Arc de Triomphe in Paris

Contents:

  • The reasons for visiting the City of Light
  • Sightseeing in Paris
  • Traditional places to visit

France is almost the only country on the trip which would not mind none of the world's population, as well as the opportunity to see all the sights of France. It is unique in its culture, embodied not only in the special mentality of the people, in his works, but also in the form of everyone, even a small town in the country.
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The reasons for visiting the City of Light

Paris, known for its numerous museums, beautiful streets and ancient buildings, annually attracts the largest number of tourists from all over the world. Wherever you go in this city, and even each district Avenue will be a real adventure, full of pleasant encounters and new emotions. Paris, known to all as the capital of France, is also the capital of the region Ile de France. Number of living in the city and the suburbs is more than 11 million people. All of this gives the city the right to be called the second largest metropolis in Europe. The first place was shared by Moscow and London. Paris includes the largest number of business organizations, including right here focused largest business area among European countries.

Paris attracts tourists by the fact that it is small in comparison with the capitals of other states. The distances between the main attractions here is quite possible to cross on foot. If you have time to visit the city is not very much and want to see everything, you can use the Paris subway, which would require a city map and a map of the subway. River Seine will be for you a kind of a guide, because it divides the city into two parts: the left and right banks of Paris. Stroll along the quays of the Seine surely remain in your memory for a lifetime. Particularly charming it will be in the evening and night hours, when you are able to make themselves feel and why Paris - a city of light.

 Eiffel Tower in Paris
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Sightseeing in Paris

Going to France, it is impossible not to visit its capital. And it is natural that everyone should see the most important of his characters that attract crowds of travelers, including the Eiffel Tower and other traditional attractions of France. But recently it appeared in Paris a considerable number of modern cultural monuments. Therefore, they should not overlook. But all in order.
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Traditional places to visit

Eiffel Tower - a temporary structure?

So, there is no other symbol, which by its very name would accurately describe not just a city in which there is, but also the whole country, and the people living in it.

Just hearing the name "Eiffel Tower", we immediately imagine Paris, the French, and everything else that is associated with this magnificent country.

However, the tower could not survive until today. This was due to mixed emotions, it causes as citizens of Paris and his guests. The fact that Alexander was a very famous Eifel and skilful builder of railway bridges, and the tower was built one of the world exhibitions held in 1889 in Paris. Some visitors were extremely delighted with what they saw, others are outraged, and even blamed this creature.

So, at the end of the event the tower threatened with demolition. But just this time intervals is the invention of radio. The Eiffel Tower was the tallest building in Europe at that time, so it was installed a radio antenna. So she began to carry out useful functions for its people. Currently, it is set and the television antenna at different heights are 3 viewing platforms.

 Chenonceau in France

The great Gothic cathedral of Notre Dame

No less interesting story is one of the legendary monuments of Paris - Notre Dame Cathedral. It is located in the heart of Paris and is the center of the whole country. It was at the end of Papertnoy area you can find a bronze plaque, which flaunts the inscription "Kilometer Zero". Hence the measured distance to each city in France. The cathedral was built in the 12th century. Archbishop Maurice de Sully. Over time it changed, increased in size, and now the original Cathedral little is left intact. Many say that the cathedral is best viewed from the outside than from the inside. And indeed, this is true. Facade construction is truly impressive, it is replete with all sorts of original stone processing solutions.

Well Notre Dame looks from the left bank of the Seine. A few decades ago it was around the Cathedral there are many private homes that are not consistent with the creation of a coherent and stylistically correct ensemble. Therefore, these houses were demolished. And Papertnoy area is now a beautiful view. From there you can see the colorful stained-glass windows of the Cathedral of Notre Dame, as well as see the three portals dating back to the 13th century. Here, the artists of the time captured the scene of the Last Judgment, the Holy Virgin Mary and Anna. Interior space is also amazing.

In the halls of the Cathedral can hold as many as 6,000 people. And at the Cathedral itself it is a crypt, it contains archaeological finds that date back to the Roman Empire. Despite the fact that the Council performs an important function, he tried several times to pull down. But his popularity, thanks to the novel by Victor Hugo, has been so great that gathered a movement that has carried out several activities on the restoration of the Cathedral in its original Gothic style.

The history of the Arc de Triomphe

Being one of the most peaceful beginnings of Napoleon Bonaparte, the arch was conceived them as a reflection of their own military achievements and conquests. In addition, Napoleon was so impressed by the arch of Titus, located in Rome, he had decided that in France must be exactly the same. Napoleon, among other things, liked to identify themselves as descendants of the Roman emperors, and this building was a kind of talisman in his future battles. However, being a fine military leader and general, Napoleon could not properly organize the work on the construction of the arch. The opening of the monument of architecture was planned in 1810

However, the construction was so disorganized that ended back in 1836, when the empire of Napoleon was nothing left. Such rapid pace of construction was due to the fact that Napoleon was planning to hold its opening in honor of his bride Marie Louise. But then the height of the arch is only a few meters, and a celebration was held only by the fact that the arch was erected dummy, which stretched canvas.

On the facades of the Arc de Triomphe are several bas-reliefs, including the performance of volunteers, known as La Marseillaise. They added carved names of the generals who fought on the side of France. Those that are stressed, they fell in battle on the battlefield. Now inside the Museum of the history of the arch, but at the end of the 20th century. showed serious damage on its surface. In 1989, the arch was completely renovated. Visit the monument at any time, but to see all of its charm, it is better to come to this place for half past six in the evening.   It was at this time there is lit the eternal flame. Under the arch is the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. If you do not like too crowded places, come here in the morning.

 the famous Louvre in Paris

Montmartre - bohemian quarter of Paris

Initially it was a suburb of the capital of France, who led a completely separate and independent economy. Only in 1859 the village was incorporated into Paris. It is located extremely beautiful building - the Basilica of Sacre Coeur with white domes, with stunning views of the entire city. The settlement on the hill dates back to the Neolithic period. A little later, at the time of the Gauls and Romans, it was erected in honor of the pagan temples of the gods Mercury and Mars.

The advantage is that the settlement was that it was rich in deposits of gypsum. In local quarries found refuge first Christians, including St. Dionysius - the first bishop of Paris, who in Christian preaching was beheaded. According to legend, after the execution, he picked up his head and washed it and went with it another 6 kilometers, after which he died. The place of his death, was named Saint-Denis, now it is the city.

Gypsum mine for a long time, helping the region to ensure the well-being of its citizens. With windmills workers milled gypsum quarries, which sold all over Paris. That is what was the basis of the expression "particle Montmartre there anywhere in Paris."

Nevertheless, it is culture that has become a real symbol and personification of Montmartre. It was connected with very low and therefore affordable housing prices. Artists who have never been very high incomes, happily settled in multi-storey buildings. This is despite the fact that they often had neither gas nor light. And the water used to that supplied just one tap (and this is on the 5th floor). But it is here that a significant number of years spent by such great artists as Picasso, Van Gogh, Modigliani, Renoir and many others. And although it's almost sunk into oblivion, Parisian artists, and still organize exhibitions of his work is in Montmartre.

Louvre - the keeper of the fortress-city

Creation of the Louvre to the 13th century. When the French king Philip Augustus decided to build a fortress for the defense of the city. As planned, it was built along the river Seine. In those days, not the Louvre became the residence of the royal family, as the monarch preferred settlement on the Ile de la Cité. Therefore, the main purpose of the fortress was the protection of the royal treasury and archive documents.

A century later, King Charles V still moved residence in the Louvre, which was preceded by a change in its internal situation, which is now more suitable for living. At the same time the king had ordered library. That gesture was the reason for the nicknames Charles Wise. However, after his reign the Louvre again was ignored as the royal house. But in 1546 the French rulers still appreciated the opportunities offered to them upon arrival to the Louvre and have begun to take measures to "beautification".

The first is to dare to Francis I, who ordered the palace P. Lesko changed due to the requirements of the Renaissance. That is why the old fortress was demolished, and in its foundation up new palace. But in the late 17th century. the royal court moved to Versailles, the Louvre and was gradually abandoned. As a result, he was driven to such a sorry state that in the 18th century. He even wanted to carry.

 The history of the origin and location of the greatest monuments of culture and history of France




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