famous places of paris

Paris aerial Photos

2007-08-08T07:58:00.000-07:00

Paris: An aerial view of Paris from the Eiffel Tower, showing a football stadium and modern high-rise buildings.

Famous Places as seen by Great Painters

2007-08-08T07:57:00.000-07:00

Paris is a city where nature has never worn out her welcome, but continues to thrive even in the ultra-modern quarters. The Seine with its shady banks and sunny quays provides a perfect haven of flowers and greenery, while the whole city is dotted with parks and gardens. The Impressionists and after them the Fauves roamed Paris with eager, understanding eyes, recording the tremor of the trees along the avenues, the shimmering surface of the river, old walls glowing in the sun, chimney smoke gathering into wisps of cloud above the rooftops. On monuments mellowed by time the faintest shades of color flicker as if seen across a tenuous veil.

This unique light of Paris, made of sunshine and mist, gives every element its rightful place and tone in the panorama. Even the Eiffel Tower, modern times' great contribution to the silhouette of Paris, blends with the monuments of the past, a soaring, bodiless piece of architecture giving the full measure of the sky above the city. The best painters of the present day no longer linger over anecdote and detail; their broad synthetic vision embraces the seen and unseen treasures of a city as rich in past glories as it is rich in promise for the future.

The earliest paintings in which we can identify actual views of Paris date from the transitional period from Romanesque to Gothic, when outline drawing was coming back into favor at the expense of the monumental style. Definitely on the way out were the lavish gold backgrounds we find, for example, in the Psalter of St Louis, in which the scenes take place beneath the pinnacles, rose-windows and pointed arches of the SainteChapelle. Manuscript painting moved on from blue-and-red to shadings of color, to lively, freehand drawing, to the checkered backgrounds typical of the Parisian ateliers.

Mathematicians commemorated on the Eiffel Tower

2006-04-06T15:36:00.000-07:00

When Gustave Eiffel built his famous Parisian tower, he included the names of 72 prominent French scientists on plaques around the first stage. Those who are in our archive are listed below.

Click on the name below to go to the biography.

Ampère
Arago
Borda
Carnot
Cauchy
Chasles
Clapeyron
Coriolis
Coulomb
De Prony

Delambre
Delaunay
Foucault
Fourier
Fresnel
Lagrange
Lalande
Lamé
Laplace
Le Verrier

Legendre
Malus
Monge
Morin
Navier
Poinsot
Poisson
Sturm

Other Web site:

The full list of the 72 commemorated is part of the Eiffel Tower web site.

restautrant of eiffel tower

2006-04-06T15:34:00.000-07:00

Just above the Strip on the 11th floor of the Paris Las Vegas' Eiffel Tower replica, Chef J. Joho's Eiffel Tower Restaurant offers the city's premier French cuisine, breathtaking views of the Las Vegas strip and is regarded as the crown jewel in Paris Las Vegas' collection of restaurants.

Guests are whisked to the restaurant in a glass elevator that opens to the electric activity of one of the city’s top kitchens before being escorted to the dining room, where panoramic views and exquisite cuisine take center stage. The glittering lights of the Las Vegas Strip appear even more dramatic in the dining room’s intimate lighting, and guests are treated to spectacular views of the glorious Bellagio water fountain show. Metal framework from the Eiffel Tower dramatically breaks through the restaurant walls and creates a modernized art deco style. “No matter what you call it, it’s smashing,” says Muriel Stevens of the Las Vegas Sun. Tours of Eiffel Tower Restaurant are available throughout the day.

Chef/proprietor J. Joho has artfully updated a classic French menu. Highlights include a grand seafood platter with lobster, shrimp, oysters, crab and clams, tournedos Rossini with foie gras and truffle sauce, roasted rack of lamb, and a decadent selection of soufflés.

The Eiffel Tower history

2006-04-06T15:31:00.000-07:00

HISTORY
The Eiffel Tower was built for the International Exhibition of Paris of 1889 commemorating the centenary of the French Revolution. The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII of England, opened the tower. Of the 700 proposals submitted in a design competition, Gustave Eiffel's was unanimously chosen.

However it was not accepted by all at first, and a petition of 300 names - including those of Maupassant, Emile Zola, Charles Garnier (architect of the Opéra Garnier), and Dumas the Younger - protested its construction.

DESCRIPTION
At 300 metres (320.75m including antenna), and 7000 tons, it was the world's tallest building until 1930. Other statistics include: 2.5 million rivets. 300 steel workers, and 2 years (1887-1889) to construct it. Sway of at most 12 cm in high winds. Height varies up to 15 cm depending on temperature. 15,000 iron pieces (excluding rivets). 40 tons of paint. 1652 steps to the top.

It was almost torn down in 1909, but was saved because of its antenna - used for telegraphy at that time. Beginning in 1910 it became part of the International Time Service. French radio (since 1918), and French television (since 1957) have also made use of its stature.

During its lifetime, the Eiffel Tower has also witnessed a few strange scenes, including being scaled by a mountaineer in 1954, and parachuted off of in 1984 by two Englishmen. In 1923 a journalist rode a bicycle down from the first level. Some accounts say he rode down the stairs, other accounts suggest the exterior of one of the tower's four legs which slope outward.

The tower has three platforms. A restaurant (extremely expensive; reservations absolutely necessary), the Jules Verne is on the second platform. The top platform has a bar, souvenir shop, and the (recently restored) office of Gustave Eiffel.

Paris: Romance Capital of the World

2006-03-05T13:31:00.000-08:00

Divided into a right and left bank by the River Seine, Paris is a regal city that exudes savoir faire. It is a city replete with bridges, sidewalk cafés, and endless promenades that never fail to reveal some hidden treasure. The famous Parisian flair for the beautiful and dramatic is on display throughout, from the broadest café-lined boulevard to the narrowest cobbled side street. Entire days can be—and often are—spent in the pursuit of whatever new marvel may lie just around the corner.

Everything about the City of Light—its grand monuments, its cathedrals, its haute couture, art, and cuisine—acts as a kind of elixir to the soul. It is truly the capital of the romantic world, and nothing else compares. Go to Paris with nothing but $100 in your wallet and you’ll still feel like the richest couple in the world.

Winter, spring, summer or, fall, Paris is an ideal place to stroll. One can easily traverse the entire Rive Droit or Rive Gauche by foot in the span of a single day. Climb (or ride) to the uppermost platform of the Eiffel Tower, and you’ll get a eye-catching visual map of where you’re going next: hit such major monuments as the triumphant fountain of the Trocadero, the Ecole Militaire, the gardens of the adjoining Champs de Mars, and the impressive Les Invalides. Meanwhile, hop the Metro and walk the hilly streets of Montmartre and take in the sublime vistas of Sacre Couer and its citywide panorama. Then, of course, there’s the Arc de Triomphe, window-shopping on the Champs-Elysées, and the posh Place de la Concorde, as well as a visit to Paris’s formidable Opera and the cutting-edge shops that dot the arrondissement.

Every trip to Paris must begin with a room. The city is famous for its opulently decorated hotels and you can find luxury in many of Paris’ three-star hotels just as surely as you will in stately five-star landmarks.

The universally beloved Four Seasons Hotel George V (31, avenue George V) is one such landmark. Located in the 8th arrondissement (or neighborhood), halfway between the Seine and the glittering Champs-Elysées, the Four Seasons distinguishes itself on the basis of its sophisticated amenities and flawless service.

Those on the prowl for a more affordable yet satisfying option should unpack their bags at Victoria Palace (between Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Montparnasse). This hotel boasts a centrally located yet quiet location on Paris’ left bank, rooms that border on the sprawling, and a staff discreetly at your service.

The Parisian art scene is impossible to resist, so head to the Louvre (+01.40.20.53.17, www.louvre.fr), the world’s largest museum and home to the famous Mona Lisa. For a taste of expressionism, impressionism, and Modern Art, visit the renowned collection at the gracious Musée D’Orsay (+01.40.49.48.14, www.musee-orsay.fr). And no tour of Paris would be complete without a stop at the Musée Rodin (77 Rue de Varenne, +01.44.18.61.10, www.musee-rodin.fr), where you can pose for photos before such famous Auguste Rodin sculptures as The Kiss and The Thinker.

But of course, there’s a reason that Paris is called the City of Light. At night, the town is illuminated by the dancing reflections that emanate from Paris’ street lamps, monuments, and architectural wonders. Cruise down the Seine or pick a perch on one of the river’s 31 bridges. For something a bit more dramatic, check out the extravagant and sexy cabaret at Lido de Paris (Champs-Elysées, +01.40.76.56.10, www.lido.fr) for a different kind of light show.

But it is in the sidewalk cafés, restaurants, and bars that true eloquence of involvement is found in Paris. Even a simple picnic of fromage et baguette (with accompanying vin rouge, naturally) at the Place des Vosges rivals the most sumptuous dining at any five-star New York restaurant. It is in such elemental pleasures that you’ll truly discover your version of Paris and have a lifetime’s trove of memories from which to dip.

from :http://away.com

paris the capital of romance

2006-03-05T13:29:00.000-08:00

'I love Paris in the springtime,
I love Paris in the fall,
I love Paris in the winter - when it drizzles,
I love Paris in the summer - when it sizzles.
I love Paris every moment, every moment of the year…"

The immortal words and voice of Ella Fitzgerald echo the sentiments of many a traveller to this beautiful and intoxicating city and one of the cultural capitals of Europe. Its incredibly rich history punctuated by megalomaniacal kings, haughty queens and bloody revolutions, its contemporary mix of haute couture and haute cuisine, its self-professed intellectuals and guardians of high culture colonizing street cafes, its Seine river playing host to serenading lovers, its heady bohemian festivals and its quintessentially cosmopolitan sensibility – make Paris one of the most exciting cities to be in anywhere in the world.

Like bustling London, Paris has the same intensity, the same sense of time speeding to catch up with demanding lifestyles that take working and partying equally seriously. Like London, Paris too is dominated by impressive Gothic and Renaissance architecture that lend these cities their distinctive atmosphere. Again, like London, Paris has a river – the Seine - that cuts the city in half and gives life to both banks. Also, like almost any other European capital, Paris wears its history like a proud badge and guards it jealously like a family heirloom. But there is no denying the fact that Paris does all of the above with a certain flair that is difficult to imitate. Parisians like to enjoy themselves, and unlike many other places in the world, they have centuries of experience in honing their spontaneous joie-de-vivre into a fine art!

As far as world-famous landmarks go, Paris has one of the largest collections, so if you choose your paths with foresight, they will be littered with architectural gems. From Marais in the east to the Eiffel Tower in the west, from the Pantheon to the Notre-Dame Cathedral, from the Sacre Couer to the Obelisque, Paris extends itself to every traveller, whether a first timer or an old hand.

If Paris is enchanting during the day, after dark this City of Lights is nothing short of magical. It is said that the soul of Paris lives not simply in its impressive structures, but in its quiet boulevards and parks filled with birdsong, its patisseries and boulangeries, its bustling markets and quaint shops tucked away in back alleys, its secret music clubs and jazz bars. Take the time to see this Paris too, and as Hemingway wrote, your memories of Paris will become a ‘moveable feast’ that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

from:http://www.journeymart.com

Tentative Program Excursions to paris

2006-03-05T13:28:00.000-08:00

Paris: In our base city, we are spoiled by all the wonderful museums. We take a group visit to the Louvre, which usually leaves us breathless from the sheer number of works of art available to view. A favorite among all of the students is the Musée d'Orsay, which houses Impressionist arts. The Cluny Museum, which displays art from the Middle Ages, is abundant with rich tapestries, statues, alter-pieces and gold jewelry as well as artifacts from the daily life of that era. The group also visits the Musée Canavalet which tells the history of Paris and the Musée Picasso which showcases some of the artist's greatest works. Students also enjoy strolling through the Pere Lachaise cemetary where Chopin, Rossini, Moliere, Balzac, and many other famous artists (including Jim Morrison) are buried. Walking tours of Montmartre, the 17th century Marais district, the Quartier Latin, and the lovely banks of the Seine always add a lot of fun to the agenda. And, of course, the perfect end to a stay in Paris is a midnight boat ride down the Seine. What a wonderful way to say good-bye to a very beautiful city.

Chantilly and Auvers-sur-Oise: Twenty-five miles from Paris, Chantilly is the horse-racing capital of France. It is also home to a Renaissance style chateau and the Musée Condé. Nearby is Auvers-sur-oise, Van Gogh's death place.

Chartres: This city is not to be missed as its cathedral is one of the best examples of Gothic architecture, and can be seen from miles away. Like the medieval pilgrims that made their way to this wonderful site, we spend the day roaming the old city (we come by train, however, while they came on foot). We finish up our excursion with a wonderful tour of the Cathedral with a very famous guide, who will teach us how to read those beautiful stained glass windows as one would a book

Chateaux of the Loire Valley: An unforgettable week-end excursion! On Saturday, we visit Blois and its castle, a perfect illustration of the evolution of French architecture from the Middle-Ages to the 17th century. At night, we attend the beautifully dramatic Sound and Light show in the castle courtyard. After spending the night at a three-star hotel, we ride bikes through the villages and fields of sunflowers (see photo above) to the castle of Chambord, the jewel of the Renaissance, built by King Francois the first. We visit the castle and stroll through the park and the surrounding forest. Many students consider this trip the high point of their stay in France.

Optional Excursions

Free time is built into this program for independent sightseeing, such as museum and other cultural visits, theater and movies, as well as day-trips outside the capital. If you plan on traveling extensively, we recommend that you budget additional spending money.

from :http://www.summer.ucla.edu

Hyatt Regency Paris Madeleine :Tips for Travelers

2006-03-05T13:25:00.000-08:00

Tips for Travelers

— If they don’t have much luggage, clients should consider taking the RER train from either DeGaulle or Orly airports to downtown Paris. It’s only about $7. They can also take Air France buses from the airports to Paris for about $12 even if they didn’t fly on the airline. Taxis are about $47 to $60 (extra for luggage).

— If clients are using the Metro for more than a few days, it is economical to have a Carte Orange (subway pass) with a weekly coupon, or hebdomadaire. You will need a passport-size photo. Otherwise, buy a 10-ticket carnet.

— The Paris Visite Pass is a good way to buy entrance to museums and the metro before ever leaving the U.S., which also means travelers can purchase it in U.S. dollars.
www.raileurope.com

—Another idea is the Paris City Passport. It has 100 sights selected by the Paris Tourist Office that offer special discounts to tourists.
www.parisinfo.com

—The majority of national museums and monuments in Paris are free all the time for anyone under 18, and free for everyone on the first Sunday of each month. Also, the Carte Musee pass gives free admission and you can go to the head of the line.

Sold at major metro stations.

—The Paris Tourist Office allows you to search for restaurants based on their price, which is very handy when on a budget.
www.parisinfo.com

Hyatt Regency Paris Madeleine

For travelers who require the comfort of home yet still desire a true Parisian experience, the Hyatt Regency Paris Madeleine offers a reliable American brand with a French twist. Located near its namesake the neoclassical Madeleine Church, this boutique-size hotel of 86 rooms (including seven Executive rooms, three Regency suites and one Presidential suite) has the charm of a small French inn, but is actually part of the Hyatt family. The hotel is also located within walking distance of many tourist sites such as the Champs Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre.

Amenities consist of complimentary parking, 24-hour room service and a multilingual staff. The hotel is also pet friendly. The Hyatt Madeleine has two restaurants, Cafe M and La Chinoiserie, as well as a fitness center that offers massage and beauty treatments.

Specials available online until Dec. 31 include Luxury Weekend Break priced from $345 per night; Leisure and Beauty Break from $444 per night; and Culture and Shopping Break, consisting of VIP treatment at Printemps department store and a museum and monument pass, priced from $468 per night. The Hyatt Madeleine is also a member of Hyatt’s “Gold Passport” program for frequent travelers.

—Terra Judge

from :http://www.travelagewest.com/

Ask the Experts about paris

2006-03-05T13:23:00.000-08:00

Ask the Experts

We asked Parisian travel insiders for tips for agents and this is what they told us.

What are some benefits to Paris in the off season?
“Paris is an amazing city that transcends season. Just think of cobblestone streets, warm baguettes and romantic walks on the Seine. Those that want to avoid the crowds, pay a bit less and truly feel the magic of Paris should go during the off season. Although in Paris there really never is an off season.”

— Lanny Grossman, Director of Communications, Small Luxury Hotels of the World

What types of travelers go to Paris in the off season?
“Paris can be incredibly romantic in winter! It is the time of the St Valentine’s Day holiday. Paris is less full, making it a good time for couples who want a truly intimate and relaxing trip to France. You can spend a day walking all bundled up through streets of Paris, stopping in cafes for a cafe creme to warm up, or make a visit to Angelina for their famous hot chocolate. Paris is stunning at night, with the boats lighting up the Seine and the Eiffel Tower sparkling every hour on the hour. Couples can also enjoy one of the many lovely Parisian restaurants for a warming and filling meal; or take in a performance at one of Paris’ many theaters or a concert at a church or cathedral.”

— Katherine Johnstone, Media Relations, Maison de la France

Do you have any selling tips for agents?
“The best way to sell it is to know it. Read, visit, research. Read up on cultural differences — Parisians are no more rude than any other harried city dwellers. Polly Platt’s books, “French or Foe?” and “Savoir Flair,” shed light on aspects of the overall culture that shape people’s behavior. A little understanding goes a long way toward smoothing the way for a great trip.”

— Karen L. Preston, Public Relations Manager, Leading Hotels of the World

Do you have any tips for finding reasonably priced, reliable hotels?
“Always check with the big hotel groups, like Concorde and Accor, they often have special off-season rates, packages, guaranteed U.S.-dollar rates or other discounted rates. Paris has over 1,400 hotels, many of them two- and three-star, which are always more affordable than the higher priced hotels but still offer expected amenities and frequently can offer a unique charm or intimate location.

For more information, agents can call the France On Call number for travel agents: 514-288-6989.”

— Katherine Johnstone, Media Relations, Maison de la France

from :http://www.travelagewest.com/

A Passion for Paris :Off-season visitors experience the best of the City of Lights

2006-03-05T13:22:00.000-08:00

Off-season visitors experience the best of the City of Lights

The first time I saw Paris in the winter was in 2000, right after the big Millennium celebration. The huge Ferris wheel was still up in the Place de la Concorde, the Eiffel Tower was a light show late at night and the city was empty of tourists. Or so it seemed.

I walked from my hotel on the Rue de Rivoli down through the Tuileries and then up along the Right Bank where the sunlight was fading and a cold wind whipped tiny wavelets on the Seine. I ended up in front of Notre Dame.

Normally, I would avoid Notre Dame, especially in the summer because of the hordes of tourists, but this was different. It was winter, it was cold and there was something that drew me to it.

I arrived just as the afternoon Mass was beginning. I took a seat in the back, still bundled in my overcoat and scarf, and sat through the entire service. There was something magical about that day — about being inside perhaps the most famous church in the world on a cold night. I felt as if it was all mine — the church, the experience and all of Paris.

I’ve been back to Paris several times since then, mostly in the winter, and when I tell friends I’m going, they invariably ask the same question: “Isn’t it horribly expensive?” Even though it’s the off season, and prices for everything — hotels, airfare and even some restaurants — are lower, it’s still not an inexpensive city. This is especially true for visitors that expect to stay at the most expensive hotels, eat at the most expensive restaurants and be chauffeured around by limo.

I’m willing to bet, however, that most of your clients are not princes or pashas, so there are some things they can do to enjoy a winter’s week in the City of Lights — experiencing more without the crowds — and without spending every last cent of their budget.

Low Airfares, Great Tours and the GDR

As always, airfares drop a bit in the winter. It’s especially true this year, when summer airfares to Paris often topped $1,000, due in part to a surge in travel to Europe that rivaled pre-Sept. 11 levels.

While fares drop in the off season, quoted prices do not included taxes and fuel costs, which can add as much as $200. One solution: airline packages. Air France Holidays, for example, offers a three-night all-inclusive package from $599-$729, and six-day packages for $699-$799.

British Airways, as part of its Sale of Two Cities, has reduced fares to Paris from the western U.S. gateways to as low as $671 (Dallas/Fort Worth), excluding taxes and fees. (Note: The airline has also revamped part of its compensation structure for travel agents in North America, with a 10 percent commission now paid for booking any of British Air’s holiday packages.)

Deals on packaged tours are also plentiful this time of year. For example, tour operator France Vacations offers a rate of $699 for six nights, including roundtrip airfare, six nights in a hotel, daily breakfast and city tax. Pricing is per person based on double occupancy. Agents earn 8 percent commission on the lead price, 10 percent on all other pricing. Gateways include Denver, San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento and San Diego.

“We have some good pricing,” said advertising and sales promotion manager Cheryl Grant. “And all the hotels we use have in-suite bathrooms with a bathtub or shower.”

The dollar has taken a pounding recently from the euro, so to attract American tourists, several hotel groups have come up with “dollar for euro” or “Guaranteed Dollar Rate” (GDR) plans.

“We usually see it happen when the euro goes above $1.25,” said one hotel operator.

Small Luxury Hotels, which has several properties in Paris, was one of the first to come up with the GDR.

“Since 60 percent of our clients are from the United States,” said company spokesman Lanny Grossman, “we didn’t want to keep away our core customer. For example, if you book in advance at the Hotel Vendome, you can get a $950 suite for about $400.”

Bistro Bounty

The best part of Paris is experiencing the pulse of the city alongside those who live there. As Karon Cullen, a good friend of mine and a frequent traveler to Paris, put it: “There’s a way to experience the most beautiful city in the world without mortgaging your house. Live in Paris like a Parisian, not like an American.”

Cullen’s solution, like most people I talked to, is to eat cheap, at least most of the day.

“You eat one fabulous meal a day,” she said. “For example, you splurge at lunch, and then eat dinner at a less expensive bistro. Affordable meals in Paris rival the best restaurants in the U.S. I think you can fine dine in Paris without whining about it when you get home.”

Eating, of course, is the national pastime in France, and visitors really can’t avoid it in Paris, what with all the restaurants, brasseries, bistros, bakeries and sweets shops lining the streets. Hemingway once said that hunger sharpened his senses when he was poor and starting out in Paris, and that he sometimes avoided streets with lots of restaurants because the wonderful aromas made him think of nothing but food.

Clients don’t have to go to that extreme to have a good meal in Paris, according to Beverly Biggerstaff at France Vacations in Chatsworth, Calif.

“There are ‘fixed price’ menus on blackboards in front of every restaurant,” Biggerstaff said. “The food on those menus is fresh and bought that day. Go out around 8 or 9 o’clock at night and look at the restaurants in the neighborhood and see which ones are packed. If they’re packed, go back the next night because you know the food there is good.”

Karen Gaines, an American ex-pat from Boulder, Colo., who has lived in Paris for four years with her husband and three young children, agreed.

“Americans think they are being cheated when they see ‘fixed price,’” she said. “But it’s always very good and about half of what you’d pay otherwise.

“All the big, famous chefs in Paris have their big, grand restaurants where you can easily pay $250 for a meal. But they often have ‘baby bistros’ right next door where you pay less, sometimes half as much,” Gaines said. “It’s not unusual to see some famous chef wandering back and forth between the big restaurant and the little one.”

Her favorite “baby bistro”?

“Try Bistro de Cote, 10 rue Gustave Flaubert in the 17th arrondissement,” she suggested. “It’s right next to Michel Rostang, the name of the bigger restaurant and also the name of the chef.”

Cullen said that if visitors want to experience one of Paris’ many ultra-luxury hotels (Four Seasons, Hotel Meurice, The Ritz, etc.), they should do it in a way that doesn’t bust their budget. The secret? Afternoon tea.

“The Crillon offers wonderful tea,” she said, “and then go somewhere else and have a light lunch.”

Another tip: If clients want to duck into a warm cafe and get a quick cup of coffee, suggest they stand at the bar instead of taking a table — it’s a lot cheaper. This makes sense if they are not going to have a 2½-hour lunch or spend the entire afternoon in a cafe. But then, it’s always nice to sit in a Paris cafe for an afternoon and watch the foot traffic go by.

Fashion Finds During ‘The Sales’

Clients that find themselves in Paris from Jan. 12-Feb. 12, will be going at just the right time if they like to shop. The Winter Sales go on for a month (more are held in the summer), and they are a bargain-hunter’s paradise. The dates are fixed legally, and there’s a huge run on the main department stores and luxury boutiques on the first days.

“A lot of Parisians take the day off when the sales start,” said Claudia Schall, public relations director at the Hotel Meurice. “They want to be the first to hit the shops. The prices are supposedly fixed, but I’ve heard of people who go to the stores the day before and try to negotiate a sale price then.”

Even on non-sale days, however, the big department stores in Paris make a special effort to cater to tourists. By presenting a passport at the “hospitality desk,” visitors can get an additional 10 percent off all purchases in addition to the VAT tax rebate.

When all is said and done, my favorite thing to do on a winter day in Paris is settle into a corner table at a neighborhood cafe and drink coffee and read. I like to soak up the atmosphere, the voices, the noises of the kitchen and the constant coming and going of busy waiters with plates of food.

I have always thought of Paris at its most romantic when there is a thin dusting of snow, especially in the Tuileries, where the white contrasts so sharply with the black, leafless trees.

On my way home from a recent trip there, it began snowing hard, and by the time I got to the airport, it had all but shut down. I got the last flight out. It was a perfect ending to yet another perfect trip. The magic of Paris never ceases.

from :http://www.travelagewest.com/

cheap Flights to Paris

2006-03-05T13:19:00.000-08:00

Cheap Flights to Paris from the UK:

Paris, with two airports, is one of Europe's major air travel hubs. There are dozens of scheduled direct flights to Paris from most UK airports every week serviced by both regular airlines (chiefly Air France and British Airways) and budget airlines such as EasyJet, Bmibaby (www.bmibaby.com) and Thompsonfly (www.thomsonfly.com). EasyJet (www.easyJet.com) flies from Belfast, Liverpool, London Luton and Newcastle airports. Ryan Air (www.ryanair.com) doesn't fly from London, but has cheap flights from Dublin and Glasgow airports. British Midland (www.flybmi.com) offers flights to Paris from London Heathrow, Leeds and Nottingham. Travellers from London can also use the Eurostar from London Waterloo station to Gare du Nord, which takes about two hours, 35 minutes. Flights to Paris from UK airports take about an hour.

Airports in France

Paris Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG):

The airport is 14 miles (23km) north east of Paris.... More on Paris Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport

Paris Orly Airport (ORY):

The airport is nine miles (14km) south of Paris.... More on Paris Orly Airport

Bordeaux Airport (BOD):

The airport is located eight miles (13km) west of Bordeaux.... More on Bordeaux Airport

Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS):

The airport is situated 15 miles (24km) east of Lyon.... More on Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport

Marseille Provence Airport (MRS):

The airport is located 15 miles (24km) north of Marseille and 16 miles (26km) south of Aix-en-Provence.... More on Marseille Provence Airport

Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE):

The airport is situated four miles (6km) west of Nice.... More on Nice Côte d'Azur Airport

Strasbourg International Airport (SXB):

The airport is nine miles (14km) southwest of Strasbourg.... More on Strasbourg International Airport

Toulouse Blagnac International Airport (TLS):

The airport is ocated five miles (8km) northwest of Toulouse.... More on Toulouse Blagnac International Airport

Cheap Flights

Read our guide to cheap airfares for help in finding the cheapest flights to your destination. Advice on Cheap Airfares.

Cheap Flights to Amsterdam - Cheap Flights to Corfu - Cheap Flights to Paris - Cheap Flights to Geneva - Cheap Flights to Malaga -

Paris Airports

2006-03-05T13:16:00.000-08:00

Paris Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)

Location: The airport is 14 miles (23km) north east of Paris. Time: GMT +1 (GMT +2 between last Sunday in March and last Sunday in October). Contacts: Tel: +33 (0)1 48 62 22 80. Transfer between terminals: The three terminals are linked by free shuttle buses. Transfer to the city: There is a good train service (RER B) that serves the airport with connections to the Paris Metro. It operates regularly from 5.40am, takes around 30 min and costs €7.75. Taxis cost around €38 and take around 45 minutes depending on traffic. Buses are also available to the city centre and major train stations. Car rental: All major car rental companies are represented. Facilities: There are ATMs and bureaux de change in all terminals as well as a wide selection of shops, restaurants and bars. Terminal 1 also has a hairdresser and a business facility that includes meeting rooms, fax and photocopier. Disabled passengers are well catered for at the airport. Departure tax: None. Website:www.adp.fr

Paris Orly Airport (ORY)

Location: The airport is nine miles (14km) south of Paris. Time: GMT +1 (GMT +2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October). Contacts: Tel: +33 (0)1 4975 1515. Transfer between terminals: The two terminals are linked by a free shuttle bus. Transfer to the city: RER trains leave regularly from both terminals and connect to the metro and SNCF train stations (journey time 30 min; cost €8.80). A number of bus services also operate from both terminals (journey time 30 min; cost between €5.40 to €7.50). Taxis can also be hired from outside the Arrivals area (journey time approx 35 minutes; costing about €35). Car rental: All the major car rental companies are represented at the airport. Facilities: There are a number of shops, bars and restaurants throughout the airport and both terminals have ATMs and currency exchange services. Other facilities include information desks, an art gallery, left luggage, mobile phone rental, smoking areas, and a medical centre offering vaccinations. Disabled passengers are well catered for, passengers with special needs are advised to inform their airline in advance. Departure tax: None. Website:www.adp.fr

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Paris Restaurants

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L'Ardoise

$$$$$ | French

This tiny bistro is simply decorated with a plain white facade and a rustic interior and is always buzzing with locals. Chef Pierre Jay trained at La Tour d'Argent and his blackboard menu describes the classic French dishes, such as calf's liver cooked in sherry vinegar and scallops cooked in basil oil. The puddings are equally enticing and the bill will be outrageously inexpensive for the quality of the food - €30 for the three-course set menu. Booking essential. Closed on Mondays.

Address: 28 rue du Mont Thabor (Beaubourg/Les Halles); Tel: (01) 42 96 28 18; Price: €23

L'Astrance

$$$$$ | French

When L'Astrance opened in 2000, it was hailed as the most important gastronomic event for months and it has recently been awarded a Michelin star. But despite the continued critical acclaim guests do not experience either the pomposity or the crushing prices that can be found in other restaurants of a similar standard. Pascal Barbot uses only the freshest, in-season ingredients and the result is creative, sophisticated and mouth-wateringly delicious. Book weeks in advance. Closed Monday, lunch on Tuesday and for the month of August.

Address: 4 Rue Beethoven (Trocadéro/Eiffel Tower); Tel: (01) 4050 8440

La Tour d'Argent

$$$$$ | French

La Tour d'Argent is a national institution that serves up not only mouth-watering (and expensive) dishes, but also wonderful views over the Seine and Notre-Dam. A restaurant has stood on this site since 1582 and although no longer rated as 'the best' in Paris, dining here is still an unsurpassed event. A good section of the menu is devoted to duck, and diners who order the house speciality - caneton (pressed duckling) - are issued with a certificate; the practice started in 1890 and they are now well over a million. Book well in advance and insist on a table with a view. Closed Monday, and lunch on Tuesdays.

Address: 15-17 quai de la Tournelle (Latin Quarter); Tel: (01) 4354 2331; Price: €59 (lunch menu); €215 (evening menu)

Guy Savoy

$$$$$ | French

19 years after being awarded two Michelin Stars, Guy Savoy’s luxury restaurant won its third. This virtuoso chef’s creations are audacious and inventive; the artichoke and truffle soup and grilled mullet on a bed of dandelion leaves reveal the enormity of his talent, and his mille-feuille is a contemporary classic. Half-portions allow patrons to graze through the menu and the wine list reveals a treasure trove of exceptional vintages. Jean-Michel Wilmotte recently redecorated the restaurant and, although formal, the atmosphere is jolly. Book well in advance. Dinner Monday to Saturday and lunch Tuesday to Friday. Closed Sundays.

Address: 18 rue de Troyon (Charles-de-Gaulle-Etoile); Tel: (01) 43 80 40 61; E-mail: reserv@guysavoy.com

Buddha Bar

$$$$$ | American

The kitschy and exotic Buddha Bar remains a hit with trendy Parisians and foreigners in the know. A massive gilt Buddha dominates the spacious interior of the restaurant, which offers an imaginative variety of Japanese-Californian cuisine. The cocktail bar upstairs is a popular haunt with drinkers and world-renowned DJs are as much of a draw as are the dishes, which although good and well presented are perhaps a little pricey for what they are. Book in advance for dinner, otherwise enjoy the complementary prawn crackers at the bar.

Address: 8 Rue Boissy d'Anglais (Champs-Élysées); Tel: (01) 5305 9000

Goumard

$$$$$ | Seafood

Founded in 1872, the restaurant Goumard has all the charm of a century-old establishment with original oak woodwork, an engraved 1930s glass facade by Labouret and chandeliers and other lighting designed by Lalique. One of the finest seafood restaurants in Paris, the food at Goumard is influenced by Mediterranean and Asian cuisines. Chef Stephane Arsicaud coats his dishes with subtle and delicate sauces – the emphasis is on enhancing the natural flavours of the catch. Impressive dishes include rockfish bouillabaisse, line-caught bass grilled with oyster juice, and sautéed scallops with curry.

Address: 9 Rue Duphot (Madeleine); Tel: (01) 4260 3607

Le Grand Véfour

$$$$$ | French

Housed within the arcades of the Palais-Royal, Le Grand Véfour has been entertaining diners since the reign of Louis XV and has welcomed everyone from Napoleon to Danton – almost every table bears a plaque commemorating a famous patron. Chef Guy Martin’s menu is influenced by the cuisine of his native Savoie and his blend of sophisticated and rustic dishes draws foodies and celebrities from all over the world. Favourites include the filet of sole meunière, fennel with citrus fruit essences and tarama jus, and the wild duck cooked in laurel leaves with fig jus. Desserts include the now signature artichoke crème brûlée. Those who can’t stretch to the expansive and expensive à la carte menu can try the lunchtime set menu for €70. Booking is essential. Closed Friday night and weekends; annual closing from10-17 April, August and 24-31 December.

Address: 17 Rue de Beaujolais (Louvre/Tuileries); Tel: (01) 4296 5627; E-mail: vefour@relaischateaux.com

L’Alcazar

$$$$$ | Modern Eclectic

Sir Terence Conran’s foray to Paris has been a massive success and l’Alcazar attracts fashionable Parisians looking to dine on seafood or Modern British fare before heading out on the town. The huge ground floor restaurant is of course designed more for style than comfort and patrons can see the chefs in action in the open-plan kitchens. The upstairs lounge bar is a great spot to enjoy a quick snack and a glass of wine while listening to remixes by some of the best DJs in Paris. L’Az bar has regular theme nights with celebrity artists and jazz musicians.

Address: 62 Rue Mazarine (Odéon); Tel: (01) 5310 1999; E-mail: contact@alcazar.fr

Le Jules Verne

$$$$$ | Seafood

The prestigious Jules Verne Restaurant is located on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower and has an atmosphere that is reminiscent of an airship moored high above Paris. The head chef, Alain Reix, has brought the restaurant an excellent reputation; the Michelin Guide recently awarded it a star. Book weeks in advance. The restaurant’s more casual annexe, Altitude 95, is located on the first floor – 95 metres above sea level. Its large bay windows look out over the Seine and the Trocadéro to one side and the inside of the Tower to the other.

Address: Eiffel Tower, second floor (the restaurant has its own private elevator access at the south pillar); Tel: (01) 4555 6144

Le Bouillon Racine

$$$$$ | Belgium

A popular restaurant, le Bouillon Racine features a sophisticated Belgium menu and an enormous selection of Belgium beer. The food here is hearty and filling even without the help of several thirst-quenching ales. The reasonably-priced menu changes monthly and includes popular dishes like the casserole of mussels, shrimp and baby clams, suckling pig roasted with the bitter Orval beer, and rack of lamb roasted in a pale biere blonde. The décor is festive and the service impersonal but efficient. Reservations essential. Open for lunch and dinner.

Address: 3 Rue Racine (St-Germain-des-Prés); Tel: (01) 4432 1560; E-mail: bouillon.racine@wanadoo.fr

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Paris Events in summer

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World Circus Festival of Tomorrow

The annual Circus Festival provides an unequalled opportunity to see top international circus performers from famous schools together under one roof, including acts from the Moscow Circus, Cirque du Soleil and the Beijing Circus. The aim is to bring together young acrobats, animal trainers and clowns and to reveal new and exciting trends in circus acts from traditional, modern and experimental circus performances.

Venue: Cirque d’Hiver Bouglione, 110 Rue Amelot; Date: 26-30 January 2006; Website: www.circonautes.com

Six Nations Rugby Tournament

The Six Nations is Europe's premier Rugby Union tournament held between France, England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. At the Stade de France in Paris this year, France take on Ireland on 11 February, Italy on 25 February and England on 12 March.

Venue: Stade de France; Date: 4 February to 18 March 2006; Website: www.stadefrance.fr

Fete de la Musique

Every year on the summer solstice, Paris hosts amateur and professional musicians who perform in a variety of venues around the city, from public squares, streets and parks to opera houses and castles. The festival aims to celebrate music in all forms and is open to anyone. A large free concert is traditionally held featuring some big names in the music world, but on every corner, in doorways, in restaurants and hospitals, museums and courtyards, there are the sounds of music, from jazz, salsa and techno, to choirs, orchestras and steel bands, accompanied by people dancing, eating and drinking.

Venue: Various; Date: 21 June; Website: www.fetedelamusique.culture.fr/fr/esprit/index.htm

French Open

Together with Wimbledon, the Australian Open and the US Open, the French Open is one of the four events that together are known as the tennis ‘Grand Slam’. The tournament has become the most highly prized clay court title in the world and one of the biggest sporting events in France. Besides the best tennis players in the world, the stadium is also the place to be seen for the fashion conscious.

Venue: Roland-Garros Stadium; Date: 29 May to 11 June 2006; Website: www.fft.fr/rolandgarros/fr/Frame_RG.html

Open de France

A popular event on the PGA European Tour, the Open de France is the oldest tournament in continental Europe, and along with the American PGA Tour is the richest and most illustrious golfing competition in the world.

Venue: Le Golf National; Date: 29 June to 2 July 2006; Website: www.opendefrance.fr

Bastille Day Celebrations

France's most important national holiday, Bastille Day commemorates the beginning of the French Revolution with ceremonies, dancing, parties and balls all over the city. In the morning there is a grand military parade along the Champs Elysees, accompanied overhead by jet formations, and after the day-long festivities, a fireworks display takes place near the Eiffel Tower. For more information contact the Paris Tourist Office on +33 (0)892 683 000 or email info@paris-touristoffice.com

Venue: Champs Elysees and Place de la Bastille; Date: 14 July; Time: 10am to midnight

Tour de France

What started off as a far-fetched, unimaginable idea dreamed up by two gentlemen in a Parisian brasserie in 1902, has a century later grown into the world's greatest bicycle race, indeed considered by many to be the greatest annual sporting event on earth. The unique spectacle is ingrained in France's heritage, traditionally ending in Paris, and draws hundreds of local and international cyclists in a battle for dominance over 2,175 gruelling miles (3,500km) every year. The race is split into 21 daily stages and completes a clockwise loop around the country, including treacherous mountain roads in the Pyrenees and the Alps. The winner of each stage gets to wear the famous yellow jersey the following day.

Venue: Start: Strasbourg; Finish: Champs-Elysées, Paris; Date: 1-23 July 2006; Website: www.letour.fr

Autumn Festival

Held every autumn, the arts festival is a showcase for contemporary art in all forms from around the world, including theatre, film, music, dance, sculpture and literature, and is the largest festival of its kind in the world. Special attention is given to foreign culture as well experimental work and the development of new talents. For more information contact the Fête d'Automne +33 (0)1 5345 1700 or email info@festival-automne.com

Date: September to December 2006, TBC; Website: www.festival-automne.com

Le Salon du Chocolat

An annual festival in celebration of chocolate is a dream come true for chocoholics, and the large convention centre beneath the Louvre hosts just that. There are tastings and chefs demonstrations at a huge variety of international chocolatiers stands; opportunities to sample and buy goodies such as truffles, chocolate-dipped fruit kebabs, hot chocolate and cakes; as well as chocolate fashion, sculpture and art. Exhibitions include the history of chocolate, books on chocolate and desserts, and an antique collection of 'teapots' used exclusively for hot chocolate. A Chocoland for children entertains with chocolate makeup and other delicious activities. For more information contact the organisers on +33 (0)1 4503 2126 or email info@chocoland.com

Venue: Carrousel de Louvre; Date: 28 October to 1 November 2006; Time: 10am to 8pm

Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe is France’s premier horse race and attracts thoroughbreds and racing enthusiasts from all over the world. Since its inaugural race in 1920, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe has become established as the all-aged middle-distance championship of Europe, and today is offers total prize money of €1,600,000.

Venue: Longchamp; Date: October 2006, TBC; Website: www.france-galop.com/promo/prixarc.htm

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Paris Excursions summer

2006-03-05T13:10:00.000-08:00

Versailles

Versailles Palace © Versailles

The Château de Versailles stands 15 miles (24km) southwest of Paris and is one of France's noted attractions. Most of the palace was built between 1664 and 1715 by Louis XIV (known as the Sun King), who turned his father's hunting lodge into the grandest palace ever built. The 'Old Château' still exists but is enveloped by the vast white stone façade of the New Château. This lavish statement of monarchical power was to become a symbol of the excess that would lead to the revolution of 1789. Perhaps the most famous room in the palace is the Hall of Mirrors (Galerie des Glaces) where the Treaty of Versailles was signed, signifying the end of the Great War. Within the palace visitors can also see the former Royal bedchambers, the grand staircase and other staterooms, and within the vast landscaped park and gardens are many wonderfully ornate fountains and ponds. There is a small train that ferries visitors from the palace to the Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon, former love nests where both the Sun King and Napoleon enjoyed the company of their mistresses.

Telephone: (01) 3083 7800; Website: www.chateauversailles.fr; Transport: Buses, trains and the métro all go to Versailles from Paris; Opening time: Daily 12pm to 6.30pm in summer; 12pm to 5.30pm in winter) ; Admission: The Palace: €7.50. Pre-booked guided tours range from €5.00 to €7.00 depending on the time. Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon: €5.

Disneyland Paris

Located 20 miles (32km) east of Paris, Europe’s Disneyland is a massive complex, which includes hotels, restaurants and shops as well as the theme park. With sections such as Discoveryland, Adventureland, Fantasyland, Mainstreet USA and roaming Walt Disney characters - it is highly fashioned on its American cousin. Enthusiasts however will tell you that the modern engineering of the Euro Disney makes for a better experience. A nearby golf course offers an escape for lovers of the game (and possibly reluctant parents not drawn to Disney's attractions).

Website: www.disneylandparis.com; Transport: RER line A to the end, Marne la Vallée/Chessy station; Opening time: Daily 9am to 8pm (low season); 9am to 11pm (high season); Admission: One-day ticket: adult €41, child €33 (until 6 November 2005). Tickets are valid for multiple entries. Two and three-day Parks Hopper tickets are also available

Fontainebleau

Fontainbleau

In the 16th century, Henry II and Catherine de Medici commissioned architects Philibert Delorme and Jean Bullant to build a new palace here within the Fontainebleau forest 40 miles (64km) south of Paris. Italian Mannerist artists Rosso Fiorentino and Primaticcio came to assist in the interior decoration, helping to found the School of Fontainebleau. Visitors will see the long Gallery of François I, which the artists adorned with scenes like The Rape of Europa and the monarch holding a pomegranate, a symbol of unity, as well as the richly adorned Louis XV Staircase and the Ballroom with its monumental fireplace and frescoes. The palace was a refuge for French monarchs from the days of the Renaissance; they valued it because of its distance from the slums of Paris and for the rich hunting grounds that surrounded it. Many important events have occurred here, perhaps none more memorable than when Napoleon stood on the grand steps in front of the palace and bade farewell to his shattered army before departing for Elba. Compared to the glories of Versailles, however, Fontainebleau can be a bit of an anticlimax; it is best to see it before Versailles.

Address: 4 Rue Royale; Telephone: (0)1 6074 9999; E-mail: info@fontainebleau-tourisme.com; Website: www.fontainebleau.fr; Opening time: Daily except Tuesdays 9.30am to 6pm (until 5pm from October to May); Admission: €5.50, €4 for 18-25s, free for under 18s

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Paris Attractions in summer

2006-03-05T13:08:00.000-08:00

Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower

Gustave Eiffel, the architect of the Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel) could never have guessed that it would become Paris’s signature sight and attract more than six million visitors a year. It was built as a temporary structure to commemorate the centenary of the French Revolution and was opened by the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII of England. It was considered an eyesore by many and there were petitions to have it pulled down. It was saved only because it had become an important antenna for telegraphy. It towers 984ft (300m) above the Champ de Mars and until 1930 was the world’s tallest building. The highest of its three levels offers a wonderful panoramic view over Paris.

Address: Champ de Mars 7; Telephone: (01) 4411 2323 (recorded information); Website: www.tour-eiffel.fr; Transport: RER Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel station; Métro Bir-Hakeim, Trocadéro, Ecole Militaire; bus 42, 69, 72, 82, 87; Opening time: Daily 9.30am to midnight. The stairs close at 6pm in the winter months; Admission: By elevator – 1st floor €4.10; 2nd floor €7.50; 3rd floor €10.70 (adults). By stairs - €3.80 (only up to 2nd floor). Concessions available

Notre-Dame

Notre Dame © Globe Media

Notre-Dame looms large over the Place de Parvis, on the Isle de la Cité, and is the most enduring symbol of Paris. Built between 1163 and 1345 the Cathedral is considered one of the of the world’s Gothic masterpieces. The massive interior can seat 6,000 and it is dominated by three spectacular and enormous rose windows and a vast 7,800-pipe organ. The 387-step climb to the top of the towers is worth the effort for the panoramic view of the city and the close-up views of the famous gargoyles. The tower also holds the great bell that was rung by Quasimodo, the fictional hunchback. Opposite the North door is a museum that displays the Cathedral’s history, while under the square in front of the Cathedral is the crypt that houses Notre-Dame’s archaeological museum.

Address: 6 Place du Parvis de Notre-Dame; Telephone: (01) 4234 5610; Website: www.cathedraledeparis.com; Transport: Cité métro; RER Châtelet-Les Halles or Saint-Mic stations; or bus 21, 24, 27, 38, 47, 85 or 96; Opening time: Daily between 7.45am and 6.45pm, except during Sunday services which commence at 8.30am, 10am, 11.30am, 12.45pm and 6.30pm. The towers open daily 10am to 6pm, except on Mondays. The Crypt opens between 10am and 6pm (closed on Mondays). The museum is open on Wednesday and weekends 2.30pm to 6pm; Admission: Admission to the cathedral is free. Towers €5.40, crypt €3.40, museum €2.30

Louvre

The Louvre, Paris

One of the world’s great art museums, this vast edifice houses an extraordinary collection of paintings, sculptures and antiquities from all over the world. The Louvre was opened to the public in 1793, soon after the Revolution, to display the spectacular treasures looted from the royal palaces. The best-known attraction is Leonardo da Vinci’s enigmatic Mona Lisa, which is protected by bullet-proof glass within its own room. The permanent collections are divided into Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Asian antiquities, painting, drawings, sculpture and objects d’art. Don’t even attempt to see it all in one day.

Address: Cour Napoléon, 1. Reception area is under the giant glass pyramid; Telephone: (01) 4020 5317 (information desk); 4020 5151 (recorded information); 4020 5050 (ticket sales); E-mail: info@louvre.fr; Website: www.louvre.fr; Transport: Métro Palais Royal or Musée du Louvre; bus 21, 27, 39, 48, 68, 69, 72, 81 or 95; Opening time: 9am to 6pm (until 9.45pm on Mondays and Wednesdays, except on public holidays); closed Tuesdays. Opening hours for temporary exhibitions vary; Admission: Permanent exhibitions €8.50 (until 6pm); €6 (after 6pm); free for under 18s and on first Sunday of every month. Temporary exhibitions €8.50. Admission package €13 (before 6pm); €11 (after 6pm). Tickets allow same-day re-admission

Pompidou Centre

Pompidou Centre © Paris Tourist Office - Catherine Balet

Built in the 1970s and named after former French president Georges Pompidou, the futuristic Pompidou Centre is now considered part of the Parisian landscape. The outrageous design, complete with its glass elevators, was the inspiration for the Lloyds Building in London and attracts visitors by the million; it is the city’s most popular attraction by far. The building houses the Musée National d’Art Modern (MNAM), which displays a vast collection of 20th-century art from Fauvism and Cubism to Abstract and Absurd and its numerous cinemas and theatres have regular musical and dance performances. The square to the West of the building attracts a varied assortment of street performers.

Address: Place Georges Pompidou, entrance by the plaza in Rue Saint-Martin; Telephone: (01) 4478 1233; E-mail: info@cnac-gp.fr; Website: www.centrepompidou.fr; Transport: Métro Rambuteau, Châtelet, Hôtel de Ville; RER (train) Châtelet or Les Halles; bus 21, 29, 38, 47, 58, 69, 70, 72, 74, 75, 76, 81, 85, 96; Opening time: The centre is open daily except Tuesdays from 11am to 10pm. MNAM: Wednesday to Monday 11am to 9pm; Admission: One-day Centre pass: €10. Exhibitions: €9. MNAM: €7, free for those under 18 and for all on the first Sunday of the month. Temporary exhibitions vary

Musée d'Orsay

Musée d'Orsay © Paris Tourist Office - David Lefranc

This great museum is fairly new by Paris standards. It is situated in a railway station by the Seine and houses a vast collection of works from the significant 1848 to 1914 period. There are important works from the Art-Nouveau movement but the Orsay is best known for its Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. The collection is arranged chronologically and contains highly regarded works by Monet, Manet and Courbet. Also on permanent display is the famous painting by Gustave Doré entitled L'énigme and Henri Chapu's marble statue of Joan of Arc in Domrémy.

Address: Entrances on Rue de la Légion d'Honneur and Rue de Bellechasse; Telephone: (01) 4049 4814, or 4549 1111 (recorded information); Website: www.musee-orsay.fr; Transport: RER Musée d'Orsay; Métro Solférino; bus 24, 63, 68, 69, 73, 83, 84 or 94; Opening time: Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 6pm, with late closing on Thursdays at 9.45pm; Sunday 9am to 6pm (October to May); Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 6pm (June to September); Admission: €7.50; Sundays and from 6.15pm (8pm on Thursdays) €5.50; under 18s are free. Free on first Sunday of each month.

Musée Rodin

Rodin Museum © Rodin Hotel Biron

The Rodin Museum is situated near the Musée d'Orsay and is housed in what was once the Hôtel Biron, the beautiful hotel where Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) once lived and worked. Inside are many of Rodin's great marble sculptures including The Kiss and The Hand of God while outside, in the garden, are famous bronzes including The Thinker. The museum also includes many works by Camille Claudel, Rodin’s pupil and mistress, and paintings by Van Gogh, Renoir, Manet and Rodin himself.

Address: 77 Rue de Varenne; Telephone: (01) 4418 6110; E-mail: penseur@musee-rodin.fr; Website: www.musee-rodin.fr; Transport: Métro Varenne, Invalides or Saint-François-Xavier; RER to Invalides station; bus 69, 82, 87 or 92; Opening time: 9.30am to 5.45pm (garden till 6.45pm) from April to September; 9.30am to 4.45pm (garden till 5pm) from October to May. Closed Mondays; Admission: €5; €3 for 18 to 25s; free for under 18s. Garden only is €1. There is no charge on the first Sunday of every month

Musée National Picasso

The Picasso Museum is situated in a 17th-century mansion in the heart of Paris. The collection was started in 1973, after the French government accepted Picasso’s own collection in lieu of death duties, and was added to after his widow’s death in 1990. All the phases of work from the Paris-based artist are represented including his paintings, drawings, ceramics, sculptures and even poetry. Memorable works include the self-portrait Paolo as Harlequin and Nude in an Armchair. Most of Picasso's great paintings however are owned by and housed in foreign museums or are in the hands of private collectors.

Address: Hôtel Salé, 5 Rue de Thorigny; Telephone: (01) 4271 2521; Transport: Métro Chemin Vert, St-Paul or Saint-Sébastien Froissart; bus 29, 96, 69, 75; Opening time: 9.30am to 6pm (April to September); 9.30am to 5.30pm (October to March). Closed Tuesdays; Admission: €6.70; €5.20 for 18 to 25s; free for under 18s

Paris Travel Guide

2006-03-05T13:07:00.000-08:00

Eiffel Tower © www.freedigitalphotos.net

It is impossible not to fall in love with Paris. The city's people are stylish and flirtatious, its architecture seductive, its restaurants and nightlife devoted to the pursuit of pleasure and its streets are scattered with dreams.

There is no 'best time' to visit Paris; in every season the city is always alive. Summer days are spent lazing on the banks of the Seine, sipping coffee at a sidewalk café, or idling in one of the city's many gardens or forests. In autumn afternoons the brisk walk from the Eiffel Tower through the Parc du Champ de Mars and up to the glittering Champs Elysées is accompanied with a carpet of leaves crunching underfoot. Winter nights induce a warm glow ice-skating in the outdoor rink at the Hotel de Ville, and in spring the passions of performers fill the air outside the Pompidou Centre and the nose is tickled with the subtle scents of flowering gardens.

There is an otherworldliness to this city, where beauty and elegance are favoured over purpose and practicality. Centuries of urban development have the appearance of having being mastered by a single hand with a strong sense of balance, contrast and aesthetics. The views from the Eiffel Tower or Sacré Coeur reveal hundreds of iconic attractions for the snapshot visitor, but the best way to see this city is by tucking your map back in your pocket and allowing yourself to get lost on its streets and avenues, discovering the city for yourself.

However long you spend in Paris, on departure you will know you are sure to return.

2006-03-05T13:06:00.000-08:00




Check availability at A La Villa Des Artistes
A La Villa Des Artistes - Additional Features
The A La Villa Des Artistes offers 59 guest rooms. All of which offer amenities that include television; Internet access; street or courtyard views; pay movies; minibars; in-room safes and hairdryers. The Hotel pays homage to the neighborhoods artistic heritage by displaying the works of young local artists in the lounge; which also offers daily newspapers and a small bar.
A La Villa Des Artistes - Area Description
The A La Villa Des Artistes is located in the Montparnasse District of the city. The Hotel takes it name in honour of all the artists that have made this part of the city their home. The beautiful Luxemboug Gardens are just a short walk from the hotel and the Vavin Metro Station allows easy access to all other parts of Paris.
A La Villa Des Artistes - Dining Facilities
The A La Villa Des Artistes offers a relaxing and quiet bar in the lobby to unwind in and enjoy a drink after a long day of sightseeing; shopping or business. The Montparnasse District of the city; which is where the Hotel is located is famous for its restaurants and small inviting cafes; some of these restaurants include Le Select; La Coupole and La Closerie des Lilas.
A La Villa Des Artistes - Local Attractions
Attractions located close to the A La Villa Des Artistes include Luxembourg Gardens; Musee Zadkine; Montparnasse Cemetery; Montparnasse commercial center and train station; The Catacombs; Latin Quarter; St-Germain-des-Pres; Notre-Dame Cathedral; Musee du Louvre; Musee DOrsay; Eiffel Tower; The Marais and of course the Eiffel Tower.
A La Villa Des Artistes - Location Description
When travelling from the Boulevard de Montparnasse to the A La Villa Des Artistes; take the Rue de la Grande Chaumiere is the third small street on the right; just before a large intersection. The A La Villa Des Artistes is located on the right. The nearest Metro Station to the Hotel is the Vivan Metro Station.
A La Villa Des Artistes - CANCELLATION POLICY
Refund of charged amount minus a $20USD cancellation fee will be automatically processed for online cancellations until 6:00 PM on arrival day

Paris Noir: Literature, Art, and Contemporary Life in Diaspora

2006-03-05T13:03:00.000-08:00

This unique seminar is for students in all disciplines and from all cultures and nationalities. All too often, people don't think about the strong influence Black cultures have had on Paris and the world for that matter. Paris Noir engages students in this exciting topic, and allows them to explore the seminar theme from a variety of disciplinary stances. Emphasis is placed on an exchange of ideas with artists, writers, scholars, journalists, community activists, and people from the world of politics, fashion, and music.

Like a jazz composition, the seminar is arranged to convey variations and diverse interpretations of the Paris Noir theme. As students delve into the exciting Paris city scene, of museums, historic walking tours, poetry readings, and nightclubs, they come to understand that the term "Paris Noir" generates a variety of different meanings.

The Paris Noir seminar meets at the famous Café de Flore.

Courses

Students must take both of the following courses.

Paris Noir Seminar in Literature, Art and Contemporary Life in Diaspora
(AAS, 400/600/ETS 400 / LLL400/600 /WSP400/600, 3 credits, undergraduate and graduate)
The seminar opens with "On Becoming Paris Noir," a comprehensive overview of historical, social and political forces in the United States, Caribbean, and larger global events in Europe and Africa that generated African American presence in Paris over the past three centuries. Our initial explorations will include Sally Hemings, in the 18th century; William Wells Brown, Frederick Douglass and Victor Séjour in the 19th century); and in the 20th century, African American soldiers, and icons such as Leroi Haynes, Josephine Baker, and James Baldwin.

"On Becoming Paris Noir" also involves discussion of the history of an African Diaspora in Paris. Tours to Paris Noir historical landmarks, visits to the Louvre and Picasso museums, an African market and restaurant are key components of the seminar introduction.

As the seminar develops, the accent shifts to Paris Noir, today, with analysis and discussion of books, visual and performing arts, music, and wide ranging work and perspectives of leading personalities, scholars, working artists and activists living in Paris. Critical reading of literary and cultural texts, analytical thinking, and lively exchange of ideas are important seminar components. In the true essence of jazz improvisation, impromptu, unexpected meetings with legendary figures like Nina Simone, world-renowned poet, Sonia Sanchez, jazz great Archie Shepp, and the awesome Alvin Ailey Dance Company happen in Paris.

Guest lecturers and panelists provide varying perspectives and concrete examples of Paris Noir. In an open exchange of ideas, students interact with speakers, pose new questions, and interview members of Paris Noir communities. Throughout this learning process, students gain and engender new knowledge as they attain a new understanding of themselves within a larger global community. Free time is allotted for students to travel; enjoy the Paris area on their own; or, simply "chill."

By the end the Paris Noir seminar, participants can expect to have expanded knowledge of African American and African Diaspora Studies; enhanced cultural fluency; sharpened skills of analysis; broadened perspectives of the world, and of their places in it, now and in the future, along with wonderful memories of Paris to play back and recreate, like a jazz composition.

Independent Study
(AAS, 490/690/ETS 490/WSP490/690, 3 credits, undergraduate and graduate)
This course requires independent research. Students are encouraged to pursue their own academic interests. In consultation with the Paris Noir faculty director, students select a topic related to the course content; engage in research in Paris; and submit a research paper or project within two months after completion of the seminar. Graduate Student papers are to be commensurate with graduate studies.

Eligibility & Requirements

Paris Noir Seminar is open to undergraduate and graduate students in all disciplines.

Students are required to:

- participate actively in weekly seminar meetings on required readings assignments, guest lectures and panels; visits to Paris Noir cultural landscapes and historical landmarks, and field trips, outside the city limits to the "banlieu" and other places.

- make one oral seminar presentation

- maintain a detailed daily journal

- take a mid-term exam

- submit typed journal wrap-up with reflections on course content and experience, no later than September 1, 2006.

Faculty

Janis A. Mayes is a professor in the Department of African American Studies, with a courtesy appointment in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics [French], and member of the Women's Studies faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University. She earned M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in French Studies from Brown University, Certificate from the Institut des Professeurs de Français à l'Etranger, at the Université de Paris, La Sorbonne. A literary critic, literary translator, and Fulbright scholar, she has extensive research and travel experience abroad, especially in France, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal.
Her areas of specialization are francophone African/Diaspora fiction and cultural studies, international Black women's writing, and literary translation. This emphasis is reflected in her scholarship, notably: The City Where No One Dies, Mapping Intersections: African Literature and Africa's Development (edited with Anne Adams), and Transatlantic Literary Translation: The Practice of Cultural Fluency (Mercer Cook, Toni Morrison, Véronique Tadjo, and Bernard Dadié), her current work-in-progress.

Students are encouraged to contact Professor Mayes at her e-mail address: jamayes@syr.edu.

Travel and Living

Students arrange and pay for their own round-trip air transportation to Paris.

Students are housed in shared rooms in apartments rented by Syracuse University for the duration of the program. Meals are not included.

Students who choose to arrange and pay for their own housing in Paris must notify DIPA in writing at the time of application.

Pont Neuf

2006-02-17T17:11:00.000-08:00

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This is the Pont Neuf (pronounced /põ nœf/, and meaning “new bridge”), which—despite its name—is the oldest bridge still standing on the Seine river in Paris. Construction began on the bridge in 1578, more than four hundred years ago.

The bridge is built of stone and is very sturdy; it is the only bridge in Paris that has withstood every flood the Seine has thrown at it. It was unusual in its time because it was not designed to accommodate houses (in the days when it was built, it was fashionable to have a house on a bridge, because that provided you with an indoor toilet—I'll leave the details on this for you to figure out). It did accommodate street vendors for some time, although not in any recent era. It was also the first location in Paris to sport sidewalks.

The bridge crosses the river at the western tip of the Île de la Cité (this is the same island that hosts Notre-Dame Cathedral). It has a long arm (seen here) on the north side of the island, and a short arm (not visible here) on the south side, which makes it the longest bridge in Paris if you count the two arms together.

The external stonework of the short arm has been carefully restored and looks brand new; the north side is still rather sooty and under renovation. This photograph was taken back in 1999, before the renovation began (part of the bridge is covered by scaffolding now, so I haven't used a more recent photo).

On the right is the Île de la Cité, you can see the Conciergerie in the background on the island (on the left), and the spire near the center of the island is the Sainte Chapelle.

This photograph was taken at sunset on a day in August. The light isn't ideal, but as I've said, I wanted a photo that shows the bridge without the scaffolding.

Beneath the leftmost (northernmost) arch, you can see an eastbound expressway for automobile traffic, named the Voie Georges Pompidou, after the French president who more or less pushed for the project. Traffic was light this evening because it was the month of August, when many Parisians go on vacation.

You are looking southeast and upstream in the picture. If you'd like to see what the bridge looks like on a day with really rotten weather, click here (the contrast is remarkable!). I also have a rather pretty photo of the bridge taken at night, if you would like to see that.

Notre-Dame Cathedral

2006-02-17T17:09:00.001-08:00

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This is the Cathédrale de Notre-Dame de Paris, on the Île de la Cité, an island in the Seine River that is the original birthplace of Paris. The name is pronounced /kated and it means “Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris”—“our lady” in this case being the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus in Christianity. The cathedral is almost nine hundred years old. This is the cathedral that played a key role in Victor Hugo’s Hunchback of Notre-Dame. The bells are still rung several times daily, by human beings (but not by hunchbacks, as far as I know).

Like all churches built prior to the formal separation of the Roman Catholic Church and the French Republic, this edifice is now public property; however, daily services are still held within. The state is responsible for the building itself, along with major maintenance, and it runs the tours of the towers; but the church is given responsibility for the interior. You can visit the interior, climb the towers (not recommended for people afraid of heights or tight places) to see the gargoyles, or see a small collection of art objects and relics in a tiny museum; a crypt beneath the cathedral and the plaza in front of it, along with its associated archaeological excavations, can also be visited. Notre-Dame Cathedral is a very well-known landmark, and tourists crowd around and within it all day long, every day. It is called Our Lady of Paris to distinguish it from the many other variations of Our Lady throughout Paris and France.

The rose windows (the southern rose window is visible in the photo—I have a close-up of it, if you’re interested), about the only original stained-glass windows left in the cathedral (most others were replaced several centuries ago with “new” stained glass), were removed during the Second World War and reinstalled after the war ended. The cathedral overall is notable among Gothic cathedrals in that the entire edifice was very faithful to the plans of the original architect when constructed; this is somewhat unusual, in that many Gothic cathedrals drifted in design from the original plans during the century or more required to construct them. The structure of Notre-Dame later drifted slightly, when small chapels were added around the nave and apse after most of the construction was completed, and Viollet-le-Duc made some changes (including the restoration of the central spire, and one other very specific change) when the cathedral was restored in the mid-1800s, but most of it is just as the original architect designed it.

This picture was on an extremely pretty day of April, with cloudless blue skies and a stiff breeze—classic weather for Paris in the spring. I shot it from the Pont de l’Archevêché ( “Archbishop’s Bridge”), which connects the eastern end of the Île de la Cité (“City Island”) to the Rive Gauche ( Left Bank). The bridge in the distance is the pont au Double ( so named because it was once necessary to pay a toll of two deniers—a double—to cross it in the 17th century). This position is the “standard position” from which about ten billion photographs are taken of the cathedral each year. It just happens to be a nearly ideal perspective from which to see the cathedral. In real life, it appears exactly as you see it in this photo—pretty as a postcard, literally. And if you have a decent camera or even a good disposable camera, you can take a picture very similar to this just by aiming and pressing the button! (And here’s proof!) Of course, the better the equipment, the cleaner the image looks! I have another photo showing this picture-taking spot, if you are interested. I also have a night photo taken from this spot, if you would like to compare.

The Cathedral is just north of the Latin Quarter, in an area that is very popular with tourists.

Sainte-Chapelle

2006-02-17T17:09:00.000-08:00

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After Saint Louis (then King of France) paid off the debts of another man who had pledged fragments of the original Crown of Thorns as security for a loan on which he defaulted, Saint Louis took possession of the fragments and built a chapel within his palace on the Île de la Cité to hold them and and other relics. This Holy Chapel or Sainte-Chapelle /sɛ̃t ʃapɛl/, built eighty years after Notre-Dame Cathedral, in the thirteenth century, represented a considerable advance over this latter structure, especially with respect to the use of stained glass. Many tourists coming to Paris consider their visit to this chapel, now located in the middle of the Conciergerie, to be one of the most impressive highlights of their trip.

The building is small inside, not much larger than a tennis court. There are two levels. The lower level, which I show in another photo, was used by servants of the court. The upper level, seen here, was used by the king, and is almost completely lined in stained glass, most of which has survived to this day (making it the oldest stained glass in Paris). The vertical panels you see here are five stories high and depict scenes from a large part of the Bible. You are looking east.

Because the chapel is so small, it‘s hard to get all of it into a photograph. That‘s why you see exaggerated perpsective in this photo. The scaffolding in the background is repair work for some minor damage done by the windstorm of December, 1999. The pinkish tone of the photo is accurate; that is how it looks in real life.

Notre-Dame Cathedral at Night

2006-02-17T17:08:00.001-08:00

This is the Cathédrale de Notre Dame de Paris, as it appears in the evening from across the Seine River.

The cathedral is lit by floodlights at night, but much of the surrounding area is not, so the contrast in lighting is pretty dramatic. This photo looks almost surreal, but I can assure you that it looks just like this in real life. The mysterious glow that seems to surround the cathedral is nothing more than the light of the sun below the horizon behind the edifice; this was taken about half an hour after sunset in summertime, when the sun sets behind the cathedral as seen from the river, and the effect is impressive.

On the near side (Left Bank) of the river in the foreground, you can see restaurant boats that remain lively far into the night, especially on an absolutely perfect summer evening like this.

view of the Seine River

2006-02-17T17:08:00.000-08:00

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This is a view of the Seine River, the river that flows through Paris. This well-tamed watercourse crosses the city roughly from east to west along a curved path that looks like an inverted ‘U’ on a map. The average flow of the river is between one and ten cubic metres per second, and the depth averages six to eight metres. It's not exactly the Mississippi, but it's a very pretty river, of appropriate size for this densely-populated city. The river is navigable for freight all the way to the Atlantic ocean and for a considerable distance above Paris, and barges are a common sight on the river at Paris. Two thousand years ago, this river was famous for the purity of its water and the abundance of fish that it contained; it is still quite clean today, and there are still fish in the river (occasionally you'll see amateur fishermen catching them on the quays). The greenish color of the slow-moving water comes from silt and plant growth, not pollution.

This picture was taken from the Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge in Paris, and you are looking west in the photograph. The time of day is just after sunset. The Eiffel Tower is visible in the distance. The Left Bank is indeed on the left in this photograph (since we are looking in the direction of the river's flow), and the Right Bank is … on the right. The bridge in the distance is the Pont des Arts, a pedestrian bridge.

Some people ask if the Seine provides drinking water to the city. In fact, roughly half of Paris' drinking water is obtained from natural springs east of the city, and is clean enough that no treatment is required beyond a squirt of chlorine to keep it pure during the trip to the city. The remaining half is obtained from the Seine and Marne rivers quite a distance upriver, after purification.

Note that the Seine is artificially maintained at a level higher than its natural level, by dams and locks downstream. The river only drops about 30 metres on its 200-kilometre journey to the Atlantic, and in the days when it flowed at its natural level (hundreds of years ago), most of the riverbed was sand, with only a narrow stream of water flowing down the middle. Old pictures of the river in centuries past illustrate this clearly. In the nineteenth century, though, the aforementioned dams and locks were installed to raise the river level in Paris and elsewhere along its path, in order to make it navigable for boats. A side effect of this is that the river looks a lot prettier as well, since it always neatly fills the space between its banks as it flows through Paris now.

Incidentally, the name Seine is pronounced /sɛn/, and rhymes with the English word "ten" (and not with "rain," as many English speakers seem to think). The name comes from the Latin Sequana, which in turn comes from the old Celtic word squan, meaning "serpentine" (the Seine follows a very tortuous 776-kilometre route from its source on the Langres plateau to the ocean; 365 kilometres of this is below Paris).

I have a photograph taken from the Pont des Arts in the evening, if you are interested. I also have a photograph facing in the opposite direction, also from the Pont des Arts, towards Notre-Dame Cathedral. Finally, I have a daylight picture of the river on a dreary day, if you’d like to see what it looks like on those (frequent) days when it is overcast and drizzling in Paris. I also have a picture taken when the Seine was running particularly high (as it often does in winter and early spring), which you can see here.

In times past, the river occasionally froze over partially in the winter. It hasn't done that in a long, long time, however.

Eiffel Tower, the most widely recognized national landmark in the world

2006-02-17T17:06:00.000-08:00

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This is the Eiffel Tower, the most widely recognized national landmark in the world.

The Eiffel Tower is a 320-metre tower built of structural iron, originally constructed by engineer Gustave Eiffel (after whom the tower is named) for an international exposition in Paris in 1889. The tower was the only structure in the exposition intended for permanent display, and it survives to this day intact. It narrowly escaped demolition and conversion to scrap on several occasions in its youth, but today nobody would think of tearing down the Eiffel Tower.

This picture was taken from the parvis du Trocadéro, a plaza between the two wings of the Palais de Chaillot, which is about 500 metres away from the tower, on the opposite (right) bank of the Seine River. The river flows directly in front of the tower under the Iéna Bridge, and you can see the bridge (but not the water) in the lower foreground of this photo. Behind the tower, you can see the Champ de Mars, a large park, with the École Militaire (a military school) at the other end. In this photograph, you are looking southeast. The sun is to your right, above and behind you. The picture was taken at about 6:30 PM, about 90 minutes before sunset on this September afternoon.

There are elevators in the tower that can take you to the top. Double-decked elevators to the first and second levels are specially designed to ascend along the steep incline of the tower’s legs. More conventional double-decked glass elevators take you from the second level up to the summit. Since the tower is build of open ironwork, the ascent can be a very harrowing experience for anyone with a fear of heights, so beware!

The net you see surrounding the intermediate level between the second and third platforms is intended to protect painters working on that part of the tower (the public is not admitted to that small intermediate platform).

Incidentally, the tower is much larger than it appears to be in photographs; the absence of anything of comparable height nearby makes it difficult to appreciate the tower’s height in pictures. The trees on either site of the tower are seven or eight stories high, and more than two American-style football fields would fit comfortably in the area covered by the tower’s base. Individual people are almost too small to distinguish in this photo, even in the large version, but you can see little ant-like figures near the base of the tower and on the bridge.

For those of you who are wondering, the replica of the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas is half the size of the real thing (that is, 50 stories tall for the replica, and 100 stories for the real tower).

I have a photograph of the tower seen from the Champ de Mars, also, if you are interested. If you’d like to see the waiting line at the base of the tower (something you won’t see in the tourist guides), I have a picture of that, too. If you’d like to see how pretty this tower looks at night, I have a picture of the tower taken from this exact same spot in the evening. Finally, see my Eiffel Tower FAQ for more information on this landmark.

The 72 names on the Eiffel Tower

2006-02-17T17:01:00.000-08:00

On the Eiffel Tower, seventy two names of French scientists, engineers and some other notable people are engraved in recognition of their contributions by Gustave Eiffel. This engraving was painted over at the beginning of the twentieth century and restored in 1986-1987 by SNTE ("Société Nouvelle d'exploitation de la Tour Eiffel"), a company contracted to operate business related to the Tower; the Tower is owned by the city of Paris.

Only the surnames appear on the Tower.

Seguin (Marc Seguin, mechanic)
Lalande (Joseph Jérôme Lefrançais de Lalande, astronomer)
Tresca (Henri Tresca, engineer and mechanic)
Poncelet (Jean-Victor Poncelet Gernald, geometer)
Bresse (Jacques Antoine Charles Bresse, civil engineer and hydraulic engineer)
Lagrange (Joseph Louis Lagrange, mathematician)
Belanger ( Jean-Baptiste-Charles-Joseph Bélanger, mathematician)
Cuvier (Baron Georges Leopold Chretien Frédéric Dagobert Cuvier, naturalist)
Laplace (Pierre-Simon Laplace, mathematician and astronomer)
Dulong (Pierre Louis Dulong, physicist and chemist)
Chasles (Michel Chasles, geometer)
Lavoisier (Antoine Lavoisier, chemist)
Ampere (André-Marie Ampère, mathematician and physicist)
Chevreul (Michel Eugène Chevreul, chemist)
Flachat (Jeugène Flachat, engineer)
Navier (Claude-Louis Marie Henri Navier, mathematician)
Legendre (Adrien-Marie Legendre geometer)
Chaptal (Jean-Antoine Chaptal, agronomist and chemist)
Jamin (Jules Célestin Jamin, physicist)
Gay-Lussac (Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac, chemist)
Fizeau (Hippolyte Fizeau, physicist)
Schneider (Jacques Schneider, industrialist)
Le Chatelier (Henri Louis le Chatelier, chemist)
Berthier (Pierre Berthier, mineralogist)
Barral (Jean-Augustin Barral, agronomist, chemist, physicist)
De Dion (Albert de Dion, engineer)
Goüin (Ernest Goüin, engineer and industrialist)
Jousselin ( engineer)
Broca (Paul Pierre Broca, physician and anthropologist)
Becquerel (Antoine Henri Becquerel, physicist)
Coriolis (Gaspard-Gustave Coriolis, engineer and scientist)
Cail (Jean-François Cail, industrialist)
Triger ( engineer)
Giffard (Henri Giffard engineer)
Perrier ( geographer and mathematician)
Sturm (Jacques Charles François Sturm, mathematician)
Cauchy (Augustin Louis Cauchy, mathematician)
Belgrand (Eugene Belgrand, engineer)
Regnault (Henri Victor Regnault, chemist and physicist)
Fresnel (Augustin-Jean Fresnel, physicist)
De Prony (Gaspard de Prony, engineer)
Vicat (Louis Vicat, engineer)
Ebelmen (Jean-Jacques Ebelmen, chemist)
Coulomb (Charles-Augustin de Coulomb, physicist)
Poinsot (Louis Poinsot, mathematician)
Foucault (Léon Foucault, physicist)
Delaunay (Charles-Eugène Delaunay, astronomer)
Morin (Morin de Villefranche, mathematician and physicist)
Haüy (René-Just Haüy, mineralogist)
Combes (Émile Combes, engineer and metallurgist)
Thénard (Louis Jacques Thénard, chemist)
François Arago (Dominique François Jean Arago, astronomer and physicist)
Poisson (Simeon Poisson, mathematician and physicist)
Monge (Gaspard Monge, geometer)
Petiet ( engineer)
Daguerre (Louis Daguerre, artist and chemist)
Wurtz (Charles-Adolphe Wurtz, chemist)
Le Verrier (Urbain Le Verrier, astronomer)
Perdonnet (Albert Auguste Perdonnet, engineer)
Delambre (Jean Baptiste Joseph Delambre, astronomer)
Malus (Etienne-Louis Malus, physicist)
Breguet (Abraham Louis Breguet, mechanic and inventor)
Polonceau (Antoine-Rémi Polonceau, engineer)
Dumas (Jean Baptiste André Dumas, chemist)
Clapeyron (Émile Clapeyron, engineer)
Borda (Jean-Charles de Borda, mathematician)
Fourier (Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier, mathematician)
Bichat (Marie François Xavier Bichat, anatomist and physiologist)
Sauvage (Jean-Pierre Sauvage, mechanic)
Pelouze (Théophile-Jules Pelouze, chemist)
Carnot (Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot, mathematician)
Lamé (Gabriel Lamé, geometer)

Place des Vosges in paris

2006-02-17T07:06:00.000-08:00

Fountain in the Place des Vosges

The Place des Vosges is Paris's oldest square. It is located in le Marais, and is part of the 3rd and 4th arrondissements of Paris.

Originally known as the Place Royale, the Place des Vosges was built by Henri IV from 1605 to 1612. A true square (140 m x 140 m), it was the first program of royal city planning, built on the site of the Hôtel des Tournelles and its gardens. At a tournament at the Tournelles, a royal residence, Henri II was wounded and died. Catherine de Medicis had the Gothic pile demolished and moved to the Louvre.

The Place des Vosges is the prototype of all the residential squares of European cities that were to come. What was new about the Place Royale in 1612 was that the housefronts were all built to the same design, probably by Baptiste du Cerceau, of red brick with strips of stone quoins over vaulted arcades that stand on square pillars. Only the north range was built with the vaulted ceilings that the "galleries" were meant to have. Two pavilions that rise higher than the unified roofline of the square center the north and south faces and offer access to the square through triple arches. Though they are designated the Pavilion of the King and of the Queen, no royal personnage has ever lived in the aristocratic square. The Place des Vosges and subsequent developments of Paris created a suitable urban background for the French aristocracy.

Before the square was completed Henri ordered the Place Dauphine to be laid out. Within a mere five-year period the king oversaw an unmatched building scheme for the ravaged medieval city: additions to the Louvre, the Pont Neuf, and the Hôpital Saint Louis as well as the two royal squares.

Cardinal Richelieu had an equestrian bronze of Louis XIII erected in the center (there were no garden plots until 1680). The original was melted down in the Revolution; the present version was replaced in 1818. The square was renamed in 1799 when the département of the Vosges became the first to pay taxes supporting a campaign of the Revolutionary army. The Restauration returned the old royal name, but the Commune of 1870 restored the revolutionary one.

Today the square is planted with clipped lindens set in grass and gravel.

One side of the Place des Vosges

Residents of Place des Vosges

No. 1bis Mme de Sevigné was born here
No. 6 Victor Hugo from 1832 - 1848, in what was then the Hôtel de Rohan-Guéménée, now a museum devoted to his memory
No. 7 Sully, Henri IV's great minister
No. 8 poet Théophile Gautier and writer Alphonse Daudet
No. 9 (Hôtel de Chaulnes) the Academy of Architecture
No. 11 occupied from 1639-1648 by the courtesan Marion Delorme
No. 14 (Hôtel de la Rivière). Its ceilings painted by Lebrun are reinstalled in the Musée Carnavalet
No. 17 former residence of Bossuet
No. 21 Cardinal Richelieu from 1615 - 1627,

Eiffel Tower history photo pictures

2006-02-15T03:57:00.000-08:00

The Eiffel Tower (French: Tour Eiffel; IPA pronunciation: /'aɪfəl/, "eye-full" English; /ɛ'fɛl/, "ee-fehl" French) is an iron tower built on the Champ de Mars, beside the River Seine in Paris. It is among the most recognized symbols of France. Named after its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel, it is a premier tourist destination, with over 5.5 million visitors per year.

Statistics

The tower stands 300 m (986 feet) high, which is about 108 stories. Including the 24 m (72 feet) antenna, the structure is 324 m (1058 feet) high. At the time of its construction in 1889, the Eiffel Tower was the tallest structure in the world, a title it retained until 1930, when New York City's Chrysler Building (319 m/1046 feet tall) was completed. The Eiffel Tower is the second-highest structure in France, after the 350 m Allouis longwave transmitter. By far, the tower is the highest structure in Paris; France's third-highest structure, the Montparnasse Tower (Tour Montparnasse) in Montparnasse neighborhood, is 209 m.

Background

Eiffel tower under construction in July 1888

The structure was built between 1887 and 1889 as the entrance arch for the Exposition Universelle (1889), a World's fair marking the centennial celebration of the French revolution. It is located at geographic coordinates 48°51′29&PrimeN, 2°17′40&PrimeE. The tower was inaugurated on March 31, 1889, and opened on May 6. Three hundred workers joined together 18,038 pieces of puddled iron, using two and a half million rivets, in a structural design by Maurice Koechlin. The risk of accident was great, for unlike modern skyscrapers the tower is an open frame without any intermediate floors except the two platforms. Yet, because Eiffel took good care of his workers with movable stagings, guard-rails and screens, only one man died (during the installation of Otis Elevator's lifts).

The tower is 300 meters (986 feet) tall, not including the 24-meter television antenna on top. The metal structure weighs 7,300 metric tons, the total weight is 10,100 metric tons. According to the official website for the tower, the summit is reached by 1,665 steps and not, as popularly believed, by 1,792 steps (the same as the year of the First French Republic).

The Eiffel Tower from the Pont de la Concorde

Depending on the ambient temperature, the top of the Eiffel Tower may shift away from the sun by up to 8 cm (3.25 inches), due to expansion of the metal on the side facing the sun.

Maintenance on the tower includes applying 50 metric tons of three graded tones of paint every 7 years to protect it from rust. On occasion, the colour of the paint is changed (the tower is currently painted a shade of brown). On the first floor, there are interactive consoles hosting a poll for the colour to use for a future session of painting.

The tower was met with resistance from the public when it was first built, many thinkng it an eyesore. Today, it is widely considered to be one of the most striking pieces of structural art in the world.

One of the great Hollywood movie clichés is that the view from a Parisian window always includes the Eiffel Tower. In reality, the Tower is not visible from a large part of Paris.

Originally, Eiffel had a permit to leave the tower standing for 20 years, more than recouping his expenses, but, as it proved valuable for communication purposes, it was allowed to stay after the end of the permit.

Installations

The lace-like iron detailing

Since the beginning of the 20th century, the Eiffel Tower has been used for radio transmission. Until the 1950s, there was an aerial running from the top to anchor points on the Champ de Mars. This aerial was fed by long-wave transmitters which were in small housings on the Champ de Mars. Since 1957, the Eiffel Tower has been used as transmission tower for FM and television.

The Eiffel Tower has two restaurants: Altitude 95, on the first floor (95 m above sea level); and the Jules Verne, an expensive gastronomical restaurant on the second floor, with a private elevator. This restaurant has one star in the Michelin Red Guide.

Events

Looking down from the top observation deck

Father Theodor Wulf in 1910 took observations of radiant energy radiating at the top and bottom of the Eiffel Tower, discovering more than was expected at the top, and thereby detecting what are today known as cosmic rays.

In 1925, the con artist Victor Lustig twice "sold" the Eiffel Tower for scrap.

In 1930, the Tower lost the title of the World's tallest structure when the Chrysler Building was completed in New York.

From 1925 to 1934, illuminated signs for Citroën adorned three of the tower's four sides, making it the tallest billboard in the world at the time.

Looking down from the first level at one of the feet of the Tower

When the Nazis occupied Paris in 1940, the lift cables were cut by the French so that Hitler would have to climb the 1,665 steps to the summit - the part to repair them was allegedly impossible to obtain because of the war, though it was working again within hours of the departure of the Nazis. He chose to stay on the ground. A Frenchman also scaled the tower during the German occupation to hang the French flag. In August 1944, when the Allies were nearing on Paris, Hitler ordered general Dietrich von Choltitz, the military governor of Paris, to burn down the tower along with the rest of the city. He disobeyed the order.

On January 3, 1956 a fire damaged the top of the tower.

In 1959 the present radio antenna was added to the top.

In the 1980s an old restaurant and its supporting iron scaffolding midway up the tower was dismantled; this was purchased and reconstructed in New Orleans, Louisiana, originally as the Tour Eiffel Restaurant, more recently known as the Red Room.

In the year 2000, flashing lights and four high-power searchlights were installed on the tower. Since then the light show has become a nightly event. The searchlights on top of the tower make it a beacon in Paris' night sky.

The tower received its 200,000,000th guest on November 28, 2002.

At 19:20 on July 22, 2003, a fire occurred at the top of the tower in the broadcasting equipment room. The entire tower was evacuated; the fire was extinguished after forty minutes, and there were no reports of injuries.

The 72 names

View to the northwest from the Tower, across the River Seine, showing the Trocadéro gardens and the Palais de Chaillot. A pleasure boat cruises on the river

Main articles: The 72 names on the Eiffel Tower, and [[{{{2}}}]], and [[{{{3}}}]], and [[{{{4}}}]], and [[{{{5}}}]]

On the tower, the 72 names of French scientists and engineers are engraved in recognition of their contributions. This engraving was overpainted at the beginning of the 20th century and restored in 1986-1987 by SNTE ("Société Nouvelle d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel"), a company contracted to operate business related to the Tower (the Tower is owned by the City of Paris).

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Image copyright

Images of the Eiffel Tower have long been in the public domain; however in 2003, the operating company SNTE installed a new lighting display on the tower, the design of which they then copyrighted. The effect is to put the night-time image of the tower under copyright. It follows that it is no longer legal to publish contemporary photographs of the tower without permission.

The imposition of copyright has been controversial. The Director of Documentation for SNTE, Stéphane Dieu, commented in January 2005 "It is really just a way to manage commercial use of the image, so that it isn't used in ways we don't approve". However, it also potentially has the effect of prohibiting tourist photographs of the tower at night from being published. [1]

In a recent decision, the Court of Cassation ruled that an architect could not claim copyright over images including one building the design of which they held the copyright of if the photograph encompasses a larger area. This seems to indicate that SNTE cannot claim copyright on photographs of Paris incorporating the lighted tower at night.

It should be noted that under American law, copyright does not go so far, and photography of a publicly visible building is freely permitted, whether or not the photograph encompasses a larger area or just the building itself. However, copyright infringers could potentially be sued for civil tort before French courts, and damages recouped by asking the execution of the decision from American courts.

Grande Arche in paris

2006-02-05T04:13:00.000-08:00

Grande Arche

The Grande Arche, La Défense district

The Grande Arche de la Fraternité is a monument in the business district of La Défense to the west of Paris. It is usually known as the Arche de la Défense or simply as La Grande Arche.

An international design competition was launched at the initiative of French president François Mitterrand. Danish architect Johann Otto von Spreckelsen (1929-1987) designed it to be a 20th century version of the Arc de Triomphe: a monument to humanity and humanitarian ideals rather than military victories. The construction was begun in 1982. After Spreckelsen's death in 1987, his associate, French architect Paul Andreu, completed the work in 1989/90.

The Arche is almost a perfect cube (width: 108m, height: 110m, depth: 112m; it has been suggested that the structure looks like a four dimensional hypercube projected onto the three dimensional world). It has a pre-stressed concrete frame covered with glass and Carrara marble from Italy and was built by the French civil engineering company Bouygues.

The Grande Arche seen from the Arc de Triomphe on the Axe historique

The almost-completed Arche was inaugurated in July 1989, with grand military parades that marked the bicentenary of the French revolution. It completed the line of monuments that forms the Axe historique running through Paris. The Arche is turned at an angle of 6.33° on this axis however, a peculiarity which has been explained by several theories. In particular the architect is said to have wanted to emphasise the depth of the monument, while the specific angle was chosen to create symmetry with the similarly-skewed Louvre at the other end of the Axe. However, it seems the most important reason was mundanely technical. With a métro station, an RER station and a motorway all situated directly underneath the Arche, the angle was the only way to accommodate the structure's giant foundations.

The two sides of the Arche house government offices. The roof section is an exhibition centre. The vertical structure visible in the photograph is the lift scaffolding. Impressive views of Paris are to be had from the lifts taking visitors to the roof.

The Grande Arche

In 1999 French urban climber Alain "Spiderman" Robert scaled the structure's exterior wall using only his bare hands and feet and with no safety devices of any kind.

In the 2004 film, Godzilla: Final Wars, it is one of the Parisian monuments destroyed by the giant insect Kamacuras.

eglise de la Madeleine in paris

2006-01-20T13:18:00.000-08:00

Église de la Madeleine

Église de la Madeleine, Paris

L'église de la Madeleine, or L'église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine (or simply "La Madeleine"), is a church in the 8th arrondissement of Paris that was designed as a temple to the glory of Napoleon's army.

History

Two false starts were made on building a church on this site. The first design, commissioned in 1757 with construction begun in 1764, was by Pierre Contant d'Ivry, and was based on Mansart's Late Baroque church of Les Invalides, with a dome surmounting a Latin cross. In 1777 d'Ivry died and he was replaced by Guillaume-Martin Couture, who decided to start anew, razing the incomplete construction and basing his new design on the Roman Pantheon. At the start of the Revolution, however, only the foundations had been finished and work was discontinued, while debate simmered as to what purpose the building might serve in Revolutionary France: a library, a ballroom, and a marketplace were all suggested.

The Maison Carrée, Nîmes, for comparison

In 1806 Napoleon made his decision, commissioning Pierre-Alexandre Barthélémy Vignon (1763-1828) to build a Temple de la Gloire de la Grande Armée (Temple to the Glory of the Great Army), with Vignon basing his design on an antique temple. The then-existing foundations were razed and work begun anew. With completion of the Arc de Triomphe in 1808, the original commemorative role for the temple was blunted. After the fall of Napoleon, with the Catholic reaction during the Restoration, King Louis XVIII determined that the structure would be used as a church. Vignon died in 1828 before completing the project and was replaced by Jacques-Marie Huvé. In 1837 it was briefly suggested that the building might best be utilized as a train station, but the building was finally consecrated as a church in 1842.

Architecture

Interior of the Église de la Madeleine, Paris

The Madeleine is built in the Neo-Classical style and was inspired by the Maison Carrée at Nîmes, the best-preserved of all Roman temples. Its 52 Corinthian columns, each 20 metres high, are carried around the entire exterior of the building. The pediment is adorned by a sculpture of the Last Judgement by Lemaire, and the church's bronze doors bear reliefs representing the Ten Commandments.

Inside, the church has a single nave with three domes, lavishly gilded in a decor inspired by Renaissance artists. At the rear of the church, above the high altar, stands a statue by Charles Marochetti depicting St Mary Magdalene being carried up to heaven by two angels. The half-dome above the altar is covered with a fresco by Jules-Claude Ziegler, entitled The History of Christianity, showing the key figures in the Christian religion with - perhaps inevitably - Napoleon occupying centre stage.

Today

The Madeleine is affiliated with a Benedictine abbey, and masses and the most fashionable weddings in Paris are still celebrated here.

The church has a celebrated pipe organ, built by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll (1811-1899), which is widely regarded as one of the best in Paris. The composers Camille Saint-Saëns and Gabriel Fauré were both organists at the Madeleine, and the funerals of Frédéric Chopin, Saint-Saëns, and Fauré were held there.

To its south lies the Place de la Concorde, and to the east is the Place Vendôme.

Place de la Concorde in paris

2006-01-20T13:17:00.000-08:00

Place de la Concorde

The Place de la Concorde seen from the Pont de la Concorde; in front, the Obelisk, behind, the Rue Royale and the Church of the Madeleine; on the left, the Hôtel de Crillon.

The Place de la Concorde is one of the major squares in Paris, France. It is located in the VIIIe arrondissement, at the eastern end of the Champs-Élysées.

History

The Place was designed by Jacques Ange Gabriel in 1755 as a moat-skirted octagon between the Champs-Élysées to the west and the Tuileries Gardens to the east. Filled with statues and fountains, the area was named Place Louis XV to honor the then king. The Place was showcasing an equestrian statue of the king, which had been commissioned in 1748 by the city of Paris, sculpted mostly by Edmé Bouchardon, and completed by Jean-Baptiste Pigalle after the death of the former.

Place de la Concorde in 1885. The Palais Bourbon can be seen in the background, beyond the Seine river

At the north end, two magnificent identical stone buildings were constructed. Divided by the rue Royale, these structures are among the best examples of that period's architecture and remain there to this day. Initially they served as government offices and the eastern one continues as the French Naval Ministry. Shortly after its construction, the western building was made into the luxurious Hôtel de Crillon (still operating today) where Marie Antoinette soon spent afternoons relaxing and taking piano lessons. The hôtel also served as the headquarters of the occupying German army during World War II.

During the French Revolution the statue of King Louis XV was torn down and the area renamed "Place de la Révolution". In a grim reminder to the nobility of a gruesome past, when the "Place des Grèves" was a site where the nobility and members of the bourgeoisie were entertained watching convicted criminals being dismembered alive, the new revolutionary government erected the guillotine there. The first notable to be executed at the Place de la Révolution was King Louis XVI, on January 21, 1793. Other important people guillotined there, often in front of cheering crowds, were Queen Marie Antoinette, Madame Elisabeth, Madame du Barry, Danton, Lavoisier, and Robespierre. The guillotine was most active during the "Great Terror", in the summer of 1794, when in a single month more than 1,300 people were executed. With the "Reign of Terror" subsiding after the Thermidorian Reaction (July 27, 1794).

A fountain on the Place de la Concorde. Behind: the Hôtel de Crillon; to the left: the embassy of the United States of America.

Following the Revolution, the Place underwent a series of transformations and several further changes of name: by 1795 the government began calling it Place de la Concorde (French for concord), then Place Louis XV (again), Place Louis XVI, Place de la Chartre, and once again Place de la Concorde. This name was made official in 1830.

The Place today

Today, the bloody history of Place de la Concorde is lost behind the daily hordes of motor vehicles rushing past the obelisk. The obelisk lies in the line of the axe historique. The United States embassy is located just off the square in the northwest corner, west of the Hôtel de Crillon. To the north lies the Église de la Madeleine. The Place is also home to the headquarters of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, the rulemaking body for Formula One and other world motorsport.

Features

The eastern end of the Champs-Élysées is located to the west of the Place
The western end of the Tuileries Gardens is located to the east of the Place. The Galerie nationale du Jeu de Paume and the Musée de l'Orangerie, both in the Tuileries Gardens, border the Place
North of the Place: two identical stone buildings, divided by the Rue Royale. The eastern one houses the French Naval Ministry. The western one is the Hôtel de Crillon. The Rue Royale leads to the Église de la Madeleine. The Embassy of the United States is located in the corner of the Place at the intersection of Avenue Gabriel and Rue Boissy d'Anglas
The northeastern corner of the Place marks the western end of the Rue de Rivoli
South of the Place: the Seine river, crossed there by the Pont de la Concorde, built by Jean-Rodolphe Perronnet between 1787-1790 and widened between 1930-1932. The Palais Bourbon, home of the French National Assembly, is located across the bridge, on the opposite bank of the river
At each corner of the octagon formed by the Place are statues, created by Jacob Ignaz Hittorf, representing the French cities of Lille, Strasbourg, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nantes, Brest and Rouen.

The Obelisk of Luxor stands on top on a pedestal that recounts the special machineries and maneuvers that were used to transport it.

Obelisk

The center of the Place is occupied by a giant Egyptian obelisk decorated with hieroglyphics exalting the reign of the pharaoh Ramses II. It once marked the entrance to the Luxor Temple. The viceroy of Egypt, Mehemet Ali, presented the 3,300-year-old Luxor Obelisk to France in 1829. King Louis-Philippe had it placed in the centre of Place de la Concorde in 1833. Given the technical limitations of the day, transporting it was no easy feat — on the pedestal are drawn diagrams explaining the machineries that were used for the transportation. The red granite column rises 23 metres high, including the base, and weighs over 250 tonnes. Missing its original cap, believed stolen in the 6th century BC, in 1998 the government of France added a gold-leafed pyramid cap to the top of the obelisk. The obelisk is flanked on both sides by two fountains constructed at the time of its erection on the Place.

Without warning, in 2000, French urban climber, Alain "Spiderman" Robert, using only his bare hands and feet and with no safety devices of any kind, scaled the obelisk all the way to the top.

Transportation

The Place is served by the Concorde station of the Paris Métro.

Place de la Bastille paris

2006-01-20T13:16:00.000-08:00

Place de la Bastille

July Column

The Place de la Bastille is a square in Paris, where the Bastille prison stood until it was stormed and subsequently torn down between July 14, 1789 and July 14, 1790 during the French Revolution; no vestige remains.

The square straddles 3 arrondissements of Paris, namely the 4th, 11th and 12th.

Place de la Bastille

At the centre of the square is the July Column (Colonne de juillet) which commemorates the events of the July Revolution (1830). On the square there are also the Opera Bastille and the Bastille metro station.

The square is a popular venue for Parisians and tourists, and it is often home to concerts and other such events. The area northeast of Bastille has a lively night life, with many cafés, bars, night clubs, and concert halls.

Mona Lisa ,la jocande , in louvre musem paris

2006-01-20T13:13:00.000-08:00

Mona Lisa

Leonardo da Vinci, circa 1503–1507

oil on poplar, 77 × 53 cm

Musée du Louvre

The Mona Lisa is an oil painting on poplar wood by Leonardo da Vinci and is perhaps the most famous painting in art history; few other works of art are as romanticized, celebrated, or reproduced. It is owned by the French government and hangs in the Musée du Louvre in Paris.

The painting shows a woman looking out at the viewer with what is often described as an "enigmatic smile".

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Title

The title Mona Lisa stems from the Giorgio Vasari biography of Leonardo da Vinci, published 31 years after Leonardo's death. In it, he identified the sitter as Lisa, the wife of wealthy Florentine businessman Francesco del Giocondo. "Mona" is a common Italian contraction of "madonna," meaning "my lady," so the title means "My Lady Lisa." In modern Italian the short form of "madonna" is usually spelled "Monna," so the title is sometimes, though rarely, given as Monna Lisa.

The alternative title La Gioconda is the feminine form of Giocondo. In Italian giocondo also means 'light-hearted' ('jocund' in English), so "gioconda" means "light hearted woman". Because of her smile, this version of the title plays on this double-meaning, as in the French "La Joconde."

Both Mona Lisa and La Gioconda became established as titles for the painting in the 19th century. Before these names became established, the painting had been referred to by various descriptive phrases, such as "a certain Florentine lady" and "a courtesan in a gauze veil."

History

Leonardo began the Mona Lisa in 1503 and completed it three or four years later.

The painting was brought from Italy to France by Leonardo in 1516 when King François I invited the great painter to work at the Clos Lucé near the king's chateau in Amboise. The King bought the painting for 4,000 écus.

At some point after Leonardo's death the painting was cut down by having part of the panel at both sides removed. Originally there were two columns on either side of the figure, as we know from early copies. The edges of the bases can still be seen.

The Louvre in Paris is the painting's current location

The painting first resided in Fontainebleau, later in the Palace of Versailles. After the French Revolution, it was moved to the Louvre. Napoleon I had it moved to his bedroom in the Tuileries Palace; later it was returned to the Louvre. During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–1871, it was moved from the Louvre to a hiding place elsewhere in France.

The painting was not very well-known until the mid-nineteenth century, when it began to be appreciated by artists of the emerging Symbolist movement, who associated it with their ideas about feminine mystique. This view of the painting was most fully expressed by the critic Walter Pater in his 1867 essay on Leonardo, in which he described her as a kind of mythic embodiment of eternal femininity, who is "older than the rocks among which she sits" and who "has been dead many times and learned the secrets of the grave".

The painting's increasing fame was further emphasised when it was stolen on August 21, 1911. On September 7, avant-garde French poet Guillaume Apollinaire, who had once called for the Louvre to be "burnt down", was arrested and put in jail on suspicion of theft. His friend Pablo Picasso was brought in for questioning, but both were later released. At the time, the painting was believed lost forever. It turned out that Louvre employee Vincenzo Peruggia stole it by simply walking out the door with it hidden under his coat. The theft was master-minded by Eduardo de Valfierno, a con-man who had commissioned the French art forger Yves Chaudron to make copies of the painting so he could sell them as the missing original. Because he didn't need the original for his con, he never contacted Peruggia again after the crime. After having kept the painting in his apartment for two years, Peruggia grew impatient and was finally caught when he attempted to sell it to a Florence art dealer; it was exhibited all over Italy and returned to the Louvre in 1913.

During World War II the painting was again removed from the Louvre and brought to safety, first in Chateau Amboise, then in the abbey of Loc-Dieu and finally in the Ingres Museum in Montauban.

Tourists viewing the Mona Lisa through security glass (prior to 2005 move)

In 1956, the lower part of the painting was severely damaged after an acid attack. Several months later someone threw a stone at it. It is now covered by security glass.

From December 14, 1962 to March of 1963, the painting was lent to the United States and shown in New York City and Washington D.C. In 1974, the painting went on tour again and was exhibited in Tokyo and Moscow before being returned to the Louvre for good.

Prior to the 1962-63 tour, the painting was assessed for insurance purposes at $100 million. According to the Guinness Book of Records, this makes the Mona Lisa the most valuable painting ever insured [1]. As an expensive painting, it has only recently been surpassed by Pablo Picasso's Garçon à la pipe, which was sold for $104.1 million on May 4, 2004. However, this does not account for the change in prices due to inflation -- $100 million in 1962 is approximately $608 million in 2004 when adjusted for inflation using the US consumer price index. [2].

On April 6, 2005 — following a period of curatorial maintenance, recording, and analysis — the painting was moved, within the Louvre, to a new home in the museum's Salle des Etats. It is displayed in a purpose-built, climate-controlled enclosure behind unbreakable, non-reflective glass.

Identity of the model

There has been much speculation about the identity of the sitter. Vasari identified the subject to be the wife of the socially prominent Francesco del Giocondo. It is known that del Giocondo, a wealthy silk merchant of Florence and a prominent government figure, really existed. Little is known about his wife, Lisa Gherardini, except that she was born in 1479 and raised at the family's Villa Vignamaggio in Tuscany, and that she married del Giocondo in 1495.

During the last years of his life, Da Vinci spoke of a portrait "of a certain Florentine lady done from life at the request of the magnificent Giuliano de' Medici." No evidence has been found that indicates a link between Lisa Gherardini and Giuliano de' Medici, but then the comment could instead refer to one of the two other portraits of women executed by Da Vinci. A later anonymous statement created confusion when it linked the Mona Lisa to a portrait of Francesco del Giocondo himself – perhaps the origin of the controversial idea that it is the portrait of a man.

Dr. Lillian Schwartz of Bell Labs suggests that the Mona Lisa is actually a self-portrait. She supports this theory with the results of a digital analysis of the facial features of Leonardo's face and that of the famous painting. When flipping a self-portrait drawing by Leonardo and then merging that with an image of the Mona Lisa using a computer, the features of the faces align perfectly. Critics of this theory suggest that the similarities are due to both portraits being painted by the same person using the same style. Additionally, the drawing on which she based the comparison may not be a self-portrait.

Maike Vogt-Lüerssen argues that the woman behind the famous smile is Isabella of Aragon, the Duchess of Milan. Leonardo was court painter for the Duke Of Milan for 11 years. The pattern on Mona Lisa's dark green dress, Vogt-Lüerssen believes, indicates that she is a member of the house of Visconti-Sforza. Her theory is that the Mona Lisa was the first official portrait of the new Duchess of Milan, which requires that it was painted in spring or summer 1489 (and not 1503).

The Louvre book, "Leonardo Da Vinci At The Louvre" says that "The discovery a few years ago of an archival document, confirming clearly that the sitter is indeed Lisa Gherardini ... has resolutely ended the debate".

Aesthetics

The portrait presents the subject from just above the bust, with a distant landscape visible as a backdrop. Leonardo used a pyramid design to place the woman simply and calmly in the space of the painting. Her folded hands form the front corner of the pyramid. Her breast, neck, and face glow in the same light that softly models her hands. The light gives the variety of living surfaces an underlying geometry of spheres and circles, which includes the arc of her famous smile. Sigmund Freud interpreted the 'smile' as signifying Leonardo's erotic attraction to his dear mother; others have described it as both innocent and inviting. It is said by some that the painting is centered on the heart, as is illustrated in this version.

Detail of the face, showing the subtle shading effect of sfumato, particularly in the shadows around the eyes.

Many researchers have tried to explain why the smile is seen so differently by people. The explanations range from scientific theories about human vision to curious supposition about Mona Lisa's identity and feelings. Professor Margaret Livingstone of Harvard University has argued that the smile is mostly drawn in low spatial frequencies, and so can best be seen with one's peripheral vision [3]. Christopher Tyler and Leonid Kontsevich of the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute in San Francisco believe that the changing nature of the smile is caused by variable levels of random noise in human visual system [4]. Dina Goldin, Adjunct Professor at Brown University, has argued that the secret is in the non-static position of Mona Lisa's facial muscles, where our mind's eye unconsciously extends her smile; the result is an unusual dynamicity to the face that invokes subtle yet strong emotions in the viewer of the painting [5].

In late 2005, Dutch researchers from the University of Amsterdam ran the painting's image through an "emotion recognition" computer software developed in collaboration with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign [6]. The software found the smile to be 83 % happy, 9 % disgusted, 6 % fearful, 2 % angry, less than 1 % neutral, and not surprised at all. Rather than being a thorough analysis, the experiment was more of a demonstration of the new technology. The faces of ten women of Mediterranean ancestry were used to create a composite image of a neutral expression. Researchers then compared the composite image to the face in the painting. They used a grid to break the smile into small divisions, then checked it for each of six emotions: happiness, surprise, anger, disgust, fear, and sadness.

Although utilizing a seemingly simple formula for portraiture, the expressive synthesis that Leonardo achieved between sitter and landscape has placed this work in the canon of the most popular and most analyzed paintings of all time. The sensuous curves of the woman's hair and clothing, created through sfumato, are echoed in the undulating valleys and rivers behind her. The sense of overall harmony achieved in the painting—especially apparent in the sitter's faint smile—reflects Leonardo's idea of the cosmic link connecting humanity and nature, making this painting an enduring record of Leonardo's vision and genius.

The enigmatic woman is portrayed seated in what appears to be an open loggia (note the dark pillar bases on either side). Behind her a vast landscape recedes to icy mountains. Winding paths and a distant bridge give only the slightest indications of human presence. The blurred outlines, graceful figure, dramatic contrasts of light and dark, and overall feeling of calm are characteristic of Leonardo's style.

The painting was one of the first portraits to depict the sitter before an imaginary landscape. One interesting feature of the landscape is that it is uneven. The landscape to the left of the figure is noticeably lower than that to the right of her. This has led some critics to suggest that it was added later.

The painting has been restored numerous times; X-ray examinations have shown that there are three versions of the Mona Lisa hidden under the present one. The thin poplar backing is beginning to show signs of deterioration at a higher rate than previously thought, causing concern from museum curators about the future of the painting.

Role in popular culture and avant-garde art

The Mona Lisa has acquired an almost iconic status in popular culture. In 1963, pop artist Andy Warhol started making colorful serigraph prints of the Mona Lisa. Warhol thus consecrated her as a modern icon, similar to Marilyn Monroe or Elvis Presley. At the same time, his use of a stencil process and crude colors implies a criticism of the debasement of aesthetic values in a society of mass production and mass consumption. Today the Mona Lisa is frequently reproduced, finding its way on to everything from carpets to mouse pads.

As a cult painting, the Mona Lisa has enjoyed countless references in both popular culture and avant-garde art. It has been a subject of many songs, including:

"Mona Lisa" (1950), a ballad sung by Nat King Cole comparing his love to the painting, was the#1 Billboard Pop single for 8 weeks and went on to sell 3 million copies. The song was written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans for the film Captain Carey, USA and was awarded an Oscar. It was later used in the 1986 film "Mona Lisa". "Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa, men have named you, you're so like the lady with the mystic smile."

Bob Dylan's song "Visions of Johanna" (1966), which includes the lines "But Mona Lisa must have had the highway blues./You can tell by the way she smiles."

"Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters", a song on Elton John's 1972 album, Honky Chateau. It rose to#1 in the Billboard Music Charts

"Mona Lisa", the first track on country singer Willie Nelson's 1981 album, Somewhere over the Rainbow. The album rose to#1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. [7]

"Mona Lisa", a song on hip hop performer Slick Rick's 1988 album, The Great Adventures of Slick Rick. The album rose to#1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.

"Mona Lisa", is the first track on rock singer Jesse Malin's 2004 album, The Heat.

"A Mona Lisa", an unreleased song by the popular rock band Counting Crows. It was written by lead singer Adam Duritz [8] and recorded in 1992. [9]

"Mona Lisa", a song by the German electro-rock band Unheilig suggests her smile is the result of the singer's hand underneath her skirt.

"Mona Lisa", a rare song by Britney Spears. The song tells of a legendary female icon named "Mona Lisa" who has fallen from grace and is simply remembered for being mysterious and enigmatic, much like the painting. Interpretations of the lyrics have led to the comparisons between the Mona Lisa and Spears's career.

There have been many films, inspired by the painting that used variations of "La Gioconda" and "Mona Lisa" as titles. Some of these are about the painting itself, while others, such as the 1986 comedy drama Mona Lisa or the 2003 feminist drama Mona Lisa Smile with Julia Roberts are about women whose characters were inspired by the painting.

L.H.O.O.Q, a Mona Lisa parody by dadaist Marcel Duchamp

The avant-garde art world has also taken note of the undeniable fact of the Mona Lisa's popularity. Because of the painting's overwhelming stature, Dadaists and Surrealists often produce modifications and caricatures. In 1919, Marcel Duchamp, one of the most influential Dadaists, made a Mona Lisa parody by adorning a cheap reproduction with a moustache and a goatee, as well as adding the rude inscription LHOOQ, when read out loud in French sounds like "Elle a chaud au cul" (translating to "she has a hot arse" as a manner of implying the woman in the painting is in a state of sexual excitement and availability). This was intended as a Freudian joke, referring to Leonardo's alleged homosexuality. According to Rhonda R. Shearer, the apparent reproduction is in fact a copy partly modelled on Duchamp's own face. [10] Salvador Dalí, famous for his pioneering surrealist work, painted Self portrait as Mona Lisa in 1954.

Many works played, often in a humorous way, on the mysteries and controversies of Mona Lisa's history. Fantastic theories and conspiracies are often entertained by authors of fiction.

In 1952, science fiction/fantasy author Ray Bradbury published a short story titled "The Smile", which dealt with the reaction of people in a dystopic future to the Mona Lisa. The story places the painting on canvas, while the real painting is on poplar wood.

Bob Shaw's 1976 humorous short story "The Giaconda Caper", published in his collection "Cosmic Kaleidoscope", suggests that the painting is part of a sequence which together forms a brief animation, and that da Vinci even created a machine to view them.

The 1979 serial City of Death in the science fiction television series Doctor Who revolves around da Vinci making copies of the Mona Lisa. The story suggests that the painting now in the Louvre is painted on top of the message "This is a fake" written in modern felt tip pen.

A 1979 episode of the classic anime Lupin III entitled "Mona Lisa Smiles Twice" finds Lupin and his gang attempting to steal the Mona Lisa. After many attempts gone wrong, he finally succeeds at the end of the episode, only to discover a curator at the Louvre, to protect the original, began painting perfect replicas for tours and display. However, the curator has painted so many that even he does not know which is the original Mona Lisa from all of the duplicates.

Good Omens, a 1990 novel by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman features a character called Anthony Crowley who owns the original cartoon of the Mona Lisa and displays it as the only piece of art in his London flat. Crowley is a demon who has been on Earth since the Fall of Man. He met da Vinci in 16th Century Italy and obtained the cartoon whilst drinking with the polymath. Leonardo and Crowley agree that the cartoon is superior to the finished version ("I got the bloody smile all right in the roughs").

In the 1990 Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Most Toys", an alien who is an obsessive collector owns the Mona Lisa. He also acquires the android Data, who tries to imitate the painting's smile.

Eduard Gufeld, the late Ukrainian-American chess grandmaster, published a book in 1994 entitled My Life in Chess: The Search for La Gioconda. In 2001, a revised edition entitled Chess: The Search for the Mona Lisa was released. In the book, Gufeld discussed his quest to play the perfect chess masterpiece. He felt that he had realized this dream in his famous 1973 game against Bagirov.

An episode of the Disney cartoon Doug revolves around the making of a musical play about the painting coming to life and Leonardo having to find her.

The 1962 Looney Tunes cartoon "Louvre Come Back To Me!", starring Pepe Le Pew, features the Mona Lisa in the finale; as Le Pew's visible odor reaches the painting, it comes to life and says, "I can tell you chaps one thing: it's not always easy to hold this smile." This cartoon was also edited into the compilation feature Daffy Duck's Fantastic Island.

The February 8, 1999 edition of The New Yorker ran for its cover Dean Rohrer's Monica Lisa, an amalgamation of the Mona Lisa and Monica Lewinsky.

In Kurt Wimmer’s 2002 cult film Equilibrium, the Mona Lisa is found by the tetragrammaton, a group who seek out people who have "feelings". Since emotion is outlawed in the future in this film, those who refuse to take pills that inhibit the ability to feel are hunted down. Most who refuse to take the pills are holed up in the outer rim of the city and collect and protect art with their lives seeing it as something precious. The Mona Lisa is found and burned by flamethrowers as cleric John Preston finds the painting along with other artifacts securely found in a basement.

Mona Lisa as shown in The Da Vinci Code movie.

The painting features significantly in The Da Vinci Code, a popular novel written by Dan Brown in 2003 and a film due to be released on May 19, 2006 (directed by Ron Howard, starring Tom Hanks, Ian McKellen and Alfred Molina). Brown's hero, Harvard professor Robert Langdon, claims that the painting expresses Leonardo's belief in the "sacred feminine" and that the title is a coded reference to the Egyptian gods Amon and Isis, "Mona" being an anagram of the former and "Lisa" being a contraction of l'Isa, meaning Isis. This hidden reference is supposed to signify Leonardo's secret opposition to orthodox Christianity and belief in the ideal union of masculine and feminine principles, as does the sitter's androgynous features. In this context he also refers to the self-portrait theory.

In the 2006 novel The Kabalyon Key, written by historian Charles Westbrook, the true idenity of the Global Icon is revealed in a scrambled photo of the painting. The novel points out the fact that there is no documented evidence that Leonardo da Vinci painted it.

In the 2003 comedy Looney Tunes: Back In Action, stuntman DJ Drake (Brendan Fraser) looks through an embedded "X-ray" lens in a playing card — a queen of diamonds with Mona Lisa as Queen — to examine the original Mona Lisa at the Louvre, discovering a hidden map under the painting.

The titles of two episodes of The Simpsons were homophones of the painting's title (Moaning Lisa and Moe'N'a Lisa, respectively).

Tour Montparnasse tower

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Tour Montparnasse

The tower is 209 metres (690 feet) high. The restaurant and observation deck on top offer excellent views over Paris.

View across Paris from the observation deck of Tour Montparnasse.

Tour Montparnasse (Montparnasse Tower), a skyscraper at 33, avenue du Maine, in the Montparnasse area of Paris, France, constructed from 1969 to 1972, is the only skyscraper office building in Paris proper (the City of Paris).

Built on top of the Paris Metro station "Montparnasse-Bienvenüe", the 58 floors of the tower are mainly occupied by offices, while two floors are open to the public for viewing the city; the 56th floor with a restaurant, and the terrace on the top floor. On a clear day, the view covers a radius of 40 kilometers; aeroplanes can be seen taking off from Orly Airport. The guard-rail can be removed in only 120 seconds to allow helicopters to land.

At the time of construction, it was the highest building in Europe. The construction of La Grande Arche at La Défense places the tower in a second line of perspective across Paris: see Axe historique.

Its simple architecture, gigantic proportions and monolithic appearance have been often criticised for being out of place in Paris urban landscape and, as a result, two years after its completion the construction of skyscrapers in the city centre was banned. It is often said, only half-jokingly, that the best thing about working in the tower is that it's the only place in Paris from which the tower cannot be seen on the skyline. The design of the tower predates architectural trends that placed high importance on a view of the outside, and so only offices around the perimeter of each floor have windows (more modern skyscrapers are often designed to provide a window for every office, if possible).

In 1995, French urban climber, Alain "Spiderman" Robert, using only his bare hands and feet and with no safety devices of any kind, scaled the building's exterior glass and steel wall all the way to the top.

In 2005, studies showed that the tower contained a lot of asbestos material. Asbestos when inhaled, for instance during repairs, is a known carcinogen. As with the Jussieu Campus, the problem of removing the asbestos material from a large building used by thousands of people is acute. Projected completion times for removal are: 3 years if the building is emptied for the duration of the work, and 10 years if the building is not emptied.

Montparnasse area tower in paris

2006-01-20T13:11:00.000-08:00

Montparnasse

The Montparnasse Tower, which at 209m was the tallest building in Western Europe when it was built.

Montparnasse is an area of Paris, France, on the left bank of the river Seine, centered on the intersection of the Boulevard de Montparnasse and the Boulevard Raspail. Montparnasse was absorbed into the 14ème arrondissement in 1860.

The area also gives its name to:

Gare Montparnasse - trains to Brittany, TGV to Tours, Bordeaux, Le Mans; rebuilt as a modern TGV station;
The large Montparnasse - Bienvenüe métro station;
Cimetière du Montparnasse - the Montparnasse Cemetery, where Charles Baudelaire, Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Samuel Beckett are buried
Tour Montparnasse, a lone skyscraper.

The Pasteur Institute is located in the area. Beneath the ground are tunnels of the Catacombs of Paris.

There are a number of Breton restaurants specializing in crêpes (thin pancakes) in the heart of Montparnasse, a few blocks from the Gare Montparnasse, originally oriented to serving Bretons who arrived here from Brittany.

The name Montparnasse stems from the nickname "Mount Parnassus" (In Greek mythology, home to the nine Greek goddesses — the Muses — of the arts and sciences) given to the hilly neighborhood in the 17th century by students who came there to recite poetry.

The hill was levelled to construct the Boulevard Montparnasse in the 18th century.

During the French Revolution many dance halls and cabarets opened their doors.

Artistic Montparnasse

Like its counterpart, Montmartre, the neighborhood of Montparnasse became famous at the beginning of the 20th century, referred to as the Années Folles (the Crazy Years), when it was the heart of intellectual and artistic life in Paris. Between 1921 and 1924, the number of Americans in Paris swelled from 6,000 to 30,000. While from 1910 through the advent of WWII, Paris' artistic circles gradually relocated into Montparnasse, a cosmopoitan and modernized alternative the Montmartre district, the intellectual breeding grounds for the previous generation of artists. The change was obviously more substantial than the short walk over to the 14ème arrondissement. The Paris of Zola, Manet, France, Degas, Faure, a group that had assembled more on the basis of status affinity than actual artistic tastes, idulging collectively in the refinements of Dandyism, was at the opposite end of the economic, social, and political (though remaining philosophically and aesthetically linked) spectrum from the gritty, tough-talking, diehard, emigrant, artist-monks that peopled this little neighborhood with the mass of cultural export that has come to define 20th century.

Virtually penniless painters, sculptors, writers, poets and composers came from around the world to thrive in the creative atmosphere and for the cheap rent at artist communes such as La Ruche. Living without running water, in damp, unheated "studios" seldom free of rats , many sold their works for a few francs just to buy food. Jean Cocteau once said that poverty was a luxury in Montparnasse. First promoted by art dealers such as Henry Kahnweiler, today works by those artists sell in the millions of dollars.

They came to Montparnasse from all over the globe, from across Europe, including Russia and Ukraine, from the United States, Canada, Mexico, and from as far away as Japan. Manuel Ortiz de Zárate, Camilo Mori and others made their way from Chile where the profound innovations in art spawned the formation of the Grupo Montparnasse in Santiago. A few of the other artists who gathered in Montparnasse were Pablo Picasso, Guillaume Apollinaire, Ossip Zadkine, Moise Kisling, Marc Chagall, Nina Hamnett, Fernand Leger, Jacques Lipchitz, Max Jacob, Blaise Cendrars, Chaim Soutine, Michel Kikoine, Pinchus Kremegne, Amedeo Modigliani, Ford Madox Ford, Ezra Pound, Marcel Duchamp, Suzanne Duchamp-Crotti, Constantin Brancusi, Paul Fort, Juan Gris, Diego Rivera, Marevna, Tsuguharu Foujita, Marie Vassilieff, Léon-Paul Fargue, Alberto Giacometti, Andre Breton, Pascin, Salvador Dalí, Jean-Paul Sartre, Henry Miller, Samuel Beckett, Joan Miró and, in his declining years, Edgar Degas.

Montparnasse friends. In the 1915 photograph in front of La Rotonde seen here, is (left to right): Manuel Ortiz de Zárate, Henri-Pierre Roché (in uniform), Marie Vassilieff, Max Jacob and Pablo Picasso

La Rotonde at night 2002

Montparnasse was a community where creativity was embraced with all its oddities, each new arrival welcomed unreservedly by its existing members. When Tsuguharu Foujita arrived from Japan in 1913 not knowing a soul, he met Soutine, Modigliani, Pascin and Leger virtually the same night and within a week became friends with Juan Gris, Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. In 1914, when the English painter Nina Hamnett arrived in Montparnasse, on her first evening the smiling man at the next table at La Rotonde graciously introduced himself as "Modigliani, painter and jew". They became good friends, Hamnett later recounting how she once borrowed a jersey and corduroy trousers from Modigliani, then went to La Rotonde and danced in the street all night.

While most of the artistic community gathered in Montparnasse were struggling to eke out an existence, well-heeled American socialites such as Peggy Guggenheim, and Edith Wharton from New York City, Harry Crosby from Boston and Beatrice Wood from San Francisco were caught in the fever of creativity. Robert McAlmon, and Maria and Eugene Jolas came to Paris and published their literary magazine transition. Harry Crosby and his wife Caresse would establish the Black Sun Press in Paris in 1927, publishing works by such future luminaries as D. H. Lawrence, Archibald MacLeish, James Joyce, Kay Boyle, Hart Crane, Ernest Hemingway, John Dos Passos, William Faulkner, Dorothy Parker and others. As well, Bill Bird published through his Three Mountains Press then British heiress Nancy Cunard took it over.

Cafés rented tables to poor artists for hours at a stretch. Several, including La Closerie des Lilas, remain in business today.

Le Dôme at night 2002

The cafés and bars of Montparnasse were a meeting place where ideas were hatched and mulled over. The cafés at the centre of Montparnasse's night-life were in the Carrefour Vavin, now renamed Place Pablo-Picasso. In Montparnasse's heyday (from 1910 to 1920), the cafés Le Dôme, La Closerie des Lilas, La Rotonde, Le Select, and La Coupole—all of which are still in business— were the places where starving artists could occupy a table all evening for a few centimes. If they fell asleep, the waiters were instructed not to wake them. Arguments were common, some fueled by intellect, others by alcohol, and if there were fights, and there often were, the police were never summoned. If you couldn't pay your bill, people such as La Rotonde's proprietor, Victor Libion, would often accept a drawing, holding it until the artist could pay. As such, there were times when the café's walls were littered with a collection of artworks, that today would make the curators of the world's greatest museums drool with envy.

There were many areas where the great artists congregated, one of them being near Le Dôme at no. 10 rue Delambre called the Dingo Bar. It was the hang-out of artists and expatriate Americans and the place where Canadian writer Morley Callaghan came with his friend Ernest Hemingway, both still unpublished writers, and met the already established F. Scott Fitzgerald. When Man Ray's friend and Dadaist, Marcel Duchamp, left for New York, Man Ray set up his first studio at l'Hôtel des Ecoles at no. 15 rue Delambre. This is where his career as a photographer began, and where James Joyce, Gertrude Stein, Jean Cocteau and the others filed in and posed in black and white.

The rue de la Gaité in Montparnasse was the site of many of the great music-hall theatres, in particular the famous "Bobino."

Great artists performed at the Bobino Nightclub.

On their stages, using then-popular single name pseudonyms or one birth name only, Damia, Kiki, Mayol and Georgius, sang and performed to packed houses. And here too, Les Six was formed, creating music based on the ideas of Erik Satie and Jean Cocteau.

The poet Max Jacob said he came to Montparnasse to "sin disgracefully," but Marc Chagall summed it up more elegantly when he explained why he had gone to Montparnasse: "I aspired to see with my own eyes what I had heard of from so far away: this revolution of the eye, this rotation of colors, which spontaneously and astutely merge with one another in a flow of conceived lines. That could not be seen in my town. The sun of Art then shone only on Paris."

While the area attracted people who came to live and work in the creative and/or bohemian environment, it also became home for political exiles such as Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky, Porfirio Diaz, and Simon Petlyura. But, World War II forced the dispersal of the artistic society and after the war Montparnasse never regained its splendour. Wealthy socialites like Peggy Guggenheim (1898-1979), who married artist Max Ernst, lived in the elegant section of Paris but frequented the studios of Montparnasse, acquiring what would become masterpieces that today hang in the Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Venice, Italy.

The Musée du Montparnasse opened in 1998 at 21 Avenue du Maine. Although operating with a tiny city grant, the museum is a non-profit operation.

Musee du Montparnasse

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Musée du Montparnasse

The Musée du Montparnasse is a museum at 21. Avenue du Maine in the Montparnasse Quarter of Paris, France. The museum opened its doors on May 28, 1998. Located at the site of the former early 1900s atelier of the Russian painter, Marie Vassilieff, it was founded by Roger Pic and Jean-Marie Drot as a non-profit operation.

The museum provides visitors with a history of the multitude of artists who came from around the world to live and work in Montparnasse at the beginning of the 20th century plus it puts on temporary exhibitions of works by Montparnasse artists, both past and present. During the years before and during World War I, Marie Vassilieff operated a canteen for artists where food and drink was provided as cheaply as possible to struggling painters such as Amedeo Modigliani, Chaim Soutine, Pablo Picasso and others. Before long it became the gathering place for others in the area and by 1913, Vassilieff's canteen was so widely known that Fernand Leger gave two lectures there on the topic of Modern art.

Today, as part of a membership program, the Musée du Montparnasse offers a once-a-month evening where members gather to enjoy a variety of cultural events.

Musee Picasso in paris

2006-01-20T13:06:00.000-08:00

Self Portrait

The Musée Picasso is located in the Hotel Sale on rue de Thorigny, in the Marais district of Paris. The mansion which houses the collection was built between 1656 and 1659 for Pierre Aubert, Lord of Fontenay, who became rich collecting the Salt Tax (the name of the building means "salted"). The architect was Jean Boullier, also known as Jean de Bourges, and is considered to be one of the finest historic houses in the Marais.

The mansion has changed hands several times through both sales and inheritances. The occupants have included: the Embassay of the Republic of Venice (1671); the Marechal de Villeroy; it was expropriated by the State during the Revolution; in 1815 it became a school in which Balzac studied; it also housed the municipal Ecole des Metiers d'Art. It was acquired by the City of Paris in 1964, and was granted historical monument status in 1968. The mansion was restored by Bernard Vitry and Bernard Fonquernie of the Monuments Historiques between 1974-1980.

The Hotel Sale was selected for the Musée Picasso after some contentious civic and national debate. A competition was held to determine who would design the facilities. The proposal from Roland Simounet was selected in 1976 from amongst the four that were submitted. Other proposals were submitted by Roland Castro and the GAU (Groupement pour l'Architecture et l'Urbanisme), Jean Monge, and Carlo Scarpa. For the most part, the interior of the mansion (which had undergone significant modifications) was restored to its former spacious state.

In 1968, France created a law that allowed permitting heirs to pay inheritance taxes with works of art instead of money, as long as the art is considered an important contribution to the French cultural heritage. This is known as a dation, and it is allowable only in exceptional circumstances. Dominique Bozo, a curator of national museums, selected those works that were to become the dation. This selection was reviewed by Jean Leymarie and ratified in 1979. It contained work of all techniques and from all periods, and is especially rare in terms of its excellent collection of sculptures. Upon Jacqueline Picasso's death in 1986, her daughter offered a new dation. The collection has also acquired a number of works through purchases and gifts.

Picasso said that "I am the greatest collector of Picassos in the world." He had amassed a enormous collection of his own work by the time of his death in 1973, ranging from sketchbooks to finished masterpieces. The Musée Picasso contains more than 3000 different art works by Pablo Picasso including drawings, ceramics and paintings. This is complemented by Picasso's own personal art collection including works by Cézanne, Degas, Rousseau, Seurat, de Chirico and Matisse. It also contains some Iberian bronzes and a good collection of primitive art. One of the most impressive aspects of the museum is that it contains a large number of works which Picasso painted after his seventieth birthday.

The museum has also made a real effort to present accompanying information. For example, the work of cartoonists of the time who mocked or caricatured his work is displayed with Picasso's work from the 1950s. There are a few rooms with thematic presentations, but the museum largely follows a chronological sequence, displaying painting, drawings, sculptures and prints. Other items on display include photographs, manuscripts, newspaper clippings and photographs to provide additional contextual information.

The second floor has a special area set aside for temporary exhibitions and prints. The third floor contains the library, the documentation and archives department (reserved for research), and the curators offices.

famous Musee d'Orsay in paris

2006-01-20T13:05:00.001-08:00

Musée d'Orsay
Inside the main hall

The Musée d'Orsay is a museum in Paris, situated on the left bank of the River Seine. It holds mainly French art from 1848 to 1914: paintings, sculptures, furniture, objets d'art and photography. It has one of the leading collections of Impressionist art in the world.

History

The building was originally a railway station and associated hotel, built in 1900 by Victor Laloux, and served as a terminus for the Chemins de Fer de Paris à Orléans (Paris-Orléans Railway). It was known as Gare d'Orsay, and was the first electrified urban rail terminal in the world, opened May 28, 1900. [1] The station closed to long-distance traffic in 1939, though some suburban trains continued to use it, and the hotel closed at the beginning of 1973.

The former station was used as a collection point for the dispatch of parcels to prisoners of war during the Second World War, and after the end of the war as a reception centre for liberated prisoners on their return; a plaque on the side of the building facing the River Seine commemorates this latter use. It served as the setting for several films, including Orson Welles' version of Franz Kafka's The Trial. It was at the Gare d'Orsay that General Charles de Gaulle held the press conference at which he announced his "availability to serve his country" (effectively placing himself at the head of a coup d'état) on 19 May 1958, ushering in the end of the French Fourth Republic.

The building was listed as a historical monument in 1978, and re-opened as a museum in December 1986. The chief architect was the Italian Gae Aulenti. There is a huge clock which still works in the main terminal of the museum.

View of Montmartre
behind one of two large clocks

Collections

Artists whose works are on display in the Musée d'Orsay include:

Paul Cézanne
Alfred Sisley
Gustave Courbet
- L'Origine du monde
Antonio de La Gandara
Edgar Degas
James McNeill Whistler
Édouard Manet
- Olympia
- The Luncheon on the Grass
Jean-François Millet
Claude Monet
Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Auguste Rodin
Georges Seurat
Vincent Van Gogh
- Portrait of Dr. Gachet
- Starry Night Over the Rhone

Access

Public transport: Metro Solférino, RER Musée d'Orsay (Paris Metro).

Note that as with many French museums, the Musée d'Orsay is closed on Mondays.

UNESCO exist in paris

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United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

UNESCO logo

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, commonly known as UNESCO, is a specialized agency of the United Nations system established in 1945. Its main objective is to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among the nations through education, science and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms (Article 1 of the UNESCO Constitution).

191 nations belong to UNESCO. The Organization is headquartered in Paris, France, with over 50 field offices and several institutes and centres throughout the world. UNESCO pursues its action through five major programmes: education, natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture and communication and information. Projects sponsored by UNESCO include literacy, technical, and teacher-training programmes; international science programmes; regional and cultural history projects, the promotion of cultural diversity; international cooperation agreements to secure the world cultural and natural heritage and to preserve human rights; and attempts to ameliorate the worldwide digital divide.

UNESCO has at times been highly controversial. During the 1970s and 1980s, Western countries, especially the United States and the United Kingdom, believed it was being used as a forum for Communist and Third World countries to attack the West. UNESCO developed a plan called the "New World Information Order", to stop alleged lies and misinformation being spread about developing countries. The West rejected it as an attempt by Third World and Communist states to destroy freedom of the press; the United States withdrew from the organization in protest in 1984, and the United Kingdom withdrew in 1985. (The UK rejoined in 1997, and the US rejoined in 2003.) UNESCO has also been criticized by some for its large and ponderous bureaucracy.

The organization's reforms included the following measures: the number of divisions in UNESCO was cut in half, allowing a corresponding halving of the number of Directors -- from 200 to under 100, out of a total staff of approximately 2,000 worldwide. At the same time, the number of field units was cut from a 1999 high of 79 to 52 today. Parallel management structures, including 35 Cabinet-level special advisor positions, were abolished. 209 negotiated staff departures and buy-outs took place from 1999–2003, causing the inherited $10 million staff cost deficit to disappear. The staff pyramid, which was the most top-heavy in the UN system, was cut back as the number of high-level posts was halved and the “inflation” of posts was reversed through down-grading many positions. Open competitive recruitment, results-based appraisal of staff, training of all managers and field rotation were instituted, as well as SAP systems for transparency in results-based programming and budgeting.

One of UNESCO's missions is to maintain a list of World Heritage Sites. These sites are important natural or historical sites whose preservation and safe keeping are deemed important for the world community. However UNESCO does not get involved with the preservation of the site.

UNESCO also maintains the list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, and since 1997, the Memory of the World International Register. In 2005, it awarded its first Sergei Eisenstein Medal for merit in cinematographic art.

UNESCO was also responsible for the founding of OANA, the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies. It provides funding to the International Council of Science. UNESCO is represented by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors.

UNESCO is entrusted to coordinate the activities of the International Decade for the Promotion of a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World (2001–2010) proclaimed by UN in 1998.

Every year, UNESCO promotes freedom of expression and freedom of the press as a basic human right by marking World Press Freedom Day on May 3. The event is held to remember, celebrate and emphasize the importance of press freedom as a crucial ingredient of any healthy, democratic and free society.

In 1972, UNESCO-CEPES was established in Bucharest, Romania as a de-centralized office for the European Centre for Higher Education. The centre promotes international cooperation in the sphere of higher education and also serves Canada, USA and Israel. Higher Education in Europe is the official journal published by UNESCO-CEPES.

In 1998, UNESCO began supporting free software (software that gives users freedom to modify and redistribute it). Most notably, UNESCO part-financed the building of the Free Software Directory. The remainder was financed by Free Software Foundation.

Directors General of UNESCO

Julian Huxley, United Kingdom (1946–1948)
Jaime Torres Bodet, Mexico (1948–1952)
John Wilkinson Taylor, United States (acting 1952–1953)
Luther Evans, United States (1953–1958)
Vittotino Veronese, Italy (1958–1961)
René Maheu, France (1961–1974; acting 1962)
Amadou-Mahtar M'Bow, Senegal (1974–1987)
Federico Mayor Zaragoza, Spain (1987–1999)
Koïchiro Matsuura, Japan (1999–present)

Tourism in France

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Chateau of Josselin, in Brittany, France.

France attracts more than 60 million tourists every year (as much as its population), making it the most popular tourist destination in the world. Recently however, its popularity has been diminishing with the increased convenience of cheaper countries in Eastern Europe. France is one of the classics among tourist countries. It offers mountain ranges, coastlines like in Brittany or along the Mediterranean Sea, cities with a rich cultural heritage, châteaux (castles) like Versailles, countryside, vineyards in Burgundy,

Paris

The capital city of Paris attacts tourists with museums such as the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay, the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and cathedral of Notre-Dame and dozens of other attractions.

Eastern France

In the eastern parts of France there are skiing resorts in the Alps. Other notable cities are Avignon with the Popes' palace, Arles, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Nice, Orléans on the Loire River, Toulouse on the Garonne, Strasbourg on the border with Germany, and Lyon.

France's tourist industry, however, is not limited to the towns and cities, Paris and the Alpine ski resorts. All over France rental accommodations and hotels are available. For example, the English like to spend their summers in the Dordogne valley, the Spanish vacation in Biarritz and St Jean de Luz on the Basque coast, and the Irish often visit Lourdes.

France offers a high-speed train service called TGV (train à grande vitesse) as well as regional services, both operated by the SNCF.

The role of tourism in the economy

If tourism came to a complete halt in France the economy would suffer greatly, with the possibility of an economic collapse.

Pasteur Institute in paris

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Pasteur Institute

The Pasteur Institute (French: Institut Pasteur) is a French non-profit private foundation dedicated to the study of biology, microorganisms, diseases and vaccines. It is named after Louis Pasteur, its founder and first director and who, in 1885 had successfully developed the first antirabies serum. It was founded in June 4th, 1887 and inaugurated in November 14th, 1888.

For over a century, the Pasteur Institute has been at the forefront of the battle against infectious disease. This worldwide biomedical research organization based in Paris was first to isolate HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, in 1983. Over the years, it has been responsible for breakthrough discoveries that have enabled medical science to control such virulent diseases as diphtheria, tetanus, tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, influenza, yellow fever and plague. Since 1908, eight Pasteur Institute scientists have been awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine and physiology.

History

The Pasteur Institute was founded in 1887 by Louis Pasteur, the French scientist whose early experiments with fermentation led to pioneering research in bacteriology. A giant in science, Pasteur discovered the principle of sterilization which came to be known as "pasteurization." His discoveries led to the universal practice of surgical antisepsis. He also developed techniques of vaccination to control bacterial infection, as well as a successful vaccine to treat rabies.

Louis Pasteur was committed both to basic research and its practical applications. As soon as his institute was created, Pasteur brought together scientists with various specialities. The first five departments were directed by two normaliens (graduates of the Ecole Normale Supérieure): Emile Duclaux (general microbiology research) and Charles Chamberland (microbe research applied to hygiene), as well as a biologist, Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov (morphological microbe research) and two physicians, Joseph Grancher (rabies) and Emile Roux (technical microbe research). One year after the inauguration of the Pasteur Institute, Roux set up the first course of microbiology ever taught in the world, then entitled Cours de Microbie Technique (Course of microbe research techniques).

Pasteur's successors have sustained this tradition, and it is reflected in the Pasteur Institute's unique history of accomplishment:

Emile Roux and Alexandre Yersin discovered the mechanism of action of Corynebacterium diphtheriae and how to treat diphtheria with antitoxins;
Alexandre Yersin discovered in 1894 the pathogen of bubonic plague, Yersinia pestis;
Paul Louis Simond discovered in 1898 the role of the flea in the transmission of plague;
Albert Calmette and Camille Guérin discovered how to culture the tuberculosis bacillus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (so called BCG or Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) and developed in 1921 the first effective antituberculosis vaccine;
Alphonse Laveran got the 1907 Nobel Prize for his research on the role of protozoans as disease agents (notably, his discovery of the malaria hematozoon)
Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov received the Nobel Prize in 1908 for contributions to scientific understanding of the immune system
Constantin Levaditi and Karl Landsteiner demonstrated in 1910 that poliomyelitis is due to a filterable virus;
Félix d'Herelle discovered in 1917 the bacteriophage, a virus that spread only inside bacteria;
Jules Bordet received the Nobel prize in 1919 for his discoveries on immunity, especially the implication of antibodies and the mechanisms of action of the complement;
Charles Nicolle received the Nobel prize in 1928 for unraveling the mystery of how typhus is transmitted, especially the role of the louse;
Jean Lagret developed in 1932 the first vaccine for yellow fever;
André Lwoff established in 1951 the existence of proviruses
Pierre Lépine developed in 1954 one of the first antipolio vaccines
Jean Pierre Changeux isolated in 1970 the first receptor to a neurotransmitter, the acetylcholine receptor.
Luc Montagnier and colleagues discovered the two HIV viruses that cause AIDS, in 1983 and 1985.

The biggest mistake by the Institute was ignoring a dissertation by Ernest Duchesne on the use of Penicillium glaucum to cure infections in 1897. The early exploitation of his discovery might have saved millions of lives, especially in World War I.

A new age of preventive medicine in France was made possible by such developments from the Pasteur Institute as vaccines for tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, yellow fever, poliomyelitis, and hepatitis B. The discovery and use of sulfonamides in treating infections was another breakthrough. Some researchers will win fame by discovering antitoxins and Daniel Bovet received the 1957 Nobel Prize for his discoveries on synthetic anti-histamines and curarizing compounds.

Since World War II, Pasteur researchers have sharply focused on molecular biology. Their achievements were recognized in 1965, when the Nobel Prize was shared by François Jacob, Jacques Monod and André Lwoff for their work on the regulation of viruses. In 1985, the first human vaccine obtained by genetic engineering from animal cells, the vaccine against hepatitis B, was developed by Pierre Tiollais and collaborators.

Pasteur Institute today

Today, the Pasteur Institute is one of the world's leading research centers; it houses 100 research units and close to 2,700 people, including 500 permanent scientists and another 600 scientists visiting from 70 countries annually. The Pasteur Institute is also a global network of 24 foreign institutes devoted to medical problems in developing countries; a graduate study center and an epidemiological screening unit.

The international network is present in the following cities and countries:

Algiers, Algeria
Bangui, Central African Republic
Brussels, Belgium
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Dakar, Senegal
Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe
Cayenne, French Guyana
Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang and Hanoi, Vietnam
Tehran, Iran
Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Tananarive, Madagascar
Casablanca, Morocco
Nouméa, New Caledonia
St Petersburg, Russia
Tunis, Tunisia
Athens, Greece
Bucharest, Romania
Niamey, Niger
Yaoundé, Cameroon
Seoul, South Korea
Pasteur Foundation, New York, USA
Canadian Pasteur Foundation, Montréal, Canada

Research Centers

The Pasteur Institute Paris has twelve research departments:

Structural biology and Chemistry
Structure and Dynamic of Genomes
Fundamental and Medical Microbiology
Microbial Pathogenesis
Cell biology and Infection
Virology
Parasitology
Developmental biology
Neuroscience
Immunology
Molecular medicine
Ecosystems and Epidemiology of Infectious diseases

In addition to the isolation of HIV-1 and HIV-2, in the recent past researchers at the Pasteur Institute have developed a test for the early detection of colon cancer, produced a genetically engineered vaccine against hepatitis B and a rapid diagnostic test for the detection of the Helicobacter pylori bacterium which is implicated in the formation of stomach ulcers. Other research in progress includes the study of cancer and specifically the investigation of the role of oncogenes, the identification of tumor markers for diagnostic tests and the development of new treatments. One area of particular interest is the study of human papilloma viruses (HPV) and their role in cervical cancers. Researchers are currently focusing on the development of various vaccines against many diseases including AIDS, malaria, dengue and the Shigella bacterium.

Currently, an extensive line of research aims at determining the complete genome sequences of several organisms of medical importance, in the hope of finding new therapeutic approaches. The Institute has contributed to genome-sequencing projects of the common yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, an organism which was so important for Louis Pasteur's history), completed in 1996, Bacillus subtilis completed in 1997, Mycobacterium tuberculosis completed in 1998.

Teaching Center

Since its founding, the Pasteur Institute has brought together scientists from many different disciplines for postgraduate study. Today, approximately 300 graduate students and 500 postdoctoral trainees from close to 40 different countries participate in postgraduate study programs at the Institute. They include pharmacists and veterinarians, as well as doctors, chemists and other scientists.

Epidemiological Reference Center

Strains of bacteria and viruses from many different countries are sent to the Institute's reference center for identification. In addition to maintaining this vital epidemiological resource, the Institute serves as advisor to the French government and the World Health Organization (WHO) of the United Nations. Pasteur scientists also help to monitor epidemics and control outbreaks of infectious diseases throughout the world. These activities have created a close collaboration between the Institute and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Vaccines and Diagnostic Products

Production and marketing of diagnostic tests developed in the Institute laboratories are the responsibility of Sanofi Diagnostics Pasteur, a subsidiary of the French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi, while production and marketing of vaccines are the responsibility of Pasteur Mérieux, Sérums et Vaccins.

Structure and Support

As a private, non-profit organization, the Pasteur Institute is governed by an independent Board of Directors, currently chaired by Bernard Esambert, vice-president of Groupe Bolloré Technologies and president of Bank Arjil. The Director General of the Pasteur Institute is Philippe Kourilsky.

By drawing financial support from many different sources, the Institute protects its autonomy and guarantees the independence of its scientists. The Institute's funding includes French government subsidies, consulting fees, licensing royalties, contract revenue and private contributions.

2006-01-18T11:07:00.000-08:00

Paris is the capital and largest city of France. Located on the river Seine in the country's north, it is a major cultural and political centre of Europe and one of the world's most visited cities.

Nicknamed "the City of Light" (la Ville Lumière) since lighting its main boulevards with gas street lamps in 1828, the city of Paris also has a reputation as a "romantic" city and the "heart of Europe". It is instantly recognised by the 324-metre brown metal Eiffel Tower located on the banks of the Seine.

As a cultural and political centre for Europe since the early Middle Ages, Paris contains many vestiges from its past including numerous art galleries, museums and theatres. More recently, it has grown into a significant centre of international trade with ever-growing modern business districts, including La Défense, which forms a kind of secondary city centre. In addition to the head offices of nearly half of all France's companies and the offices of many major international firms, Paris hosts the headquarters of many international trade and social organisations, including the OECD and UNESCO.

The city of Paris proper has 2.1 million inhabitants ^[1], but its centre of influence extends to cover a "Greater Paris" metropolitan area that has a population of about 11.1 million ^[2], over one sixth of the French population. Paris is the third largest metropolitan area in Europe (after Moscow and London), and approximately the 22nd most populous metropolitan area in the world.

The Île-de-France région, of which Paris is the capital, produces over a quarter of France's wealth, with a GDP of nearly €450 billion ^[3].

Because of its financial, business, political, and tourism activities, Paris today is one of the world's major transport destinations. Along with New York, London and Tokyo, it is often listed as one of the four major global cities.

Quartier Latin of paris

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The Quartier Latin (Latin Quarter) is an area in the 5th arrondissement and parts of the 6th arrondissement of Paris, France, on the left bank (south side) of the Seine, around the Sorbonne University.

The name derives from the Latin language, which was widely spoken in the Middle Ages in and around the University.

It currently still houses various higher education establishments, such as the École Normale Supérieure, the École des Mines and the Jussieu university campus. Other establishments such as the École Polytechnique have relocated to more spacious settings.

It was known for its lively atmosphere and many bistros.

Monuments

Le Collège de France
Le Panthéon
La Sorbonne
Les Thermes and l'Hôtel de Cluny
Le Palais du Luxembourg
Le Jardin du Luxembourg
Le Musée du Luxembourg
Le Théâtre de l'Odéon
Les Arènes de Lutèce
Le Couvent des Cordeliers
Le Palais de la Monnaie
L'École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts
L'Institut de France
L'Église Saint-Germain-des-Prés
L'Église Saint-Sulpice
L'Église de la Sorbonne

Jardin des Plantes in paris

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The Jardin des Plantes is the main botanical garden in France. It is situated in the 5ème arrondissement, Paris, on the left bank of the river Seine. It covers 28 hectares (280,000 m²).

Garden plan

Famous Great Gallery of Evolution

The Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle is situated within the garden. It is made up of four galleries: the Grande Galerie de l'Evolution, the Mineralogy Museum, the Paleontology Museum and the Entomology Museum. In addition to the gardens there is also an aquarium and a small zoo.

The Jardin de Plantes maintains a botanical school, which trains botanists, constructs demonstration gardens, and exchanges seeds to maintain biotic diversity. About 4500 plants are arranged by family on a one hectare (10,000 m²) plot.

Three hectares are devoted to horticultural displays of decorative plants. An Alpine garden has 3000 species with world-wide representation. Specialized buildings, such as the Orangerie and the Mexican and Australian hothouses present regional plants, not native to France. The Rose Garden has hundreds of species of roses and rose trees.

History

The garden was originally planted by Guy de La Brosse, Louis XIII's physician, in 1626 as a medicinal herb garden. It was originally known as the Jardin du Roi. In 1650 it opened to the public.

After a period of decline Jean-Baptiste Colbert took administrative control of the gardens. Dr Guy Crescent Fagon was appointed in 1693, and he surrounded himself with a team of brilliant botanists, including Joseph Pitton de Tournefort, Antoine de Jussieu, Antoine Laurent de Jussieu and his son Adrien-Henri.

The Comte de Buffon became the curator in 1739 and he expanded the gardens greatly, adding a maze, the Labyrinth, which remains today. In 1792 the Royal Menagerie was moved to the gardens from Versailles.

The Pantheon in paris

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The Panthéon

The Panthéon is a building in the Latin Quarter in Paris, France. It was originally built as a church dedicated to St. Genevieve, but after many vicissitudes now combines liturgical functions with its role as a famous burial place. It is an early example of Neoclassicism, with a façade modelled on the Pantheon in Rome, surmounted by a small dome that owes some of its character to Bramante's "Tempietto." Located in the Ve arrondissement on the top of Montagne Sainte-Geneviève, the Panthéon looks out over all of Paris.

History

King Louis XV vowed in 1744 that if he recovered from an illness he would replace the ruined church of Sainte-Geneviève (see entry Genevieve) with an edifice worthy of the patron saint of Paris. The Marquis of Marigny was entrusted with the fulfillment of the vow after the king regained his health. Marigny's protégé Jacques-Germain Soufflot (1713-1780) was charged with the plans, and the construction of the Panthéon began.

The area west of the Panthéon is quite busy at night.

The overall design was that of a Greek cross with a massive portico of Corinthian columns. Its ambitious lines called for a vast building 110 metres long by 84 metres wide, and 83 metres high. No less vast was its crypt.

The foundations were laid in 1758, but due to financial difficulties, it was only completed after Soufflot's death by his pupil, Jean-Baptiste Rondelet, in 1789. As it was completed at the start of the French Revolution, the new Revolutionary government ordered it to be changed from a church to a mausoleum for the interment of great Frenchmen.

Twice since then it has reverted to being a church, only to become again a temple to the great men of France.

In 1851 physicist Léon Foucault demonstrated the rotation of the Earth by his experiment conducted in the Panthéon, by constructing a 67 metre Foucault pendulum beneath the central dome. The original iron sphere from the pendulum was returned to the Panthéon in 1995 from the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers.

Foucault Pendulum in the Panthéon

Burial place

The inscription above the entrance reads AUX GRANDS HOMMES LA PATRIE RECONNAISSANTE ("For great men the grateful Nation").

Among those buried in its necropolis are Voltaire, Rousseau, Marat, Victor Hugo, Émile Zola, Jean Moulin, Marie Curie, Louis Braille and Soufflot, its architect.

On November 30, 2002, in an elaborate but solemn procession, six Republican Guards carried the coffin of Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870), the author of The Three Musketeers, to the Panthéon. Draped in a blue-velvet cloth inscribed with the Musketeers' motto: "Un pour tous, tous pour un" ("One for all, all for one,") the remains had been transported from their original interment site in the Cimetière de Villers-Cotterêts in Aisne, France. In his speech, President Jacques Chirac stated that an injustice was being corrected with the proper honoring of one of France's greatest authors.

Centre Georges Pompidou in france

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The Pompidou Centre's famous external skeleton of service pipes.

From Place Georges Pompidou

La Sirène, Fontaine Stravinsky, Paris

The Centre Georges Pompidou (constructed 1971–1977 and known as the Pompidou Centre in English) is a building in the Beaubourg area of the IVe arrondissement of Paris, near Les Halles and the Marais. Designed by Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers and Gianfranco Franchini, it houses the Bibliothèque publique d'information, a vast public library, and the Musée National d'Art Moderne. Because of its location, the Centre is known locally as Beaubourg.

Museum

Some of the art movements represented in the Musée National d'Art Moderne are Fauvism, Cubism, Surrealism and Abstract Expressionism. The museum has 50,000 works of art (including painting, sculpture, drawing, and photography), of which 1,500 to 2,000 are on public display.

Design

The building structure is very distinctive: it has been described by critics as "an oil refinery in the centre of the city". The coloured external piping is the special feature of the building. Air conditioning ducts are blue, water pipes are green and electricity lines are yellow. Escalators are red. White ducts are ventilation shafts for the underground areas. Even the steel beams that make up the Pompidou Centre's framework are on the outside.

The intention of the architects was to place the various service elements (electricity, water etc.) outside of the building's framework and therefore turn the building "inside out". The arrangement also allows an uncluttered internal space for the display of art works, drawing on ideas promulgated by Cedric Price's Fun Palace project (1964).

Access and surrounding area

The Place Georges Pompidou in front of the museum is noted for the presence of street performers such as mimes and jugglers.

The nearby Stravinsky Fountain (or Fontaine des automates) near the Centre Pompidou, features works by Jean Tinguely and Niki de Saint-Phalle.

Public transport: metro Rambuteau, Les Halles, metro and RER Châtelet - Les Halles.

Miscellaneous

The Centre is named after Georges Pompidou, who was president of France from 1969 to 1974, and was opened on January 31, 1977.

Organisationally it is linked to IRCAM.

The Centre's brutalist architecture may have been an inspiration for the similarly-named Borg cube.

Saint-Jacques Tower is one of the monuments of Paris.

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Saint-Jacques Tower is one of the monuments of Paris. It is located in the IVe arrondissement. This 52-m gothic tower is all that remains of the former church of Saint-Jacques-la-Boucherie.

Boucherie is the French word for butchery. The rich decoration which can be glimpsed beneath the sheeting covering the tower reflects the wealth of its patrons, the wholesale butchers of the nearby Halles market. It was dedicated to Saint James the Great under François I's reign, and welcomed pilgrims of way of St James. A statue of the saint was installed on the top of the tower during the 19th century. The church, with the exception of the tower, was demolished in 1797.

The architect Ballu restored the tower in the 19th century and its current setting, in a small, beautifully-kept city park, dates from second-empire improvements coinciding with the construction of the eastern section of the rue de Rivoli to the north and avenue Victoria to the south.

The tower was placed on its pedestal at this time. Huge quantities of earth were moved from this area in order to ensure the rue de Rivoli a smooth orderly path through the ancient quarter and the pedestal allowed the tower to retain its original elevation. The change in ground level can be best appreciated in rue St-Bon, just to the north east of the tower, where a staircase leads up to the original street level in rue des Lombards.

A statue of Blaise Pascal is located at the base of the tower, commemmorating the scientist's experiments on atmospheric pressure, performed here. Nowadays, a meteorological laboratory is also installed at the top of the tower.

The tower inspired Alexandre Dumas his play, La tour Saint-Jacques-la-boucherie, created in 1856.

As other donators of the church, Nicolas Flamel was buried under the church floor.

The tower has been surrounded by scaffolding and obscured by sheeting for some years as surveyors investigate the condition of the stone. Their recent findings show that happily the existing fabric is far more original than thought and that much ornamentation previously attributed to the imagination of the 19th century restorers is the genuine, late-medieval article. Unfortunately, the survey has also discovered serious cracking and no timetable has been given for an unveiling of the monument.

famous places in france :Le Marais

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The Place des Vosges is Paris' oldest square still with its original buildings, and also, according to some, Paris' most beautiful square.

Jo Goldenberg's restaurant on the Rue des Rosiers

Synagogue

Hôtel de Sens

Le Marais (pronounced / and meaning “the marsh” in French) is district in Paris, France, traditionally a Jewish and bourgeois area, but now also well-known nowadays for its gay nightlife.

It spreads across parts of the 3rd and 4th arrondissements in Paris (on the Rive Droite, or Right Bank, of the Seine).

In the eleventh century, the Ordre du Temple (Order of the Temple) cleared the marshlands in the northeast Philippe Auguste's enclosure. From the fourteenth century onwards, the aristocracy built large residences in the area, a trend which was accelerated by the creation of the Place Royale (which would become the Place des Vosges) by Henri IV in 1605.

The departure of the royal court to Versailles led to a decline in the district. Haussmann's urban redevelopment only marginally affected the Marais through new alignment rules and constructions, lending irregular width to many of the neighbourhood's streets.

Towards the end of the nineteenth century and in the first half of the twentieth century, the area surrounding the Rue des Rosiers became home to many Jews from Eastern Europe, further specializing local labour in the clothing industry. The Marais was therefore a target for the Nazis when they controlled the city.

In 1969, André Malraux made the Marais the first protected sector (secteur sauvegardé), with the area being home to many museums, art galleries and historic sites. As with other parts of Paris, where shops are sold but their front not entirely redone when changing business, this protection measure can lead to certain comical results, such as a shop with a "bakery" front selling shoes.

The rue des Rosiers is still a major center of the Jewish community. Walls feature announcements of Jewish events; there are bookstores specialized in Jewish books; and also there are a vast amount of restaurants and other outlets selling kosher food, especially traditional Jewish fare such as falafel.

The neighbourhood has experienced a growing gay presence since the 1980s, as evidenced by cafés, nightclubs, cabarets and shops.

Places and monuments of note

Hôtel de Sens
Place des Vosges, including the home of Victor Hugo
Musée Picasso

Place Vendome in paris

2006-01-17T07:05:00.000-08:00

Place Vendôme is a square in the 1st arrondissement of Paris located to the north of the Tuileries Gardens and east of the Église de la Madeleine. It is the starting point of the Rue de la Paix. Its regular architecture by Jules Hardouin-Mansart and pedimented screens canted across the corners give the rectangular Place Vendôme the aspect of an octagon.

After some false starts, the Place was laid out in 1702 as a monument to the glory of the armies of Louis XIV, the Grand Monarque and called Place des Conquêtes, to be renamed Place Louis le Grand, when the conquests proved temporary; an equestrian statue of the king was set up in its center.

Napoleon erected the present column, modelled after Trajan's Column, to celebrate the victory of Austerlitz; its spiralling veneers of bas-relief bronze plates (by the sculptor Pierre-Nolasque Bergeret) were made out of cannon taken from the combined armies of Europe, according to his propaganda. (The usual figure given is hugely exaggerated: 133 cannon were actually captured at Austerlitz.) After the Bourbon restoration the statue of the Emperor was pulled from the top of the column and refinished as a statue of Henri IV, which can be inspected on the Pont Neuf. A replacement statue of Napoleon, however, was erected by Louis-Philippe, and a better, more augustly classicizing one by Louis-Napoleon.

During the Paris Commune in 1871, the painter Gustave Courbet proposed the column to be disassemblate and re-erected in the Hôtel des Invalides. Courbet argue that since:

"Attendu que la colonne Vendôme est un monument dénué de toute valeur artistique, tendant à perpétuer par son expression les idées de guerre et de conquête qui étaient dans la dynastie impériale, mais que réprouve le sentiment d’une nation républicaine, [le citoyen Courbet] émet le vœu que le gouvernement de la Défense nationale veuille bien l’autoriser à déboulonner cette colonne." [1]

("As the Vendôme column is formally considered a monument devoided of any artistic value, tending to perpetuate with its expression ideas of war and conquest of the past imperial dynasty, that are reprovated by a republican nation's sentiment, citizen Courbet is to emit his wish that the National Defense government will allow him to disassemblate this column.")

This project wasn't followed, but, on April 12, 1871, the dismantlement of the imperial symbol was voted, and the column taken down on May 8, with no intentions of rebuilding it. The bronze plates were preserved. After the assault on the Paris Commune by Adolphe Thiers, the decision was taken to rebuild the column. On his own proposition, Gustave Courbet was condemned to pay part of the expenses, wich ruined him.

Communards pose with the statue from the toppled Vendôme column, 1871

The site of the square was formerly the hôtel of César, duc de Vendôme, the illegitimate son of Henri IV and his mistress Gabrielle d'Estrées. Mansart bought the building and its gardens, with an idea of converting it into building lots as a profitable speculation. The plan didn't materialize, and Louis XIV's minister of finance, Louvois, purchased the piece of ground, with the object of building a square, modelled on the successful Place des Vosges of the previous century. Louvois came into financial difficulties and nothing came of his project, either. After his death the king purchased the plot and commissioned Mansart to design a housefront that the buyers of plots round the Place would agree to adhere to. When the state finances ran low, the financier John Law took on the project, built himself a residence behind one of the facades, and the square was complete by 1720, just as his paper-money Mississippi bubble burst.

At the centers of the square's long sides, Mansart's range of Corinthian pilasters breaks forward under a pediment, to create palace-like fronts. The arcading of the formally rusticated ground floors does not provide an arcaded passageway as at Place des Vosges. The architectural linking of the windows from one floor to the next, and the increasing arch of their windowheads, provide an upward spring to the horizontals formed by ranks of windows. Originally the Place was accessible by a single street and preserved an aristocratic quiet, except when the annual fair was held there. Then Napoleon opened the Rue de la Paix, and the 20th century filled the Place Vendôme with traffic.

The Place Vendome has been famous for its fashionable and deluxe hotels: The Hôtel Ritz Paris, which is the Ritz, and the Bristol, which Edward VII preferred, now called the Vendôme. Many famous dress designers have had their salons in the square.

Bridges of paris : Pont Neuf

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The Île de la Cité seen from the West, with the Pont Neuf, in front, spanning the river.

The Pont Neuf is the oldest standing bridge in Paris, France, across the river Seine. Ironically, its name means "new bridge" in French (the name, coined in the early 17th century, stuck).

Standing by the western edge of the Île de la Cité (an island in the middle of the river), it connects the Left Bank of Paris (to the south) with the Right Bank.

The total length of the bridge is 278 m, its width 28 m. It is actually composed of two separate spans, one of 5 arches joining the south (left) bank to the Île de la Cité, another of 7 joining the island to the north (right) bank.

The Pont Neuf has small head-shaped sculpted decorations, as well as round places off the pavement so that passers-by can rest and watch the river

The decision to build the bridge was taken by King Henri IV, who would lay its first stone and inaugurate it. Its construction started in 1578 and was completed in 1604 (or 1607, depending on sources). The Pont Neuf is constructed as a series of many short arch bridges, as most bridges of that time were built. Contrary to the habits of the time, the bridge was the first stone bridge in Paris not to support houses in addition to a thoroughfare, and was also fitted with pavements protecting pedestrians from mud and horses. The bridge had heavy traffic from the beginning; it was for a long time the widest bridge in Paris. The structure has never been altered, although the bridge has undergone repair and renovation work. The wooden posts supporting the foundations are still the originals.

The nearest station of the Paris Métro is Pont Neuf.

Hotel Ritz Paris

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The Hôtel Ritz is a hotel located at 15 Place Vendôme, in the heart of Paris, France. The building was constructed in the early part of the 18th century as a private dwelling.

History

The façade was designed by Jules Hardouin Mansart, the creator of the "mansard" roof. Converted to a luxury hotel by César Ritz, it opened on June 1, 1898. Together with the culinary talents of minority partner Auguste Escoffier, César Ritz made the hotel synonymous with opulence, service, and fine dining. As a testament to this it is the only hotel in Paris to hold an Imperial Mark.

The Hôtel Ritz consists of the Vendôme and the Cambon buildings with rooms facing Place Vendôme and on the opposite side, rooms overlooking its famous garden. The hotel became a favorite of many of the world's wealthiest people, with luxurious suites named for some of its notable patrons from the past. These include Ernest Hemingway, for whom a bar in the hotel was named, and F. Scott Fitzgerald, Marcel Proust, King Edward VII of the United Kingdom, Rudolph Valentino, Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo plus couturier Coco Chanel who made the Ritz her home for more than thirty years.

Image:RitzParisGarden.jpg

In 1979, the Ritz family sold the hotel to Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed who refurbished it and in 1988 added the Ritz-Escoffier School of French Gastronomy. The hotel was where the owner's son, Dodi Al-Fayed and his companion, Diana, Princess of Wales, had visited when employee Henri Paul drove them from the hotel and crashed in the nearby Pont de l'Alma road tunnel.

The hotel in fiction

The hotel was featured in the 1966 movie How to Steal a Million, with a romantic scene between Audrey Hepburn and Peter O'Toole in front. A more comedic "role" was played in the 1991 movie Une époque formidable ("Wonderful Times"), where bums (Richard Bohringer and Gérard Jugnot) try to get a room, using an unforgettable verbal trick.

Tuileries Palace and garden

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Tuileries Palace before 1871 - View from the Louvre courtyard

Up to 1871 the Tuileries Palace was a palace in Paris, France, on the right bank of the River Seine.

History of the Tuileries

After the death of Henry II of France in 1559, his widow Catherine de' Medici (1519-1589) planned a new palace. She began the building of the palace of Tuileries in 1564, using architect Philibert de l'Orme. The name derives from the tile kilns or tuileries which previously occupied the site. The palace was formed by a range of long, narrow buildings with high roofs that enclosed one major and two minor courtyards. The building was greatly enlarged in the 1600s, so that the southeast corner of the Tuileries joined the Louvre.

Louis XIV resided at the Tuileries Palace while Versailles was under construction. His garden designer André Le Notre laid out parterres for the Tuileries in 1664, but when the king left, the building was virtually abandoned; it was used only as a theater, and its gardens became a fashionable resort of Parisians. During the French Revolution, Louis XVI and his family were forced to return from Versailles to the Tuileries under house arrest, starting in October 1789. They tried to escape on the evening of June 20, 1791, but were captured at Varennes and were returned to the Tuileries. The Tuileries were later stormed on August 10, 1792 by the Paris mob, who overwhelmed and massacred the Swiss Guards; the royal family fled through the gardens and took refuge with the Legislative Assembly.

Tuileries Palace before 1871 - View from the Tuileries Gardens

On November 9, 1789, the National Constituent Assembly, formerly the Estates-General of 1789, moved its deliberations from the tennis court at Versailles to the Tuileries, following the removal of the court to Paris. The Tuileries' covered riding ring, the Salle du Manège, home to the royal equestrian academy, provided the largest indoor space in the city, and accommodated the Constituent Assembly, its successor the National Convention and in 1795 Council of 500 of the Directoire, until the body moved to the Palais-Bourbon in 1798. In 1799, the Jacobin Club du Manège had its headquarters there.

When Napoleon came into power he made Tuileries the official residence of the first consul and then the imperial palace. In 1808 Napoleon began constructing the northern gallery which also connected to the Louvre, enclosing a vast place.

As Napoleon's chief residence Tuileries Palace was redecorated in the Neoclassical Empire style by Percier and Fontaine and some of the best known architects, designers, and furniture makers of the day. One of the artists, Pierre Paul Prud'hon's (1758-1823) most splendid commissions was to design the apartments of the new Empress, Marie-Louise. For the bridal suite of the Empress Marie-Louise he designed all the furniture and interior decorations in a Greek Revival style.

View from the Louvre courtyard showing the joining of the Louvre (foreground) and the Tuileries Palace (background), now a large empty space. - Pei's pyramid now stands in the foreground, instead of the grove of trees.

In 1809, Jacob-Desmalter, principal supplier of furniture to the Emperor, began work on a jewel cabinet designed for the Empress Joséphine's great bedroom in the Tuileries (and soon to be used by Marie-Louise). This impressive piece of furniture designed by the architect Charles Percier was embellished with several gilt-bronze ornaments: the central panel depicts the "Birth of the Queen of the Earth to whom Cupids and Goddesses hasten with their Offerings" by the bronzier Pierre-Philippe Thomire, after a bas-relief by Chaudet. Jacob-Desmalter completed the "great jewelry box" in 1812, with two smaller items of furniture in the same style but using indigenous woods.

The Tuileries Palace served as the royal residence after the Bourbon Restoration. In the "July Revolution" of 1830, the palace was attacked for a third time by Parisians and occupied. Louis Philippe took up permanent residence there until 1848 when it was again invaded, on February 24, 1848. The Swiss Guards stationed at the palace, aware of what happened in 1792 to their predecessors, abandoned the palace.

State rooms of the Tuileries Palace before 1871 - Hall of Peace

The Palace of the Tuileries served again as the official residence of the executive branch of government after the coup d'état by Napoléon III in 1852; when President Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte became Emperor Napoléon III he moved from his presidential office at the Élysée Palace to the Tuileries Palace, ushering in the Second Empire. During the Second Empire, the Tuileries Palace was extensively refurbished and redecorated after the looting and damages that occurred during the Revolution of 1848. Some imposing state rooms were designed and richly decorated, serving as the center stage of the ceremonies and pageantry of the Second Empire, such as on the occasion of Queen Victoria's state visit to the Tuileries in 1855. The Second Empire also completed the northern wing of the Louvre along the rue de Rivoli, linking the Tuileries Palace with the rest of the Louvre, and thus finally achieving the huge complex of the Louvre-Tuileries, whose master plan had been envisioned three centuries earlier.

The prominent roof-lines of the palace and especially its squared central dome were influential prototypes in the Second Empire style adopted for hotels and commercial buildings as well as residences even in the United Kingdom and North America.

End of the Tuileries

However, the final completion of the long planned Louvre-Tuileries complex was not destined to last. On May 23, 1871, during the suppression of the Paris Commune, twelve men under the orders of a Commune extremist called Dardelle set the Palace of the Tuileries on fire at 7 pm, using petroleum, liquid tar, and turpentine. The fire lasted for 48 hours and entirely consumed the palace. It was only on May 25 that the Paris fire brigades and the 26th battalion of the Africa Chasseurs managed to put out the fire. Other portions of the Louvre were also set on fire by Commune extremists and entirely destroyed. The museum itself was only miraculously saved.

Burnt stone shell of the Tuileries Palace after the 1871 fire and before the destruction of 1883 - View from the Louvre courtyard

The ruins of the Tuileries stood on the site for eleven years. Although the roofs and the inside of the palace had been utterly destroyed by the fire, the stone shell of the palace remained intact, and restoration was possible. Other monuments of Paris also set on fire by Commune extremists, such as the Paris City Hall, were rebuilt in the 1870s. After much hesitation, the Third Republic eventually decided not to restore the ruins of the Tuileries, which had become a symbol of the former royal and imperial regimes. On the other hand, the portions of the Louvre that had also been destroyed by fire were rebuilt in their original style by the French government.

In 1882 the French National Assembly voted for the demolition of the ruins, which were sold to a private entrepreneur for the sum of 33,300 gold francs (approximately US$130,000 in 2005), despite the protests of Baron Haussmann and other members of French artistic and architectural circles, who opposed what they thought was a crime against French arts and history. The demolition was started in February 1883 and completed on September 30, 1883; bits of stones and marbles from the palace were sold by the private entrepreneur as souvenirs.

Tuileries Gardens and the Axe Historique

When the large empty space between the northern and southern wings of the Louvre now familiar to modern visitors was revealed in 1883, for the first time the Louvre courtyard opened into an unbroken Axe historique. The Tuileries Gardens (French Jardins des Tuileries) are surrounded by the Louvre (to the east), the Seine (to the south), the Place de la Concorde (to the west) and the Rue de Rivoli (to the north). Farther to the north lies the Place Vendôme.

The Tuileries Gardens cover about 63 acres (25 hectares) and still closely follow a design laid out by landscape architect Andre Le Notre in 1664. His spacious formal garden plan drew out the perspective from the reflecting pools one to the other in an unbroken vista along a central axis from the west façade, which has been extended as the Axe historique.

The Galerie nationale du Jeu de Paume is a museum of contemporary art located in the north-west corner of the gardens.

Map of the Louvre and the Tuileries Gardens

Rebuilding the Tuileries?

Since 2003, in France, a committee has been proposing to rebuild the Tuileries Palace. This effort is similar to the proposal of reconstruction of the Berliner Stadtschloss. There are several reasons for rebuilding the Palace of the Tuileries. Ever since the destruction of 1883, the famous perspective of the Champs-Élysées, which ended on the majestic facade of the Tuileries Palace, now ends in a large empty space. The Louvre with its pyramid on the one hand and the axis of the Place de la Concorde-Champs-Élysées-Arc de Triomphe on the other hand are not aligned on the same axis. The Palace of the Tuileries, which was located at the junction of these two diverging axes, helped to correct this bending of the axes. Famous architects ^{[citation needed]} say the rebuilding of the Tuileries would allow to reestablish the harmony of these two different axes. The Tuileries Gardens would also recover their purpose, which was to be a palace garden.

Le Nôtre's central axis of the Tuileries' parterres in a late 17th-century engraving

Also, it is emphasized that the Louvre Museum needs to extend its groundplan to properly display all its collections, and if the Tuileries Palace was rebuilt, the Louvre Museum could expand into the rebuilt palace. It is also proposed to rebuild the state apartments of the Second Empire as they stood in 1871. All the plans of the palace and many photographs are still stored in French archives, which would make it easy to rebuild the palace and its rooms exactly as they stood in 1871. Furthermore, all the furniture and paintings from the palace survived the 1871 fire, because they had been removed from the palace in 1870 at the start of the Franco-Prussian War, and stored in secure locations. Today, these furniture and paintings are still deposited in storehouses and not on public display due to the lack of space in the Louvre Museum. It is argued that recreating the state apartments of the Tuileries Palace would allow display these treasures of Second Empire style which are currently hidden away from the public.

A rebuilding of the Palace of the Tuileries is estimated to cost 300 million euros (US$ 365 million). It would be financed by public subscription, and the work would be undertaken by a private foundation, with the French government spending no money in the project. Since 2003, the idea has gained momentum in French media, but it remains to be seen whether such a rebuilding will ever happen. It would be the largest construction project undertaken in the center of Paris since the early 20th century.

famous places in paris The Palais-Royal

2006-01-17T07:00:00.000-08:00

The Palais-Royal is a palace and garden north of the Louvre in the Ier arrondissement of Paris. Opposite the north wing of the Louvre, its famous forecourt (cour d'honneur) screened with columns (since 1986 containing Daniel Buren's site-specific artpiece) faces the Place du Palais-Royal, which was much enlarged by Baron Haussmann after the Rue de Rivoli was built for Napoleon.

Never for long a royal palace, despite the misleading name, it was the home of Richelieu, begun in 1629 (its architect, Jacques Lemercier) and known as Palais Cardinal. Richelieu bequeathed it to the French Crown. After Louis XIII died, it housed the Queen-Mother Anne of Austria, and Cardinal Mazarin and the young Louis XIV. Later the Palais-Royal became the Paris seat of the dukes of Orleans, the cadet branch of the ruling House of Bourbon, beginning with Louis XIV's brother Philippe.

Palais-Royal and its gardens, in a Paris map, 1739. The palace itself fronts on its small square. The Place du Louvre is at upper right. Napoleon opened the Rue de Rivoli along the Louvre's wing, then Haussmann swept away intervening structures.

During the minority of Louis XV, the regent of France was Philip II, Duke of Orléans, ruling from the Palais-Royal (See Régence.) His great-grandson, Louis Philip II, Duke of Orléans, who would become known known as "Philippe-Egalité" during the more radical phase of the Revolution, made himself popular in Paris when he opened the gardens of the Palais-Royal to all Parisians and employed the neoclassical architect Victor Louis to rebuild the structures around the palace gardens, which had been the irregular backs of houses that faced the surrounding streets, and to enclose the gardens with regular colonnades (above, right) that were lined with smart shops (in one of which Charlotte Corday bought the knife she used to stab Jean Marat). Along the galeries ladies of the night lingered, and smart gambling casinos were lodged in second-floor quarters. There was a theatre at each end of the galleries; the larger one has been the seat of the Comédie-Française, the state theatre company, since Napoleon's reign. The very first theatre in the Palais-Royal was originally built by Lemercier for Cardinal Richelieu in 1641 (?). Under Louis XIV, the theater hosted plays by Molière, from 1660 to Molière's death in 1673, followed by the Opera under the direction of Jean-Baptiste Lully.

From the 1780s to 1837 the Palais Royal was once again the centre of Parisian political and social intrigue and the site of the most popular cafés. The historic restaurant "Le Grand Vefour" is still there. In 1786 a noon cannon was set up by a philosophical amateur, set on the prime meridian of Paris, in which the sun's noon rays, passing through a lens, lit the cannon's fuse. The noon cannon is still fired at the Palais-Royal, though most of the ladies for sale have disappered, those who inspired the Abbé Delille's lines;

"Dans ce jardin on ne rencontre

Ni champs, ni pres, ni bois, ni fleurs.

Et si l'on y deregle ses moeurs,

Au moins on y regle sa montre."

("In this garden one encounters neither fields nor woods nor flowers. And, if one upsets one's morality, at least one may re-set one's watch.")

The Palais Royal today houses offices of the French national government: the Conseil d'État, the Constitutional Council and the Ministry of Culture. Contant d'Ivry's neoclassical screen fronts the Lemercier's baroque courtyard.

On July 12, 1789 a young firebrand, Camille Desmoulins, leapt on a café table and annouced to the crowd that Necker had been dismissed. "This dismissal," he cried, "is the St. Bartholome's tocsin of the patriots." Drawing two pistols from under his coat, he declared that he would not be taken alive. "Aux armes!" He descended amid the embraces of the crowd, and his cry "To arms!" resounded on all sides. Two days later, the Bastille was taken.

After the Restoration of the Bourbons, at the Palais-Royal the young Alexandre Dumas obtained employment in the office of the powerful duc d'Orléans, who regained control of the Palace during the Restoration.. In the Revolution of 1848, the Paris mob trashed and looted the Palais-Royal. Under the Second Empire the Palais-Royal was home to the cadet branch of the Bonaparte family, represented by Prince Napoleon, Napoleon III's cousin.

Today it houses the Conseil d'État, the Constitutional Council, and the Ministry of Culture. At the rear of the garden are the older buildings of the Bibliothèque Nationale, the national library of deposit, with a collection of more than 6,000,000 books, documents, maps, and prints; most of the collections have been moved to more modern settings elsewhere.

famous places in paris : les halles

2006-01-17T06:58:00.000-08:00

Les Halles is also a commune of the Rhône département. See Les Halles, Rhône.

Les Halles is also a restaurant in New York City owned and operated by celebrity chef and author Anthony Bourdain.

The outside of the Forum des Halles today

Les Halles is an area of Paris, France, located in the 1er arrondissement. It is named for the large central wholesale marketplace, which was demolished in 1971, to be replaced with an underground modern shopping precinct, the Forum des Halles. It is notable in that the open air center area is below street level, like a pit and contains sculpture, fountains, and mosaics.

Beneath this lies the underground station Châtelet-Les-Halles, central hub of Paris's express urban rail system, the RER.

History

Les Halles was the central Market in Paris. In 1183, King Philippe II Auguste enlarged the marketplace in Paris and built a shelter for the merchants, who came from all over to sell their wares. Known as Les Halles, in the 1850's they built the massive glass and iron buildings that Les Halles is known for. Les Halles was known as the "stomach of Paris".

Émile Zola's 1873 novel Le Ventre de Paris (The Belly of Paris) revolves around Les Halles.

Unable to compete in the new market economy and in need of massive repairs, the colorful ambience once associated with the bustling area of merchant stalls disappeared in 1971, when Les Halles was dismantled; the wholesale market was relocated to the suburb of Rungis.

The site was to become the point of convergence of the RER, a network of new express underground lines which had been inaugurated in the 1960s. Three lines leading out of the city to the south, east and west were to be extended and connected in a new underground station. For several years, the site of the markets was an enormous open pit, nicknamed "le trou des Halles" (trou = hole), and a considerable eyesore at the foot of the historic church of Saint-Eustache.

Construction was completed in 1977 on Châtelet-Les-Halles, Paris's new urban railway hub. The Forum des Halles, a partially underground multiple story commercial and shopping center, opened in 1979. The building was criticized for its design and, as of 2005, the City of Paris has undertaken consultations so as to how the area should be remodeled.

A long-standing problem in the Halles area was drug trafficking. Drug addicts and dealers would meet in the neighbourhood. For this reason, the area was reported unsafe at dark. As of 2005, it seems that the problem has been partially cured.

Arrondissements of Paris

2006-01-17T06:56:00.000-08:00

The city of Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements municipaux (“municipal boroughs,” approximately, in English), more simply referred to as arrondissements (pronounced /aʁõdismɑ̃/). These are not to be confused with departmental arrondissements, which subdivide the 100 French départments.

Description

The 20 arrondissements are arranged in the form of a clockwise spiral, starting with the 1st in the middle of the city on the right bank (north bank) of the Seine River.

The list below indicates Right Bank (R) or Left Bank (L) bank:

Arrondissement	Area (in km²)	Population (1999 census)	Density (inh. per km²)	Peak of population
I^er arrondissement R	1.826	16,888	9,249	before 1861
II^e arrondissement R	0.992	19,585	19,743	before 1861
III^e arrondissement R	1.171	34,248	29,247	before 1861
IV^e arrondissement R	1.601	30,675	19,160	before 1861
V^e arrondissement L	2.541	58,849	23,160	1911
VI^e arrondissement L	2.154	44,919	20,854	1911
VII^e arrondissement L	4.088	56,985	13,940	1926
VIII^e arrondissement R	3.881	39,314	10,130	1891
IX^e arrondissement R	2.179	55,838	25,626	1901
X^e arrondissement R	2.892	89,612	30,986	1881
XI^e arrondissement R	3.666	149,102	40,672	1911
XII^e arrondissement R	16.324¹ 6.377²	136,591	21,419²	1962
XIII^e arrondissement L	7.146	171,533	24,004	1999
XIV^e arrondissement L	5.621	132,844	23,634	1954
XV^e arrondissement L	8.502	225,362	26,507	1962
XVI^e arrondissement R	16.305³ 7.846⁴	161,773	20,619⁴	1962
XVII^e arrondissement R	5.669	160,860	28,375	1954
XVIII^e arrondissement R	6.005	184,586	30,739	1931
XIX^e arrondissement R	6.786	172,730	25,454	1999
XX^e arrondissement R	5.984	182,952	30,574	1936

Notes:
1. With the Bois de Vincennes
2. Without the Bois de Vincennes
3. With the Bois de Boulogne
4. Without the Bois de Boulogne

History

Before 1860

Map showing the 12 old arrondissements. The surrounding grey area shows the size of Paris after the expansion in 1860.

On October 11, 1795, Paris was divided into 12 arrondissements. They were numbered from west to east, with numbers 1-9 situated on the right bank of the Seine, and 10-12 on the left bank.

Each arrondissement was subdivided into 4 quartiers, which corresponded to the 48 original districts created in 1790.

After 1860

On January 1, 1860, new territory was defined to be within the city by Napoleon III. The previous 12 arrondissements were rearranged with this new territory to become the present 20.

In references to historical records (where it is important to distinguish between the old and new systems), the old arrondissements are indicated by following the number with the term ancienne (e.g. 2ème ancienne or 7ème anc.).

sein river in paris france

2006-01-17T06:55:00.000-08:00

This article is about the river in France. For other rivers named Seine, see Seine River (disambiguation). For the old Seine département, see Seine (département). A seine is also a kind of fishing net, see: seine (fishing).

Seine
The Seine viewed from the Eiffel Tower. The Place de la Concorde is at top right.
Origin	Burgundy
Mouth	The English Channel
Basin countries	France
Length	776 km (482 mi)
Source elevation	471 m (1,545 ft)
Avg. discharge	500 m³/s (17,660 ft³/s)
Watershed area	78,650 km² (30,367 mi²)

The Seine (pronounced /sɛn/ in French) is a major river of north-western France, and one of its commercial waterways. It is also a tourist attraction, particularly within the city of Paris.

Origin of the name

The name "Seine" comes from the Latin Sequana, which itself comes from Gaulish (Celtic) Sicauna. The name Sicauna is made up of Celtic sakw, which means "sacred" and comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *sak- (which also gave Latin sacer and sanctus, which in turn gave English sacred and saint), and from a Celtic (or more probably Pre-Indo-European) suffix -onna which means "source, river", and which can be found in the name of many rivers of western Europe (such as the Garonne or the Dordogne). The name "Sakw -onna" ("sacred source", "sacred river"), is also the name of several other western European rivers, such as the Saône River, and possibly also the River Shannon.

Another proposed etymology posits that Sequana is the Latin version of Gaulish Isicauna. Is-Icauna would be the diminutive of Icauna, which was the Gaulish name of the Yonne River. The ancient Gauls considered the Seine to be a tributary of the Yonne, which indeed presents a greater average discharge than the Seine (the river flowing through Paris should be called Yonne if the standard rules of geography were applied). Icauna comes from the Pre-Indo-European roots inka -onna. Further research will be needed to decide between both etymologies.

Further downstream in what is now Normandy, the Seine was known as Rodo, or Roto, which is a traditional Celtic name for rivers, and is also the original name of the Rhône River (see Rhône article for further explanations). This is proved by the name of Rouen, which was Rotomagos in Gaulish, meaning "field, plain (magos in Gaulish, whose meaning evolved into "market") of the Roto".

Navigation

The Seine is dredged and oceangoing vessels can dock at Rouen, 120 km (75 miles) from the sea. Commercial riverboats can use the river from Bar-sur-Seine, 560 km (350 miles) from its mouth. At Paris, the river is only 24 metres (80 feet) above sea level, 445 km (277 miles) from its mouth, making it slow flowing and thus easily navigable.

The tidal section of the river, from Le Havre to well beyond Rouen, is followed by a canalized section with four large multiple locks until the mouth of the Oise river at Conflans-Sainte-Honorine. Then two more multiple locks at Bougival / Chatou and at Suresnes lift the vessels to the level of the river in Paris, where the mouth of the Marne River is located. Upstream from Paris seven more locks ensure navigation to Saint Mammès (where the Loing mouth is situated). Through an eighth lock the river Yonne is reached at Monterau. From the mouth of the Yonne, larger ships can continue upstream the Seine till Nogent-sur-Seine. From there on, the river is only navigable for small craft. All navigation ends abruptly at Marcilly-sur-Seine, where the ancient Canal de la Haute Seine used to allow vessels to continue all the way to Troyes. This canal has been abandoned for many years now. (Source: NoorderSoft Waterways Database)

History

In ancient times the Seine was known by the Latin name Sequana.

Dredging in the 1960s mostly eliminated the tidal bore ("le mascaret") and the surrounding area. It was split into four départements in 1968: Paris, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis and Val-de-Marne. See: Seine (département).

The Banks of the Seine in Paris were added to the UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1991.

famous cathedrale i the world ,notre dame paris

2006-01-16T14:45:00.000-08:00

Notre Dame de Paris, Western Façade.

Notre Dame de Paris (French for "Our Lady of Paris", meaning the church in Paris dedicated to Mary, the mother of Jesus), often known simply as Notre Dame in English, is a gothic cathedral on the eastern half of the Île de la Cité in Paris, France, with its main entrance to the west. While a major tourist destination, it is still used as a Roman Catholic cathedral (archbishopric of Paris). Notre Dame de Paris is widely considered the finest example of French gothic architecture.

Innovations

Notre Dame de Paris was one of the first gothic cathedrals, and was built throughout the Gothic period. Its sculptures and stained glass show the heavy influence of naturalism, giving them a more secular look that was lacking from earlier Romanesque designs.

Notre Dame de Paris was among the first buildings in the world to use the flying buttress. The building was not originally designed to include the flying buttresses around the choir and nave. However, after the construction began and the thinner walls (popularized in the Gothic) grew ever higher, stress fractures began to occur as the walls pushed outward. The buttresses were added to shore up the prevent further deterioration. For many years, the buttresses were reviled as it was said they looked "like scaffolding" someone had forgotten to remove and gave the cathedral an "unfinished" look.

Features

Diagram illustrating areas of the Western Façade of Notre Dame

Night view of Notre Dame from the south, spring 2001. Shows the South Rose Window

The South Rose Window as viewed from inside

The Western Façade

The Western Façade of the cathedral is the single most well-known feature. It is divided into three distinct levels, a holdover from Romanesque architecture. The image to the right indicates some of the west front's most significant features.

The South Tower houses the cathedral's famous bell, "Emmanuel". The bell is Notre-Dame's oldest, having been recast in 1631.
The Galerie des Chimères, or Grand Gallery, connects the two towers and is where the cathedral's legendary gargoyles (chimères) can be found.
The West Rose Window is 10 metres in diameter. Many of the elements of the stained glass window date back to the 13th century construction of the cathedral. In front of the window stands a statue of the Virgin Mary carrying the infant Jesus.
The King's Gallery is a line of statues of the 24 Kings of Judah and Israel, which was redesigned by Viollet-le-Duc to replace the statues destroyed during the French Revolution. The revolutionaries believed the statues to represent the French kings, and decapitated them. (The heads were rescued by a school teacher who buried them in his backyard. They were rediscovered and are today on display at the Musée de Cluny.)
The three Portals surmounting the three doors of the west front depict scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary (Portal to the Virgin), Christ enthroned judging the living and dead including the Ten Virgins (Portal of the Last Judgement), and scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary's mother (Portal to Saint Anne).

The north and south rose windows

The two transept windows of Notre Dame were built between 1250 and 1260, and were designed in the style of the High Gothic period. This is evident by how they sit flush with the wall rather than being recessed, unlike the rose window on the Western Façade which was built during the Early Gothic period. The South Rose Window depicts the "Triumph of Christ" along with scenes from the New Testament.

The rose windows are notable for being one of the few stained glass windows in the cathedral, and indeed in all of Europe, that still have their original glasswork.

Art inside the cathedral

The cathedral displays a sculpture of the Virgin Mary which is known as the Virgin of Paris. Commissioned during a time of great wealth by local merchants who saw the cathedral as a source of civic pride and a symbol of new economic freedom, the sculpture is noted for its decadent display and lavishly expensive decoration. While not heretical in subject, some observers have felt that the sculpture is more a symbol of arrogant wealth than piety.

Statistics

The bell "Emmanuel" in the South Tower weighs 13 metric tons (over 28,000 pounds). Its capper alone weighs 500 kilograms.
The bell's perfect pitch is F sharp and is said to be due to the gold and silver jewellery that was cast into the molten bronze.
The main vault inside the cathedral is 112 feet high.
The towers of the Western Façade are 69 metres (228 feet) tall.
422 steps (that become increasingly narrower) lead to the very top of the Bell Tower.

Site history

The Notre Dame de Paris stands on the site of Paris' first Christian church, Saint-Étienne Basilica, which was itself built on the site of a Gallo-Roman temple to Jupiter. Notre Dame's first version was a "magnificent church" built by Childebert I, the king of the Franks in 528, and was already the cathedral of the city of Paris in the 10th century.

Notre Dame de Paris is 130 m (427 ft) long.

Construction

The interior of Notre Dame cathedral

In 1160, having become the "parish church of the kings of Europe", Bishop Maurice de Sully deemed the current Parisian cathedral unworthy of its lofty role, and had it demolished shortly after he assumed the title of Bishop of Paris. According to legend, de Sully had a vision of a glorious new cathedral for Paris, and sketched it in the dirt outside of the original church. To begin the construction, the bishop had several houses demolished and had a new road built in order to transport materials for the new church.

Construction began in 1163, during the reign of Louis VII, and opinion differs as to whether Bishop Maurice de Sully or Pope Alexander III laid the foundation stone of the cathedral. However, both were at the ceremony in question. Bishop de Sully went on to devote most of his life and wealth to the cathedral's construction.

Construction of the west front, with its distinctive two towers, only began circa 1200, before the nave had been completed. Over the construction period, numerous architects worked on the site, as is evidenced by the differing styles at different heights of the west front and towers. Between 1210 and 1220, the fourth architect oversaw the construction of the level with the rose window and the great halls beneath the towers. The towers were completed around 1245, and the cathedral was completed around 1345.

Timeline of construction

1160. Bishop Maurice de Sully (named Bishop of Paris), orders the original cathedral to be demolished.
1163. Cornerstone laid for Notre Dame de Paris - construction begins
1182. Apse and choir completed.
1196. Nave completed. Bishop de Sully dies.
1200. Work begins on Western Façade.
1225. Western Façade completed.
1250. Western Towers and North Rose Window completed
1250–1345. Remaining elements completed

Alterations, vandalism, and restorations

Notre Dame panorama, 1909.

During the reign of Louis XIV and Louis XV, at the end of the 17th century, the cathedral underwent major alterations as part of an ongoing attempt to modernise cathedrals throughout Europe. Tombs and stained glass windows were destroyed. The North and South Rose Windows were spared this fate, however.

In 1548, rioting Huguenots damaged features of the cathedral following the Council of Trent.

In 1793 during the French Revolution, the cathedral was turned into a "Temple to Reason" and many of its treasures were destroyed or stolen. Several sculptures were smashed and destroyed, and for a time Lady Liberty replaced the Virgin Mary on several altars. The cathedral's great bells managed to avoid being melted down, but the cathedral was used as a warehouse for the storage of food.

A restoration program was initiated in 1845, overseen by architects Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Lassus and Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. The restoration lasted 23 years and included the construction of a flèche (a type of spire) as well as the addition of the chimeras on the Galerie des Chimères.

In 1871, a civil uprising leading to the establishment of the short-lived Paris Commune nearly set fire to the cathedral, and some records suggest that a mound of chairs within the cathedral was set alight.

In 1991, a major program of maintenance and restoration was initiated, which was intended to last 10 years but is still in progress as of 2005, the cleaning and restoration of old sculptures being an exceedingly delicate matter.

Significant events at Notre Dame

Statue of Joan of Arc inside Notre Dame.

Heraclius of Caesarea called for the Third Crusade from the still-incomplete cathedral in 1185.

Henry VI of England was crowned King of France in 1431.

Mary I of Scotland was married to the Dauphin Francois (later Francois II of France), son of Henry II of France, on April 24, 1558.

Henry of Navarre (later Henry IV of France) married Marguerite de Valois on August 18, 1572.

Napoleon Bonaparte, who had declared the Empire on May 28, 1804, was crowned Emperor here on December 2, 1804.

Joan of Arc was beatified in 1909.

The Te Deum Mass took place in the cathedral to celebrate the liberation of Paris in August 26, 1944.

The Requiem Mass of General Charles de Gaulle took place in the cathedral on November 12, 1970.

Generally, French Catholic religious events of national significance take place in Notre-Dame.

Miscellaneous trivia

In 1905, the law of separation of Church and State was passed; as all cathedrals built by the Kingdom of France, Notre-Dame remains state property, but its use is granted to the Roman Catholic Church.

France's "kilometre zero", the reference point for distances along the highways starting in Paris, is situated in the square in front of the cathedral.

Notre Dame de Paris in the media

During the early 19^th century, the cathedral was in a state of disrepair, and city planners began to contemplate tearing it down. French novelist Victor Hugo, an admirer of the cathedral, wrote his novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame (titled in French Notre Dame de Paris) in part to raise awareness of the cathedral's heritage, which sparked renewed interest in the cathedral's fate. A campaign to collect funds to save the cathedral followed, culminating in the 1845 restoration.

The cathedral was featured in the film Before Sunset.

In the movie Amélie, Amélie's mother is killed while visiting the cathedral.

Feudal Era Japanese samurai Samanosuke Akechi visited Notre Dame after being flung into the future in the video game Onimusha 3: Demon Siege. However, the cathedral was infested with demons and apparently underground is a complex filled with an arcane presence and design. It also represents the effects of sex.

avenue of Champs-elysees

2006-01-16T14:39:00.000-08:00

Avenue des Champs-Elysées from Arc de Triomphe, looking east towards the Louvre

Avenue des Champs-Elysées from Place de la Concorde, seen from above the obelisk

The Champs-Elysées (pronounced /ʃɑ̃zelize/ audio ▶ (help·info) literally the "Elysian fields") is a broad avenue in the French capital Paris. Its full name is actually 'Avenue des Champs Elysées'. With its cinemas, cafés, and luxury specialty shops, the Champs-Elysées is one of the most famous streets in the world. The name refers to the Elysian Fields, the place of the blessed in Greek mythology (i.e. heaven). The Champs-Elysées is also named "la plus belle avenue du monde" or "the most beautiful avenue in the world" in French.

Description

The avenue runs 3 km through the 8th arrondissement in northwestern Paris, from the Place de la Concorde in the east, with its obelisk (illustration, right), to the Place Charles de Gaulle (formerly the Place de l'Étoile) in the west, location of the Arc de Triomphe. The Champs-Elysées forms part of the line of the Axe historique.

The historical axis, looking west

One of the principal tourist destinations in Paris, the lower part of the Champs-Elysées is bordered by greenery (Marigny Square) and by such buildings as the Théâtre Marigny and the Grand Palais (containing the Palais de la Découverte). The Élysée Palace is a little bit to the north, not on the avenue itself. Farther up to the west, the avenue is lined by cinemas, theaters, cafés and restaurants (most notably Fouquet's), and luxury specialty shops.

Looking east along the Champs-Elysées from the top of the Arc de Triomphe

History

The Champs-Elysées were originally fields and market gardens, until 1616, when Marie de Medici decided to extend the garden axis of the Palais des Tuileries with an avenue of trees. As late as 1716, Guillaume de L'Isle's map of Paris shows that a short stretch of roads and fields and market garden plots still separated the grand axe of the Tuileries gardens from the planted "Avenue des Thuilleries", which was punctuated by a circular basin where the Rond Point stands today; already it was planted with some avenues of trees radiating from it that led to the river through woods and fields. In 1724, the Tuileries garden axis and the avenue were connected and extended, leading beyond the Place de l'Étoile; the "Elysian Fields" were open parkland flanking it, soon filled in with bosquets of trees formally planted in straight rank and file. To the east the unloved and neglected "Vieux Louvre" (as it is called on the maps), still hemmed in by buildings, was not part of the axis. In a map of 1724, the Grande Avenue des Champs-Elisée stretches west from a newly-cleared Place du Pont Tournant soon to be renamed for Louis XV and now the Place de la Concorde.

The Champs-Elysées in 1890

By the late 1700s, the Champs-Elysées had become a fashionable avenue; the bosquet plantings on either side had thickened enough to be given formal rectangular glades (cabinets de verdure). The gardens of houses built along the Faubourg St-Honoré backed onto the formal bosquets. The grandest of them was the Élysée Palace. A semi-circle of housefronts now defined the north side of the Rond Point. Queen Marie Antoinette drove with her friends and took music lessons at the grand Hôtel de Crillon on the Place Louis XV. The avenue from the Rond Point to the Etoile was built up during the Empire. The Champs-Elysées itself became city property in 1828, and footpaths, fountains, and gas lighting were added. Over the years, the avenue has undergone numerous transitions, most recently in 1993, when the sidewalks were widened.

Commerce

The Champs-Elysées (seen from the Place de l'Étoile) are busy even in the late evening; cinemas, night clubs and restaurants attract a clientele. On the right, the Drugstore Publicis, open late, sells many wares, including upscale take-away food.

In 1860, the merchants along the avenue joined together to form the Syndicat d'Initiative et de Défense des Champs-Elysées, changed to an association in 1916 headed by Louis Vuitton to promote the avenue. In 1980, the group changed its name to the Comité des Champs-Elysées. It is the oldest standing committee in Paris. The committee has always dedicated itself to seek public projects to enhance the avenue's luxe atmosphere, and to lobby the authorities for extended business hours. Even today, the committee has approval over the addition of new business to the avenue.

Because of the high rents, few people actually live on the Champs-Elysées; the upper storeys tend to be occupied by offices. Rents are particularly high on the north side of the avenue, because of better exposure to sunlight. The splendid architecture of the grandiose "Champs-Elysées" is admired by many people. It is located right next to the Presidential palace with its rounded gate and the "Grand palais" that was erected in the late 19th century. While walking among the gardens and tree-lined promenades one could even encounter an open-air marionette theatre for children — a French tradition popular through the ages.

Events

Every year on Bastille Day, the largest military parade in Europe passes down the Champs-Elysées, reviewed by the President of the Republic (see our multimedia content on the parade).

The Champs-Elysées is also the traditional end of the last stage of the Tour de France.

View east towards the Place de la Concorde

The Louvre Museum in paris

2006-01-16T14:37:00.000-08:00

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I.M. Pei's Louvre Pyramid: the entrance to the galleries lies below the glass pyramid

The Louvre Museum (Musée du Louvre, pronounced /muze dy luvʁ/ in French) in Paris, France, is one of the largest and most famous museums in the world. The building, a former royal palace, lies in the centre of Paris, between the Seine river and the Rue de Rivoli. Its central courtyard, now occupied by the Louvre glass pyramid, lies in the axis of the Champs-Élysées, and thus forms the nucleus from which the Axe historique springs. Part of the royal Palace of the Louvre was first opened to the public as a museum on November 8, 1793, during the French Revolution.

The Building

Model of the first royal "Castle of the Louvre"

Map of the Louvre

The first royal "Castle of the Louvre" on this site was founded by Philippe II in 1190, as a fortress to defend Paris on its west against Viking attacks. In the 14^th century, Charles V turned it into a palace of the arts, but Francois I and Henri II tore it down to build a real palace; the foundations of the original fortress tower are now under the Salle des Cariatides (Room of the Caryatids).

The existing part of the Château du Louvre was begun in 1546. The architect Pierre Lescot introduced to Paris the new design vocabulary of the Renaissance, which had been developed in the châteaux of the Loire. His new wing for the old castle defined its status, as the first among the royal palaces. J. A. du Cerceau also worked on the Louvre.

During his reign (1589-1610), King Henri IV added the Grande Galerie. More than a quarter of a mile long and one hundred feet wide, this huge addition was built along the bank of the Seine River and at the time was the longest edifice of its kind in the world. Henri IV, a promoter of the arts, invited hundreds of artists and craftsmen to live and work on the building's lower floors. This tradition continued for another two hundred years until Napoleon ended it.

Louis XIII (1610-1643) completed the Denon Wing, which had been started by Catherine Medici in 1560. Today it has been renovated, as a part of the Grand Louvre Renovation Programme.

The Richelieu Wing was also built by Louis XIII. It was part of the Minisrty of Economy of France, which took up most of the north wing of the palace. The Ministry was moved and the wing was renovated and turned into magnificient galleries which were inaugurated in 1993, the 200^th anniversary of the Louvre Museum.

Commissioned by King Louis XIV, architect Claude Perrault's eastern wing (1665-1680), crowned by an uncompromising Italian balustrade along its distinctly non-French flat roof, was a ground-breaking departure in French architecture. His severe design was chosen over a design provided by the great Bernini, who came to Paris for the purpose. Perrault had translated the Roman architect Vitruvius into French. Now Perrault's rhythmical paired columns form a shadowed colonnade with a central pedimented triumphal arch entrance raised on a high, rather defensive basement, in a restrained classicizing baroque manner that has provided models for grand edifices in Europe and America for centuries. The Metropolitan Museum in New York, for one example, reflects Perrault's Louvre design.

Napoleon I built the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel (Triumph Arch) in 1805 to commemorate his victories and the Jardin du Carrousel. In those times this garden was the entrance to the Palais des Les Tuileries.

The Louvre was still being added to by Napoleon III. The new wing of 1852-1857, by architects Visconti and Hector Lefuel, represents the Second Empire's version of Neo-Baroque, restlessly charged with detail everywhere and laden with sculpture. Work continued until 1876.

In 1989, the Crystal Pyramid was inaugurated. It was designed and built by Ieoh Ming Pei. It was the first renovation of the Grand Louvre Project.

Today, many renovations are taking place. One of the most recent was the renovation of the Carre Gallery, where the Mona Lisa is exhibited.

The museum

Ceiling of the Rotunda of Apollo, in the Louvre Museum, in Paris. In the center, "The Sun. The Fall of Icarus", from Merry-Joseph Blondel, 1819

A painting in the Louvre: Galerie de Vues de la Rome Moderne by Pannini (1759). Three metres (ten feet) long, this is a painting of other paintings

One of the most famous sculptures in the Louvre: The Winged Victory of Samothrace, created in 200 BC in commemoration of a Greek naval victory at Rhodes

The Louvre holds the rich artistic heritage of the French people from the early Capetian Kings through the Empire of Napoleon Bonaparte and to the present day.

Long managed by the French state under the Réunion des Musées Nationaux the Louvre has recently acquired powers of self-management as an "Etablissement Public Autonome" in order to better manage its growth. Since September 14, 2005, the Louvre museum has gradually forbidden the taking of photos of its artworks.[1]

Among the thousands of priceless paintings is Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, perhaps the most famous painting in the world; it is housed in the Salle des Etats in a climate-controlled environment behind protective glass. Works of artists like Fragonard, Rembrandt, Rubens, Titian, Poussin, and David can also be seen. Among the well-known sculptures in the collection are the Winged Victory of Samothrace and the Venus de Milo.

The collection of Baron Edmond de Rothschild (1845-1934), given to the Louvre in 1935, fills an exhibition room. It contains more than 40,000 engravings, nearly 3,000 drawings and 500 illustrated books.

Besides art, the Louvre has many other types of exhibits, including archeology, history, and architecture. It has a large furniture collection, whose most spectacular item used to be the Bureau du Roi of the 18^th century, now returned to the Palace of Versailles.

The most recent significant modification of the Louvre was the "Grand Louvre" project, under president François Mitterrand. This opened the north wing of the building, which had hitherto housed government offices, and covered over several small internal courtyards. Most spectacular of all, it added a glass pyramid designed by the architect I. M. Pei at the center of the palace. The much expanded and re-organized Louvre reopened in 1989.

The Louvre, being so famous, is widely used in novels and on television. Examples include a setting for the book The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, among others.

Le Louvre-Lens

A second Louvre will be built in Lens, Pas-de-Calais in the North of France.[2] The museum will be designed by the Japanese architecture cabinet Sanaa and should open in 2009. It will be a group of glass and aluminum buildings in the middle of a large garden.

Access

Metro Palais-Royal-Musée-du-Louvre or Louvre-Rivoli.

Notable Works

Famous Artworks in the Louvre Include:

Et in Arcadia ego
Lady of Auxerre
Mona Lisa
Nike of Samothrace (illustrated)
Ship of Fools
Venus de Milo
The Virgin and Child with St. Anne
La Pyramide Inversée

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