of the Louvre, the Grande Arche de La Défense or the Bibliothèque Nationale (National Library).

Tours around

The area surrounding the capital, the Île de France, and the limits to the neighbouring provinces are full of châteaux (castles). Some were hunting pavilions of the royal family or nobility and others simple places to rest. Others, like Versailles - built by order of the King Sun and which Louis XVth recovered - were used for the debate and resolution of Government affairs. The truth is that in general they are all quite impressive: Vaux-le-Vicomte for its uniformity and Chantilly for its art collection. Among the churches, the first visit should be to the Chartres Cathedral. Chartres is a Medieval town 96 kilometres from the French capital and of spectacular beauty. Very near, at the borders of Paris, is the town of St-Denis with its cathedral, the second most important after Notre-Damme.

Auvers-Sur-Oise has a museum that goes back to the times of Impressionism, to the landscapes and paintings of Van Gogh's last period and to places of relax and rest.

Visiting Disneyland Paris when in Paris is a must, especially if you travel with children. It is located in the satellite town Marne-la-Vallée.

Links:

Services Directory

Hotels:

LE GRAND HOTEL INTER-CONTINENTAL *****
2 Rue Scribe
Paris
+33140073232
494 rooms

HOTEL DU LOUVRE *****
1 Place André Malraux
Paris
+33144583838
236 rooms

HILTON PARIS ****
18 Avenue de Suffern
Paris
+33144385600
461 rooms

LE MERIDIEN MONTPARNASSE
19 Rue du Commandant-Mouchotte
Paris
+33144364436
953 rooms

NOTRE-DAMME HOTEL ***
1 Quai Saint Michel
Paris
+33143542043

Museums:

LOUVRE
Palais du Louvre, 1
París
0140205151
Visiting Hours: Monday to Wednesday: 9-21.45 h.
Thursday to Sunday: 9-18 h.
Admission Fee: 7.5 €

MUSÉE D´ORSAY
1 Rue de Bellechasse
Paris
0140494814
Visiting Hours: June to September: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: 10-18 h.
Thursdays: 10-21.45 h.
Sundays: 9-18 h.
October to May: Tuesday to Wednesday, Friday to Sunday: 10-18 h.
Thursdays: 9-21.45 h.
Closed on Mondays.
Admission Fees: General: 5.40 €
Students: 3.70 €


NATIONAL MODERN ART MUSEUM, CENTRE POMPIDOU (BEAÚBOURG))
(MUSÉE NATIONAL D´ART MODERNE, CENTRE POMPIDOU (BEAÚBOURG))
Place Georges Pompidou
Paris
0144781233
Visiting Hours: Centre: Wednesday to Monday 11-22 h.
Museum: Monday, Wednesday to Friday: 12-22 h.
Saturday and Sunday: 10-22 h.
Admission Fees: Centre: Free Admission.
Museum: Admission Fee: 5.5 €
Students: 3.5 €

RODIN MUSEUM
(MUSÉE RODIN)
77 Rue de Verenne
Paris
www.musée-rodin.fr
Visiting Hours: April to September: Tuesday to Sunday: 9.30-17.45 h.
October to March: Tuesday to Sunday: 9.30-16.45 h.
Closed on Mondays.
Admission Fee: General: 5 €
Students: 3 €
Under 18: free

SALVADOR DALÍ SPACE
(ESPACE SALVADOR DALÍ)
11 Rue Poulbot
Paris
Visiting Hours: Monday to Sunday: 10-18 h.
Admission Fee: General: 5.5 €
Students: 4 €

Restaurants:

LIVINGSTONE
Adress: 106 Rue Sant-Honoré, Paris
Telephone: 0153408050

LE BALZAR
Adress: 49, Rue des Écoles, Paris.
Telephone: 0143541317
Price: 36 €

TORRE EIFFEL
Adress: Altitude 95, Torre Eiffel, Paris.
Telephone: 0145550021
Price: 18-36 €

LE BOURDONNAIS, LA CANTINE DES GOURMETS
Adress: 113 Avenue de la Bourdonnais, Paris.
Telephone: 0147054796
Price: 36 €

CHAMPS ÉLYSÉES
Adress: Maison de L´Alsace, 39 Avenue des Champs Élysées, Paris
Telephone. 0153939700
Price: 18-36 €.

LA FERMETTE MARBEUF
Adress: 5 Rue Marbeuf, Paris.
Telephone: 0153230800
Price: 36 €.

Transports:

BUS:

Central bus station:
GARE ROUTIÉRE INTERNATIONAL PARIS GALLIÉNI
55 Rue Saint Jacques V
Paris
0143541199
Eurolines Company: All the information inwww.eurolines.fr

TRAINS:

There are 6 train stations in Paris but the trains from the main cities in Spain arrive at the Gare Montparnasse.

Emergency:

Ambulances 15