Destinations / The best cities to visit in the world / Paris

 

  The majestic city of Paris is located in the North-Central part of France, in the region called Île-de –la France. The capital of France, Paris, is one of the most spectacular cities in the world and one of the most visited places with over 75 million tourists every year. Paris is one of the most important and largest  metropolas in Europe. We can consider it a city of world-wide importance, where the business, historic, intellectual, diplomatic, religious, educational and artistic spirits exist.  The touristic center of France, Paris owes its prosperity in a very big part, due to its favorable position on the Seine, a very important commercial artery ever since the Roman period. The city of Paris is often called “magnifique”, in so many ways,  that we can often hear  that Paris is the City of Light, Paris is the City of Love.

 

  Paris features more than 2000 years of famous history. The Gauls settled in the area called it Loukteih around 250 B.C. Caesar conquered the area in 52 B.C and named it Lutetia. Julian the Apostate was proclaimed the Emperor of Rome in 360 A.D and renamed Lutetia in Paris, as it still exists. The magnificent city has some of the most splendid and exquisite architecture in the world, including amazing structures like castles, palaces, the Eiffel Tower, which is the most visited attraction in France. Paris is also  home for two gorgeous cathedrals Notre-Dame and St.Chapelle. The overwhelming city features endless things to see and to do, just make a list with the most beautiful attractions that you want to visit more. Paris is also known for its magnificent statues that are scattered throughout the streets.

 

 

  One of the first sights which comes in our mind when we think about Paris is definitely the Eiffel Tower, which is a must- visit landmark. The most incredible touristic attraction in Paris is a bold structure, that  rises up with a height of about 324 meters and weighs 10,000 tons. It took more than two years to complete this construction, meant to celebrate the 100 years from the French Revolution. The tower was built in 1889 in the very heart of a large park, known as Champ de Mars, that was once a territory of military maneuvers. The tower appeared as a remarkable giant tower, enchanting people with its tremendous modernism, fantastic for that period of time. The person who has created the majestic structure was the architect Gustave Eiffel, who made the famous  tower  charm the tourists even today. To get to the top of it, the guests can use the elevator or climb the stairs. The first level boasts souvenir shops, the room of Gustave Eiffel, and many platforms  offer breathtaking views. On the second level the guests can delight themselves with the delicious food, offered by the Jules Verne restaurant, situated at 125 meters above the ground level. Once you get to the third floor, the last one, the guests  will see a great panorama over the splendid city. On the top of the tower you will be fascinated by a historic representation of the Gustave’s Eiffel office. On the last level you can also find a special room for observations , where  panels that give information about the tower and about the biggest and greatest cities of Europe are displayed.

 

 

  The majestic cathedral is well-known all around the world. It represents a perfect example of French-Gothic architecture. The construction of the cathedral started in 1163, but it took till 1345 to be completed. It was a long period of time when a lot of architects and builders worked to the cathedral, and this can be seen through the mixture of influences and solutions. In 1548 and 1793 the excellent cathedral  was robbed and almost destroyed,  followed by a total reconstruction later. With its grand splendor, Notre Dame Cathedral dominates not only the Seine River and Ile-de-la-Cite, but the history of the capital of France as well. The west façade of the structure is truly spectacular. The South tower, the dome of the cathedral, where  the famous Emmanuel bell is, was restored in 1631 for the last time. The lower level includes the famous rose window which has a diameter of about 10 meters, featuring in front of it the statue of Virgin Maria with Jesus Christ in Her hands. Many of its stained glass items date back to 13th century, since the construction of the cathedral. The sculptures and the stained glasses have a clear influence of Naturalism. They offer a pure expression of humanity.

 

 

  The grand palace is the testimony of the Sun King’s extravaganza. The palace and its beautiful formal garden became the excellent model for palaces in Europe. By the end of the 11th century Versailles was a country village featuring a castle and the church of Saint Julien. After the Hundred Years War, however, only  a few people lived there. Nowadays the visitors can see the wonderful interior of the palace and its world- famous garden. The notable rooms of the castle include the Hall of Mirrors, that is considered one of the most notable contributions to the palace done by Louis XIV. The most interesting in the hall are those seventeen mirrored arches, which reflect the seventeen  arcaded windows which give onto the superb garden. The Chapel of Versailles is the fifth one added to the palace. Its architectural style features a combination of Gothic and Baroque styles. The construction of the current chapel began in 1689 and was completed in 1710. Another attraction that features the palace is the Grand Apartment, originally known as the Apartment of the Planets, being the apartment of the King Louis XIV. A grand item that beautifies the palace is the Royal Opera, which has the auditorium fashioned entirely of wood, transformed into the most acoustically “Live” theatres in the whole world. Gold, pink and green are the prominent colors in the décor of Opera. Today the Royal Opera is still used for important events, concerts and operas. The wonderful garden covers over 100 hectares, being the largest palace garden in all Europe. The garden was created in the 17th century by the gardener Andre Le Nôtre, who designed it to become one of the most gorgeous French formal garden. Magnificent fountains adorn the basins, and the most impressive are the Latona Fountain with the statue of Goddess Latona, and the Apollo Fountain, named after the Sun God.

 

 

  The Louvre, was initially a palace, the most visited museum in the world, and the most loved attraction in Paris. It is the masterpiece that anyone should visit if he has a slight curiosity in art. The Museum of Louvre is a real museum since the end of the 18th century. The museum boasts over 35,000 objects displayed in the three majestic wings that the structure features. There is a diverse collection ranging from the antiquity up to the middle of the 19th century. A large part of the collection includes European paintings and sculptures. The most recent and splendid at the Louvre Museum is the contruction of the glass pyramid, which serves as the main entrance to the structure. The pyramid was founded in 1989 by the renowned American architect I.M Pei. The glass pyramid offers to the sunlight the possibility to reach on the underground floor.

 

  Paris is the world’s most popular destination that has plenty of must-visit places, that  are worth to be admired. The city is a miraculous destination which offers several attractions that will keep you busy all day long, where you can spend fabulous moments, full of adventures and pleasures. Paris is a well -informed destination, it  is the city of Light and Love, as many can say: that “Paris is a million different things to a million different people”. It is truly fantastic and is perfect for all tastes and all ages, because everyone can find  the ideal atmosphere dedicated to his own soul and mind here. Paris has probably more familiar landmarks than any other city in the world. Once arrived in the city, the tourists will find the chic hotels and restaurants, grand vistas, romantic places along Seine, the most exciting nightclubs. Do not hesitate to choose this city as your first destination when planning your vacation, because here you will enjoy lovely moments, exciting  adventures and unrepeatable memories.

 

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