Paris Attractions

The arc de triomphe, located at the Place Charles de Gaulle commemorates Emperor Napoleon's victories. The arch was completed in 1836, long after Napoleon's reign had come to an end. Read more...

The Arc du Carrousel is the smallest of three arches on the triumphal way between the Louvre Museum and La Défense. The top of the arch originally featured four gilded horses taken from St. Mark's Square in Venice. Read more...

This amphitheater - built in the 1st century A.D. - is one of the traces of Paris's Roman heritage that can be found throughout the city. Paris was known at the time as Lutetia, hence the name of the arena. Read more...

Centre Pompidou is a cultural center in the heart of historic Paris. The complex was built in 1977 by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers. It includes a museum of modern art and a large library. Read more...

Named for the Roman God of War, Champ de Mars is a long stretch of grass bordered by laid-out gardens. The park is the site of Paris's most famous icon, the Eiffel Tower. Read more...

The Avenue des Champs-Elysées is the most prestigious and most famous street in Paris and possible in the whole world. It stretches all the way from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe. Read more...

For several centuries, this castle was one of the main residences of the French Royals. They abandoned the site however after the completion of the Versailles Palace outside Paris. Read more...

The Cimetière du Père-Lachaise is one of the world's most famous and most-visited cemeteries. A long list of famous people are buried here, from Rossini and Sarah Bernhardt to Edith Piaf and Jim Morrison. Read more...

This tent-shaped building, known as the Winter Circus, opened in 1852 as the Cirque Napoléon. The building is still used to host circus productions during winter time as well as some other events. Read more...

Once part of a royal palace, this medieval building was used as a prison for more than 500 years. During the revolution, important prisoners were often held here before they were led to the guillotine. Read more...

Built as King Louis XIV's private chapel, this magnificent building now houses the tombs of several prominent French historic figures, most notably that of Emperor Napoleon I. Read more...

Probably the best known landmark in Europe, the Eiffel Tower is the symbol of Paris and one of the city's must-see attractions. You can climb up the stairs or take the elevator after waiting in the (long) queue. Read more...

This fountain in Renaissance style was built in the mid 16th century. Originally placed near the 'Cemetery of the Innocents', it is now located at the center a small square not far from Centre Pompidou. Read more...

A Combination of a large green square with an underground shopping center and movie theater, the Forum des Halles sits on land that for centuries was home to Paris’ central marketplace. Read more...

The Grand Palais was built near the Champs-Elysées as an exposition hall for the World Fair of 1900. The structure features art-nouveau ironwork and an enormous glass-domed roof. Read more...

The Hôtel de Ville - City Hall - is a beautiful 19th century building in Renaissance style, modeled after the original 16th century building. It is located at the Place de Grève, near the Seine river. Read more...

The Hôtel des Invalides is an immense 17th century complex originally built to accommodate war veterans. It is now home to several museums, including a large military museum. Read more...

This botanical garden was founded in 1626 as a medical garden and opened to the public in 1650. The garden is also home to a small zoo and the city's Natural History Museum. Read more...

The Jardin des Tuileries is a popular park in French formal style situated between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde. The garden features numerous sculptures as well as a couple of museums. Read more...

The Jardin du Luxembourg is probably the most popular park in Paris. It was created in the 17th century as a private park for Marie de Medici - wife of King Henry IV - and opened to the public in the 19th century. Read more...

La Défense is the prime high-rise office district of Paris. Many of Paris's tallest buildings can be found here as well a modern version of the Arc de Triomphe: the Grande Arche de la Défense. Read more...

One of the not-to-miss sights in Paris is the Louvre Museum, possibly the most famous museum in the world with a fabulous collection. It is housed in the Louvre Palace, once home to France's Royal Family. Read more...

The Madeleine is a church built as a greek temple. The enormous building, surrounded by 52 Corinthian columns, is one of Paris's best known monuments thanks in part to its prominent location. Read more...

Despite the many tourists here, Montmartre - once Paris's artist's enclave - has managed to keep a charming and village-like atmosphere. The most famous attraction in this area is the Sacré-Coeur Basilica. Read more...

Ever since it opened in 1889 as a 'temple of music and dance', Moulin Rouge has set the standard as the world's most famous cabaret. Today its show attracts visitors from across the world. Read more...

Located in the popular Marais district, this museum covers the history of Paris, from its early beginnings over the French Revolution up to the modern times. The museum features many recreated historic rooms. Read more...

The Orsay Museum is housed in a grand railway station built in 1900 along the Seine River. Home to many sculptures and impressionist paintings, it has become one of Paris's most popular museums. Read more...

The National Museum of the Middle Ages, also known as the Cluny Museum has a magnificent collection of medieval art. It is housed in a medieval mansion with Gallo-Roman ruins. Read more...

The National Army Museum in Paris covers the history of warfare from prehistoric times up to the Second World War. It is one of the world's most expansive army museums with a particularly large collection of military uniforms. Read more...

This modern library was built in 1996 and consists of four 24-story buildings shaped as open books. The four towers enclose a central garden of about 1 hectare or 2.5 acres. Read more...

The Notre Dame de Paris is one of the first Gothic Cathedrals ever built. Construction started in 1163 and lasted for almost two decades. From the lookout at the north tower you have a great view over the city. Read more...

Now known as the Palais Garnier, this opulent building in Second Empire baroque style was constructed between 1862 and 1875 as one of the grandest opera houses ever built. Read more...

The Palais Bourbon was built in 1728 as the palace of the Duchess of Bourbon, daughter of King Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan. Today it houses the French Parliament's Lower House. Read more...

The Palais Royal is a palace built by Cardinal Richelieu in 1629. King Louis XIV - later known as the Sun King - spent his youth in this palace before moving to the Louvre. The central courtyard and garden can be visited free of charge. Read more...

The Pantéon, a 19th century building, was first designed as a church, but later turned into a civil temple. Its crypt contains the vaults of several of France's famous countrymen. Read more...

This innovative modern park was created at the site of the former Citroën automobile plant near the Seine River. The park is arranged into serveral gardens, all with very contrasting designs. Read more...

This large park in the north of Paris is home to the city's Science Museum as well as several concert halls. The park - bisected by a canal - has a very open layout with large grassy areas and several themed gardens. Read more...

The Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is a very unusual park situated in the 19th arrondissement. The park is located on a rocky hill and features a 30m (100ft) waterfall, steep hills and a 'suicide bridge'. Read more...

Parc Monceau, created in the 18th century by the Duke of Orleans, is one of Paris's most attractive parks. It features beautiful flowerbeds, many statues, a series of corinthian columns and even a pyramid. Read more...

Parc Montsouris is a large romantic park laid out in English style. At 15ha (37 acre) it is the second largest park in Paris proper. The park is bisected by a rail track with bridges connecting either side. Read more...

The Petit Palais (small palace) was built as a temporary structure for the World Fair of 1900. The magnificent Beaux-Arts building housed a large exposition of French Art. Today it is home to the Museum of Fine Arts. Read more...

This square was the location of the Bastille stronghold, which was stormed on July 14, 1789, triggering the start of the French Revolution. The stronghold was demolished and an enormous opera house now dominates the square. Read more...

The Place de la Concorde, the largest square in Paris, connects the Tuileries with the Champs-Elysées. At its center is a 3200 years old obelisk, transported in the 19th century from Egypt. Read more...

The Place des Vosges is the oldest square in Paris. All buildings bordering the square have the same red-brick facade. One of the houses surrounding the magnificent square is home to the Victor Hugo Museum. Read more...

The Place du Châtelet is a square in Paris named after the Châtelet fortress which was built here in the 12th century to defend the Île de la Cité, Paris's historic center. The square is bordered by two theatre buildings. Read more...

The Place Vendôme is Paris's most prestigious square. The tall bronze column at its center honors Napoleon's victory at the Battle of Austerlitz. The column is topped by a statue of the emperor. Read more...

The Pont Alexandre III is the most ornamented and most popular bridge in Paris. The beautiful bridge, designed by Résal and Alby at the end of the 19th century consist of a single 107m long span. Read more...

The Pont Neuf is the oldest and most famous bridge in Paris. The bridge was commissioned in the 16th century by King Henry IV. When it opened in 1607 it was the only bridge in Paris without houses built on it. Read more...

The world's first elevated park was created in the early 1990s on an abandoned elevated railway viaduct. It has been imitated by several cities, most notably New York. Read more...

This museum is dedicated to France's most famous sculptor Auguste Rodin, known for famous works such as The Thinker and The Kiss. The museum is housed in a mansion where Rodin once lived and worked. Read more...

The Sacré Coeur is a basilica in Roman-Byzantine style located on top of the Montmartre hill. Construction started in 1875, but the building wasn't completed until 1914. Read more...

One of the largest churches in Paris, this mainly gothic church was built over a span of more than 100 years, from 1532 until 1637. The church has beautiful glass stained windows and boasts France's largest pipe organ. Read more...

This chapel was built in 1248 by King Louis IX to store important religious relics. The magnificent chapel in Gothic style is a masterpiece of medieval architecture. It is located on the Île de la Cité, not far from the Notre-Dame Cathedral. Read more...

The Montparnasse Tower, built in 1973, was one of the first tall skyscrapers in Paris. After completion, the tower was seen as an intrusion of the skyline. The public outcry halted construction of skyscrapers in the historic center. Read more...

This late gothic tower is all that remains of the 16th century St-Jacques church. The church was demolished during the French Revolution, but its tower was fortunately spared. Read more...

What started as a modest hunting lodge was expanded into the world's most famous palace, a model for all future European palaces. The palace is located just 20km southwest of Paris. Read more...

One of two central islands in the Seine River, this is considered the heart of Paris. First settled in the 3rd century B.C., the island now features some magnificent sights such as the Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chapelle. Read more...