Paris, France is known as the city of lights. The largest city and capital of France with a population of more than 2.2 million, Paris is a great European city with a lot of culture and history to see and experience. Paris is also a favorite destination for tourists. The city attracts nearly 85 million visitors each year from all over the world, according to the city’s tourism bureau. Whether you are a first time visitor or returning for a romantic getaway, there is plenty for you to see and do in the city. The top five Paris tourist attractions that you should experience in Paris, France are the famous Eiffel Tower, the iconic Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre Museum, the cathedral at Notre Dame and the Palace at Versailles. Below are the most commonly asked questions about the top tourist destinations in Paris, France, to help you plan your perfect getaway!
The Eiffel Tower, a wrought iron tower designed by its namesake Gustave Eiffel, was opened in 1889 as part of the Paris World Fair. The tower serves as one of the most iconic Paris tourist attractions. The tower has served as a tourist site and, during World War I, had radio transmitters installed for the purpose of jamming the radio signals of German aircraft.
The Eiffel Tower stands 324 meters above the ground, the equivalent of an 80 story building. Up until the 1930s, the Eiffel Tower was the tallest freestanding structure in the world and is the first to stand at over 300 meters. At the top of the tower, visitors can take a dramatic 360 degree view of the city of Paris and surrounding countryside.
The Arc de Triomphe was built in 1806 and stands near the Palace Charles de Gaulle (also known as the Place de l'Étoile). The exact location of the Arc is at the western end of the world famous Champs-Élysées. The Arc is nearly 50 meters (162 feet) high, 45 meters (150 feet) wide and 22 meters (72 feet) in depth. It was built as a memorial honoring French soldiers who fought in the Napoleonic Wars and houses the country’s tomb of the unknown soldier.
The Louvre Museum is one of the world’s famous art galleries and exhibition spaces and often a tour Paris deals option. The Museum is located on the right bank of the river Seine and is the largest museum of its type in the world. It was first opened to the public in 1793.
Visitors to the Louvre have the opportunity to see many of the famous works of art known the world over. In the museum’s over 780,000 square feet of exhibition space, visitors find the works of da Vinci, Raphael, Michaelangel, along with other more modern artists. The most famous work at the museum is da Vinici’s Mona Lisa.
Notre Dame Cathedral, which is located on the Seine, in the fourth arrondissement is one of the top Paris tourist attractions. The cathedral is the oldest example of French gothic cathedrals in the world and was constructed between 1163 and 1345 A.D. This makes the cathedral around 670 to 850 years old.
The cathedral is famous for its architectural style, as one of the last surviving French gothic cathedrals in the world. It bears marks of the damage that almost destroyed the building during the French Revolution in the 1790s. The cathedral also sustained slight damage during the Nazi occupation of the city in World War II.
The Palace at Versailles was built in the 1600s as a chateau and hunting lodge for King Louis XIII and subsequently expanded into the present day palace. The Palace is located in the suburban village of Versailles, just outside of Paris.
The Palace at Versailles was a staging place for many of the events leading up to the French Revolution as well as serving as a residence for members of Emperor Napoleon’s court, including Napoleon’s wife Marie-Louise. The chateau and palace was turned into apartments in order to accommodate visitors.