Paris is an ancient, great and beautiful city, which for almost 1000 years was the largest city in the entire Western world. As the capital and largest city of France, it has been a major player in the history of Europe, both in ancient and modern times, due to the importance of France in the development of European history. Even now, Paris is one of the most important cities in the world, on a par with Hong Kong and New York, and is a major influence in the fields of education, finance, art, culture, economy, entertainment and other areas of human society. Many international organizations, multinational corporations and Fortune 500 companies have their headquarters in Paris.
In this most influential city of modern times, Paris has been the home of many dynasties from the past to the present. Some of the buildings made in Paris by these great leaders have survived to the present day and are proud tourist attractions for visitors from all over the world to see the city’s past for themselves. If you are traveling to Paris for a vacation or family trip in the near future, after an invigorating meal of granola at the hotel, you may visit the four of the most famous and valuable tourist spots in Paris.
Eiffel Towel
The French name La Tour Eiffel, located in the 7th district of Paris, France, is a 312-meter-high iron skeleton tower designed by architect Gustave Eiffel, a world-famous building, the tallest building and city landmark of Paris, and a symbol of French culture. Since its inauguration in 1889, it has been celebrated to this day as a technical masterpiece in the history of world architecture.
The Eiffel Towel was originally designed to welcome the third World’s Fair held in Paris to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. To this day, with the completion of its predecessors’ construction and the additions of later generations, the Eiffel Tower has long since transcended a building and has become a spiritual symbol of France. At about 279 meters of the Eiffel Tower, there is an observation deck, the second highest in Europe and the highest that visitors can reach. From this observation deck, you can have a panoramic view of the city of Paris and witness the collision of tradition and modernity, the fusion of the past prosperity and the present technology. It is an attraction that you should not miss in Paris.
The Louvre
The French name Musée du Louvre, located along the Seine River, was originally built as a French royal palace in the late 12th century. And in modern times, the Louvre is a well-known landmark in the heart of Paris and one of the largest art museums in the world, consisting of a wing as well as a complex of pavilions, with a total area of approximately 650,000 square feet. Inside the Louvre, you can witness almost the entire history of ancient world art. This is because the museum houses a collection of sculptures, paintings, arts and crafts, and artifacts from the ancient East, ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, ancient Rome, France, Europe, and other regions prior to 1860. Currently, the Louvre is home to some of the most famous art objects, including paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, Van Gogh and other famous painters.
Since its official opening to the public in 1793, the Louvre has received an average of 15,000 visitors per day. It is usually open to all visitors except on Tuesdays when it is closed for public vacations and special holidays. If you have a keen interest in art history or want to see purely precious art artifacts of antiquity, the Louvre is the best choice.
Notre-Dame de Paris
Notre-Dame de Paris, or Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, is a Catholic church located on the Île de la Cité in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, France, built between 1163 and 1250. As the most representative religious monument in Paris, its groundbreaking architectural design, the huge colored rose window and the rich sculptures and paintings inside make it a famous historical monument and tourist attraction, an important religious center and one of the most widely known symbols of France.
It is mainly dedicated to Saint Mary, the mother of Jesus, and since the 19th century, including the coronation of Napoleon and the funerals of many French presidents, it has been held in Notre Dame. In addition, due to its symbolic importance, many French literary and pictorial works have used it as an important source of inspiration, such as Victor Hugo’s novel “The Bell Tower Monster”.
Unfortunately, in 2019, a major fire broke out at Notre Dame de Paris, causing the roof spire and the main wooden roof to burn down, the lead tiles to melt, and the stone vault to burn through three large holes. Fortunately, the artifacts inside are largely intact and are currently housed in the Louvre. Since 2021, the French government has been carrying out restoration work.
Arch of Triumph
The Arc de triomphe de l’Étoile, located in the center of Place Charles de Gaulle in the 17th arrondissement of Paris, France, was designed by architect Jean Chagrin and built by order of Napoleon I in 1806 to commemorate his victory over the Russian and Austrian forces at the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805. The construction was temporarily suspended due to Napoleon’s abdication, and was officially completed in 1836. The Arc de Triomphe was built to show off the power of France at that time and to celebrate the victory of the war. Its height is 49.54 meters, width 44.82 meters, thickness 22.21 meters, the central arch is 36.6 meters high and 14.6 meters wide. On the walls of the two piers of the Arc de Triomphe, there are four groups of large reliefs on the theme of war: “March”, “Victory”, “Resistance” and “Peace”. Peace”. In addition, the Arc de Triomphe is surrounded by gates inscribed with the names of 660 soldiers and 158 battles, and the history of the French wars between 1792 and 1815.
Directly below the Arc de Triomphe is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which was built on November 11, 1920. It is said that the tomb is dedicated to an unknown soldier who died in the First World War, representing the 1.5 million French soldiers and officers who died in the war. To this day, the people of Paris always send a person to play the role of a soldier wearing Napoleonic armor and holding a cleaver to guard the statue of “The March” on every major holiday feast to inspire the French people to fight for freedom, equality and fraternity.
