From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The French capital, Paris, has an annual 30 million foreign visitors, and so is the most visited city in the world.^[1] Paris' sights include monuments and architecture, such as its Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower and neo-classic Haussmannian boulevards and buildings as well as museums, operas and concert halls. There are also more modern attractions such as its suburban Disneyland Paris.

Within the City of Paris

Height comparison of some Paris landmarks

• Arc de Triomphe - monument at the center of the Place de l'Étoile, commemorating the victories of France and honoring those who died in battle.
• The Conciergerie - Located on the Île de la Cité, it is a medieval building which was formerly used as a prison where some prominent members of the ancien régime stayed before their death during the French Revolution.
• The Eiffel Tower - a "temporary" construction of Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 Universal Exposition.
• Les Invalides -
• The Louvre - extensive art gallery.
• Montmartre - An old district of Paris on a hill containing the Basilica of the Sacré Cœur and the Place du Tertre.
• Notre Dame de Paris (Cathedral of Notre Dame) on the Île de la Cité - Paris's 12th-century ecclesiastical centrepiece.
• Palais Garnier - Paris's central opera house, built in the later Second Empire period.
• The Grand Palais - a large glass exhibition hall built for the 1900 Paris Exhibition.
• Sainte-Chapelle - Also located on the Île de la Cité, it is a 13th century Gothic palace chapel.
• The Panthéon -Church and tomb of a number of France's most famed men and women.
• The Sorbonne - one of the universities of Paris (Paris IV), the centre of Paris's Latin Quarter.
• Statue of Liberty replica - a smaller version of the New York City harbor statue which France gave to the United States in 1886, located on the Île des Cygnes on the Seine. Another version is in the Luxembourg Garden.
• Place des Vosges - square in the Marais district laid out by Henry IV.
• Père Lachaise Cemetery
• The Wallace Fountains, throughout the city.
• Flame of Liberty Replica of the flame held by the Statue of Liberty.
• Centre Georges-Pompidou - Hosting the Paris Museum of Modern Art.
• Parc de la Villette - Hosting the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, a science museum, and the Cité de la Musique which houses various musical institutes, a museum, and a concert hall.

In the Paris metropolitan area

• Palace of Versailles - The famous former palace of French kings.
• Château de Vincennes (Vincennes Castle) - A large medieval castle nearby the Bois de Vincennes (Vincennes Wood).
• La Défense - The largest business district in Europe.
• Stade de France - The 80,000 seater stadium in which France won the 1998 edition of the FIFA World Cup.
• Disneyland Resort Paris - the largest theme park in Europe.
• Saint Denis Basilica - the burial site of the French monarchs.
• Château de Fontainebleau - Built by Francis I of France, it is one of the largest of the French royal châteaux.
• Château de Rambouillet - The summer residence of French presidents.
• Parc de Sceaux - A Park located nearby the 17th century Château de Sceaux (Sceaux Castle).
• Barbizon - a French village where the Barbizon School of Painting is located.
• Château Villette- a château built in the 18th century.

See also

Paris portal

• List of museums in Paris

References

1. ^ (French) INSEE. "Le tourisme se porte mieux en 2004" (PDF). http://www.insee.fr/fr/insee_regions/idf/rfc/docs/bilan2004tour.pdf. Retrieved 2007-01-16. 

Popular visitor attractions in Paris Arc de Triomphe • Basilique du Sacré-Cœur, Paris • Cathedral of Notre Dame • Centre Georges Pompidou • Champs-Élysées • Conciergerie • Eiffel Tower • Grand Palais • Jardin du Luxembourg • Les Invalides • Louvre • Musée d'Orsay • Opéra Garnier • Père Lachaise Cemetery • Sainte-Chapelle