Famous monuments in Paris
Are you planning to fly into Paris this year? Then keep on reading to find out more about some of the must visit famous monuments in Paris!
- The Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is one of the most famous monuments in the city of Paris and in the world as well. It is the tallest structure in the city and is located on the Champ de Mars in 7th arrondissement in Paris. The Eiffel Tower stands at a height of 324 meters whereas the top floor is located at a height of 276 meters. It was built between 1887 and 1889 to celebrate the century of the famous French Revolution and entrance arch for world fair which was held in 1889. It was made of 18,038 pieces of puddled iron and they were connected using 2,500,000 rivets by 300 workers. The tower gets its name from the architect, Gustave Eiffel who built it. The tower has three levels for visitors, with restaurants on the first and second levels and the top level is the observation deck that provides you with 360 degree views of the Paris city. The visitors can access these levels by stairs or by an elevator but the top level is accessible only by an elevator.
- The Louvre Museum
The Louvre Museum and the palace premises are also must visit famous monuments in Paris. It is located in Rue de Rivoli in1st arrondissement of Paris. Before the establishment of the museum, it was the former residence palace of the Kings and Queens of France until 1682. There are three entrances to the museum; the main entrance at the pyramid, another entrance from the Carrousel du Louvre underground shopping mall, and next entrance at the Porte des Lions. Today, the museum displays over 38,000 pieces of art and sculptures like the most famous Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and Eugène Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People.
- The Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe conveys the most historic symbol in Paris standing at the center of the star-shaped Place de l’Étoile. The arch was designed by French architect Jean Chalgrin, as a replica of the triumphal Arch of Titus in Rome and this famous landmark was started by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1806. Its inauguration took place in 1836. This arch shared three arrondissements, 8th, 16th and 17th and is connected with eight streets of Paris.
- Sacré-Cœur Basilica
The Sacré-Cœur Basilica was constructed by Paul Abadie architect at the summit of the butte Montmartre, the highest point in Paris. This construction commenced in 1875 and was completed in 1914. Inside the basilica, you can see a large and very fine pipe organ as well as the biggest bell in France. It is also considered the heaviest bell in the world. The basilica complex includes a garden for meditation, with a fountain and the top of the dome is open to tourists and affords a spectacular panoramic view of the city of Paris.
- The Panthéon
The Panthéon, which was known as the Église Sainte-Geneviève is located in the 5th arrondissement of Paris in the Latin Quarter. It stands at the top of the Sainte-Geneviève hill to give a spectacular view of the city of Paris. This was built originally as a church by the French architect Jacques-Germain Soufflot. The architecture seen here is in neoclassical style. The construction of the church began in 1764 and it was completed in 1790. The church was desecrated and affected during the times of French Revolution, but in 1806, Napoleon turned it back into a church and then Louis-Philippe had it used as a necropolis. However, in 1885 it was declared a civic building in Paris. Today, you can climb to the dome of the Panthéon to see the whole of Paris, from the Eiffel Tower to Notre-Dame and Montmartre. The 83 meters high dome is constructed entirely of stone. It actually has three domes, one within the other, with the painted ceiling, visible from below on the second dome.
- The Paris Opera
The Paris Opera is a famous opera and ballet company in France. It was founded in 1669 by King Louis XIV as an academy of opera, and shortly it was placed under the leadership of Jean-Baptiste Lully and it’s officially renamed the Académie Royale de Musique. But now it is known as Opéra Nationale de Paris. In 1990, the Paris Opéra was moved to Place de La Bastille in 12th arrondissement, Paris. The Paris Opera is famous for the classical Paris Opera Ballet. It provides seating for 2723 individuals and therefore, it is considered as the largest theatre in France.
- Les Invalides
Les Invalides, formally named as the Hôtel national des Invalides or also as Hôtel des Invalides is a building that houses a series of buildings within it in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. The building was originally used as a hospital and a retirement home for war veterans. Today, this golden colored building complex includes museums and monuments; all of which are related to the military history of France. It provides a home for the Musée des l’Armee, the Musée des Plans-Reliefs, the Musée d’Histoire Contemporaine and the Dôme des Invalides. Dome des Invalides is the tallest church in Paris at a height of 107 meters, with the tombs of some of France’s war heroes and home for famous emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.