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Each of these
walking tours is designed to be around 3 hours in length, at a
casual stroll, giving you time to admire the sites, window shop,
etc.
Left Bank - Latin Quarter/East
Left Bank - Montparnasse/Luxembourg
Left Bank - Latin Quarter/West
Left Bank - Rodin/Les Invalides
Left Bank - Ile de la Cite & Ile St Louis
Right Bank - Montmartre/Sacre Coeur
Right Bank - Champs Elysees
Right Bank - Louvre/Shopping
Right Bank - Les Halles/Le Marais
Right Bank - Opera/
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Many of these
attractions are noted in the walking tours, and can either be
combined with a tour, or visited separately as a specific
destination.
If there is an
official web site, I include the link.
The rating system is
based on my experience visiting the site, it's overall historical
significance, ease of access, and where it falls into the "must see
if I go" category. Where appropriate, I will also note if
tours are available in English, and any other pertinent data I
happen to come across.
   
Must see
  
Probably Shouldn't Miss
  Most
people like it

Pretty Cool
If you have time
  La Conciergerie
One of the oldest French prisons, built primarily in the 14th
Century. Tours offered in English. This is where Marie
Antoinette was held prisoner until she was beheaded.
Open 9h30 to 18h30 from 1 April thur 30 September and from 10h00
until 17h00 from 1 October thru 31 March
Entry fee is €5.50
 Le
Basilique de St. Denis
This cathedral was built on the ground where the decapitated St.
Denis was said to have taken his final breath after he made his long
run from Montmartre holding his head in his hands. It is now a
monument to the resting place of Kings and Queens of France dating
back to Hugh Capet. Although it was virtually decimated during
the revolution, Violet le Duc (who restored Notre Dame de Paris) did
an outstanding job of restoring it to what it may have looked like
when the last Kings and Queens were buried there. Tours are
available in English via an audio guide.
Metro: Basilique de Saint-Denis
Open 10h00 to 17h15 in the summer
and 10h00 until 18h15 in the winter except that it's closed on
Sunday mornings until noon.
Entree fee: 6,10€
   Notre Dame de Paris
There is not much I can say about this place as it's such a well
known landmark that guide upon guide has been written about it.
I think you can get a lot more out of your visit if you do your
homework on Cathedral's before you go. Although a guided tour
is not necessary to enjoy the beauty of the Cathedral, it can be
most fascinating to learn some of the special points of interest
about the site. Look for the headless figure of St. Denis on
the left front portal, and note that the statues above the front
portals reconstructed by Violet le Duc are not what they used to be.
Thought to be Kings and Queens during the revolution, their heads
were destroyed, but later found, and can now be seen at the Musee de
Cluny.
 Ile de la Cite Archeological Dig
Located just in front of Notre Dame with the entrance down a few
stairs facing east, this is a great way to spend a few hours
marveling at an archeological dig uncovered during renovations for a
parking garage.
Point Zero
Just look for the group of tourists out front of Notre Dame looking
at the ground, and you've found Point Zero. It is from this
point that all distances in France are measured to Paris
Montmartre
    Le Sacre Coeur
The Sacre Coeur is an absolute must for all visitors in my opinion.
While the basilica itself provides for some eye-popping oohs and
aahs, it is the Sacre Coeur's location that truly makes it
spectacular. Perched high atop the Butte Montmartre, it
overlooks all of Paris. The steps leading up to the basilica
from the bottom of the hill are generally cluttered with a multitude
of people, both local and visitors. On a warm summer day, you
will find singers, jugglers, and actors all with a hat to pass.
The view of the surrounding area is unparalleled anywhere in Paris.
A climb to the top of the dome (Visite du Dome) will afford you a
360° view of the entire city, and an up close and personal view of
the various gargoyles located around the dome. There are very
few places in Paris where you will catch your breath in awe as many
times as you will at the Sacre Coeur.
Note: If you plan to take the
Visite du Dome, you will find the entrance on the left side of the
basilica (facing the front), and down a few steps. There is a
gift shop on the left side of the main church which can give you
directions. There are a few hundred winding stairs to the top,
that are in places, impassable by two persons at once. You
will also walk inside the basilica's dome to gaze down into the
church, and across the roof. If you have any fear of heights,
I don't recommend doing this.
   Place du Tertre
The Place du Tertre is located just to the east of the Sacre Coeur.
It is a lively square that is frequented by a number of tourists,
but you will also find plenty of local Parisians stopping by.
Several restaurants line the square, and it's a great place to have
lunch on a warm day to people watch. The square itself is
filled with artists who do everything from sell their wares to
create instant portraits, cutouts and caricatures. Food at
most of the restaurants is good, but not great. If you eat
here, do it for the atmosphere, not for the food. It's not so
expensive as you might think to eat, however, beware if you sit down
just to have a coffee or beer. These restaurants have devised
a unique way of getting around the old French custom of letting you
keep your table as long as you want even if you just buy a coffee.
Alas, here you can dine on Steak Frites for $10, but un cafe will
cost you $8!! The have very few customers who sit for coffee.
 Les Vignes de Montmartre
 Le Moulin Rouge
Adult Stores
Les Invalides
  Museum/Napoleon's
Tomb
 Son et Lumiere
    La Tour Eiffel
Statue de la Liberte
 Palais de Chaillot
 Paris Catacombs
Cemeteries
 Montparnasse
  Pere Lachaise
 Montmartre
   L'Arc de Triomphe
  Champs Elysees
  The Old Opera House
 The New Opera House (Bastille)
   Ste. Chapelle
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It is very
difficult to plan your day when including any of the museums found
in Paris, because it's hard to determine just how much time you want
to spend in each place. 2-3 days in the Louvre alone may not
be enough, depending on what your plans are. However, you can
certainly see all of the highlights in a half day tour. Best
advice is to give yourself time limits, decide what you want to see
before you arrive, and plan your visit around those specific works.
If you plan to see a
number of museums, you may want to consider purchasing a Museum and
Monument Pass. Available at virtually all major Metro
stations, the pass offers unlimited and immediate access to over 70
museums and monuments around the city and in the Ile de France.
It is available in 1, 3, & 5 day passes. For more information
and rates, you can visit the transportation authority's website at
www.ratp.fr and click on the
British flag for their English version. Then click on Museum &
Monument Pass. This pass, in French called the Carte Musee et
Monuments, includes the following sites:
In Paris...
l'Arc de Triomphe
Musee de l'Armee
Centre Pompidou - Modern Art Museum
Porte Doree Tropical Aquarium
Musee des Arts decoratifs
Musee des Arts et Metiers
Musee national des Arts et Traditions populaires
Musee de l'Assistance Publique - Hopitaux de Paris
Chapelle expiatoire
Cite des Sciences et de l'Industrie
Conciergerie
Musee national Eugene Delacroix
Musee de Egouts de Paris
Musee Galliera - Musee de la Mode de la Ville de Paris
Musee Hebert
Musee Jean-Jacques Henner
Musee de l'Institut de monde arabe
Musee du Louvre
Musee national de la Marine
Musee de la Mode et du Textile
Musee de la Monnaie
Musee Gustave Moreau
Musee national du Moyen Age - Thermes de Cluny
Musee de la Musique
Musee Nissim de Camondo
Crypte archeologique du Parvis de Notre-Dame
Tours de Notre-Dame
Musee de l'Ordre de la Liberation
Musee d'Orsay
Pantheon
Nusee national Picasso
Musee des Plans-reliefs
Musee de la Poste
Musee de la Publicite
Musee Rodin
Sainte-Chapelle
Sites around Paris...
Musee de l'Air et de
l'Espace
Musee des Antiquites nationales de Saint-Germain-en_Laye
Musee national de Ceramique de Sevres
Abbaye royal de Chaalis - Musee Jacquemart-Andre
Chateau de Champs
Musee national du Chateau de Compiegne
Musee Conde - Chateau de Chantilly
Musee national de la Cooperation franco-americaine - Chateau de
Blerancourt
Musee departemental Maurice Denis - Le Prieure
Musee national du Cheateu de Fontainebleau
Musee national de Granges de Port-Royal
Cheteau de Maisons-Laffitte
Musee national des chateaux de Malmaison et Bois-Preau
Chateau de la Motte Tilly
Chateau de Pierrefonds
Chateau de Rambouillet
Musee national de la Renaissance Chateau d'Ecouen
Maison d'Auguste Rodin a Meudon
Basilique Saint-Denis
Villa Savoye
Musee national des chateaux de Versailles et de Trianon
Chateau de Vincennes
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