Highlights of Paris for First-Time Visitors

Paris undoubtedly succeeded in portraying the city as a romantic destination that even those from remote corners of the world could capture Paris vividly in their imagination. Who else could have not known Paris as the “city of love”? Its reputation has never disappeared nor withered. In fact, a tiny piece of Paris is found scattered all around the globe through the replicas of the iconic Eiffel Tower. Paris won the hearts not only of those hopelessly romantic but also those who are passionate about arts and not to mention, French cuisine.

It is difficult to resist Paris and your European trip is incomplete without including it in your itinerary especially when it is your first time to visit Europe. It is worthy of your time to discover one of the romantic cities in the world and understand why it dubbed as the city of love. The setting triggers a romantic emotion which is why lovers choose Paris for marriage proposals, weddings, and honeymoons, and perhaps for singles, a place to fall in love.

In every corner of Paris, there is something beautiful that your camera must capture. Romance is perhaps embedded in its opulent architectures, historic structures, grand monuments, and manicured gardens. The River Seine that flows through the center of Paris mirrors the city’s rich history and an exquisite culture of art.

Paris is also nicknamed as the “city of light.” Yet, it is not only because of how the city reveals itself at night with its lamp-lit bridges and Eiffel Tower’s spectacular light display. The title has a deep origin. It is named as such since Paris became the core of intellectual ideas and the center of education during Europe’s period of “Enlightenment.”

One day or even a week is not enough to discover the “City of Lights” in depth. But here are the highlights and the famous landmarks you must not fail to see when visiting Paris:

Ile de la Cite

It is a perfect idea to start your day in Paris learning about its origins at Ile de la Cite. This natural boat-shaped island lies at the heart of the city in the middle of the River Seine where early inhabitants of Paris settled and where civilization began. It is the historic center of the city linked to both banks of the Seine River by eight bridges. Notre Dame Cathedral is the main attraction of the island. This magnificent Church dedicated to Virgin Mary is famous for its French Gothic Architecture and for the sweeping views it provides after climbing one of its bell towers.

Located on the island is another landmark with a beautiful exterior, the Palais de Justice. Within the compounds of this Palace is a medieval church called Saint Chapelle which is popular for its impressive stained glass panes.

Louvre Museum

Louvre was once a fortress and a royal palace at another time then later on opened as a museum which now houses an extensive collection of finest artworks. It is now one of the world’s biggest art galleries that exhibit a huge number of paintings, sculptures, and artifacts from pre-historic period to the 21st century. Leonardo da Vinci’s famous Mona Lisa painting is one of the masterpieces displayed in this museum that visitors aspire to see. Another center of attention in Louvre is the ancient Greek sculpture of Venus de Milo that depicts the Greek goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite. Visitors could get access to the museum through the iconic glass Pyramid which is a most photographed Parisian landmark.

Place de la Concorde

This monumental square is the largest in Paris which is a great starting point for first-time visitors, aside from Ile de la Cite. Within this octagonal Place de la Concorde, you could have an overview of the famous Parisian landmarks and appreciate each one of them at different angles. You could catch sight of the magnificent panorama consists of: the Louvre and the Tuileries Gardens (east), the Seine River, Pont de la Concorde, and Assemblee Nationale (south), the Madeleine Church (north), Champs-Elysees and Arc de Triomphe (west), and of course the Eiffel Tower.

Yet, what makes Place de la Concorde special is not only of what you can see beyond its borders but also what it has within its premises. The plaza itself is a main attraction. The octagonal square is bordered by eight stone monuments representing the French provincial capitals. The centerpiece of the square is an Egyptian obelisk inscribed with hieroglyphic symbols and capped with a gold-leafed pyramid. At opposite ends are two famous fountains namely, Fontaine des Mers and Fontaine des Fleuves, designed with different allegorical figures.

Champs-Elysees

This 1.9-kilometer stretch is the world’s most popular avenue recognized for its elegance and glamour. Strolling along this tree-lined avenue is the best way to experience a genuine Parisian atmosphere. Its charm is about its symmetrical garden, wide streets and sidewalks, grand monuments on both ends, the impressive buildings of Grand Palais and Petit Palais, glittering lights at night, and not to forget the luxurious shops and restaurants. Shopaholic tourists will certainly get high once they make it to this avenue. The biggest brands in the market are all here. This famed avenue is dotted with high-end shops, fancy restaurants, first-class hotels, and nightclubs.

Champs-Elysees extends between Place de la Concorde and Place Charles de Gaulle. It links two significant and imposing monuments, the Luxor Obelisk at Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe in the middle of Place Charles de Gaulle. Arc de Triomphe was built to commemorate the victory of the French army. This triumphal arch is designed with sculptures and inscriptions of the names of generals and battles fought. Underneath the towering arch is the tomb of Unknown Soldiers for whom the flame of remembrance is lit every evening. At the top of the monument is an observation deck where you could climb to see a marvelous panoramic view of the Avenue des Champs-Elysees.

Eiffel Tower

This symbolic edifice is impossible to miss on your Paris vacation. Though anyone could be fascinated by its splendor at a distance as it dominates the skyline of the French capital, you could not resist meeting Madam Eiffel up-close. This iron lattice tower was constructed as a monument for the World’s Expo inlined with the centennial celebration of the French Revolution. Later on, it was used in transmitting communication signals and eventually became an emblem of Paris and one of the most recognizable monuments in the world. You can climb the tower to the second level by stairs or take a lift to the summit and fall in love with the mesmerizing view of the city. This iconic structure will surely impress anybody especially when you watch it glitter at night from the garden of Champ de Mars or from the rooftop of Montparnasse tower.

Seine River Cruise

Seine River runs through the heart of Paris and divides the city into two, the “Left bank” and “Right Bank”. Though strolling along the Banks of Seine offers a relaxing view, cruising along the River is the perfect way to have a glimpse of the French capital. Joining a Seine River Cruise would let you appreciate the cityscape from another perspective. You just need to sit back and relax while the boat will take you to the famous monuments of Paris and let you marvel the lovely bridges spanning the River.

As you glide along the Seine, admire the mesmerizing views of Notre Dame Cathedral and Conciergerie at Ile de la Cite, the popular museums of Paris such as the Louvre and Musee D’Orsay at opposite banks of the Seine, the beautiful façade of Assemblee Nationale and the gold-domed building of Les Invalides, the Place de la Concorde, the glass-roofed building of Grand Palais, and the eye-catching tower of Eiffel. This cruise experience will also let you know more about the historical sights and understand better the city’s geography, as you listen to the commentary.

Montmartre

The most recognizable edifice of Montmartre is the huge white Basilica of Sacre-Couer situated at the summit of the hill giving a commanding view of the city of Paris like no other. It is the highest point of the French capital. Within the district of Montmartre is another church, one of the oldest in Paris, the Church of St. Pierre. But aside from these two spiritual places, Montmartre is famous to tourists for its Bohemian atmosphere. At Musee du Montmartre, an extensive collection of art of the famous Bohemian artists who chose to settle and live in the district during the Belle Epoque is displayed. The museum will take you back to Montmartre’s artistic history through the works of Renoir, Modigliani, and Vuillard, to name a few.

There are many other places within this hill district which would let you delve into the Bohemian past of Montmartre. The list includes the spacious square of Carre Roland Dorgeles and the building called Bateau- Lavoir. While wandering through the cobbled streets of this district, the cozy French cafes just around the corner are worth a try. You would also be intrigued with the vibrant square of Place du Tertre that is filled with stalls. In this area, many artists showcase their talents in painting and sketching where it becomes an open-air art gallery open for tourists to buy as souvenirs. At the foot of Montmartre district, you would find the popular cabaret, the Moulin Rouge. It is the birthplace of “can-can”, the formerly seductive dance that eventually became a musical dance entertainment.

Palace of Versailles

Explore the city’s neighborhood and head to Versailles, roughly 22 kilometers outside Paris. Once you see the opulence and extravagance of the Palace of Versailles, no visitor would think that this was initially a hunting lodge. It was only during the time of Louis XIV that the area was transformed and expanded to become the royal residence and the center of political power until the French Revolution. The former hunting pavilion turned into a massive complex with elaborately embellished palace surrounded by perfectly manicured gardens. Succeeding Kings of the monarchy made their own renovations and improvements making it more plush and marvelous, thus today it is recognized as one of the greatest achievements in the history of European Art.

The Palace of Versailles complex is vast as you could imagine. The Palace itself has 700 rooms ornately decorated where the most captivating of all is the Hall of Mirrors. It covers over 70 meters in length and is undoubtedly impressive with its painted ceilings, glass chandeliers, and wide arcaded mirrors opposite the gold-framed windows. As you move from one room to the other you would be fascinated with the walls, carvings, pieces of furniture, artworks, and the tiny details in it. The Gardens of Versailles is also extensive and exquisitely landscaped. It is decked with fountains, sculptures, topiaries, flowers, and trees. The main feature of the garden is the Grand Canal which was once a place to hold royal parties in yachts and gondolas and now you could enjoy rowing small boats in this long waterway.

The entire complex is a feast for the eyes and will definitely leave you in awe.