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Top 100 Most Beautiful Places In Paris To Visit

Top 100 Most Beautiful Places In Paris To Visit – Sometimes criticized, often admired, the French capital is above all dream! Paris has always been considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world and more and more tourists are not mistaken, as they crowd every year at the doors of its most spectacular attractions.

Who has never dreamed of living in a gallery-like city? Wherever you are in the capital, history will always catch you! The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame de Paris, the Arc de Triomphe, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the Sainte Chapelle, and more. So here’s a list of the Top 100 Most Beautiful Places In Paris To Visit, you don’t want to miss it…

Top 100 Most Beautiful Places In Paris To Visit

Bibliothèque Nationale

Nearly 12 million books are stored in this sprawling symbol of French literacy, which has evolved since the 17th century as a combination of the royal library with the 17th century as a combination of the royal library with that of Cardinal Mazarin. A copy of every publication made in France has to be deposited here. The original Hôtel Tubeuf gradually accumulated adjacent annexes, culminating in the Galerie Colbert, which exhibits prints and photographs. All this will be moved in 1997, but for now take a look at the soaring glass-domed reading room in the main building, designed by Labrouste, or the sumptuous Galerie Mazarine, designed by François Mansart.

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Centre Georges Pompidou

This factory-like museum and freewheeling cultural center stands out as a landmark of high-tech style in the middle of historic Paris, as well as being a symbol of democratized culture.
For many visitors, the priority is the national collection of modern art on the fourth floor. Inside the glass walls, major movements and/or artists are displayed chronologically in partitioned spaces. The collection continues on the third floor, where works covering the last 30 years are exhibited.
Above the museum, on the fifth floor, are the Grandes Galeries, where major temporary exhibitions of 20th-century art are held. Next door is a cinema showing films relevant to these blockbuster exhibitions and a large, but somewhat uninspiring cafeteria that has seen better days, as has its notion of cuisine. The panoramic view from the terrace is nevertheless the destination.

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Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie

A whole world to discover
A whole world of discoveries
Not to be missed!

Exhibitions
In our exhibitions you can play with light, experience weightlessness, pilot a plane, board a real submarine or crack your genetic code. Dozens of fun experiments reveal all the secrets of science!

Shows and films
In our auditoriums, you can travel the world on a 1.000 m2 giant screen or in a moving cinema, gaze at all the stars in the universe, or observe the invisible with magic 3D glasses.

For children
In our special children’s areas, youngsters can have fun discovering how their body works, observing living things, testing machines, and mechanisms, and trying out communication techniques.

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Disneyland Paris

The combined RATP/Disneyland Resort Paris ticket package consists of a roundtrip train ticket from Paris to the Disney Parks as well as a one-day pass to either Disneyland Park or Walt Disney Studios® Park.

Benefits are:
* One ticket package valid for both the train and a Disney Park access (subject to capacity)
* No waiting lines at Disney Parks or RATP ticket desks, you have direct access to turnstiles.
* If you enter Walt Disney Studios Park first, you can also go to Disneyland Park any time after 5 pm.
* The easiest and quickest means of transport to Disney Parks.

It only takes 35 minutes!
Tips: Secure the booking of your Disneyland Paris Pass!

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7th arr., Champ de Mars
1.0007 feet high, built as a monument to the Great Exhibition of 1889. One of the most famous landmarks but these days less popular with visitors than the Beaubourg. You can take a lift to the viewing platforms (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) or climb the 1.710 steps as far the top from where the views, on a clear day, extend for some 45 miles. There is an audio-visual of the history of the tower on the first stage, and bars and restaurants including the highly regarded Jules Verne restaurant on the second floor of the south leg, with its own private lift, one of the very best restaurants in Paris.

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Jardin Albert-Kahn

The City of Paris acquired these gardens from a rich diamond merchant who had them landscaped according to his fancy. Of course, there was no traffic at the turn of the century. The area features a Japanese garden, a Vosges forest, a rock garden, a French-styled park, a small lake bordered with trees, and a beautiful English garden. The last weeks of spring are the best time for a visit.

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Parc Floral de Paris

This 56-acre park was opened in 1969 to host the Festival of Flowers. It was designed in contemporary style, complete with concrete pavilions and monumental sculptures by Calder, Agam, Penalba, and Stahly. An enclosed walkway leads to a greenhouse featuring orange trees, mimosa, and camellias.
There is also an exhibition hall and a children’s playground. Rowboats and bicycles can be rented at the lakes. Vincennes also houses, adjacent to the Parc Floral, the famous collective theater, the Théâtre du Soleil at La Cartoucherie, founded by Ariane Mnouchkine in the late 1960s.

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Jardin des Tuileries

Opposite the place de la Concorde. Sixty acres (24 hectares) designed by Le Nôtre stretching from the place de la Concorde to the place du Carrousel, including a splendid Orangerie which houses temporary exhibitions and the Jeu de Paume museum, now renovated to house major temporary exhibitions of 20th-century art. A mini Arc de Triomphe built-in 1805 commentaries on Napoleon’s victories, smaller than the real one which you can see by taking the path through the center of the gardens.

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Chateau of Chantilly

40 km from Paris
The Chateau de Chantilly is particularly interesting for the beauty of its park, the richness of its museum (works by Clouet, Jean Fouquet, and Raphaël), and the beauty of its immense stables, an eighteenth-century masterpiece.

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Chateau of Fontainebleau

60 km from Paris
The Château de Fontainebleau was the home to many, notably François Ier, Marie Antoinette, and Napoleon Ier.
The ornate ceilings, covered with Renaissance frescoes, and the furniture representing different historical epochs give the palace a rare artistic quality.

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Chateau of Versailles

60 km from Paris
Open daily, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, except Monday.
Clearly the most spectacular home is the Château de Versailles, which merits an entire day-long visit. Guidebooks can help you discover the Hall of Mirrors, the king’s and queen’s chambers (completely restored and decorated in their original styles), the private apartments and the ravishing Royal Opéra. But you won’t need a guide to stroll through the park and to visit the Grand and Petit Trianon. You can plan a guided visit to the Palace, leaving from and returning to Paris.

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Madeleine

Something of a white elephant, the Madeleine has had a checkered career, narrowly avoiding being transformed into a railway station, stock exchange, a bank, a theater, and yet another temple to the emperor Napoleon. Although building started n 1764, many ups and downs ensued before the Madeleine at last regained its original function in 1842 and was completed as a church.

The unmistakable Greek temple form, supported by 52 Corinthian pillars, commands a spectacular perspective down the rue Royale toward the Concorde and beyond. A classic site for society weddings and funerals, the rose marble interior has seen the coffins of Chopin, Josephine Baher, and Marlene Dietrich.

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4th arr., 6 Parvis Notre-Dame-Place Jean-Paul II
One of the world’s architectural masterpieces, a place of worship since pagan times, completed in the 14th century.
An awe-inspiring exterior of Gothic extravagance, with gargoyles, gabled carved doorways, and magnificent rose windows.
Inside a vast echoing hall, 115 feet high, that can hold 9000 worshippers at any one time. The pillars are Gothic, the aisles are flanked by chapels and flying buttresses support the roof. If you want to know what is what, tag along behind one of the numerous English-speaking guides or join a tour. You can climb to the top of the towers, stroll in the public garden and visit the museum in the crypt to see the remains of the original cathedral.

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Panthéon

Necropolis for the atheist citizens of France, the Panthéon shelters the remains of luminaries such as Voltaire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Zola, Louis Braille, Jean Jaurès and the Resistance martyr Jean Moulin, as well as a shrine containing the heart of left-wing hero Léon-Michel Gambetta. Originally commissioned by Louis XV in 1744, the Panthéon was only completed at the Revolution.

By that time its architect, Soufflot had died and his neoclassical edifice, based on the form of a Greek cross, was subsequently finished by one of his students 10 years after his death. In 1791, its windows were bricked up and its function changed from that of the ch to Temple of Fame. In 1185, it again changed to become the lay temple it remains today.

The austerity of this monument is slightly alleviated by late 19th century paintings, the most famous being those by the Symbolist Puvis de Chavannes, depicting the life of Saint Geneviève.

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Paris Airports

ORLY AIRPORT

Twelve and a half miles (20 km) to the south of Paris.
Travel into Paris
The Orly/Rail (RER, line C) will take you to Gare d’Austerlitz and stations on the Left Bank. Trains leave every 15 minutes from 05.30 to 23.00 and take about 35 minutes. There are two bus possibilities. The cheaper Express Bus goes direct to Denfert-Rochereau Métro near Montparnasse in the 14e on the Left Bank. It takes about half an hour and buses leave every 15 minutes from 6.00 to 23.00. Or you can get the Air France bus to Aerogare des Invalides in the 7e, which is a bit nearer the center, or to the Gare Montparnasse, Avenue du Maine, 7e. Buses leave every 12 minutes and the journey should take about 35 minutes.

ROISSY-CHARLES DE GAULLE AIRPORT

Fourteen miles (23 km) to the northeast of Paris.
Travel into Paris
The free airport bus will take you to the RER train station for connections to Paris. This is the quickest and most direct route. In 40 minutes you will be at the Gare du Nord from where you can either get a taxi (sometimes there are queues so be warned) or change onto the Métro. You can also continue by train to Châtelet-Les-Halles which is nearer to the center and from where it is easier to get a taxi. Trains leave at 15-minute intervals between 05.30 and 23.00.

You can buy your already discounted metro tickets online…

The direct Air France bus (every 15 minutes) will drop you at Porte Maillot in the 17e or at the place de Charles-de-Gaulle-Etoile from where you can get a taxi or the Métro. Buses run between 05.45 and 23.00. You should allow at least one hour on the bus. Cheaper and slower are the regular buses: no 350 to the Gare du Nord and the Gare de l’Est and 351 to the place de la Nationa. Allow at least 50 minutes by taxi.

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Cimetière Montparnasse

14th arr., 3 bvd Edgar-Quinet
Here, too, as you stroll along the cemetery‘s rectilinear walkways, you’ll come across some of the most illustrious names in French literature, art, history, and science. Montparnasse‘s 36 acres of graves include those of Huysmans, François Coppée (next to eighteenth-century Charité Mill), Théodore de Banville, Sainte-Beuve, Leconte de Lisle, Léon-Paul Fargue, Guy de Maupassant and Charles Baudelaire.

Is it by chance that Vincent d’Ingry’s grave is right next to Saint-Saëns? Or that Alfred Dreyfus’s tomb is next to his attorney’s. Fortuitous or not, the names go on and on, with Soutine, Fantin Latour, Othon Friesz, César Franck, Emmanuel Chabrier, Rude, Houdon, Bourdelle, Sartre. Many of the monuments are picturesque, as the tall white stone with a bare-shouldered young girl attempting to draw a rose (a student’s tribute to their teacher), or the extravagant mausoleum depicting Mme Pigeon who, armed with her husband’s lamp, is trying to brighten up the universe.

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Cimetière du Père-Lachaise

20th arr., 16 rue du Repos
You may find it exhausting to visit this gigantic cemetery filled with celebrities. To many tourists, Père-Lachaise has become a funerary museum for the arts. Yet once you’ve satisfied your curiosity by visiting Oscar Wilde’s tomb, you may find it interesting to know that from the top of the hill, a few feet away from the Federated Wall, the young Louis XIV watched the battle waged between Turenne and Condé.

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Paris Christmas

Merry Christmas! In Paris, a giant creche is set up in front of the Hôtel de Ville (the town hall) and all the main churches, and Les Grands Magasins feature magnificent window displays. In some cities, Nativity plays are acted out.
One Christmas eve, families decorate their trees, go to midnight mass and then return home for le réveillon, a lavish late supper that varies according to the region.

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Paris Dinner Cruise

Welcome aboard a magical dinner cruise through the heart of Paris on the famous Bateaux Parisiens. Starting from the Eiffel Tower, the cruise follows the left bank of the Seine to the Finance Ministry at Bercy, then returns to the Eiffel Tower along the right bank, passing by the Statue of Liberty.

With transparent sides and roof, the boats provide panoramic views of the beauty of Paris at night. During the cruise, musicians, a solo violinist, and a female singer interpret celebrated French and international classics. Enjoy “Ave Maria” as you pass Notre-Dame, and “La vie en Rose” as you sail under the bridges of Paris. With a menu combining tradition and fantasy, Bateaux Parisiens is a unique and unforgettable evening. All dishes are prepared onboard using only fresh products.

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Paris Metro Pass Weekly

The entrance to many of Paris’s Metro Stations can be spotted in the streets by their distinctive art nouveau designs and huge M signs. The various lines are numbered and are known by the names of the stations at each end, the correspondences are the points at which lines join. Look for signs for the relevant direction you are traveling in and follow the color-coded and numbered lines. Changing lines is quite easy once you get the hang of it.
There are usually large plans of the whole network outside each station, some with illuminated buttons that are fun to operate.

Paris Metro Pass

Use the Paris Metro Pass for unlimited metro and bus travel in Paris. You can buy a Paris metro pass online here in advance and have it delivered to your home, your hotel, or a convenient pickup location in Paris if you’re renting an apartment.

  • Paris ComboPass® Lite

This Paris pass named Paris ComboPass® Lite version provides 1 or 2-day pass packages that include free unlimited use of all the public transport services inside Paris and the inner suburbs (within 3 zones), free access to the Louvre with the 1-day pass and to the Orsay Museum with the 2-day version, a free Seine river cruise, special discounts and offers for additional Paris attractions, a free Paris street/metro/bus map, and 30 days access to online French lessons.

  • Paris ComboPass® Premium

Paris ComboPass® Premium version provides 2- to 6-day pass packages that include free unlimited use of all the public transport services inside Paris and the inner suburbs (within 3 zones), free access to more than 60 museums and monuments, a free Seine river cruise, special discounts and offers for additional Paris attractions, a free Paris street/metro/bus map, and 30 days access to online French lessons.

Paris Metro Maps

There is also a Metro map on the back of the free map of Paris from the Tourist Office. Outside some stations (number increasing daily) there are computerized route finders called SITU (système d’information de trajets urbains). You tap in the name of the street you want to get to and get a print-out of the quickest way to get there, including walking. Most stations are quite cheerful inside with gaily colored plastic seats and matching tiles, plus videos to watch to while away the time.

The Louvre station is an extension of the Museum, with works of art displayed in cabinets along with the platform. There are the usual buskers but in Paris they do it in style, playing jazz and classical music on trains as well as off. Some of them may well be students from the Conservatoire National. There is a warning siren just before the doors close and you release the door yourself if you want to get off.

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RER

The RER is the fast suburban service which will take you to places like Versailles (much cheaper than an organized excursion). The lines are divided into sections and the cost of a ticket (you can use the same ones as on the buses or the Metro within the metropolitan area) varies according to the number of sections you cross.

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Musée Cernuschi

7 avenue Vélasquez
75008 PARIS
Unknown to most Parisians, this museum houses an admirably displayed Chinese and Japanese art collection which includes antique bronze works, an astonishing series of terra-cotta funeral statuettes, and a fifth-century sitting bodhisattva.

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Musée Carnavalet

Much of Paris‘s history is recalled at the Musée Carnavalet. The museum’s collections are housed in a very attractive sixteenth-century hotel, the center of which is enhanced by a garden lined with finely sculpted shrubs and surrounded by flower beds. Currently displayed works of art date from the end of the sixteenth century to the present and include antique signposts, district topographical charts, scale models of monuments, woodwork, furniture, and many other objects.

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Gustave Moreau’s Museum

Back when Gustave Moreau’s Museum was deserted, André Breton was the only one to defend this artist, who is best known for having taught Matisse and Rouault, among other Fauves. Part of the renewed interest in Moreau is due to the revival of symbolism and the nostalgia trend.

His work offers a general outlook on turn-of-the-century tastes by blending the neo-Renaissance “goldsmith” style of the German Nazarene school of art with studies in pure painting that adumbrate the coming of lyrical abstracts.

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Louvre Museum

Next to the Tuileries Gardens on the Right Bank of the Seine, a former royal palace undergoing a massive expansion that will make it the biggest museum in the world by 1992 with even more treasures on display (many of them are at present in the cellars), and escalators to make those long walks down endless corridors less tiring.

The glass pyramid, designed by the Chinese-American Pei, at the entrance from Cour Napoléon is open, but the excavations will continue for several years. The Ministry of Finance is due to move out to Bercy.

There are seven different museums in the Louvre: Oriental Antiquities, Egyptian Antiquities, Greek and Roman Antiquities, Painting, Sculpture, Furniture and objets d’art. Top of your list should be Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory, and Venus de Milo.

There is no possibility of being able to do it all at once, so pick out the works you particularly want to see and do your best to find them.

You don’t want to stand in line to buy your ticket! Secure your Louvre ticket online.

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Palais de Tokyo

Formerly the site of both the French National Museum of Modern Art and the Parisian Museum of Modern Art, the Palais de Tokyo is no longer called the Palais de New York (baptized as such during World War II).

The bulk of its national collections were transferred in 1977 to the Centre Georges Pompidou and what is left are private donations. Thus, the Palais de Tokyo is really an “outlet” for the National Museum of Modern Art.

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Musée du Moyen Age – Musée de Cluny

This museum is housed in the magnificent manor that once belonged to the abbots of Cluny. Its 27 halls feature Gallo-Roman and Medieval works of art such as the statues of the apostles from Sainte-Chapelle and master tapestries like the Dame à la Licorne and La Vie Seigneuriale.

If you visit the museum’s flamboyant Gothic chapel, you’ll see the early thirteenth-century, double-faced Limousin cross acquired in 1978.

The Musée de Cluny has amassed 20 000 works of art over the last 30 years and keeps them in its vaults.

Fortunately, some of them are gradually being unearthed for display. The museum’s Renaissance collections, which were put into safe keeping after World War II, will soon be displayed at the Château d’Ecouen’s Renaissance Museum in the Val d’Oise.

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Musée de l’Opéra

This long and dismal museum evokes the world of ballet and music without fanfare. Featured displays include scale model sets, costumes, drawings, famous artist memorabilia and a collection from the Ballets Russes.

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Musée d’Orsay

7th arr., 62 rue de Lille
Opened at the end of 1986. Impressionist paintings, fine and decorative arts, architecture and photography from 1848 to 1914 (variously moved from the Jeu de Paume, the Palais de Tokyo, and the Louvre) now housed in the spectacularly renovated, airy Gare d’Orsay, the former railway station that served southwest France. The transformation took 13 million dollars in ten years.

Go straight to the top, the third floor for Impressionist paintings : room upon room of the most famous works of Monet, Renoir, Cézanne, Pissaro, Sisle, and Degas. The middle floor exhibits include sculpture by Rodin an Maillol, paintings by Bonnard and Vuillard, works representing Foreign Schools, Symbolism and Naturalism, and Art Nouveau furniture.

The ground floor has Decorative Arts 1850-1880 as well as Degas, Manet, Monet and Renoir pre-1870 and a good bookshop in the original buffetThe Café des Hauteurs on the top floor has views through the old station clock over the Seine, and there is an outside terrace to get your breath back. More formal meals are served in the sumptuous restaurant, with chandeliers, painted ceiling, and statues. There are also changing exhibitions, concertsfilms, and lectures.

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Museum national de Histoire Naturelle

There was a lot of hand-wringing over the condition of the Jardin des Plantes. People got so involved in this decaying garden-museum that things finally took a turn for the better. The museum’s admirable exhibits began drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors.

Huge renovations were carried out in the zoology department; the decrepit aviaries were overhauled, and the menagerie buildings rebuilt. You’ll discover the fabulous herbarium’s 600,000 items, the insect and butterfly collection, marvelous gems and jewels amassed by the last of the Bourbons in the Mineralogy Hall, the alpine garden, tropical greenhouses, the labyrinth, goldfish, and children laughing and playing.

Indeed, there’s everything here to make it any Parisian’s favorite spot.

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Musée Cernuschi

7 avenue Vélasquez
75008 PARIS
Unknown to most Parisians, this museum houses an admirably displayed Chinese and Japanese art collection which includes antique bronze works, an astonishing series of terra-cotta funeral statuettes, and a fifth-century sitting bodhisattva.

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Musée Carnavalet

Much of Paris‘s history is recalled at the Musée Carnavalet. The museum’s collections are housed in a very attractive sixteenth-century hotel, the center of which is enhanced by a garden lined with finely sculpted shrubs and surrounded by flower beds.

Currently displayed works of art date from the end of the sixteenth century to the present and include antique signposts, district topographical charts, scale models of monuments, woodwork, furniture and many other objects.

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Rodin Museum

Even if you are not invited to the Elysée Palace or the Hôtel Matignon, you can at least experience the pleasures of Paris‘s third-largest private garden, which surrounds the Hôtel Biron.

Originally built for a prosperous wig maker in 1730, the harmonious mansion of columns and pediments was bought in 1753 by a dedicated horticulturalists, the Maréchal de Biron, who proceeded to indulge his gardening passion until he was dragged off to the guillotine.

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Paris Open tour Bus

For first-time visitors without much time, a bus trip is ideal to orient yourself if you don’t mind the group-style travel.
Paris Open tour is in comfortable double-decker buses, with a live or recorded commentary (in whatever language you want).

Use the Opentour Paris bus pass to discover the city for one or two days. You can buy your Opentour Paris Hop On Hop Off pass in advance and have it delivered to your home, your hotel, or a convenient pickup location in Paris if you’re renting an apartment.

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Place des Vosges

Since 1612, when 10.000 spectators watched the celebrations to inaugurate the “place Royale“, a stream of famous characters has inhabited its mansions and apartments. Princesses, duchesses, official mistresses, Richelieu, Sully, Victor Hugo, Daudet and more recently architect Richard Rodgers (of Centre Pompidou) have gazed at its perfect symmetry.

Thirty-six houses faced with red brick and stone, with arcaded ground floors and steep pitched roofs, create the harmonious form of this square, which encloses a garden fountains, plane trees, and gravel paths. Before the square was built it was the site of a royal palace, the Palais des Tournelles, abandoned and demolished by Catherine de Medicis when her husband Henri II was killed in a tournament here.

Although restaurants, chic clothes shops, antique dealers, and art galleries now line the place des Vosges, there remains one remnant of the square’s literary past in the Maison de Victor Hugo at No 6.

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Galeries Lafayette

40 boulevard Haussmann 75009 PARIS, metro: Chaussée d’Antin In 1893 Théophile Bader and his cousin Alphonse Kahn opened a fashion store in a small haberdasher’s shop at the corner of rue La Fayette and the Chaussée d’Antin.

In 1896, the company purchased the entire building at n°1 rue La Fayette and in 1905 the buildings at n°38, 40 et 42, boulevard Haussmann and n°15 rue de la Chaussée d’Antin. Spectacular glass-domed store, luxurious, often pricey but also stocks more economical, own-label goods. Two floors devoted to fashion.

Every top designer has an outlet here selling the latest designs. Comparisons are easier and hours of window-shopping saved.

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The Sacré-Coeur and Montmartre

The Sacré-Coeur
Cupolas topped by an icing sugar dome, famous on Paris‘s skyline (you can see if from the escalator outside the Georges Pompidou Centre).

Built at the end of the 19th century, at the top of Montmartre with views of around 30 miles from the dome. The campanile is 262 feet high. Catholic visitors from the world over come to light their candles.

Steep climb up or funicular from the Marché Saint-Pierre.

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Montmartre

The old artist’s quarter topped by the icing sugar dome of Sacré-Coeur, sadly overrun by visitors having their portraits etched and sketched in the Place du Tertre at the top of the hill. You can get a funicular up or walk on the quiet southwest side up the rue Lepic.

Once a the top there are a number of open-air cafés, with accompanying accordionists and wonderful views across Paris from the Sacré-Coeur. To the east is the Marché Saint-Pierre, which sells colorful fabrics. There are ethnic shops in the surrounding streets. Property is cheap and there are plenty of reasonably priced hotels.

The sleazy boulevard Clichy and boulevard Pigalle are at the bottom of the hill. To the north of Montmartre is the flea market at the Porte de Clignancourt.

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Bateaux Parisiens

7th arr, Port de la Bourdonnais
Tours last approx. 1hr. April to October every 30 min from 10:00 AM to 10:30 PM.
October to March from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. More details here with Seine river cruise ticketing.

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Bateaux-Mouches

8th arr, Port de la Conférence, Pont de l’Alma, Right Bank
The best way to rediscover the City of Lights is to take an excursion at the binning or end of the day when the light in Paris is at its most beautiful.

At noon and in the evening, you can take in the view while eating a meal, which isn’t altogether that bad or expensive considering the cruise.

And when the Louvre and Pont Neuf bridges are lit up at night, it’s amazing how easily you’ll forget your troubles.

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100 Most Beautiful Places Near Paris In France To Visit 

Categories
History Of France

Brief History Of Origin And Evolution Of The French Language

The first questions about the genesis of the French language appear in the sixteenth century when it already has five centuries of existence. From origins to its official recognition in 1539, here is the Brief History Of Origin And Evolution Of The French Language, one of the most romantic languages on earth.

Brief History Of Origin And Evolution Of The French Language

Brief History Of Origin And Evolution Of The French Language

The origins of the French language: Roman Gaul

To understand the origins of the French language, we must go back two millennia. At the end of the Gallic Wars (from 58 BC to 51 BC), the territories south of the Rhine became Roman provinces. The development of cities and commerce increases the horizontal communication between the Gauls and the Romans: for five centuries, spoken Latin, called vulgar (vulgus: the people), which is a Celtic language.

However, the Gaulish is not a written language, so it is difficult to maintain, especially in the more Romanized south. Today, out of the 100,000 records in Le Grand Robert, a hundred words still bear the trace of their Gallic origin. They are mainly relative to farming, such as omble, bruyère, chêne, if, route, galet, ruche, mouton, tonneau.

List Of Countries With French As An Official Language & Places That Speak French

Our ancestors the Franks

From the fourth century, many Franks are already established in the north-east and assimilated to the Roman armies. In the fifth century, when the Western Roman Empire gave way under the pressure of barbarian invasions, the Franks remained around the Rhine.

After several victories, Clovis unified the Frankish people who allied themselves with the support of the great Gallo-Roman families. For this, they adopt their language, Gallo-Romanesque, and their religion, Catholicism.

Because of the Germanic origin of the Franks, the pronunciation and the melody of the language are modified. They introduce new sounds (like [œ] sound of “fleur” and sound [ø] of “noeuds”) and a number of words. But above all, the Germanic people will give their name to future France.

A political birth

At the end of the eighth century, education collapsed. The people no longer understand Latin spoken by clerics. At the end of the Council of Tours in 813, Charlemagne imposes to pronounce the homilies in the “rustic Romance language”, in other words, in local slang.

This decision marks the first recognition of the spoken language. But the real act of birth of French will take place three decades later: at the time of dividing the empire, tensions are felt between Lothaire and his two brothers, Charles the Bald and Louis the Germanic and they join forces against their brother.

In 842, Charles and Louis took an oath, each speaking in the language that his brother’s troops could understand: Charles in “Tudesque” (ancestor of German) and Louis in “Novel” (ancestor of French). Transcribed by a witness of the scene, the oaths of Strasbourg are thus both the birth certificate of the German language and the French language.

By moving from oral to written, the French language, still very close to the local Latin. In short, we spoke French from the moment we started writing it.

The Word Environment Comes From An Old French Word Meaning …

The Franc legacy

In the 10th century, Gallo-Roman took hundreds of forms. Under the influence of Frankish, a group of languages ​​is formed in the north: these are the languages ​​of oïl. In the Romanesque south, it is the languages ​​of oc that develop (“oïl” and “oc” mean “yes”).

The languages ​​of oïl include among others the expressions of Picard, Walloon, Burgundy or Francilien, while the languages of the oc group included Limousin, Auvergnat, Provençal, Languedoc …

From the French language, we have about a thousand words, like nouns starting with an aspirated H: hache, haine, hêtre, héron or words like guerre, gâter, garder,etc.

Some appendices also mark the Francic origin, as well as different prefixes such as mé- (incompréhension, inadvertance) or certain syntactic rules, such as subject-verb inversion in an interrogative sentence.

Ancient French (Xth-XIIIth century)

Latin remains the language of religion, education, and legislation, but little by little literature in the vernacular is developing.

By the end of the 11th century, the troubadours to the south and the northern poets composed their poems in different dialects. The Song of Roland, written in Oïl language, is one of the most typical examples of the literature of this period.

However, there are great disparities between the texts: the dialects are many, free from strict rules, and the grammar, under the pen of facetious copyists, it is random.

In the twelfth century, the kingdom is still split between oïl and oc. However, the gradual extension of royal power from the Île-de-France allows kings to impose their authority. The language (oïl) becomes an instrument of power and a unifying factor of the kingdom.

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The affluent history of the french language

In the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, France witnessed dark times: the Black Death and the Hundred Years War decimate the population; the monarchical authority is on the edge. The texts of François Villon, written in the Middle French, reflect this troubled period.

For the modern reader, the language is more readable. Thanks to the loss of both declensions, the place of words has been established. The language is precise. Some graphs lend to beam (soques, pluye or oyseaulx). The letter Y is popular; on the other hand, K and W, doomed to be limited as Latin is now subdued.

The fifteenth-century witnessed the birth of the Italian Renaissance and the printing press; the ancient texts are rediscovered and the invention of Gutenberg allows a rapid spread of knowledge. To edit books in quantities, the language must be arranged. The native languages ​​then gain recognition.

The challenge is twofold: religious (the Bible is published in German in 1522) and used politically. By the ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts, in 1539, French became the language of law and administration to the detriment of Latin. By this political act, Francis the 1st wanted to “address France”.

A linguistic evolution of the french language

In order to give the French language a legitimacy and offer it its nobility, some hypotheses, sometimes complicated, are put forward: French would come from the sacred languages, that is to say from classical Latin, from Greek or even from Hebrew!

The first linguists lay the groundwork for a secular debate: should we privilege apply or contemplate the language? Paragon of this linguistic emulation, Joachim Du Bellay publishes Defense and illustration of the French language in 1549.  The authors of the Pleiades, of which he is the member, who played the role of theoreticians and lexicographers.

The language is again Latinized, sometimes even wrongly. Words considered “barbaric”, that is to say non-Latin, are censored from the lexicon. To respond to new facts, writers resort to more than 2,000 borrowings from other languages ​​and neologisms, giving rise to lexical doublets. For example, “Écoute” and “ausculter” share the same root (auscultate).

Banking Words in French and Phrases

Linguistic centralism

Enjoying a double political and literary impulse, French is, therefore, a language that comes “from above”. However, the share of speakers speaking the King’s language does not exceed 10 to 20% in the sixteenth century. This situation evolves only very slowly, whereas the use of French extends into European courts and as far as the other side of the Atlantic.

French is a language of paradoxes, struggling to eliminate the “barbarian” in it, which is nevertheless a part of its identity. Between the shadows, the hazardous hypotheses and even a hint of bad faith, the diachronic study of the language thus inform us on the history of France, always wavering between its strong desire for a unit often fool and the fact of its diversity.

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Child Friendly Paris

What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With Toddlers

What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With Toddlers – At the age of 20, I went to the capital and lived there for 15 years, a life of happiness. 2 kids later, I was wondering how did Parisian parents like us survive this jungle. 1 exit to the intersection and then escaping to take sanctuary in the countryside for 6 years of nature and tranquility with the family.

Yes but here … how to depart for too long from the most beautiful city in the world, its imaginative and cultural liveliness, its mythical neighborhoods like Montmartre, its breathtaking monuments such as the Eiffel Tower, its museums like the Louvre, of its grandiose parks like the Tuileries?

I would not really want to live there, but to spend more weekends in Paris with children, that’s what I wanted to do more often! So I wanted to return to the footsteps of my favorite activities of my Parisian life of yesteryear to help you to visit Paris with your family during your next vacation. What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With Toddlers on a 3 or a 4-day trip? Here are my 10 favorites!

What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With Toddlers

Table of Contents

What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With Toddlers

1- Indulge in a full view at the Eiffel Tower

What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With Toddlers – day 1

I am not normally very much a visitor to the iconic monuments of major capitals. But the Eiffel Tower, I do not know why, but I really really love it (my children too): is it its elegance, its audacity, the wind of discord and lust that has never failed to inspire?

In any case, in my opinion, it’s essential and unforgettable for any Paris trip. I advise you to make the most of the Eiffel Tower by starting your day at the Trocadero before descending quietly under the feet of the Iron Lady. It is very impressive.

I never wanted to go up the floors of the Eiffel Tower. It is its architecture that I like, to see it from all the streets of Paris. And I never had the courage to join the horde of tourists who legitimately queue to go up for high in the sky to witness the city view.

40+ Best Free Things To Do In Paris France Today 2019

What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With Toddlers

Tips for your visit to the Eiffel Tower

If you want to visit the Eiffel Tower from the inside, I have three tips:

1 / buy e-tickets on the Internet (but maximum 2 months in advance): they will allow you to limit your waiting times a bit since you will then have a day and a precise plan to follow according to your own schedule. The cheapest tickets can be bought directly on the site of the Eiffel Tower.

2 / do not necessarily go upstairs: on the 2nd floor of the Eiffel Tower, you will already have a nice view of Paris. If you want to climb to the top, you will have to change the lift and have an extra hour of the visit because you will have to queue for new elevators (making your visit last for 2h30 instead of 1h30).

3 / If you are visiting Paris with your family including teenagers, you may consider climbing on the 2nd floor of the Eiffel Tower on foot: you will have less tail because few are brave enough to make it for the 674 stairways in 30 to 45 minutes of walking. But this may be a nice challenge to face with the younger kids you may be carrying over your shoulder literally.

2- Satisfy your curiosity at Parc de la Villette

What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With Toddlers – day 1

Here is a place where we spent some crazy times back when we lived in Paris. Because here, there is always something going on: it is at the same time a place of nature, of life, of knowledge, of small and big discoveries. The dream destination to tour when in Paris with your family.

The right family travel plan

From the Eiffel Tower, you can take the Batobus (on 365tickets, you will pay much less for your ticket) which is just at the south side of the Cathedral Notre-Dame while enjoying a sublime view of the banks of the Seine. From there you can take the RER and metro to La Villette.

  • The City of Science and Industry

As its name suggests, you enter the world of science, taken from a 100% educational and fun experience: children will understand the world around us with exhibitions that have been displayed to them. I made several trips when I was a child and I still remember all my passages in this museum.

The Cité de Sciences also offers courses called La Cité des Enfants: these two circuits (one for children under the age of 5, and another for 5-12 years old kids) are designed exclusively to allow the youngest to experience science by touching, playing, etc… These shows are the best and they are all so exciting! It will be necessary to think of reserving your place very early if it interests you.

  • The gardens of the Parc de la Villette

The gardens of the Parc de la Villette call for adventure: we navigate between different spaces, different playgrounds, futuristic architecture, and then we picnic at the edge of the Ourq channel where all the mingling ages and all populations. A bit of calm and breeze in Paris, it feels good.

  • Learn how to canoe along the Ourq canal

To end the afternoon in style, children can then learn to canoe on the channel of the Ourq. To do this, you have to walk along the canal in the direction of the Jaurés metro station and reach the La Villette boating center which offers original courses for canoeing and rowing; free and open to children as adults, it’s really nice!

Practical information
  1. Book your ticket on the Cité des Sciences website
  2. Learn about all the shows of the Parc de La Villette
  3. Learn more about the initiations from the marine center of La Villette

What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With Toddlers

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3 – Traveling to the time of the Pharaohs at the Louvre

What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With Toddlers – day 2

Welcome to the Louvre, the largest museum in the world: 14 square km of exhibits, this gives you a good reason to prepare your visit upstream!

The most fun, it will surely start with the awe-inspiring collection of Egyptian Artifacts: the great sphinx Tanis, the hieroglyphs of the Chapel of Akhethethep, the sarcophagi but also the beautiful squatting scribe and pharaohs. An unforgettable trip indeed.

You will not be able to leave without seeing mythical works such as the Victory of Samothrace, the Rite of Napoleon, the Raft of the Medusa, the Venus of Milo … and the Mona Lisa, of course.

Practical information and tips

  • Open daily from 9h to 18h EXCEPT on Tuesday
  • Buy a ticket online at the Louvre official website (because it’s obviously cheaper on this site) plus it will help you to limit the waiting time on the long queues at the entrance of the museum.
  • Access is free and without ticket for all the people under the age of 25 who are residents in Europe
  • The ticket is valid all day: if you want to go out for a picnic in the Tuileries Garden and come back, it’s okay.
  • The audio guide on Nintendo 3DS is great for parents. You can also download the short courses of Paris Mômes for children.

What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With Toddlers

4 – Let off steam in the Tuileries Garden

What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With Toddlers – day 2

After the Louvre, filled with beautiful pieces, now set your pleasures free. The Tuileries Garden is great for children. You can picnic, sit in the famous steel armchairs, play ball, play hide and seek … and enjoy one of the best playgrounds in Paris (with its free-hanging cabins and trampolines – only for 2 € ). I spent many hours with my toddlers, always with as much fun for children as for adults.

Do not miss to continue your walk to the Place de la Concorde to see the Champs Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe in the distance.

What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With Toddlers

What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With Toddlers

What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With A Baby

5 – To immerse yourself in Paris over the water: the Seine, its islands and Notre-Dame

What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With Toddlers – day 2

Just like during our weekend in London with my family, it’s the banks of the river that I prefer in Paris: the bridges that cross the Seine, the islands, the quays and the mythical places that follow one another: Eiffel Tower, Grand Palais, Louvre, Orsay Museum, Conciergerie, Notre Dame, etc.

Several options are available to you to enjoy yourself to the fullest. You can also mix them all with your wishes:

  • Take a Batobus on the Seine

The first is to take the Batobus, the river shuttle that makes rounds along the Seine from the Eiffel Tower to the Jardin des Plantes in 9 stops. Think about your weekend program but you can, for a few more euros, take a 48h pass; it can be much of a help during your stay in Paris!

If you want to take the Batobus following your visit to the Louvre, just cross the docks to book them in front of the Musée d’Orsay.

If you want to book them after visiting the Eiffel Tower, get off on the platform just below and get your tickets and the shuttle is right over there. For example, you can continue to Notre-Dame to visit the islands.

  • Visit Notre-Dame and the islands

My favorite place of Notre-Dame is the back of the Cathedral, garden side! It’s good, if you arrive Batobus just in front of the island of the city, you just go back on the bridge and walk along the Seine Cathedral. Children will be able to run without fear.

If the weather is nice, you can eat a bite on the Esmeralda Café Terrace. We do not go at all for the quality of the food… just for the location.

The older kids will be able to cross the road to play in the square while waiting for the dishes or to attend the various street performances that often take place on the Saint Louis bridge.

For dessert, you must then eat ice cream at Bertillon on the island of Saint Louis and enjoy a quick walk in the quiet streets around.

  • Enjoy the banks of Seine rive Droite

Since 2018, the banks of the Seine have been reinstated to the foot-travelers. I find the right bank very pleasant to walk with toddlers. From Saint Louis Island, you can return to the center of Paris to the Louvre along the pedestrian banks.

Take the children’s scooters, they will be able to give it to their heart. And you can rent a bike for self-service.
Otherwise, you can take the Batobus to complete the loop on the Seine and return to the Louvre.

What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With Toddlers What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With Toddlers What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With Toddlers

6 – Visit the Opera Palais Garnier

What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With Toddlers – day 3

Paris with toddlers is an intimate experience which, for almost 20 years, has had me so many educational visits to put Heritage and History up together for children. What a beautiful idea!

We have tried the visit of the Opera Garnier that I highly recommend: a qualified guide finds the right words to tell the story of the Opera for nearly 2 hours without children, yet for older ones between 6 and 10 years during my visit, also didn’t’ get bored for a single second.

We could wander in the Grand Foyer, the splendid staircase, the lounges of the Moon and Glacier, the lodge of the famous ghost … We also learned a lot of “words of cranes” as our guide instructs us!

Practical information
  • Reservation: Paris d’Enfants
  • Price for Opera Garnier: 12 € per child, 20 € per adult

What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With Toddlers What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With Toddlers

7 – Reviving the soul and spirit At Rue Saint Anne

What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With Toddlers – day 3

Before or after the visit to the Opera, there is a place where I like to come back every time I’m in Paris: Rue Saint-Anne. Known for its abundance of quality Asian restaurants, there is something for everyone.

I recommend the Higuma canteen, an institution where young, old, tourists, Parisians all can mingle… the best is to find a place in the bar to see the cooks prepare pasta in their big woks. Beware, there are often too many people on the waiting list and you can not book in advance

The belly is now well filled, I will then always take a ride in the pretty bookstore Voyageurs du Monde. To browse beautiful travel books, take inspiration and discover new authors.

Practical information

  • Higuma: 32 bis rue St Anne, Paris 02 – underground Pyramids
  • Bookstore: 48 rue St Anne, Paris 02 – open Monday to Saturday (9.30 am-7 pm)

What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With Toddlers

8 – Stroll in Montmartre to get a glimpse of an artist’s life

What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With Toddlers – day 3

Ahhh Montmartre … here is the retreat of my sanctuary. The neighborhood where I lived my beautiful student years, my Sundays lounging, my frenzied evenings. Is there a better area to live in Paris with your family and walk around?

I advise you to start the visit from below the Sacré-Coeur, at the foot of the funicular: you can climb the Square Louise Michel or take the famous railroad (at the same price of a metro ticket). Once at the top, you have the magic view of all Paris.

You can then go down peacefully through the Place du Tertre, the street of the watering hole, then stop at Suzanne Buisson Square before taking the rue Lepic which joins the famous rue des Abbesses. A little further on, on the place of the Abbesses, a carousel turned the heads of all the children of the district. So why not yours?

Good to know too: Sunday, rue des Abbesses becomes pedestrian and all shops are open. A neighborhood alive even on the day of the Lord!

Good places

  • To brunch: Poppy (bread and pastries)

With a few more days on your journey,  What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With Toddlers

  • Visit the Palace of Versailles

I have never been there, but it will be one of my next destinations when in Paris with my family. The RER C will take you there directly from the center of Paris. You can also rent a car in Paris with Liligo.

  • The Garden of Acclimatization

The Jardin d’Acclimatation is a pretty place that kids love. It is an amusement park full of rides, enchanted rivers. But we are far from the atmosphere of the big carnivals, I reassure you!

I loved spending time with the kids there. The playground at the end of the park is also good to hold the frenzy of consumption of the rides: it is great and has water jets to refresh the children in the hot Parisian summers.

Before or after, don’t forget to visit the Louis Vuitton Foundation located next to it, is also worth the detour.

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Where To Stay During Your Trip To Paris 

I advise you to check the offers of large hotel chains that try to “attract” families to bring up their kids to the hotel.

I loved our experience at the Mercure de Londres, and the Mercure Montmartre also seems to offer the same type of services. And I love its terrace overlooking the Sacré Coeur!

Additional score points for Novotel Paris Les Halles which has a very nice location, yet additionally free breakfasts for children, a nice terrace, a babysitter service, and a late check-out on Sunday. Cheaper but also a great choice is the Novotel Paris.

Renting an apartment in Paris with your family

If you prefer an apartment, look at the Citadines de Montmartre, and Airbnb, be sure to be near the metro lines that will take you quickly to the strategic places on your itinerary. Besides Montmartre that I particularly like (be careful, not practical for kids on their strollers), also look at rentals in the district of Batignolles.

In the evening you can then eat at the famous restaurant Club des 5. The kids will love to dine there.

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ITINERARY TO VISIT PARIS IN FAMILY IN 3 OR 4 DAYS

 

  • Day 1: Eiffel Tower – Batobus – Parc de la Villette and City of Science and Industry
  • Day 2: Louvre – Tuileries – Batobus – Notre Dame and Saint Louis Island
  • Day 3: Opera – Saint Anne Street – Montmartre
  • Day 4: Versailles or The Garden of Acclimatization and the Louis Vuitton Foundation (or Beaubourg dreaming in the Center) – or Disneyland Paris. Again, look at the prices on this site: 365tickets. Often much cheaper than elsewhere!
Categories
Child Friendly Paris

What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With A Baby 

What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With A Baby – We offer some interactive ideas for outings in Paris with your little ones, depending on what tempts you. The proposed places are identifiable on any map by significant icons: “boat” for boat trips as you may have guessed, or “dinosaur” for the palaeontological museum, or “knife-fork” for … you know what;) etc!

What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With A Baby 

What Are The Best Things To Do In Paris With A Baby 

Here is an overview of these proposals:

1) Have a meal with your children …

You would like to have lunch or dinner without having to tell your children to stay quietly in place, you dream of a place where you can relax, and which welcomes your little ones with pleasure, offers them a good meal without even having them booked a play area? These places are still too rare, but they exist! Here are a few…

Enjoy your meal while the children play in their own special space..

16 Rue de Fontarabe, 75020 Paris

Metro Alexandre-Dumas (line 2), Gambetta (line 3) or Maraîchers (line 9)

22 Rue Gerbert, 75015 Paris

Metro Convention (Line 12) or Fougerard (Line 12), Bus 39-62-70-80-88-89

92bis Quai de la Loire, 75019 Paris

Metro Laumière (line 5), Crimea (line 7) or Jaurès (lines 2 and 5), bus 60

Bercy Park – 51 rue de Bercy, 75012 Paris

Metro Percy (lines 6 and 14); bus 24-64-87

2) Play or wander in a covered place

It’s raining, but your little ones want to observe amazing animals, to discover dinosaur skeletons, to build bricks (foam) on a construction site, to pour buckets of water, to test, to play. Here are some ideal places for both children and adults.

The Tropical Aquarium, the Great Gallery of Evolution and more particularly the Children’s Gallery to manipulate (or the Gallery of Paleontology if they love dinosaurs); and especially if you are looking for games and manipulations, a must-see-place is La Cité des Enfants “The City of Children”, suitable for ages of 2-7 years or 5-12 years.

Remember to book your place or even your session on the internet, this will save you from queuing or having no more room 🙂

3) Museums, exhibitions

Paris, the “city-light” is a high place of culture. Tourists travel hundreds of thousands of kilometers to see The Mona Lisa, you can follow suit, and take your children to this beautiful place that is the Louvre, perhaps by adapting your visit to their desires: it can be a moment of amazement in the Khorsabad Court in front of majestic winged bulls with men’s heads (“androcephalic” if you want to teach them a new word: p), or the opportunity to tell terrible myths such as that of Perseus fly to the rescue of Andromeda thanks to the head of Medusa if you go to Cours Marly and Puget, dedicated to the myths of Antiquity!

Many other museums are accessible to your little ones by reducing the visit and not forgetting the little moment of relaxation-snack that will rest everyone 🙂

The Cinémathèque de Paris, a real museum dedicated to the 7th art, the Cité de la Musique, the budding museum, or the Musée du Quai Branly.

4) Outdoor games, attractions

The weather is nice, and you want to enjoy this time to be outdoors with your children. They can discover animals, or play in wooden structures, or ask for rides!

The Ferme de Paris may interest you less if you come from the countryside and your children are familiar with the animals on the farm; otherwise, it is a moment that often pleases the little ones. The garden of acclimatization is a multiple place, animals, attractions and outdoor games are proposed, but is partially under construction until May 2018, the entrance is therefore 2 € during these works. Other possible places: the Parc Floral de Paris or the Zoological Park.

Bring children to an indoor activity where they can play, discover and experience!

90-minute sessions in a specific area, dedicated to games and discoveries. Don’t forget to book online.

Science City – Rue 30 Corentin Cariou, 75019 Paris

Metro: Porte de la Villette (line 7) Tramway of Porte de la Villette (line 3b)

5) Adventurous touring with your babies around Paris

Finally, we offer some ideas for unusual walks: boat cruises, to take not far from the Eiffel Tower, discovering Montmartre by taking the funicular, it always pleases the children this “adventure”.

You can also simply take walks along the banks of the Seine, designed specifically for pedestrians, the Pont Neuf at Pont de Sully, or the Pont de l’Alma Pont Royal. By clicking on each of these points on the map, you will get the names of the closest metros if needed, and you can even know the distance and the travel time between each point.

Do not hesitate to join us on the Facebook group “En route for the galaxy Baby-Portation” if you need advice on these places, additional information or simply if you want to make an appointment between parents!

And a tip: in Paris especially, you will bless your mode of porterage! To avoid overloading yourself, opt for the backpack (with the necessary water bottle!) Or even simpler the rolling bag or shopping cart, which allows you to have to wear only your small wonder 🙂

Enjoy, savor, take the time. Finally, whatever the destination, what counts is this moment of sharing with the family;)

Categories
History Of France

Avignon History And Culture

Avignon History And Culture – The Palace of the Popes, the bridge of Avignon, the ramparts are classified world heritage of Unesco. Cardinal’s liveries, churches and convents perfect the architectural richness coming largely from the pontifical legacy.

Avignon History And Culture

Avignon History And Culture

Capital of the Christian world in the Middle Ages, Avignon has preserved an outstanding heritage: the Palace of the Popes, the world-famous bridge, the World Heritage-listed walls by Unesco.

Before the power of the papacy, the town heritage has also been there for long: a hundred solid houses, crenellated, dominated by the cathedral Notre-Dame des Doms, characteristic of the Provençal novel and enclosed in strong ramparts, convents of great powerful rulers (preachers, Cordeliers, Carmes, Augustins), and on the impetuous and violent Rhone, a bridge with 22 arches, built between Lyon and the sea, built by the small shepherd Bénézet at the end of the 12th century.

Ruined by the onslaught of the river, unused since the seventeenth century, it is now universally known by the song “On the bridge of Avignon”.

When Avignon becomes the heart of Christendom, the city offers a very convenient place to stay for consecutive pontiffs. Then rise the imposing mass of one of the most beautiful buildings in Europe, the Palace of the Popes: work of French architects, but decorated largely by Italian painters of the famous Sienese School of Trecento, headed by Matteo Giovannetti of Viterbo.

Cardinal’s liveries, churches, convents, are built according to the tortuous lanes, and the urban and architectural aspect is modified. New ramparts are being built, constituting one of the most beautiful lines of medieval fortifications in Europe. The pontifical legacy is enormous and the City of Avignon is honored by devoting a large part of its restorations.

The HistoPad Palace of the Popes: the increased visit for everyone in Avignon!

This is the unique experience of diving in the past, in the heart of the largest gothic palace in Europe, The Palace Of The Popes…

By calling on History, a start-up labeled “La French Tech”, specialized since 2013 in the exploitation of augmented visits solutions to enhance the monuments, the City of Avignon reinforces the attractiveness of the extraordinary heritage of Avignon History And Culture

To offer each visitor to the Palais, the interactive tablet HistoPad, is to offer the best of modern museography, allow the first-time visitors to discover the monument even better, and encourage those who already know it to rediscover it

All you have to do is cross the “Portes du temps” to enjoy a unique tour of the various rooms of the Palais des Papes and find yourself immersed in the past.

A real revolution that will resolutely transform the way to discover Avignon History And Culture: it is now a fun, educational and interactive visit for guests. Much more than discover a building, go from room to room, read or listen to a text, it is then that on the tablet they will be equipped with 3D technologies and augmented reality, they will be able to discover at 360 ° what the places looked like 800 years ago, and how they evolved, as well as their history.

Far from being a simple gadget, the Histopad proposes developments built on historical and cultural content giving to see spectacular historical reconstructions, entirely elaborated by a scientific committee.

Discover the reconstituted palace at the time of the pontifical court

Symbol of the influence of the Church on the Christian West in the fourteenth century, the Palace of the Popes preserved its medieval history its monumental stone, preserved in its integrity. Inside the monument, the expanded visit with the HistoPad makes it possible to discover striking reconstructions of the spaces such as they could be at the time of the “City of the Popes”.

The original splendor of the interiors and the richness of the decorations are thus restored in the Consistory, the Big Treasury, the Lower Treasury, the Camera Chamber, the Pope’s House, the Grand Tinel, the Great Chapel, and the Great Hall. Visitors can thus obtain detailed explanations in their language throughout the tour, and better understand the works still visible on the walls, in particular in the Chamber of the Stag, and in the Saint-Martial Chapel, or the St John’s Chapel.

The Histopad for a unique and unforgettable visit

At any time, visitors can orientate themselves and organize their visit thanks to an interactive geolocated plan. He also has the opportunity to extend his experience by leaving a comment in the digital guestbook and can get a digital souvenir of his visit by email. Children and their families are invited to a treasure hunt in search of papal coins hidden in 3D objects, to manipulate in each reconstituted space.

How To Go The Extra Miles In Developing And Maintaining Avignon History And Culture

Since 1995, the City of Avignon has been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The region concerned represents an area of ​​8.2 ha including the Rocher des Doms, the Petit Palais, the Notre Dame des Doms metropolis and the Saint-Bénézet bridge.

This wonderful heritage that is the pride of all Avignon depends on several institutional factors: the State, the PACA Region, the Department of Vaucluse and the City of Avignon. All have gathered for twenty years still it is now necessary to go further and establish a real management plan for this World Heritage site.

A management plan that integrates all elements of a global strategy combining scientific and cultural project, conservation, didactic presentation of the site, social and economic valorization for the benefit of the Avignonnais. Thus, a convention is established between the various actors which define the commitments of each one. Concerned about its classified heritage, the City will also create and finance a senior staff position that will be in charge of monitoring the management plan, for a better valorization of the properties inscribed on UNESCO’s heritage.

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History Of France Touring France

Most Famous French Buildings And Monuments In France With Pictures

Nice Famous Buildings Of France – The world’s leading tourist country, France welcomes more than 80 million visitors every year. The country is truly gifted by the beauty and diversity of its landscapes, its many world-famous monuments, steeped in history and culture, but also by its innumerable culinary specialties.

From the beaches of the Mediterranean to the Champs Elysées through the mountains of the Alps, the Landes, forests of the Vosges, and Brittany coast; from kouign-amann to sausages from Toulouse to the plum of Lorraine, fougasse, brie or Panisses, each gourmand will surely find his happiness. You may already know them or dream to visit them

Nice Famous Buildings Of France

The monuments of France represent the history of this beautiful country, whether in cities or in the countryside. Take the time to discover them over the weekend or holidays with family, couples, or friends.
SeaFranceHolidays presents you with some of the most popular tourist attractions, most visited and most emblematic of the country.

Ancienne Douane (Old Customs House) in Strasbourg

nice Famous Buildings Of France Pictures Included

The old customs house of the city of Strasbourg is located at the edge of the water and served previously to control the goods that traveled on the Rhine. The bombings of the Second World War had damaged the building, so the one that stands today is a reconstruction.

Today, the brewery and a gallery exhibiting works of art have taken the place of the checkpoint. The building is listed in UNESCO’s listed heritage list. The surrounding area is also considered pretty historic.

The customs checkpoint was built in 1358. Most of the wine, tobacco, or fish that the boatmen brought to Strasbourg by this means. Taxes were levied on this type of merchandise. From Strasbourg came out productions such as textiles and cereals.

 

Arc de Triomphe

nice Famous Buildings Of France Pictures Included

The Arc de Triomphe in Paris, with its full name Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile, is located in the center of the roundabout of the same name, where 12 avenues intersect, including the Champs-Élysée. It was built under the rules of Napoleon, after the battle of Austerlitz.

The work began in 1806 but did not finish until 1836 under the reign of King Louis-Philippe I. Work had indeed been interrupted between 1812 and 1832, following several defeats of the Napoleonic army and the advent of the Restoration, during which monarchy sovereignty was reinstated.

The inauguration will finally take place on July 29, 1836. At that time, the French celebrate the sixth anniversary of the three glorious days, marking the beginning of the July Monarchy. But today, it is dedicated to other ceremonies, as shown by the tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the First World War under the monument. The eternal flame records the fight of all soldiers who died for their homeland.

The Arena of Nîmes

nice Famous Buildings Of France Pictures Included
The arenas of Nîmes are built in an old Roman amphitheater. It dates from the 1st century and is still used to host concerts, festivals, or bullfights. The rest of the time, it is possible to visit it. The Roman Colosseum would be inspired by this architecture …

The construction took place between the years 50 and 100 AD. 24,000 spectators could sit on 34 rows of terraces. The front squares were reserved for the Roman v.I.Ps. It was already intended for the organization of shows for the population of Nîmes, such as gladiator fights.

In 404, the gladiator fights were banned and the monument was turned into a fortress by the Visigoths, a Germanic people. They added towers and a ditch. Later, the place became a fortified village. The houses were destroyed during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Cézanne Workshop

nice Famous Buildings Of France Pictures Included

The workshop of Cézanne is a museum placed in the workshop of Aix en Provence where the painter Paul Cézanne has been doing most of his work. One can see here some models of his famous pieces of art and daily life items: apples, vases, dishes … Trestles, and sketches were also left in the room, as well as his famous hat and some of his clothes!

One will like to visit the big room that the painter had done up with a beautiful glass roof to the north to have constant light. We will discover with passion the trapdoor ” secret ” which he had added to bring out his paintings.

The museum also has an audiovisual room, which displays films about the painter’s life and his work. Visitors can also find books, postcards, or posters that are offprints of some of his paintings.

Remembering that Paul Cézanne lived most of his life in Aix-en-Provence. He was born in this city and left only to study in Paris. He finally came back to settle in the city of his childhood, of which landscapes he has painted. The nearby Sainte Victoire mountain was one of his recurring models.

 

The Bell Tower Of Saint Nicolas Church

nice Famous Buildings Of France Pictures Included

The Saint-Nicolas Basilica is a historic monument dating from the nineteenth century. It was built by John Baptist Antoine Lassus. This building replaces another church, which then became too small and old to host all the followers.

Construction began in 1844 and lasted 25 years. It took no less than 15 years to assemble the bell tower. The builders faced difficulties due to the narrowness of the land. They had to be an exception to the tradition that all Catholic buildings should face east towards the rising sun, which represents the resurrected Christ. The Basilica of St. Nicholas has the distinction of being on a north-south axis.

The church is made of granite and stones. Its architecture is neo-Gothic. It underwent a major renovation between 1953 and 1974, after being deeply damaged by a bombing of the Second World War. The surrounding buildings were also affected.

 

Carcassonne – Ramparts And Towers

nice Famous Buildings Of France Pictures Included

The city of Carcassonne is a compilation of medieval buildings, which are located southwest of the city of the same name. It has a wall still well preserved, which perimeter is not less than 3 kilometers long. There is also the Count’s Castle, as well as the Basilica of St. Nazaire.

The site overlooks the current city of Carcassonne, located 150 meters above sea level, on a hill. This location had the advantage of limiting attacks since the west slope was very steep. The occupants had therefore concentrated the defenses on the east side.

The place was inhabited since the Gallo-Roman era. It was then an important place of trade. In the Middle Ages, the Counts of Carcassonne ruled the city and had a cathedral built in the 11th century. In the 13th century, King Louis IX built a second wall to protect the city against frequent attacks.

The city was abandoned six centuries later, becoming a popular district before being restored in the nineteenth century as an archaeological site.

 

The Notre Dame De Strasbourg Cathedral

nice Famous Buildings Of France Pictures Included
The Notre Dame de Strasbourg cathedral is located in the heart of the historic center of the city. It is famous for its sole arrow, the second one having never been built for lack of money. It has a Gothic style and dates from the 12th century. Its tower rises to 142 meters and has made it, for more than two centuries, the tallest building on the planet.

The building is a rebuilding of another church that burned down in 1176. It had an Ottonian style and was already replacing a Carolingian building in which traces have been found. It was very big for the time, with three naves. But the first religious construction built on this site dates from the Roman era: a shrine dedicated to the god Mars was built there.

At the beginning of the 12th century, the bishop of Strasbourg ordered the construction of a cathedral that was to be more grandiose than that of Basel, Switzerland. He stated that it must have had a novel style. But the construction took another turn in 1225 when builders of Chartres brought the Gothic style. The diocese had difficulty in financing the building and appealed for donations. They were not enough to finish the building though…

 

Saint-Sauveur Cathedral in Aix

nice Famous Buildings Of France Pictures Included

The cathedral of Aix-en-Provence is in the upper part of the historic center of the city. It brings together different architectural styles. This particularity is due to the fact that the building was built in several times, in different eras. Its length is 70 meters, and it is 46 meters wide.

Construction began in the 12th century: the Romanesque nave was built. It will later be enriched by ornaments. At the end of the 12th century, a building was built to house a community of canons. The buildings belonging to the cloister were built between the 11th and the 13th century. At that time, the gate of the Gothic nave was also added. The tower dates from the fifteenth century.

Legend has it that the monument was built on the site of a Roman temple dedicated to Apollo. A part of the Roman wall and columns were found on the site, contributing to the spread of this belief. But Saint Sauveur Cathedral is also on the route of the Aurelian Way, a Roman road to Italy.

 

Palace and Gardens of Versailles

nice Famous Buildings Of France Pictures Included
The Palace of Versailles was a royal residence for three sovereigns: Louis XIV, who had it built, then Louis XV, and Louis XVI. In classical style, its construction is distinguished by symmetry. There are also some extravagant elements and sculptures of ancient and mythological influence.

In the seventeenth century, the building that stood at the current location of the Palace of Versailles was a small brick house for hunting. It still included as royal apartments. There were portions of the famous game of palm affected by Louis XIII. Subsequently, the house experienced several expansions.

In 1651, Louis XIV, son of Louis III, went to visit the place. He used the old hunting lodge to bring his mistress Louise de La Vallière. The Sun King finally decided to build a royal residence in Versailles, thus moving away from the capital and the people of Paris which he distrusted. He only spent a few days in the beginning, but finally settled there in 1682, while some development work was not completed.

 

Château de Chambord

nice Famous Buildings Of France Pictures Included
Chambord Castle is located near the town of the same name, in the Loir-et-Cher (Center region). It is the largest castle in the Loire, built in a typical Renaissance style in the sixteenth century. The monument had more prestige than a defensive function.

The monument was commissioned by King Francis I, but we do not know the name of the architect who designed it. Experts have shown Leonardo da Vinci’s influences, but the master died before the works started in 1519.

It was a very ambitious project for the time. The king had asked that the course of the Loire to be deviated in order to make it pass in front of the castle, but that proved impossible. As the ground was marshy, it was necessary to drive oak pilots to 12 meters deep for the foundations. The building was however not inhabited very long: after the death of François 1st, his successors did not want to use it and it fell into disuse, before being restored in recent years.

 

Castle of the Dukes of Brittany

nice Famous Buildings Of France Pictures Included
The castle of the Dukes of Brittany was the official residence of Breton rulers between the 13th and 16th centuries. It was then inhabited by different princes and kings. It is now open to the public, home to a museum of decorative arts.

It is the reconstruction in the fifteenth century of a previous building dating from the thirteenth. There remains a vestige of this first castle: the Old Dungeon. Francis II of Brittany decided to completely rebuild the castle in 1455. It was a residence for the duke, but also a defensive fortress. The duke wanted to parry the attacks of the kingdom of France, but the region was still annexed to the sixteenth century.

The monument was then converted into a royal residence. Its defenses were reinforced once again, this time during the wars of religion. Henri IV will reside there during his visit to Nantes for the signing of the edict allowing the practice of their worship to Protestants.

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Touring France

10 France Off The Beaten Path Tours

France Off The Beaten Path Tours – France is full of characteristics, authentic, ideal and unusual small towns and villages, more or less known travelers. If you want to get out of the box to discover the exotic villages of the common citizens, take a look at this glimpse of the treasures hidden deep off the beaten track in France.

10 France Off The Beaten Path Tours

1 – La Roque-Gageac

France Off The Beaten Path Tours

Nestled at the foot of a cliff on the banks of the Dordogne, the small village of Roque-Gageac, facing south, is one of the most beautiful villages in France. Do not hesitate to embark on a gabarre or as in English a Scow, these traditional boats on which were once used for transporting the goods, to admire the facades of the charming small houses since the Dordogne.

In the heart of the cliff acting as a natural solarium is a small tropical garden where palm trees, banana trees, bamboos, and cacti grow very fine next to the church.

2 – Mirepoix

France Off The Beaten Path Tours

Not far from the city of Carcassonne where the famous fortress of the same name stands, you will find the delightful bastide of Mirepoix. Located in the Pays de Pyrénées Cathare and labeled Country of Art and History, the Mirepoix bastide has retained all the charm of a medieval village, including half-timbered timber-framed houses that surround the typically medieval covered square at the center of the village.

Do not miss to hit the antique shops of the village, where you will surely find unique souvenirs and objects of all kinds, the vintage pieces that will make you flip.

3 – Saint-Véran

France Off The Beaten Path Tours

The town of Saint-Véran is located in the heart of the Regional Natural Park of Queyras. It is labeled the most beautiful villages in France and is the highest inhabited municipality in Europe.

Its wooden chalets with slate roofs, all the small wooden fountains and typical mountain bakeries will literally make your heart melt for this village which benefits from a burst of extraordinary sunshine. And check out the numerous sundials which spread all over the alleys of the village.

4 – Cucuron

France Off The Beaten Path Tours

Located in the heart of the Natural Park of Luberon, just a few kilometers from Aix-en-Provence, Cucuron is worth to be better appreciated. This typical Provençal village will charm you with its barricades, its castle, its baths and wash houses and the Pond lined with hundred-year-old plane trees which make Cucuron recognizable by all.

Lose yourself in the midst of shades and scents as you walk in the shadow of the extending trees on the streets, from one small square to another where you can sip a glass of Côtes du Luberon in absolute tranquility.

5 – Saint Goustan

France Off The Beaten Path Tours

Nothing more natural than a village of Brittany remained unchanged and Saint Goustan is the proof. You will not find anywhere else a panorama and an atmosphere similar to those of Brittany.

Stroll in the cobbled streets of Saint-Goustan and a bit like taking a leap into the past. Cross its stone bridge and explore its narrow streets animated by the presence of artisans and art galleries to the port that takes its name from Saint Goustan, the patron saint of sailors and fishermen.

6 – Bormes-Les-Mimosas

France Off The Beaten Path Tours

Bormes-Les-Mimosas … such a name is full of excitement! Classified as one of the most flowery villages in France, Bormes-Les-Mimosas, perched on a hill, proudly overlooks the Mediterranean Sea.

You are still in time to attend the Grand Floral Corso Mimosa de Bormes which is held every year on the last weekend of February. Relish the houses with pink and ocher tiled roofs, turning and snaking alleys, walls and castle ruins, you will realize how Bormes-Les-Mimosas is a genuine village, a true Provençal spot to tour indeed.

7 – Castelnou

France Off The Beaten Path Tours

The village of Castelnou is a true gem of Catalonia, against the backdrop of the legendary Canigou mountain. Castelnou is perhaps a little more known and therefore touristy than the other places that we mentioned in this 10 France Off The Beaten Path Tours list.

Nevertheless, we wanted to share it with you because it is particularly preserved! No overabundance of shops or hotels have ever denatured this outstanding frame-like postcard.

8 – Moncontour of Brittany

France Off The Beaten Path Tours

Snuggled in lush greenery, a heart of the Breton countryside and clinging to a rocky outcrop, the medieval city of Moncontour is definitely one of the 10 France Off The Beaten Path Tours today.

The town hall, the church, the superb bourgeois mansions, and the luxurious villas contribute to the remarkable historical and architectural heritage of Moncontour, labeled the most beautiful village in France it’s a town of real character.

9 – Piriac-Sur-Mer

France Off The Beaten Path Tours

For those of you who prefer the sea or the beach, rather than the hikes that you can enjoy around Moncontour, enjoy Piriac-Sur-Mer. Located on the peninsula of Guérande, this small town of style will surprise you with its rich natural, architectural, literary and legendary diversity.

Experience the sea air of this charming seaside resort with a strong Breton identity and indulge in the authentic atmosphere of the port, the charming cottages in the heart of the village and along the coast which reveals mesmerizing panoramas.

10 – Belcastel

France Off The Beaten Path Tours

On the road to Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle, in the south of France and bordering the Aveyron, stands a perfectly restored castle at the foot of which is spread a small village made of stone houses of the country and topped roofs of lauzes.

Do not miss to visit the fortress of Belcastel, built in the late tenth century on a chapel dating from the ninth century, left in ruins and finally restored with taste and expertise in the seventeenth century by the architect Fernand Pouillon. It now houses an art gallery that contributes to the dynamism of the town.

For the little anecdote: pay attention to the mailboxes of houses in the village, each one is more humorous than the other and if you have the opportunity, go to the gourmet Michelin starred restaurant du Vieux Pont, an institution in Belcastel where Cyril Lignac did his apprenticeship with sisters Nicole and Michèle Fagegaltier.

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French Regions Touring France

16 Most Beautiful Towns In France

The Most Beautiful Towns In France – Growing up in France, I spent my childhood exploring the Hexagon with my family. The French countryside has a lot of culture, history and beautiful landscapes to offer visitors from around the world. I drew up a list of 16 small towns and villages that stand out because of their uniqueness.

So, if you’re wondering what are the Most Beautiful Towns In France to visit besides Paris or Nice, here are some of the most impressive hidden treasures of France.

Discover the most beautiful towns in France

Travel to France by region with the help of the road map below!

  • Northern France: Étretat, Honfleur, Dinan
  • Near Paris: Courances, Pierrefonds
  • Central France: Beaune, Chatillon Sur Chalaronne, Pérouges, Annecy, Megeve, Le Puy en Velay, Cognac
  • South of France: Lourdes, Juan Les Pins, Grasse, Menton

Check out the interactive most beautiful towns in France map

Most Beautiful Towns In France

The Most Beautiful Towns In France

1- The Most Beautiful Towns In North of France

  • Etretat

If you are looking for a picturesque French town, go to Étretat. It is a beautiful little Norman village built in the middle of a breathtaking landscape. You will spend hours walking, surrounded by impressive rock formations, along pebble beaches and majestic cliffs.

As you walk through the city center, do not miss the half-timbered houses, the old fisherman’s huts, and other medieval buildings. Indulge yourself after a long walk with a good pancake. There are plenty of creperies in the village. But if you prefer to sit down for a good French meal, the restaurants of Étretat will serve you fresh seafood.

The Most Beautiful Towns In France

  • Honfleur

Sublime port in the north of France, Honfleur is the perfect mix between Normandy and the Netherlands. Yachts moored at the old harbor surrounded by ancient brick buildings will transport you to Amsterdam!

This beautiful french town, located on the coast, offers fresh seafood. Feast on fried mussels, and sample fresh food from the outdoor market every Saturday morning. Climb the village trail to Mont-Joli to enjoy a panoramic view of the city.

The Most Beautiful Towns In France

  • Dinan

Dinan is undoubtedly one of the Most Beautiful Towns In France. This medieval village crossed by a river is worthy of a fairy tale. Travel back in time as you stroll through the alleys or walk along the river and ramparts. You will find plenty of artisans in the village, such as sculptors, glassblowers, and engravers. Some buildings date back to the 13th century.

The Most Beautiful Towns In France

2- The Most Beautiful Towns In France Near Paris

  • Courances

If you are looking for a beautiful town near Paris, make an excursion to Courances. This town, just an hour from the capital, is a perfect escape to the frenetic pace, sometimes infernal, of the big city.

You will be dazzled by the 17th-century castle and its serene gardens by the water’s edge. Here is an ideal setting for a relaxing stroll, and a great alternative to Versailles and its crowds!

The Most Beautiful Towns In France

  • Pierrefonds

The small quiet town seems lost in the middle of nature, Pierrefonds is the perfect French country village to relax and forget the rest of the world. Discover more about the fascinating history of the imposing 12th-century castle that makes the village famous. The town is full of trails that will take you into the wilderness; a perfect setting for a serene walk in the woods.

The Most Beautiful Towns In France

3- The Most Beautiful Towns In Center of France

  • Beaune

A charming little village in the heart of Burgundy, Beaune will seduce you with its old picturesque streets and rural landscapes. Take a look at the unique architecture of the Hôtel Dieu Museum, a former hospital built in the 14th century converted into a retirement home.

It is the perfect town to establish a base in this wine region and make gourmet outings, or explore nearby towns, such as Dijon. Every year, during the third weekend of November, Beaune organizes a wine auction. This event attracts experts and amateurs from all over the country. Write this date in your calendar if you are interested!

The Most Beautiful Towns In France

  • Chatillon Sur Chalaronne

Chatillon Sur Chalaronne is one of the Most Beautiful Towns In France. No less than 50 000 plants and flowers hatch each year in the medieval streets of the town. Chatillon has even won the national title of Best Flower City several times.

Take a stroll along the cornfields, discover historical details in every corner of the town, or shop for local specialties at the open-air market held every Saturday under the Halles, a structure resembling a large portico, built in 1440

This market has been elected one of the most beautiful in France. Finally, the town is located in the Dombes, a department known for its number of Michelin-starred restaurants, and for its unique outdoor activities.

The Most Beautiful Towns In France

  • Perugia

Only half an hour from the beautiful city of Lyon, Pérouges is one of the best-preserved medieval French towns. This small town, perched on its hill, having preserved its original fortifications, overflowing with houses and paved streets, shops without contemporary windows, seems to have been forgotten by the time.

Visit the old church during your visit. It may not be as spectacular as many other European buildings, but its ancestral atmosphere will transport you to another era. Do not leave without tasting a sugar pie. This is a local specialty. Very simple, yet delicious!

The Most Beautiful Towns In France

Annecy is one of the most charming small towns in France. Rich in culture, history, and cuisine, and located in the heart of the beautiful Savoyard mountains, this alpine town is full of pastel-colored houses and winding canals.

You can spend hours wandering the winding cobbled streets of the old town and shopping for confectionery or souvenirs. You must stop in front of the Palais de l’Isle; an old prison built in the twelfth century that has been transformed into a museum of history.

And if you fancy a hearty dish, the city is full of excellent restaurants whose specialty is cheese. In summer, relax around the lake and admire the incredible view.

The Most Beautiful Towns In France

  • Megève

A popular ski resort in winter and a popular hiking spot in the summer, Megève is a French mountain village to visit if you like beautiful alpine panoramas.

Take the forest and mountain trails and take a breath of fresh air while contemplating the beautiful scenery around you. You can also rest after your hiking adventures in one of the many chalets of the village, or while shopping.

The Most Beautiful Towns In France

  • Puy en Velay

Although lost in the middle of a hilly landscape, this small isolated French village is well worth the detour. Along the way, spend a day exploring Pilat Park by car. This natural park is full of vineyards and small medieval villages hidden in forests and mountains.

At Puy en Velay, climb the endless steps of the Chapelle Saint-Michel d’Aiguilhe to enjoy a breathtaking view of the striking spectacle of the town. The Puy is certainly a small village, but there are many sites to visit around. If you have free time, the castle of Polignac is 10 minutes by car.

The Most Beautiful Towns In France

  • Cognac

A quiet little town, bordered by the Charente river, Cognac is known as a wine region and distinguished mainly for its quality Brandy, popular throughout the world. This is a perfect stop for alcohol connoisseurs in search of a relaxing stay accompanied by wine tastings and learning sessions of the famous orange liquor.

And if you want to take a break between a couple of glasses and visit the surroundings, the Château de Cognac is a fifteenth-century fortification on the banks of the Charente river that is worth a look.

The Most Beautiful Towns In France

4- The Most Beautiful Towns In South of France

  • Lourdes

Located in the foothills of the Pyrenees, Lourdes is a place of pilgrimage known throughout the world. Two centuries ago, the Virgin Mary appeared before a woman from the village in the Caves of Massabielle (also known as the Apparition Caves).

Since then, the town has become a center of attraction for people of all faiths, in search of spirituality or revelation, in the hope that a miracle will change the course of their existence.

Most nights during the pilgrimage season, visitors gather in front of the caves at 9 pm to sing the Ave Maria all in chorus. Some evenings, the village is illuminated by torchlight processions. A unique experience!

The Most Beautiful Towns In France

  • Juan Les Pins

Enjoy the nightlife, the chic atmosphere, dinners with the Mediterranean sunsets as a backdrop … Or go diving, walk along the palm trees, relax on the private beaches …

Juan Les Pins has all the perks of Cannes, just with fewer tourists. And if you want to visit Cannes at all costs, the city is only a few kilometers away, but beware of traffic jams at rush hour!

The Picasso Museum, built on the ruins of the ancient Greek city Antipolis, is an ideal detour if you want to learn more about the famous painter and visit his studio.

The Most Beautiful Towns In France

  • Grasse

As one of the world’s leading perfume producers for the fragrance industry, Grasse is the perfect stopover if you do not know where to go in the south of France. The village is surrounded by brightly colored flower fields.

Visit the workshops of the greatest perfumers in the world to learn about the creation of perfumes. If you like Rubens, go to the Cathedral of Grasse which exhibits original paintings of the painter.

The Most Beautiful Towns In France

  • Menton

Located between the Mediterranean Sea and the sinuous Italian border, Menton will captivate you with its beautiful colors of a postcard. It is, without doubt, one of the Most Beautiful Towns In France.

Decide between resting on the beach or touring the beautiful streets and small monuments of the city. Its citrus scents, the bewitching tingle of its bells, its balconies with a view of the big blue, and the specific taste of its Provençal cuisine will put all your senses in turmoil. Menton is the best that the Côte d’Azur has to offer.

The Most Beautiful Towns In France

The Most Beautiful Towns In France

I hope this little tour of France made you want to pack your bags and buy your plane ticket to France! As you will have noticed, beyond its most touristic cities, France is full of small typical towns that give this beautiful country all its richness and diversity and provide a rewarding experience for those who explore them. And do not forget to buy travel insurance before going on vacation.

Have a nice trip!

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French Regions Touring France

Top 5 Things To Do In Rhone Alpes & Best Tourist Attractions

Things To Do In Rhone Alpes & Best Tourist Attractions – Between its lakes, its mountains, its inescapable capital and much more, the Rhône-Alpes region is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in France. It will at least be up to you to get an idea during your visit. To help you, here are our Top 5 Things To Do In Rhone Alpes.

 

Here are the Top 5 Things To Do In Rhone Alpes Tourist Attractions

1- Discover Annecy and its lake

If the sun is at the rendezvous, go to Annecy. Also called the Venice of the Alps, the city of Annecy contains more than one treasure. You can walk in the heart of the city and stroll its narrow streets with unconditional charm.

Established in the 12th century, the medieval city has retained its character. Go and discover its castle, its gates, and fortifications on which it is still possible to climb to relish the panorama overlooking the lake and the mountains that surround it.

Also, go experience the lake and grassy beaches where you can sunbathe while enjoying the snow from the nearby peaks. If it is sometimes difficult to find a place on these beaches, do not hesitate to walk along the east bank to Menthon-Saint-Bernard. There, you will find other much quieter beaches and a medieval fortress perched on a rock 200 meters high.

2- The Mont Blanc

Top 5 Things To Do In Rhone AlpesPassing through the region, it is impossible for you to miss the highest peak in Europe, which today stands at 4808.75 meters above sea level.

Mont Blanc, straddling France and the Aosta Valley in Italy, is famous for mountaineering and hiking. If mountaineering is reserved for professionals, other events may be convenient for you.

You can, for example, climb to the summit of the Aiguille du Midi at an altitude of 2317m to admire the view without effort as a cable car takes you there.

The Sea of ​​Ice not far from there is also to see. You can also practice many activities in the streams descending from Mont Blanc. Canyoning, canoeing, fishing and swimming, there is something for everyone.

3- Take a tour of the villages of Beaujolais

Top 5 Things To Do In Rhone AlpesBeaujolais is often known for its famous wine in France and beyond but this region has much more to discover.

Villages like Châtillon or Pommiers will offer you magnificent visits.

Oingt, still north of Lyon, is one of the most beautiful villages in France.

The golden stones of its buildings are worth seeing, especially if you can enjoy Beaujolais wine during your walk.

 

 

4- Caves of Balme

Top 5 Things To Do In Rhone AlpesOnly 45 minutes from Lyon, the caves of Balme are among the most beautiful in the region. Even before entering the heart of these you can understand their greatness by admiring only its entry 35 meters high. A church was built against the rock wall.

Inside the caves, the exhibit will continue. They are particularly rich in history and it is told throughout your descent.

Nature will also offer you a new show. You may see for the first time in your life Gours, small natural pools stairs, sometimes very deep and filled with transparent water.

 

5- Lyon

How to make a tour in Rhône-Alpes and miss its capital, Lyon?! This is one of the things not to be missed in Rhone Alpes Tourist Attractions.

Like all big cities, the activities are numerous and depend on the length of your stay. However, some neighborhoods are worth the detour.

This is the case of downtown Lyon, its shopping avenues but also smaller alleys of Croix-Rousse. You can also climb to the top of Fourvière.

You can also take a walk to the Parc de la Tête D’or. There, you can discover the sports park of Lyon, a zoo to conserve biodiversity. Access is free and accessible to all.

Finally, the eco-district of Confluence is a new district of Lyon in which you will find a shopping center and the museum of Confluences. Idées Séjours Rhône-Alpes

 

Here are the 5 things to do in Rhône-Alpes. There are many more to discover. Feel free to share your personal experiences in comments of this article.

Categories
History Of France

Edmund Burke Reflections On The Revolution In France Summary

Edmund Burke Reflections On The Revolution In France Summary – Published on November 1, 1790, this Irish-British politician and philosophy manifesto against the Radicality of the French Revolution sparked a debate that lasted more than two centuries. The work has had considerable influence, particularly in conservative and liberal societies.

Edmund Burke Reflections On The Revolution In France Summary

Edmund Burke Reflections On The Revolution In France Summary

 “Reflections on the French Revolution” by Edmund Burke

THE THESIS

Written to answer François Depont, a young French patriot who had asked his opinion on the events in his country, the Reflections on the Revolution of France (1790) were in fact addressed to British readers: two years after the centenary of the Glorious Revolution of 1688, Burke feels that it is urgent to discredit the English radicals, who, from the summer of 1789, saw in the French Revolution the opportunity to finish the work left unfinished a hundred years earlier. Understanding the dangers of possible transmittal across the English Channel, Burke writes a manifesto without detours, aiming to isolate the French Revolution as a monstrosity of human history.

Thinking that it is possible to change nature with the ideas of philosophy, the French, he says, destroyed the traditions that men have on the contrary the duty to preserve. Convinced that it is possible to reduce the diversity and uniqueness of human societies to uniform “human rights”, these French people put down the ancestral balances, based on the guarantee of property, religious traditions, and affinities.

According to Burke, believing in liberation, the French actually unleashed the most uncontrollable violence. Burke then raises the threat of a new Cromwell: sooner or later, these troubles will make him want a return to order and bring another tyrant into power, threatening the peace of Europe.

Edmund Burke Reflections On The Revolution In France Summary

WHAT IT REMAINS

Success is immediate because it responds to the anxieties caused by the French Revolution: Reflections are translated into French and German; 30,000 copies are sold by Burke.

If this intellectual charge is passionate, it seems to justify those who, in Europe and America, criticized the devastating effects of the Enlightenment and especially radical thought.

His success is also due to the fact that the attack does not come from the camp, often French, of the defenders of absolute power, but of that of the conservative Liberals: if Burke is quickly designated as the ideologue of the entire Counter-Revolution, in fact, those who, such as Joseph de Maistre or Louis de Bonald, espouse much tougher theocratic or organicist conceptions, will be inspired by very little.

Finally, the shock wave is also due to the “revolutionary controversy” that then divides Europe and provides a favorable ground for the book’s acceptance: from 1790 to 1795, patriots like Thomas Paine or Mary Wollstonecraft publicly defend radicalism of the French Revolution.

Since the end of the twentieth century, at the cost of distorting his thinking, Burke’s work has inspired new American and British conservatives in their moral justification for political and social inequalities, as well as in their opposition to universalism of rights of humanity.

MORE ABOUT EDMUND BURKE

Irishman Edmund Burke (1729-1797) has been sitting among the Liberal Whigs since 1766 in the House of Commons of the British Parliament when the Revolution broke out in France.

Opposing absolutism, convinced of the virtues of bicameralism stemming from the Glorious Revolution of 1688, an advocate of the political, religious and commercial freedom of the Irish colony, it is in the name of liberalism that it faces the more conservative Tories. , led by William Pitt. But it is also as a liberal that he reproves the principles advocated by the American insurgents, based on the ideals of republic and sovereignty of the people, and that he fights against the theses of the French Revolution, which he considers to be too democratic and universalist.

It is still in the name of this refusal that he supported, in the 1790s, the severe crackdown on British radicals.