November 24, 2018Ah yes, the City of Paris. A city adorned with the telling of a long standing history immortalized by its prodigious architectural adeptness brimming with beauteous extravagance and exemplary intricacy that impresses even the connoisseurs of modern art. The city implicates itself in terms that transcend every spoken language and expectations. One cannot truly fathom the depth of its charms but to gratify your senses and write your own journey within the walls of the City of Love. If Paris is your next travel destination, here are 20 of the most iconic landmarks in Paris you must visit.
Sainte Chapelle
8 Boulevard du Palais, 75001 Paris
The Sainte-Chapelle is a breathtaking representation of French Gothic architecture, built around the mid 13th century by Louis IX. Inside this architectural masterpiece, you will marvel at the enormously high ceilings with an exceptional display of polychromatic stained glass. This royal chapel was originally built to house priceless Christian relics acquired by Saint Louis in medieval France.
Notre Dame Cathedral
6 Parvis Notre-Dame – Pl. Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris, France
This magnanimous display of French Gothic architecture is also the one of the oldest standing cathedrals in Europe. Dating all the way back into the 12th century, this beauteous structure has endured hundreds of years of history. Many years later, it became one of France’s most iconic structures as it was further popularized by the story of the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Within its walls are immense displays of artwork and furnitures that tourists can enjoy for a small entrance fee. Mass is held three times a day, making it a prime attraction for those of the Christian faith.
Pont Alexandre III
Pont Alexandre III, 75008 Paris, France
The Pont Alexandre III is Paris’ most awe-inspiring and splendiferous bridge and one of the most beautiful overpass in the world. Named after Tsar Alexander III as he finalized a Russian alliance with the Third Republic, the Pont Alexandre III is an elegant reflection of French artistry and architectural prowess that gave it the iconic status it now possesses. Take a stroll down this bridge as it connects the Champs-Élysées quarter with those of the Invalides and Eiffel Tower.
Louvre Museum
Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France
The Louvre Museum is esteemed as the world’s largest art museum receiving over 8 million visitors each year. It houses over 38000 pieces of art including the highly acclaimed Mona Lisa painting by Leonardo da Vinci. The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace which was originally built as a royal residence and fortress until the massive expansion of the city of Paris that made it lose its defensive tactical advantage.
Eiffel Tower
Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France
Nothing speaks says ‘Paris’ more than this globally renowned Parisian landmark that towers above all other structures in the city. Built during the World’s Fair of 1889, its original design was to commemorate the centennial of the French Revolution and to showcase France’s industrial advancements to the world. Currently, it is deemed as one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks and the most visited paid landmark worldwide.
Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre
35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, 75018 Paris, France
This magnificent show of Roman-Byzantine architecture is located at the pinnacle of butte Montmarte, the highest point in the city of Paris. The Sacré-Cœur is also the second most visited monument in Paris, next to the iconic Eiffel Tower. Indulge in its architectural allure and its mural-covered high ceilings on the inside. From the outside, feast your eyes on an unparalleled breathtaking panoramic view of the entire city.
Arc de Triomphe
Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris, France
The Arc de Triomphe was built to commemorate the brave men who fought and were martyred during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, with the names of all French victories and generals inscribed on its surface. The Arc is located at the converging point of twelve avenues, forming a star standing tall at the western end of the Champs-Élysées at the center of Place Charles de Gaulle. It is one of the most acclaimed monuments in Paris, not to be confused with the smaller arch, the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel.
Île Saint-Louis
44 rue Saint Louis en L Ile, 75004 Paris, France
Île Saint-Louis (St. Louis Island) is one of the two natural islands situated in the Seine River in Paris. This smaller, yet more romantic island exudes the appeal of a small French Village within the more effervescent main city. Take your time to relax and immerse in sightseeing as you visit ice cream shops, shopping boutiques, restaurants, and the St-Louis-en-l’Ile Church.
Île de la Cite
Île de la Cite Paris, France
Île de la Cite (Island of the City) is the second larger natural island in the middle of the Seine River in Paris. Stroll down the narrow streets and savor the many sightseeing options this island has to offer. The most iconic stops are the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Sainte Chapelle. There are also numerous restaurants, cafes, shops and the Square Du Vert Galant Park along the beautiful Seine River.
Eglise Saint-Etienne-du-Mont de Paris
Place Sainte-Geneviève, 75005 Paris, France
The Eglise Saint-Etienne-du-Mont is a historic church in Paris built at the end of the 15th century, exhibiting a reflection of the classic French Gothic style of architecture. It houses the shrine of St. Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris. Within its walls are the tombs of Blaise Pascal, a renowned French mathematician and physicist, and Jean Racine, a French dramatist known as one of the greatest playwrights of the 17th century.
Luxembourg Palace
15 Rue de Vaugirard, 75291 Paris, France
The Luxembourg Palace was originally built early 17th century as a royal residence of the regent Marie de’ Medici, mother of Louis XIII of France. This fine example of a French Baroque architecture is located on the left bank of Seine and is a seat of French Parliament. Check out the sculptures on and around the building, and ponder the delightful garden and landscape while taking time to relax, people-watch and enjoy a revitalizing afternoon stroll to escape the hectic Parisian lifestyle.
Paroisse Saint-Eustache
2 Impasse Saint-Eustache, 75001 Paris, France
Built between 1532 and 1632, the Church of St. Eustache emanates a French Gothic style of architecture on its exterior but exemplifies a more Renaissance appeal on the interior. This church was originally built in dedication to Saint Agnes, a Roman martyr and Catholic saint. A decade later, it was renamed in dedication to a Roman general Saint Eustace who was martyred along with his entire family for converting to Christianity. This centuries old architectural masterpiece has its interior lined with intricate artwork and vibrantly prismatic stained glass complementing its stunning interior.
Panthéon
Place du Panthéon, 75005 Paris, France
The Panthéon in Paris France was originally constructed as a church dedicated to the Patron Saint of Paris, St. Genevieve. Its neo-classical monumental architectural design was inspired by the Great Pantheon in Rome. As the years gone by, it became a crypt for prominent French figures like Victor Hugo, Marie Curie, Alexandre Dumas and several others.
Observatoire Panoramique de la Tour Montparnasse
33 Avenue du Maine, 75015 Paris, France
Enjoy a breathtaking 360°panoramic view of the French Capital at the Observatoire Panoramique de la Tour Montparnasse or the Panoramic Observatory of the Montparnasse Tower. This tourist attraction features Europe’s fastest elevator that takes you up 196 meters or 647 feet in less than 40 seconds. At the top, take the time to revel in the opulence of Paris’ most iconic landmarks. The view is superbly one-of-a-kind.
Musee d’Orsay
1 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 75007 Paris, France
Located along the Seine River, the Musee d’Orsay was originally built a railway station called the Gare d’Orsay in the early 1900’s. Eight decades later, it was later on converted into a museum that would bridge the gap between the Louvre and the National Museum of Modern Art at the Georges Pompidou Centre. Currently, it stands as one of the largest art museums in France with a vast collection of impressionist and post-impressionists masterpieces by master painters including Van Gogh, Monet, Degas and Manet.
Pont Neuf
75001 Paris, France
Pont Neuf or the New Bridge, ironically is the oldest standing stone bridge across the Seine River in Paris via the Île de la Cité and built around the late 16th century.
Tour Saint-Jacques
Square de la Tour Saint-Jacques, 75004 Paris, France
The Tour Saint-Jacques is what remained of the magnificent Church of Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie (“Saint James of the butchers”) from the 16th century which was destroyed during the French Revolution of 1789. The remnant is presently revered as a monument as it stands proudly at 52 meters or 171 feet on the 4th arrondissement of Paris on Rue de Rivoli at Rue Nicolas Flamel.
Rue de Cremieux
Rue Cremieux, 75012 Paris, France
The colorful street of Rue de Cremieux holds an allure in itself with cobblestoned pathways and over 30 identical private houses painted in various pastel colors, making it social media famous especially among fashion bloggers and photography enthusiasts. This photogenic street located in the 12th arrondissement of Paris is perfect for a delightful stroll as you take in the scene of prismatic houses accentuated by vibrant flowers in pots completing a rustic provincial canvas within the vibrant city of Paris.
Palais Garnier Opera National de Paris
8 Rue Scribe, 75009 Paris, France
The Palais Garnier is arguably the most renowned opera house in the world with its architectural prowess further enhanced by its exceedingly opulent interior that makes it a noteworthy masterpiece on its own. Further popularized by the 1910 novel The Phantom of the Opera, it somehow found its place in splendor alongside Paris’ most paradigmatic landmarks like the Louvre Museum or the Notre Dame Cathedral.
The Catacombs
1 Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy – 14th district
The Catacombs are underground ossuaries in the heart of the City of Love where the remains of over 6 million Parisians lie within this labyrinth of what used to be a network of ancient stone mines in Paris. With thousands of years of history affixed upon its walls, parts of the entire network were sectioned off, yet some are kept open for curious tourists who want to explore the darker side of the history of Paris.
