Ile de France

Administrative and political capital of France, Paris is also its tourist one.

Crossed by the Seine, Paris is divided between Right Bank and Left bank.

Until the Seventies, this distinction had an importance: The left bank was considered as bank of the intellectuals who attended mainly the district Sain-Germain-des-Prés, known to be the meeting point of the “existentialists”. The Right Bank was regarded as middle-class bank with its districts of the Champs-Elysées or the Opera, its department stores intended for the shopping of luxury, its jewellers of the Vendome Place or its hotels of prestige (Crillon, Georges V, Plazza Athénée…).

Monuments and museums

Paris is also the city of the monuments and the museums among which we can quote:

• The Eiffel Tower. buit between 1887 and 1889, this steel tower was the official monument of the International exhibition of Paris. It was about a true technological prowess in its time. This building still has the same success and receives 6 million visitors per annum. The first 2 stages are accessible by feet or by lift. To reach on the third floor, it is necessary to take another lift and handicapped people are not allowed to take it for safety reasons. The tower is 300 meters height tall (approximately 325 meters because of the antennas of radio and television).
  The restaurant the Jules Vernes is one of more appreciated by the gourmets. The cuisine made by a big chief, Alain Ducasse is of great quality and the wines come from the best French soils. The panoramic sight of Paris will remain one unforgettable moment. Restoration with menu (approximately 190 euros) or cart.
  Schedules of opening:
  - From January 1 until June 12 and from September 1 until the 31 decembre opening 09:30 closing 23:00.
  - From June 13 until August 31 opening 09:00 closing midnight.
  - The opening is prolonged until midnight the weekend of Easter and during the spring holidays.
• L'Arc de Triomphe. The construction of the L'Arc de Triomphe was decided by Napoleon 1st who wanted a monument dedicated to the glory of the imperial army. Located in top of the Champs Elysées, it will be completed in 1836. 50 meters tall and 45 meters broad, it shelters the unknown soldier tomb and is the starting point of the military processions at the time of the national festivals (July 14, November 11…).
  Schedules of opening: Opened all year long 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., closed on January 1, May 1 and December 25. The days of military procession, the monument is closed o, the morning.
• Museum of Louvre. This museum counts 8 departments:
  Department of Eastern antiquities to discover close and Middle-East civilizations from the first villages until the appearance of Islam.
  Department of Egyptian antiquities which presents Egypt since the appearance of the first social structures (various empires) until the advent of the Christian time.
  Department of Greek, Etruscan and Romans antiquities which presents the evolution of these 3 societies since the neolitic until the collapse of the Roman empire of occident.
  Department of arts of the Islam whose reopening is envisaged in 2010. This part of the museum is devoted to the presentation of pieces of art coming from various Islamic countries.
  Department of the sculptures which presents the most important collection in the world of sculptures of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and modern times, and works of Germanic and Italian sculpture.
  Department of the objets d'art which constitute a vast collection of varied objects (jewels, pieces of furniture, tapestries…) coming from various times.
  Department of paintings which proposes an immense collection of the great painters of Europe since the 18th century up to 1848.
  Department of graphic arts which presents works on paper and other parchments. Because of brittleness of these works, their visit is strictly regulated.
  Schedules of opening: The museum of Louvre is open Wednesday to Monday from 9:00 to 18:00, closed on Tuesday and on January 1st, on May 1st, on November 11th and on December 25th. Night Wednesdays and Fridays. Free access first Sunday of the month.
• Center Georges Pompidou. President Georges Pompidou impassioned of contemporary arts wanted the creation of a space which would be dedicated to them. This place which opened its doors in 1977, proposes exposures, films or conferences on subjects of topicality. In addition, the center Georges Pompidou called also Beaubourg Center, has a very vast library and a training place for improvement in foreign languages very well equipped in audio-visual means with free use. The center receives approximately 6 million visitors per annum.
  Schedules of opening: Opened rom Wednesday until Monday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Closed Tuesday and on May 1st.
  Address Center Beaubourg Georges Pompidou: Street Beaubourg 75004 Paris.
• Notre Dame de Paris: Located in full heart of Paris, in the Island of the City, this cathedral of Gothic syle whose construction started in 1163, will be completed more than 200 years later. If the practice of the catholic worship is obviously the principal raison d'être of the cathedral, its tourist success cannot be been unaware of: Notre Dame de Paris receives more than 13 million visitors per annum and it is about the more visited monument in France. The cathedral saw some essential events of the French history, in particular the coronation of Napoleon and the Joséphine empress by the pope Pie 7, on December 2, 1804. This splendid architectural unit accomodates many artistic events of religious inspiration of which concerts of organ. Its stained glasses are chief-of works dating from the medieval time. Lastly, the bells and chimes mark the hours of the liturgy.
  Schedules of opening: The cathedral is open every working days from 8 a.m. to 6:45 p.m., and 8 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. the weekend. The common sales agency of the religious objects is open 9:30 a.m. every day to 6 p.m.
  Address cathedral Notre Dame de Paris: 6 Parvis Notre-Dame - Place Jean-Paul II 75004 Paris.
• Basilique du Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre: Almost as known as the Notre Dame cathedral, the church of the Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre obtained in 1919, the qualification of basilica, i.e. the place is recognized like a place of pilgrimage. Independently of its spiritual aspect, yhe Sacré Coeur is a very visited monument which profits because of its situation in height, of a splendid panorama of Paris. In addition, the basilica is established in the middle of the very tourist district of the Montmartre Hillock which counts very many restaurants and proposes spectacles of artists of streets. For all these reasons, the basilica knows an immense success and receives more than 10 million visitors per annum.
  Schedules of opening: 6 a.m. every day to 11 p.m.
  Address basilica: Parvis de la basilique 75018 Paris.

Hotels of Paris

To remain in Paris, the hotel is probably the most practical solution. Between not categorized Hotel and 4 sesons establishments, the offer is important is varied.

• Hotel of Crillon. This de luxe hotel, former residence of the family of Crillon became one of the most prestigious establishments in Paris. The establishment has 147 rooms or suites which some have a sight on the Place de la Concorde. The hotel has its room of fitness reserved for the customers. A coach gives them courses of back in shape. The hotel has 3 restaurants including one gastronomical. In evening, the piano bar is open up to 2 hours in the morning.
  Address hotel of Crillon: 10, place de la Concorde - 75008 Paris.
• Hotel Plaza Athénée. Luxurious de luxe hotel of 145 rooms and 43 suites, the Plaza Athénée proposes various services: room of fitness under the supervision of a coach, spa with sauna, hammam and massages shiatsu, service baby-sitting under the monitoring of a nanny provided by a specialized agency, service limousine for a transfer to airport or railways station or visit of Paris, Internet access. The hotel has several restaurants, but the most pleasant on sunny days, is probably “La Cour Jardin” where the customer will take his lunch or his dinner within a splendid framework of greenery, in the shade of a parasol. The menu and the carte are resolutely of Mediterranean inspiration and propose all savours of Spain, Corsica, Italy or Morocco. Located avenue Montaigne, at some steps of the Champs Elysées, the customer of Plaza is at short distance of the large Address of the mode, the houses of dressmakers or shopping such Christian Dior, Chanel, Prada, valentino, Louis Vuitton…
  Address hotel Plaza Athénée: 25, avenue Montaigne 75008 Paris.
• Hotel Hilton bets. Located at 2 steps from la Tour Eiffel, this very comfortable establishment is perfectly appropriate for businesses customers who will find in the hotel the most extended range of professional services: business district, photocopier, telecopy, videoconference, mail express, hiring of audio-visual materials, offices, or cellphones, conference rooms, service of secretariat.
  Address of Hilton Paris: 18 Avenue de Suffren, Paris, France 75015.
• Hôtel Edouard 7 Opera. This luxurious establishment 4 seasons is ideally located near the opera of Paris, the Vendome Place, the Garden of Tuileries, the museum of Louvre, the Palais Royal and the Comédie Française. The price of the rooms is 355 euros for individual to 1.200 euros for the suite Edouard 7.
  Address hotel: 39, av. de l'Opéra - 75002 Paris.
• Hôtel Meridien Etoile. Located at the Porte Maillot, 2 steps from Neuilly sur Seine and 2 subway stations from the station Charles de gaulle Etoile. This establishment 4 seasons of 1025 rooms offers the broadest range of services for the greatest comfort of its customers, with in particular a business district. There in addition, its geographical location places it still at 2 stations of the jardin d'acclimation, very practical to take along his/her children in the oldest amusement park of the Paris region.
  Address hotel Méridien Paris: 81, Boulevard Gouvion Saint-Cyr Paris 75017.
• Park Asterix: near Paris, this park with topics proposes many spectacles and attractions relating to the heroes of the cartoon. To visit the Asterix Park, a shuttle ensures the opening days, the connection from the Louvre station.

Shopping in Paris

Capital of the luxury and the mode, Paris is naturally the city of shopping. Among the many Address we will quote:

• The Galeries Lafayette: All the famous brands are represented at the Galeries Lafayette:
  - Boucheron Jewellery: There is mark appeared more than 150 years ago, Boucheron is perhaps the most famous mark in the world of the jewellery and clock industry of luxury. Installed Place vendôme, the mark is also present a everywhere in the world. In addition, Boucheron developed cosmetic perfumes and lines for the woman and the man.
  - Christian Lacroix: The way traversed by this creator except standards is immense. In the course of time, Christian lacroix diversified and after the fashion, it created with as much success, household linen, decorative objects or crockery.
  Gucci: As its fellow-members, Gucci diversified, and for the greatest happiness of its customers, proposes collections for women and men, shoes, handbags.
  - Kenzo: The genius come from the empire of the Rising sun is today the most French of the Japanese creators. With its collections of clothing, shoes and accessories, is added the equipment of the house.
  Address Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann: 40, boulevard Haussmann 75009 Paris.
• Printemps Haussmann: There too, are the famous brands, Prada which exposes lines of accessories and leather working, Gucci, Balenciaga, Chloé, Dolce & Gabbana, for the ready-to-wear, the accessories and the maroqinery. The jewellery of luxury is represented by Beers, Chaumet, Boucheron, Van Cleef. To quickly find these large marks, go directly in space “Printemps du Luxe” located on the 2nd floor of the store.
  Address Printemps Haussmann: 64, bd Haussmann 75009 Paris.
• The Place vendôme: An immense concentration of jewellers, diamond cutters, perfumers: Chopart, bulgari, Chanel, Cartier or Chaumet for the jewellery. Guerlain for perfumery. The fronts are prestigious as the image of the mark, and the customers of Ritz who contemplate them since the windows of the hotel can testify of it.
• The Faubourg-Saint-Honoré street: The most famous commercial street of Paris accomodates the best as regards ready-to-wear, shoemakers, leather working or perfumery of luxury.

To paint Paris red

The offers are almost infinite in Paris for whom who wants to benefit from a perfomance or enjoy Paris by night.

• Cinema: 2 streets to know to go to the cinema in Paris:
  - The boulevard des Italiens where the films in French version are presented.
  - The avenue of the Champs Elysées where the films in original version are presented.
• Theatre:
  - The theatres of the Montmatre Poissonnière and Bonne Nouvelle boulevards, propose the plays of “theatre de boulevard”. They are comedies without claims but enough diverting.
  - The Comédie Française: Founded at the request of Louis XIV who wished a theatre of great quality, the Comédie Française plays the traditional repertory. The actors are recruited on contest and become members of the Comédie Française.
  Address Theatre of the Comédie Française: 1 pl Colette 75021 PARIS
• National opera of Paris:
  The Garnier Opera is dedicated to the dance and the lyric expression. Address Garnier Opera: 8, rue Scribe 75009 Paris.
  The Opéra Bastille is dedicated to the music. Address Opéra Bastille: 120, rue de Lyon 75012 Paris.
• The Lido: Famous Parisian cabaret proposing a dinner spectacle with show including ballet of dancers, singer with orchestra, meal with champagne… Address of the Lido: 116 bis, avenue des Champs Elysées 75008 Paris.
• The Moulin-Rouge: Universally known cabaret, the Moulin-Rouge proposes a regularly renewed show, directed by driving of international review. Today the Moulin-Rouge diversifies and offers event-driven programs (fashion show, seminars or conferences).

Restaurants in Paris

• Parisian restaurants:
  The choice of the cuisine will have an importance in the choice of the district:
  - The district of the opera for a long time accomodates the community of the Japanese tourists in Paris and the street Sainte-Anne, practically parallel with the avenue of the Opera saw appearing very many Japanese restaurants. However, it is advisable to be careful. Indeed, the majority of them are held by Chinese and it is not sure that the dishes are really representative of the Japanese cuisine…
  - In the 13th district of Paris, in the south of the city, lives an important community come from Laos, Vietnam and Kampuchea. It is here that it is necessary to come to eat the best dishes of this area of Asia.
  - To find a Moroccan restaurant in Paris, it is not difficult, there are everywhere. These establishments decorated in an oriental mood, serve excellent couscous, tagine or pastillas.
  - To dine in a trendy district. Today, young people are in the district of the Bastille, more precisely in the street of the Faubourg-Saint-Antoine and the small close streets. The cuisine is without claim, but the district is trendy and receives many visitors the weekend.

To come to Paris

• Parisian airports:
  - Airport Roissy Charles de Gaulle located at approximately 30 minutes of Paris in car by the motorways A1 and A3. In public transport, direct access with the RER B.
  - Airport of Orly located at approximately 20 minutes of Paris in car by a6 motorway. In public transport, direct access by Orlybus which ensures a shuttle from the subway station Denfert Rochereau.
  - Airport of Beauvais Tillé located in Oise at one hour of Paris in car by A1 or A16. The airport of Beauvais receives the companies charters and low coast. List airports served from Beauvais: Alicante on Costa Blanca, Bergamo in Italy, Bournemouth in England, Bucharest in Romania, Budapest in Hungary, Dublin in Ireland, Gerone in Italy, Katowice in Poland, Madrid in Spain, Marseilles, Stockholm in Sweden, Skavsta, Pisa in Italy, Porto in Portugal, Glasgow in Scotland, Reus in Catalonia, Rome in Italy, Shannon in Ireland, Trevise in Italy, Valencia in Spain, Warsaw in Poland.