Welcome to DesBNet - Paris

No. of Visits 12 - Last Visited 2003

General

Rich in architectural beauty, Paris has a vast array on offer for the visitors to this fair city. Steeped in History, and offering splendid elegance, a trip to Paris is a joy to behold. Sophisticated shopping, exquisite cuisine and glorious sights are the hallmark of the French Capital City.

Geography

The City is centered on the winding River Seine, and is composed of 20 districts (Arrondissements) surrounded by a Ring Road (Le Peripherique). The (no less important) suburbs expand far beyond into the rural countryside.

Climate

Situated in Northern France, the Parisian climate is a real mixed bag, however, extremes are a rarity.

History

From Roman origins, the City has a fascinating past. Renaissance, Revolution, & Romanticism, Paris has witnessed all of these factors. The Military presence of Napoleon Bonaparte and the 2^nd World War German Occupation have also left their mark on Paris. Many of these periods are reflected in the names of Monuments, Streets & Metro stations.

Language & Culture

Not surprisingly, French is the language spoken here, however, many citizens have a good understanding of other languages, so if you do not speak French, don't worry too much. Parisian Culture is imitated throughout the world, however, never replicated!

Accommodation

As you would expect from one of Europe's "Major Players", the range of accommodation on offer is vast. From "Flea-pit" bed-sits, to 5-Star opulence, the choice is yours. Many International Hotel chains have properties in Paris, and it is probably worthwhile selecting one of these as your base. Obviously, the closer to the centre of the city you are, the more expensive the Hotels become. 3-Star Hotels are a safe bet for a comfortable stay, though some 2-Star are perfectly OK as well. If your budget can stretch to a 4-Star Hotel, there are a number offering wonderful "Art Deco" & Renaissance architecture near to the Grand Stations of Paris.

Sight Seeing

Paris is home to some of the most charismatic Churches & Monuments only surpassed by the folklore surrounding them! Below is a small sample of what is on offer!

The Eiffel Tower

Obvious really, but get there early to avoid queuing if you want to go up. It is a lovely walk through the Parc du Champ de Mars to the Military Academy.

Bateau Mouches

You can get a Boat Trip along the Seine from the foot of the Eiffel Tower, It really is worth it, and you get a good view of some other places you may wish to go to later.

Hotel des Invalides

This is the Building with the Gold Dome. You can visit Napoleon's Tomb, and there is also a Military museum. You MUST go there, it is one of the most beautiful places I have been to - the interior is fantastic.

Musee Rodin

Just across the road from the Hotel des Invalides - Some of the more famous sculptures in the gardens. From here, there is a pleasant walk down through the back streets to Boulevard St. Germain.

Notre Dame

An imposing Cathedral situated on an island. Made famous by the pen of Victor Hugo. Not to be missed!

Jardin de Luxembourg

Lovely Gardens behind Blvd. St. Germain. A great place for having your Lunch (which can be bought not far away at the street market of Rue du Seine).

Musee D'Orsay

No where near as busy as The Louvre, and also holds some of the most famous Impressionist art in the world (Monet, Renoir, Manet, Degas, Van Gogh, Gauguin). Situated on the Left Bank of the Seine in a converted Railway Terminus!

The Louvre

The Louvre - extremely busy most of the time, however, if you are prepared to queue to get in, you can find some of the worlds greatest art here.

The Champs Elysees

From The Louvre you can walk through the Jardin des Tuileries, continue across La Place de la Concorde, and you will find the tree-lined Champs Elysees. Shops & Cafes predominate here, but beware of the prices charged!

Arc de Triomphe

At the far end of the Champs Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe is home to the Eternal Flame. The Arc de Triomphe takes on a romantic air when lit up at night.

The Pompidou Centre

Housing a modern art collection, this building is probably more famous for the uproar created when it was first built. Having recently undergone extensive renovation, the Pompidou Centre has now re-opened to the public.

Sacre Couer (Montmatre)

A gleaming basilica on top of a hill, this is one of Paris's great landmarks. Behind the cathedral is a wonderful area full of Cafes, Bars, & Art Galleries.

L'Opera Garnier

L'Opera is another example of the beauty that Paris has on offer. From here it is a short walk to the major department stores on Boulevard Haussman

Beaches

Don't be silly! Though a stroll along the banks of the River Seine can be a relaxing experience.

Local Transport

Your best bet is to walk around - you see a lot more, and it is FREE. You can buy a CARNET of 10 metro tickets for about £5, which can also be used on the Busses. (The Metro is Very Good) Don't Bother with the Paris Visite schemes that you can buy at the Airports, they are not really worth it if you are going to do much walking!

Night Life

The extravagant Floorshows at Le Moulin Rouge & The Lido automatically spring to mind, but these can be very expensive. Bars, Restaurants and Nightclubs abound.

Restaurants

Café's

Pavement Café's are very expensive. If you do fancy it though, remember, the café's have a pricing structure which is (basically) 'the nearer the street, the more expensive' i.e. a coffee at the bar will be half the price than at a table outside!

Bars

You are much better off buying Beer & Wine in the Supermarkets, and taking it back to your Hotel. (Take a CORKSCREW & Bottle Opener with you). Champagne is also V. cheap in the supermarkets - go on, treat yourself!

Restaurants

You can get a good meal in some of the bars, however, if you want something a bit better, try one of the many restaurants. A lot of them have a fixed price menu. (Menu Prix Fixe) B.C. = Boisson Compris - Includes Drinks within price. (Normally a bottle of wine between 2) B.N.C. = Boisson Non Compris - Drinks cost Extra. There are loads of Belgian style Moules & Frites restaurants around. Lots of Creperies around Monparnasse (try the area around Rue du Monparnasse)

Fast Food

A plethora of Macdonald's, Burger King etc. Try the QUICK chain, the are just as good, but cheaper than the aforementioned.

Shopping

Department Stores

Worth a visit are Galaries Lafayette & Printemps (both on Boulevard Haussman, near the Opera) Forum Les Halles is a large sub-terranian complex, and there is also Samaritane nearby.

Designer Shops

As you would expect, most of the major designers have retail outlets in Paris. They can be found in many places, but Rue Faubourg St. Honaire (runs parallel with Rue de Rivoli), and the area around St Sulpice have a large number. (Hermes, Louis Feraud, YSL, etc).

Markets

The Parisian Markets offer a feast for the eyes as well as for the stomach! The superbly displayed rural produce is excellent quality, and is also affordable. Blvd. Edgar Quinet (Near Monparnasse) is excellent for food. Rue du Seine (Left Bank) is handy for buying lunch. (Filled Baguette & a Beer). The Flea Market at Caulincourt is reputed to be the largest in Europe.

Car Hire

Driving in Paris can be an eventful experience! It is probably best not to bother, as most attractions can be visited on foot.

Getting There

Paris has 2 main International airports, Roissy (Charles de Gaulle), and Orly. There are good Train & Bus links from both of these airports to the City Centre Paris has excellent Rail links from within Europe, and can also be reached by road (via the Channel Tunnel).