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Who
could come to Paris, and not want to see some of the most famous landmarks in the
world? Below, we offer a little information to help familiarize you with a few of
these landmarks. For more information on these famous places, visit our links below
to other sites.
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Eiffel
Tower (Tour Eiffel)
When completed in 1889, the
Tour Eiffel was, at 300 meters, the tallest building in
the world. The reactions from the residents of this
great city were far from positive. Most felt that
it was a monstrosity. Eiffel himself thought it was
beautiful. That opinion is shared by most of the millions
of travelers that visit it each year. After dark,
with the aid of the system of illumination within the towers'
structure, the tower is a golden light within the City of
Light. A breathtaking reminder of the imagination
and ability of man. Look at a map!
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If
you first see it from the Trocadero it will take your breath away. From there it is
just a short walk across the bridge to the entrance. You can go to the top using two
elevators. The view is definitely worth it and the second glass windowed elevator
gives one quite a thrill. The Eiffel Tower is the most recognized monument in Paris
and possibly the world. It is a must.
Opening
times - Sept - June 9:30am - 11pm, July & August 9:30am - midnight.
Some Other
Eiffel Tower Notes...
| 1884 |
Gustave Eiffel's company begins
research on the construction of a tower that will reach over 300 meters (approximately
1000 feet) high. |
| 1886 |
The World Fair committee
announces a contest for the design of a tower that will be featured in the 1889
exposition. Out of over 100 designs proposed, Eiffel's tower wins the contest. |
| 1887 |
In January of this year,
foundations for the tower were poured, which took five months to complete. With the
help of wooden scaffolds, steam cranes, and hydraulic jacks, the first level of the tower
was completed by the end of this year. |
| 1889 |
On March 31st 1889, the tower was
completed, and it was done in record time: two years, two months and five days.
During the Exhibition, the Tower was visited by over 2 million people, and was, at the
time, the world's highest building. Eiffel was awarded a Legion of Honor this same
year. |
| 1930 |
On December 27th, Gustave Eiffel
died. In his life he had, among other things, participated in the building of the
locks of the Panama Canal, designed and built Eiffel Tower, built two wind tunnels (one of
which is still in service today), and fathered the idea of using the Tower for collecting
meteorological data. A bust of Eiffel, sculptured by Antoine Bourdelle, was placed
in front of the Tower during this year. |
| 1998 |
By December 31st of this year,
over 180 million people had visited the tower. In 1998 alone, 6 million people
visited. |
Other
Eiffel Tidbits
- Each piece of the Tower was accurately created to within a
tenth of millimeter.
- The Eiffel Tower contains over 18000 separate pieces.
- Nearly 2,500,000 rivets were used in construction of the
Tower.
- The Tower weighs 10,100 tons, or 21,210,000 pounds.
The metal construction alone weighs nearly 7000 tons, or 14,700,000 pounds.
- There are 1,665 steps leading to the top of the tower.
- The Tower is now 320 meters high, including the radio
antenna.
- The first level of the tower is 57 meters high. Though
there was once a restaurant there, a postal office now occupies this space.
- The second level is 115 meters high. This level was
host to the newspaper Le Figaro, but is now home to a famous restaurant called "Jules
Verne".
- The third level, 274 meters high, is a viewpoint that can
hold up to 800 people.
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Also Visit These Sites....
The
Official Site of the Eiffel Tower; le site officiel de la Tour Eiffel
http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/tour_uk/index.html
Tour
Eiffel
http://www.paris.org./Monuments/Eiffel/
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Arc de Triomph (L'Arc de Triomphe)
The arch, and the place Charles-de-Gaulle which surrounds
it, together form one of Paris' most famous landmarks. Twelve avenues radiate from the
arch which explains why it is also called place de l'Étoile (étoile means star).
The arch commemorates Napoléon's victories,
evoking at the same time imperial glory and the fate of
the Unknown Soldier, whose tomb lies beneath. A Remembrance
ceremony is held here each November 11th. Look
at a map!
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 |
From
1941 to 1944 Hitler's troops paraded daily around the swastika-decked monument - de
Gaulle's arrival at the scene, come Liberation, was probably less effective than the
earlier ashes and flames. Today the monument allows the visitor, who takes the time to
reach the top either by elevator or grueling stairway, a most remarkable view of Paris.
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.
Opening
times - summer Tues-Sat 9:30am - 11pm, Sun & Mon 9:30am - 6:30pm, winter Tues - Sat
10am - 10:30pm, Sun & Mon 10am - 6pm.
Some Other Arc
de Triomph Notes...
- The arc was commissioned by Napoleon in 1806, after his
victory at Austerlitz.
- The Arc's construction was completed in 1836.
- There are four large 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, or La Marseillaise (Rude).
- 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 (referred 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.
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Also Visit These Sites....
Arc
de Triomphe
http://www.paris.org./Monuments/Arc/
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The
Louvre
The Louvre, the largest royal
palace in France, now houses one of the richest collections
of art and antiquities in the world. The National Convention
inaugurated the Louvre museum on the 8th November, 1793.
Look at a map!
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The
original idea was not theirs, because the decision to open the royal collections to the
public had been taken under Louis XV and was under consideration for a long time by the
administration of the Ancien Regime. The long week of the revolutionary calendar allowed
five days for the artists' copying the pictures and two days for the public. The royal
collection formed the basis of the present museum. The Grand Louvre project was conceived
by François Mitterand when he became President in 1981. He was following in the footsteps
of François I, Catherine de Médicis, Louis XIV, Napoléon, and all the other kings,
queens and emperors who have added to and altered Phillippe-Auguste's original fortress,
built to defend the city in 1200.
Twice in its
history the Louvre has nearly been razed to the ground. Bernini, hired by Louis XIV's
minister, Colbert, to redesign the palace, wanted to start from scratch, but lost the
commission. In the mid-eighteenth century, with the court firmly established at
Versailles, The Louvre was taken over by artists and squatters, with a hundred different
families living round the Cour Carrée. Louis XV's immediate response was to call for the
buildings destruction, but he was dissuaded by his officials, thereby allowing it to
become the scene of his son's humiliation at the hands of revolutionaries in 1790.
Despite various
alterations and additions up to 1988, the building is surprisingly homogenous, although,
barring the breathtaking Cour Carrée with its Renaissance grace and Three Musketeers
associations, not particularly pretty. Nevertheless, it possesses a grandeur, symmetry,
and Frenchness entirely suited to this most historic of Parisian edifices.
Address - Musée
de Louvre, 75058 Paris Cedex 01; recorded information: 01-40-20-51-51; general inquiries:
01-40-20-53-17. Internet: http://www.louvre.fr/ (should I put a link here?)
Opening
times - The museum opens Wednesday to Monday, from 9am to 6pm (9:45 pm Wednesday - all
departments, Monday - Richelieu wing only).
Also Visit These Sites....
The Louvre
Museum; Musée du Louvre
http://www.paris.org./Musees/Louvre/
The Louvre
Palace & Museum
http://www.louvre.fr/louvrea.htm
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