Parisian Monuments
Eiffel Tower designed by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World Fair, at 300m it was then the world’s tallest building but even today it is the most recognized and most visited of France’s monuments. Built using 12,000 steel girders held together by 2,500,000 rivets Eiffel Tower has three floors at 57 m, 115 m and 276 m and the top of the aerial is 320 m. above the ground. The whole of Paris can be viewed from the platform at the top.
Champs-Elysees is the triumphal way which leads to the Arc de Triomphe a monument for the glorification of Napoleons Grande Armée, a triumphal arch in classical style finished for the inauguration in 1836 but completed only in 1854. The Arc de Triomphe and its massive pillars are decorated with bas reliefs depicting scenes from the revolutionary era.
Notre Dame Cathedral a Gallo-Roman temple to Jupiter, a Christian basilica, and a Romanesque church, construction of Notre-Dame de Paris began in 1163 during the reign of Louis VII and was completed roughly 200 years later in about 1345.
Chateau de Versailles half hour by train from Paris is the largest palace in Europe housing at one time 20000 nobles. It was the center of the French monarchy until the 1789 revolution which overthrew King Louis the 16th. A small part of the palace can be visited: the State Apartments of the King and Queen, and the Hall of Mirrors. A must see is the “Grandes Eaux Musicales”, a fountain and music show in the marvelous setting of the park.
Les Invalides is a hospital built by King Louis XIV for his invalid soldiers the construction of which started in 1671 and was finished in 1676. Beneath the dome lie two churches: one for the soldiers, and the other intended as a vault for the king but now containing the mortal remains of Napoleon.
Car hire in Paris is available from Europcar, Avis, Sixt, and Hertz.