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France, the fashion cathedral of the world, is best known for its exquisiteness and beauty, but more than anything, it is known for its city of love, Paris! Paris is one of the biggest tourist destinations globally and can easily seduce the most boring of souls with its charm and aura. Maybe it has something magical in its air which makes you fall for this city, that you never want to leave. Ever wonder why it is called the city of love? Because the deep culture and history of this city are rooted in art and romanticism, which makes its locals not only endearing but also welcoming.
But that’s not about it; Paris itself is an empire of talent, an epitome of magnificence. The city has the best architecture and museums in the world and much more than warmth and affection to offer. The local destinations within Paris are enough to make you go bonkers. If you’re lucky enough to visit the city of Parisians anytime sooner or later, do visit these five spots that make Paris’ the city of lights.
1. Eiffel Tower:
The most trafficked tourist destination in the world is located at Champ de Mars, in Paris. Eiffel Tower, or as the natives say ‘La Tour Eiffel’, is the heart of Paris. The magnificent tower’s height measures 300 m (324m to tip). Many people confuse it as one of the world wonders when it is not. Not because it’s less beautiful, but because a world wonder has to belong to the b.c. period when the Eiffel tower was built in 1889. The tower was designed and created by civil engineer Gustave Eiffel, who completed the task in a short period of 2 years, 2 months and 5 days.
Since its inauguration, the tower has seen more than 300 million people, including locals and tourists. A fun fact about the Eiffel tower is that it was planned to be demolished after the World’s Fair of that decade since it was created to show off France’s power to the world. However, the firm cleverly planted antennas and made use of it, which made demolishment a foolish act on the part of the government. Natives have stories related to the tower; some say it helped the Parisians win over Germans in the first world war with its radio antennas.
2. Notre Dame Cathedral:
Who remembers ‘the Hunchback of Notre Dame’? Well, here is your hunchback’s Notre Dame Cathedral as another tourist attraction in Paris. The Notre Dame Cathedral is the world’s largest catholic church and has been rebuilt several times due to many catastrophes. The cathedral was initiated in 1160 by Parisian bishop Maurice de Sully. Then it was renovated and expanded by Pope Alexander III in 1163 and was rebuilt in the 19th century. The last time Notre Dame was rescued and rebuilt was in 2019, when it caught fire by accident. The cathedral has suffered a lot but remains strong as ever, and that is why it is very dear to the Parisians. They call it Notre Dame since it means ‘Our Lady of Paris’.
But what makes Notre Dame the most popular cathedral in the world? Let’s start with its architecture. Gothic architecture was a unique kind in the middle ages since the world had not seen such a piece of art. Plus, the roof is designed and constructed of pure timber wood. Now, how much wood would a 127 x 48m roof need? Well, this one needed more than 1300 trees of wood to create its “Forest” roof. And lastly, Notre Dame has religious ruins from the Christ era, which truly makes it the most important cathedral in the world.
3. Louvre Museum:
Third, up on our list is the world-famous Louvre Museum. The French word louvre means love, but it doesn’t mean that this Museum showcases romantic ancient couples or monarchs. It is named so to express the love of art. The Louvre Museum is a museum of art and is home to many ancient Greek and Roman sculptures, Egyptian antiques, decorative arts, Islamic arts, and Etruscan antiques. It even owns crown jewels and French artefacts from the monarch era. But one piece of art that outshines all others at the Louvre Museum is the painting of ‘Mona Lisa’ by Leonardo Da Vinci.
The majestic collection of antiques and art is not the only thing that pulls tourists towards the Museum; the architecture also grabs tourist attractions. The Louvre Museum was not always this beautiful; it gained its recognition after its renovation in the year 1989. The architecture of this museum is itself a work of art, and without a doubt, I.M.Pei was a master artist. The Museum was designed to have an underground system of galleries, storage and connection passages between the different wings of the Museum. It was a one a kind depiction of classic French architecture with a touch of modern designs of its time.
4. Champs Elysees:
What could be better than a casual shopping session with your love at Champs Elysees? Presenting you with the next most famous tourist spot in Paris, Champs Elysees (pronounced Shonz-eh-lee-Zeh). The Champs Elysees Avenue is the most famous one globally and it’s 1.2 km long while 70m wide. The avenue has top-notch shopping brands, boutiques, cafes, restaurants, and offices located at its sides with a beautiful artistic floor to stroll on. Champs Elysees got its name from the Greek mythology’ Elysian fields’, which means the resting place of the Greek Gods and dead heroines; in short, it translates into paradise.
Champs Elysees is a pathway between Arc de Triomphe and Place de la Concorde. The Place de la Concorde sector of Champs Elysees consists of grand architectural sites such as the Petite Palais and Grand Palais. In contrast, the Arc de Triomphe sector consists of international brands, boutiques, restaurants and cinemas. Plus, you can find the most extravagant Parisian and international 5-star hotels on this avenue, but beware since they charge a fortune for just a night. An interesting fact about Champs Elysees is that on the first Sunday of every month, cars are banned from the avenue so that locals and tourists can enjoy themselves freely on the roads.
5. Cruise on the Seine:
Last but the most serene, we have the Cruise on the Seine. La Seine is the third-longest river in France, and it extends 485 miles from Dijon to the English Channel. River Seine holds impeccable value to the French government not just because of its tourism revenue but also because it provides half of the water supply in Paris. A cruise trip on the Seine will give a tour of most of Paris’ prominent tourist destinations like the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Louvre museum, Claude Monet’s garden, and the famous landing beaches of Normandy. The cruise trip is 1.5 hours and is enough to satisfy you; however, there is a 2.5 hour round trip too for people who want to explore more of Paris by Cruise.
The Seine Cruise offers boat, boat and bus, cruise champagne, cruise lunch, cruise brunch and cruise dinner packages. And since Paris is always up for romanticism, you can even book a romantic dinner and date cruise for your special event. If you’re a person who hates to walk and loves to sit and relax, sightseeing through the Seine Cruise is an ideal option for you.
Conclusion:
When people associate themselves with a certain city, they secretly want to be a part of it. Just imagine the amazing life of the local Parisians who get to experience the city’s charm every day. Boy, would I give anything to be a native Parisian, just because of the ambience of the streets and not to forget the food. But if you look at the positives, you get to relive the moment every time you visit Paris as a tourist. Undoubtedly, the city of love is a living work of art and cannot be replaced.
