Paris. a Charming City
Paris is an amazing city. We have all heard the sayings “The city of love” “The most romantic city in the world” “The city of lights”, well after visiting this city and experiencing it first hand, I can tell you that it is all true.
The city is very beautiful. The architecture is stunning, the tourist attractions amazing and I found the people to be friendly.
Paris is a place you can’t describe in words to someone, it is a place you have to experience for yourself. The city is like a living museum, with architecture dating back to the 13th Century. That is when Notre Dame began to be built.
The grandeur of Paris really became evident in the 16th century, when Versailles became Louis XIV’s headquarters. In the 19th Century, Napoleon appointed Baron Haussmann to develop modern Paris, with its long boulevards and beautiful buildings, the wide avenues and parks that still make the city unique today.
Paris is internationally renowned for its architecture and its influence in fashion and the arts. Walking is the best way to see and get a feel for the city. You can explore the city’s districts, its old centres, cemeteries and great parks. When you first arrive in Paris, I highly recommend getting on the Hop on, Hop off buses. Stay on and do a circuit and get a feel for where everything is. It is very easy to walk around once you know where you are.
I remember one day, later in the afternoon, we walked from Notre Dame back to our hotel near the Place de la Concorde. It was very charming and it turned dark and the lights came on. We stopped to have a meal in a restaurant. It was just wonderful.
The Champs-Elysées is a fantastic place to experience people watching. Another one is the Place de la Concorde.
Those who fancy a trendier atmosphere, can visit districts such as Le Marais, Quartier Latin, or the quaint Canal St-Martin. If you like art galleries, museums, or famous cabarets such as Folies Bergères, Paris has everything to meet your dreams. Be aware, Moulin Rouge, does not look like much during the day but it comes alive at night when the lights go on.
The top attractions in Paris are certainly the Eiffel Tower, originally a “temporary” construction for the 1889 Universal Exposition, the Arc de Triomphe, commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte and the massive cathedral Notre Dame. A walk from Place de la Concorde towards Champs Elysée is also a must as well as the world famous Louvre museum. One place you must visit is the Montparnasse Tower. There are less crowds than the Eiffel Tower, it has an enclosed viewing area as well as being able to go onto the roof. The best part is that you get the Eiffel Tower in your photos! I highly recommend it.
There is obviously much more to explore!
Père Lachaise The largest cemetery in Paris, and said reputed to be the most visited in the world. A huge and peaceful park home of those who have experienced French life over the past 200 years.
Jardin du Luxembourg. The garden of the French Senate which is also a large public park. A recommended place to relax and savour the cosmopolitan atmosphere of a rich palace garden.
Musée d’Orsay. This is the place for art and artefacts from the Middle Ages and Impressionist eras with leading collections. Originally a railway station and the building itself is worth a visit.
Le Marais. Situated on the right bank (3rd and 4th Arr.), this trendy district has beautiful
architecture of the 17th century. There are also many museums, art galleries and historic sites such as Paris’ oldest square, Place des Vosges where you can find Victor Hugo’s residence.
Montmartre. One of the most popular historic areas with the Sacré Coeur Basilica on the top of the hill, the highest point in Paris. It’s also famous for the cafés and studios of many great artists. I recommend taking the tram to the top, then walking down the steps followed by browsing the artists work in the narrow streets at the bottom. A fantastic experience. I bought a beautiful print and everytime I look at it, wonderful memories come flooding back.
Versailles. Near Paris, this is where King Louis XIV built his Palace in the 17th century. For those who love Renaissance architecture, don’t miss it! The Palace has been recently renovated and you’ll also enjoy lovely walks in the well kept gardens.
Bateaux Mouches. One of the most relaxing, and romantic ways to view some of the city’s oldest and most majestic historic monuments is to get a ride on the famous and unique long-boats that leisurely glide along the Seine.
Despite the number of operators from which to choose, most of the boat lines offer similar itineraries and are equipped with an audio announcement system, providing commentary on the passing sights in several different languages.
In Paris, you must differentiate between restaurants, bistro or brassieres. A bistro is usually small, featuring simple food, sometimes with entertainment. A brassiere serves hearty meals along with beer and wine, usually cheap and with a liquor and coffee bar. Like New York or London, the choice is huge. Each place has its own particular atmosphere and style whether recipes are local or from all over the world.
However Paris is internationally renowned as a food capital. It is the right place to test the high-quality French products and delights of traditional French cookery thanks to the talented and creative chefs. Parisian restaurants are real gourmets delight. There are good places for all budgets. Whether it’s a restaurant, a bistro or a brassiere, you’ll be able to enjoy a real culinary feast with gourmets from all over the world.
In Paris you will find lots of trendy and popular bars serving all kind of drinks with a good mix of music and sometimes with DJs. Take your time and sample a few, they are all open late!
Paris has a very diverse nightlife. From high-tech dance clubs to mellow jazz haunts, there’s anything to fit your mood. Also try the famous cabaret venues for a great night of vibrant entertainment!
Paris is home to some of the most famous designers and luxurious brand names in the fashion industry like Louis Vitton or Dior. But you’ll also find more affordable brands matching your budget in the huge department stores or many popular neighbourhoods.
Paris is served by two major airports, Roissy Charles de Gaulle (CDG), 25 Km and Orly 15 Km from the city centre. A third airport, Paris Beauvais, is mainly served by low cost airlines. A paying shuttle service (€13) is organized to and from its terminals and Paris-Porte Maillot.
From CDG terminals, the Roissybus leaves every 15 minutes from 6.00 and arrives to the city centre (at Opéra) after a journey of 45-60 minutes. (€8.40 one way). After midnight there are night busses going to Place du Châtelet, 90 rue de Rivoli every 30 minutes (€8 one way). The cheapest and fastest (30 minutes) is the underground RER B to Gare du Nord running from 4.56 in the morning to 23.56 at night (€8 one way).
From Gare du Nord you are connected to Paris’ metro network. Air France busses go to Porte Maillot. Taxis can be found near the terminals’ baggage collection area exits. Average day fares are €50.
From Orly, the automatic metro Orlyval takes you to RER B Antony station from 6.00 to 23.00. Combined ticket price (Metro+RER+Orlyval)is about €9. Other options are the airport shuttle buses going to RER C Pont de Rungis station. Combined ticket price (Metro+RER+shuttle) is around €5.60. As for busses, the Orly bus takes you straight
to RER B Denfert-Rochereau. Daytime taxi rates are approximately €35.
Public transport. The RATP runs the city’s local transport system. The bus, underground (metro), and commuter train system (RER) is divided into five zones, and is cheap and efficient. The underground runs from 5:30 in the morning to 0:30 in the night. Tickets are valid on both busses and trains, and can be purchased from the stations and in kiosks. Travel cards, ranging from one to five days, are also available at the airport, at underground stations, and from tourist information offices. 1 day travel card zone 1-3 costs approximately €8.30.
There is so much to see and do in Paris. If you are going to visit, make sure you allow enough time so that you can experience all that it has to offer.
Marlene Challis
http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/paris-a-charming-city-727924.html
March 18th, 2010 at 6:01 pm
Is Paris still that glamourous and charming city?..?
But as far as I know the modern Paris is more about arabic culture, women in hijabs, islamic traditions, migrants from South and Asia everywhere, etc. It doesn’t look so romantic, does it? 8(
Bonjour! I’m from Saint-Petersburg and I have a plan to move to Paris in old tradition of russian White émigré after my graduation and study acting. But there’s one thing that bothers me a lot. I’ve never been in Paris before and I’m expecting to see there very beautiful ladies in evening dresses, glam life, croissants and champagne, aristocrats, fashion boutiques, sexual liberty and Catherine Deneuve
So I want Paris citizens to answer me if Paris is still that charming city that it used to be in movies and books in the first half of XX century? Is it able to ignore the annoying muslim stuff (oh, forgive me, but russians do not know what "political correctness" means, we usually call the things by it’s name) and enjoy the city I dreamed about? Is it still exactly that Paris in which Amelie skipped stones across St. Martin’s Canal, Ravic and Joan were drinking calvados and the Dreamers were dreaming? Or the modern Paris is kind of melting pot loosing it’s own unique magic and charm?
March 18th, 2010 at 11:03 pm
Here’s a thought: being a cosmopolitan city with a large immigrant population, and being a glamorous and charming city are not mutually exclusive. If you can’t cope with living in places wherein not everybody is white, and some people are Muslims, don’t go to Paris. Having a problem with non-white and non-Christian people isn’t a simple matter of not being politically correct, by the way. It’s just plain ignorant.
EDIT: Good things seldom if ever result from caricatures. Most Muslims in France aren’t Islamic fundamentalists, and odds are if you go to Paris – which for the aforementioned reasons, I don’t recommend – you won’t be running into Catherine Deneuve. Sorry to burst your bubble.
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White guy who was born and used to live in France, including 4 years in a neighborhood with a large Muslim population. (Marcadet-Poissonniers)
March 18th, 2010 at 11:05 pm
What David said was right, but if you really want to get as close as you can to the glamourous Paris, you’ll have to live in some very specific areas…
David said something very down-to-earth, now I’ll try to keep your dream alive…
First, I have the impression that foreigners think that there are almost only Muslims in Paris, that we’re "invaded" or something very smart in that register… It’s not true, it’s just well balanced, and the balance is modified according to the neighborhood. But there are also Black people (mostly from Africa or Guadeloupe/Martinique/Réunion…), foreign students, Americans, Russians, Chinese, Japanese….
And I like this "new" Paris a lot more that the dusty traditionnal one because it brings us a diversity in plenty of fields, food for example
What is better than being able to travel from a country to another by going from a restaurant to an other one just next door? Some streets are just a trip around the world, and you just have to raise your eyes to see the Eiffel Tower or hear Notre-Dame’s bells. And you can find it awesome to sit on a very typical French bench and listen to a nearby Chinese musician.
Paris is a haughty city, and the Parisian glamour attitude is about taking the best in any foreign thing. As if Paris were an aristocratic lady with an African dress that suited her perfectly!
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March 18th, 2010 at 11:07 pm
If Russia is so amazing and Russian people are so beautiful then why do you need to move to Paris? And for your information Paris is divided into districts, like every city. There’s the Muslim District, The Black district (People from Congo and similar French speaking countries), the Gay District (yay), the Spanish District, and finally the District that probably costs the most and the one in which you imagine Paris to be. So if you can afford to pay a colossal amount to live in the nicest district of Paris then yes, it’s just like in the movies. You will probably only meet Muslims if you go to some district known to have a lot of Muslims in it. And why do you have to hate so much? Please learn to be less ignorant.
Marion that sounds amazing, but you forgot the turban that Paris wears on her head, besides the African dress
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March 18th, 2010 at 11:09 pm
Yes, you are correct. I am writing to you from paris. I am american, here on business for 5 days. This is my third trip to paris… 20 years ago, 10 years ago, and this week. I am disappointed; I used to love paris.
There is nothing new going on. Things are dirty.
However… one bright spot… people are NICER and they are SPEAKING ENGLISH. I’m sure that the French consider these effects to be poor reflections of their cultural disintegration, but I like it.
On the positive side, women here are extremely sexy, perhaps the most so anywhere I travel. It rivals bangkok, with the main difference being it’s harder to take them home here. But they are sexy.
All that said, I’d still move here if I had the chance. Good luck, you’ll have a good time. It’s a fine place. You have things rightly perceived, but it will be ok anyway.
EDIT – ps, I find all this other talk about muslims and blacks to be funny. As americans, we consider this integration to be normal.
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I’m in Paris right now.