How to see the most interesting places and attractions of Paris in 1, 2 and 3 days. How to get there and where to stay on a budget.

I’ll say right away that 3 days in Paris is very little if you don’t prepare and plan your route. I've had two trips to Paris, several days each, and I still don't know this city. I can navigate, I know the main attractions, but this is just a ceremonial postcard to show off that I was here.

I will try to combine all the experience and information found on the Internet in order to make life easier for future guests of Paris and systematize memories. This article can be called a small guide to Paris.

Sights of Paris

It is worth preparing in advance for visiting many attractions and purchasing some tickets online. This will allow you to avoid standing in long, hours-long queues and will give you the opportunity to allocate more time to Paris itself.

1. without a queue - 19.5€
2. without a queue - 38€
3. without a queue - 36€
4. skip the line - 12€
5. — 18€
6. — 37€
7. in Russian – 130€

What to see in Paris in 1 day

One of the starting points for a walk around Paris can be Trocadero . This place can be easily reached by metro by getting off at the Trocadero station of the same name.

Why Trocadero? This is where the most famous observation deck in Paris is located, and the views from this platform are shown in many films. It’s worth coming here if you want your first impression of Paris to be exactly as it was from the movies. The only nuance that can ruin everything is the crowds of tourists from early morning until late evening, but this is a drawback of all of Paris.

Eiffel Tower

Arriving at Trocadero, let's start the first day with a symbol that leaves no one indifferent. Some admire her, while others, trying to stand out, express their contempt and still take pictures against her background and climb on her, paying their money, to say something like “Finally, she is not visible.”

We are talking about the most famous and one of the most important attractions of Paris - the Eiffel Tower. You can linger here for a long time, it’s not so easy to get around it, and if you also sit on the grass on the Champ de Mars, it may turn out that half a day has already passed.

The queue for the tower is never small, so if your plans include conquering it, then depending on your budget there are two options - purchase tickets in advance and go to the top without queuing.

1. — 49€
2. — 81€.
3. — 42€.

Statue of Liberty

Not far from the Eiffel Tower there is a small replica of the Statue of Liberty. It is located on Swan Island. Looking at it, one involuntarily recalls the world-famous Statue of Liberty in America, which appeared there thanks to France.

Military school

Having returned from the Statue of Liberty to the Eiffel Tower and having spent some time on the Champ de Mars near it, we need to move on. At the end of the Champs de Mars there is a large complex of buildings, this is the Military School.

Home for the Invalids

Many people associate France with Napoleon Bonaparte, and after visiting Paris it is worth visiting his grave, which is located in the Invalides. This is a whole complex of buildings, headed by the cathedral, where Napoleon’s grave is located, as well as sarcophagi with the ashes of other emperors.

• — 11€.

There is also a museum of plans and reliefs and an army museum. The purpose of this complex has not yet changed; war veterans are still staying here today.

Montparnasse Tower

Now it’s worth heading to the Montparnasse skyscraper, from the roof of which you can take the best photographs of both the Eiffel Tower and Paris itself from a bird’s eye view. This is the highest observation deck in Paris.

• — 15€.

On the 56th floor there is an indoor area with a restaurant, and on the 59th floor there is an open area. The remaining floors are occupied by offices of various companies.

Pantheon

After leaving the tower we head to another majestic building, the Pantheon. Here are the ashes or a piece of soil from the graves of the most prominent people in France. The road to it will lie through the Luxembourg Gardens. The entrance is free.

The Catholic Church of Saint-Etienne-du-Mont is located next to the Pantheon, it is located on the Mount of Saint Genevieve. The church contains a tomb containing the relics of the patron saint of Paris, Saint Genevieve.

This is where the sights of Paris on the first day end. Taking into account the time spent on the Champ de Mars and the Montparnasse observation deck, it should be a whole day of excursion.

Sights of Paris in 2 days

We will start the second day with another well-known symbol, without which not a single film about Paris can do - this is the Arc de Triomphe, and the day will end with a visit to the Louvre.

Triumphal Arch

There is a museum inside the architectural monument, and at the very top there is an observation deck. Entrance to the site is paid. The queue here is much shorter, but if you want to skip it, I will provide a link to tickets.

• — 12€.

Champs Elysees

Immediately after the Arc de Triomphe the Champs Elysees begin. Many will be disappointed that there are no fields here, and today it is just a street with expensive shops connecting the Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe.

Place de la Concorde is hard to miss, as it is located in the center of the city between the Tuileries Garden and the Champs Elysees, its fountains attract attention, and the obelisk is visible from afar.

Tuileries Garden

Located between the Place de la Concorde and the Louvre, the garden has become a must-see on tourist routes. If you're lucky, one of the many outdoor exhibitions will be taking place during your visit.

One of the favorite pastimes of tourists in the Tuileries Garden is to sit around the fountain, basking in the sun and feeding the birds.

After feeding the birds, don’t forget to snack on a French baguette, which in Paris tastes fantastic, especially if you’re even a little hungry.

Place Vendôme

One of the famous squares of Paris and it is located a few minutes from the Tuileries Garden. You can only take good photographs of this area from a height, because... it just doesn't fit into the lens.

The Louvre is one of the main attractions of Paris, one of the largest and most famous museums in the world. The most famous exhibits of the museum are the Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa.

It can take a whole day to explore the entire museum, as its huge collection numbers about four hundred thousand exhibits. Here you can get acquainted with the art of ancient Egypt, the ancient East, see sculptures, study the art of Islam, and also visit halls with fine and graphic arts.

The queue at the Louvre is often no worse than the queue at the Eiffel Tower, so it’s also worth purchasing tickets here in advance, although it costs a little more online.

• without a queue - 19.5 €.

What to see in Paris in 3 days

Day 3 can start with the Sacré-Coeur Basilica as one of the most remote attractions in Paris and gradually move towards the city center to the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral.

Basilica of Sacré-Coeur and Montmartre

To get to the basilica you need to take one of 3 metro lines - M2, M4 or M12 and get off at Anvers, Chateau Rouge or Abbesses stations, respectively. To the left of the basilica there is a funicular to the top of the mountain, for those who find it difficult to climb the steps.

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Christ or Sacré-Coeur is a decoration of the Montmartre region and is considered one of the main Catholic churches in the country. The area in front of the basilica allows you to enjoy views of Paris and its surroundings.

Since the basilica is located on a mountain, this is another observation deck with views of Paris from where most of the city is visible.

5 minutes from the basilica in the vicinity of the Montmartre district, you can find an unusual monument in the form of a man half stuck in a wall. This is the hero of Marcel Aimé's story "The Man Walking Through Walls."

Show-Cabaret Moulin Rouge

Coming down the mountain from the basilica, it is difficult to pass by another symbol of Paris, because it was here that the famous Cancan dance was first performed. The cabaret is located on Boulevard Clichy; the building is easily recognizable due to its red mill.

There was a period when this establishment enjoyed a negative reputation, but now even children from 6 years old are allowed to attend the show and you can visit the establishment with the whole family.

Although this is the most famous establishment in the city, there are several other cabarets in Paris that are in no way inferior to the Moulin Rouge. Below is a selection of tickets for alternative cabaret shows. - 11€.

After the opera, we head towards the Ile de la Cité and along the way we will see the lonely Tower of Saint-Jacques.

What kind of ancient city would it be without the Town Hall? The Paris City Hall has seen a lot, there were various kinds of riots and revolutions, during which it managed to survive, but with the proclamation of the Paris Commune it was completely burned down.

The square and the town hall located on it have the same name Hotel de Ville, which means city palace.

Now you can cross the bridge and explore the Ile de la Cité, where you can see the second most important symbol of Paris, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris or Notre Dame de Paris. This is not only an important building in Paris, but above all the soul and heart of the city. It was built on the island of Cité on the site where there once was a former pagan temple, and after it the Church of St. Stephen.

Palace of Justice and Conciergerie Castle

The huge palace complex, which includes the courts, prosecutor's office and police, is located on the same Ile de la Cité as Notre-Dame de Paris. Today the palace is a huge complex of buildings, the main of which are the Conciergerie Castle (prison), the Sainte Chapelle chapel and the Palace of Justice itself.

The story turned out to be very long, but these are only the main attractions of Paris and a few less significant ones that came across along the road or were nearby. Now you will understand that Paris and 3 days is very little.

Paris is a city permeated with an atmosphere of romance and love, emanating from the beauty of the squares, the elegance of the palaces, the grandeur of the cathedrals and the magic of the masterpieces of Parisian museums. Here, every stone keeps a fascinating story, reviving in the imagination the events of the novels of Alexandre Dumas, Hugo, Balzac and Zola. Paris is a special world of dizzying entertainment and gastronomic delights. If you are planning to visit the capital of France, find out what to see in Paris in 5 days on your own so that the “holiday city” remains in your memory forever.

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1 day in Paris

Travelers hungry for excitement can tackle the 9.8 km route through the historical centre. Start your journey at 9 o'clock in the morning from the hallmark of Paris - the Eiffel Tower on the Champ de Mars, where you will go from the Bir Hakeim (line 6) or Trocadero (line 9) metro stations. Continuing the tour according to our guide, by 16:00, including lunch in one of the cozy cafes on the old street, you will end the tour at the Hotel de Ville square. Tourists who are not keen on Gothic architecture shorten their route by not visiting the Church of St. Clotilde and St. Eustache. At the end of the tour, you can go from the Hotel de Ville pier for a boat trip along the Seine with dinner on a boat, then return to the Eiffel Tower to see it in the glow of the lights.

Eiffel Tower

A unique building in Paris - the Eiffel Tower, rising 324 meters on the Champ de Mars - is the desired goal of every tourist. Its pyramidal design on 4 supports, connected at different levels by arches and square platforms, is striking. Weighing 10 tons, it puts pressure on the ground like a person sitting on a chair. On the 2nd level of the tower at an altitude of 116 meters there is an observation deck with the Jules Verne restaurant.

276 meters from the ground there is a 3rd floor with a lighthouse topped with a dome. The view of the tower is mesmerizing with its metal openwork structure, shining in the sun with three shades of bronze color. From the observation deck, where the elevator takes you up until midnight, a wonderful panorama of old Paris opens up.

Church of St. Clotilde

Those interested in cathedral architecture are advised to take the metro to Solférino station, where on Las Cases Street stands the Basilica of Santa Clotilde, a building from 1846 that stands out in the style of medieval churches from the 14th century. It is notable for its two twin spiers 69 meters high, a luxurious facade decorated with lace stone carvings, sculptures of saints, high windows and a rose window.

Inside the basilica, under pointed vaults with colorful stained glass windows from the 19th century, there are amazing statues illustrating the life of St. Valeria of Limoges, paintings depicting the Way of the Cross of Jesus and the life of the Virgin Mary. The basilica is open daily from morning to evening. After exploring its interior, take the metro to Invalides station and head towards the Invalides.

House of Invalides

You can get to the 17th century architectural complex - the Invalides' Home on Rue de Grenelle by metro, getting off at Invalides or Varenne stations. Its golden-domed dome of the 107-meter St. Louis Cathedral with its openwork lantern and spire is visible from afar. Created by decree of King Louis XIV, the Invalides' Home for the care of war veterans, while remaining a veteran's shelter, became a complex of 4 military-themed museums, a necropolis and a temple.

The oldest Army Museum displays unique exhibits - military armor, trophies, weapons and banners. The Basilica of Saint Louis houses the sarcophagus containing the remains of Emperor Napoleon. Particularly striking is the black marble tombstone with the heart of Marshal Vauban, completed with his sculpture with female images of Science and War. By purchasing a full ticket for 12 €, you can see all the exhibits.

Alexander III Bridge

From the Les Invalides to the other bank of the Seine River, the elegant single-arch 160-meter Alexander III Bridge, built in 1900, spans the Champs Elysees. Passers-by admire the skillful stone angels, nymphs and Pegasi, bronze statues in the image of Science, Art, Industry and Battle, created by the skill of sculptors. On the pylons, bas-reliefs depict 4 eras of French history: the Middle Ages and modernity - subjects of the right bank, the Renaissance and Louis XI are depicted on the left bank. In the center of the arched span on the river side, the bridge is decorated with a nymph of the Seine with a French coat of arms on one side and a nymph of the Neva with a Russian coat of arms on the reverse side. Among tourists, the bridge is considered a place where wishes made by lovers who kiss in the middle of the bridge necessarily come true.

Place de la Concorde

From the Pont Alexandre III, proceed to one of the most beautiful places in Paris - Place de la Concorde, founded in the 17th century between the Tuileries Garden and the Champs Elysees. It is unique in its octagonal shape with marble statues at each corner, symbolizing the 8 major French cities. The center of attraction in the square is the Egyptian obelisk, carved from pink granite 3600 years ago - a gift to France from the King of Egypt.

On both sides of the monument there are 2 Hittorf fountains, rising 9 meters. They are decorated with sculptures of Nereid, Triton, and characters from Greco-Roman mythology. On the square, two buildings, separated by the Rue Royale, attract attention - the Ministry of the Navy and the Aumont Palace, in which the Crillon Hotel is located. The square can be reached by metro to Concorde station on lines 1, 12 or 8.

Church of the Madeleine

In the ensemble of the Place de la Concorde there is the Place de la Madeleine with the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, notable for its antique appearance surrounded by a colonnade. On the pediment of the central facade, the sculptural composition of the Last Judgment is amazing. The entrance to the temple is opened by massive bronze gates depicting the 10 Christian commandments. In the depths of the hall, attention is drawn to the sculptural composition of Mary Magdalene, surrounded by three angels on the altar.

Above the altar vault is a stunning fresco of Jesus surrounded by the apostles meeting Mary Magdalene in heaven, below which a series of historical figures of France are depicted. Statues and scenes from the lives of saints decorate the walls, small altars and church pulpit. You can appreciate the beauty of the interior daily and free of charge.

Place Vendôme

After visiting the Church of the Madeleine, you need to go from the Madeleine metro station (lines 8, 12, 14) to the Opéra station. You will find yourself on the octagonal Place Vendôme, one of the five “royal squares” of Paris. Surrounded by classical-style buildings with columns, arcades and attics, it impresses with its monumentality. Here, each house preserves the memory of famous historical figures who lived at different times.

One of these buildings houses the most luxurious Parisian hotel, the Ritz. The visual center of the square is the 38-meter white marble Vendôme Column. It is crowned with a statue of Napoleon in a short cloak with a laurel wreath on his head, holding a sword and a globe with the figure of the Goddess of Victory. From Place Vendôme we will proceed to the Tuileries Park by taking the metro at the Opéra station and getting to the Concorde station.

Tuileries Garden

The magnificent Tuileries Garden spreads over 25.5 hectares between the Louvre, Place de la Concorde, Rue de Rivoli and the Seine. If you go to the Tuileries from the Place de la Concorde, you will come to the Main Entrance, decorated with equestrian monuments of Glory and Mercury. The entrance from Place Concorde leads to the Orangerie art gallery with rare paintings by Monet, Renoir, Picasso, Modigliani, Cezanne and Matisse. You can enjoy masterpieces of painting on any day except Tuesday for 9 €.

Contemporary fine art is represented by the Jeu de Paume gallery. It is closed on Monday. Marble statues - copies of originals stored in palaces and museums of Paris - line the central alley. Of the numerous sculptures that decorate the garden, pay attention to a copy of Rodin's famous composition “The Kiss” and 20 original sculptures by Aristide Maillol. Heading towards the Louvre, you will approach the Carousel Arch.

Arch on Place Carrousel

The arch, erected at the beginning of the 19th century on Place Carrousel in honor of the victories of Napoleon's army, separates the Tuileries Garden from the Louvre. A tall 19-meter building in the Empire style, it stands out with a facade with pink marble columns with the Corinthian order. The columns depict sculptures of 8 military branches in uniform. The side facing the Louvre is represented by the cuirassier, cavalryman, dragoon and carabineer; the side facing the Tuileries Garden is represented by the grenadier, infantryman, sapper and gunner.

The main facade is decorated with coats of arms: on the left - the Italian kingdom, supported by Wisdom and Strength, and on the right - France, supported by Peace and Plenty. The eastern facade of the arch is crowned with a quadriga of horses, driven by the World in the center and statues of Victory on both sides. On the small arched spans, the events of Napoleon's military campaigns are reflected in 4 bas-reliefs.

Church of Saint-Eustache

From the Place de la Carrousel it is a stone's throw to the 17th-century Church of Saint-Eustache, second in beauty only to the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris. Its architecture embodied the grandeur of the Gothic with the Renaissance beauty of the façade, crowned with a Gothic dome with the figure of a deer. The temple vaults are decorated with paintings by Rubens, stained glass windows and religious sculptures. In the center, the gaze stops at the chapel of the Virgin Mary, the striking sculpture of the Virgin and Child and the fresco of the Virgin surrounded by angels.

Famous historical figures were parishioners of the church. Here Cardinal Richelieu and the Marquise de Pompadour were baptized, Molière was baptized and buried, and King Louis XIV prayed. You can see the wonderful interior of Saint-Eustache any day for free, and on Sunday you can enjoy an organ concert.

Church of Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois

From the Church of Saint-Eustache (metro Les Halles line 4) we proceed to the Gothic Church of Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois, getting off at the Châtelet station. On the facade of the 15th century, loggias, 5 arches with statues, sculptures of kings and saints placed in the portals look exquisite. The skillful decor of the facade is completed by a rose window with a pointed pediment. Go to the church where masses were celebrated for crowned heads and their families, from where the signal was given for the beginning of the St. Bartholomew's Night massacre.

The mysterious atmosphere of the temple is felt at the sight of church rarities: a carved wooden bench where members of the royal family sat at mass, a Flemish altar with wood carvings depicting events from the life of Jesus, statues of Saints Herman and Vincent. The impression is enhanced by the lighting created by stained glass and rose windows of the 16th century. Take line 1 to the Rambuteau station towards the Center Georges Pompidou.

Center Georges Pompidou

After the medieval Gothic, the futuristic building of the Georges Pompidou Cultural Center looks like a contrast. A colorful structure will appear before your eyes, on the facade of which there are blue ventilation and green water pipes, yellow plexuses of electrical wires and moving red escalators with elevators.

On 5 floors there are exhibition halls with 60,000 creations of contemporary painting, design, sculpture, installations and performance, as well as works by the great artists of the 20th century: Matisse, Picasso and Kandinsky. The complex has several concert halls and a modern cinema. Don't miss the opportunity to go up to the observation deck, which offers views from Montmartre to Notre Dame Cathedral. For 14 € you can see all the exhibitions of the center.

Stravinsky Fountain

Opposite the Pompidou Center, a fountain dedicated to the composer Igor Stravinsky, a holder of the Legion of Honor, will not go unnoticed. The whimsical architecture of the fountain in the form of a dynamic installation enlivens the nondescript square. 16 colorful figures - characters from famous fairy tales, splashing water - move along the water surface of the rectangular pool, and their movements are repeated by black aluminum mechanisms.

Fairy-tale images: treble clef, frog, elephant, mermaid, clown, hat and others symbolize the period of the composer’s creativity, based on Russian folklore. The central figure of the fountain was the Firebird, which was a smaller copy of the huge Sun God sculpture in California. From the fountain we go towards Saint-Martin Street towards the Church of Saint-Merry.

Church of Saint-Merri

The Catholic Church of Saint-Méry, built from 1520 to 1612 in the Flamboyant Gothic style, is often called the Church of the Devil because of the figure of Baphomet on the main portal, depicted as a grinning hermaphrodite with wings behind his back. Saint-Méry impresses with its exquisite architecture and ancient history. Its facade is decorated with modern statues of saints, and inside it resembles a small Notre Dame. When viewing the temple, you should pay attention to the wooden carvings and stained glass windows of the 16th century on the naves and choir, depicting the lives of saints.

Next to the chapel, two bas-reliefs of angels are amazing: with a Bible and a cup in their hands. The oldest bell in Paris, cast in 1331, is recognized as a rarity of Saint-Méry. It is installed in a small bell tower located on the left portal of the facade. From the Church of Sainte-Méry you will go to the Place de la Hôtel de Ville.

Square Hotel de Ville

Place Hôtel de Ville or Place de Greve was founded by decree of Louis VII in 1147. Since 1310, it served as a place for the burning of heretics and the execution of criminals. In front of the townspeople, aristocrats were beheaded, and commoners were executed by hanging. A stone cross was erected on the southern side of the square in the 14th century, where those sentenced to death said their last prayer. In 1357, the city hall building was built here, reconstructed in 1628 in the Renaissance style.

The City Hall building is decorated with sculptures of Voltaire, Moliere, Eugene Sue, Charles Perrault and Cardinal Richelieu. The central tower of the facade attracts attention with an ancient clock framed by virtues expressed by female figures. We finish the route at the Hotel de Ville pier with a boat trip along the Seine to the Eiffel Tower station.

Second day in Paris

The length of the Day 2 excursion will be approximately 4.5 km, starting from Notre Dame Cathedral at 9 a.m. for skip-the-line access. You can get to the cathedral by metro, getting off at Saint-Michel station. The journey then continues through the Latin Quarter, which can take up to 5 hours, depending on the time spent in the cathedral, churches and Luxembourg Gardens.

Notre Dame Cathedral

The neo-Gothic Notre-Dame Cathedral, the heart and soul of Paris, built from 1163 to 1345, amazes with the grandeur of its architecture, rich decor and unique shrines. When you see the facade, you are amazed by the white stone lace on the stained glass rose window and balcony doors, the gallery of statues of kings and the statue of the Virgin Mary and Child. Entering through the main entrance, visitors are transfixed by the sight of the horrors of the Last Judgment.

Next comes the awe emanating from the huge stained glass windows, where the biography of Christ from birth to the Crucifixion appears. Divine energy comes from frescoes with readings of the Bible, sculptures of saints, an ancient organ and sacred relics: the Crown of Thorns, the nail that was used to nail Jesus to the crucifixion and pieces of the cross itself. After visiting the cathedral, everyone can climb the 69-meter tower, overcoming 387 steps, for 8 € to enjoy an unforgettable view of Paris.

Fountain of St. Michael

From Notre-Dame Cathedral, walk to the Fountain of Saint Michael, unveiled to the inhabitants of the Latin Quarter in 1860. From it there are paths to all the memorable places of the Ile de la Cité. A fountain, made in the form of a monumental triumphal arch, decorated the square, covering the blank wall of the house. Its sculptural composition symbolizes the victory of good over evil. The four columns flanking the arch are topped with bronze statues of the virtues: Prudence, Justice, Strength and Temperance.

The accent of the center is the figure of Archangel Michael piercing the Devil with a sword. Good triumphs, washing away evil with water pouring like a wall from the pedestal and from the mouths of chimeras, flowing into a three-tier sink. Near the fountain you feel the spirit of Paris. Here they make appointments, lovers make a wish by throwing coins into the water for luck, and musicians play in the evenings.

Holy Chapel Sainte-Chapelle

Walking from Place Saint-Michel along Boulevard du Palais, it is impossible to pass by the Holy Chapel of Sainte-Chapelle, built in the 13th century according to the architect's plan in the form of a casket for storing church relics. The chapel, with a spire rising 75 meters high and chimeras along the perimeter of the roof, is open to the public every day. Inside, the chapel amazes with the imagination of medieval architects.

In the lower tier, you will admire the multi-color stained glass windows illustrating the life of the Virgin Mary, decorative arches, and skillful medallions with the faces of the 12 apostles. Attention is drawn to the columns with royal heraldry and the vaults in the form of the night sky with golden stars. On the upper tier, the richness of the decor and stained glass windows shimmering in the light are breathtaking, showing the history of mankind from the Creation of the world to the Apocalypse. From Sainte-Chapelle we will approach the Concierge Castle.

Church of Saint-Etienne-du-Mont

The Basilica of Saint-Etienne-du-Mont, which took 130 years to build, appeared to Parisians in 1622 with a structure with 3 fancy pediments of Gothic and Renaissance styles on the facade. The main entrance is distinguished by pilasters on the pediment, antique-themed medallions and niches with statues of saints. The church interior is notable for its 16th-century stained glass windows, a three-hundred-year-old organ with a divine sound, and a baroque pulpit supported by a sculpture of Samson.

People come here to venerate the relics of Saint Genevieve, the patroness of Paris. Only here you will see a unique pulpit from which sermons are delivered. It overhangs with a gallery ending on both sides with a white stone spiral staircase, decorated with openwork stone carvings. The church is open until 19.30 and is a great way to end your 2nd day in Paris.

Third day in Paris

Arriving in Paris, be sure to visit Montmartre - the bohemian district of the city where Zola lived, Renoir, Van Gogh, Picasso painted, and Hemingway and Fitzgerald rocked. Montmartre, located on a hill, is the highest and most colorful district of Paris, permeated with an atmosphere of romance and a flair of light debauchery. A hike through the memorable places of Montmartre with a rest in one of the famous cafes will take up to 5 hours. From the Pigalle metro station it is quite easy to climb to the Montmartre funicular or climb the steps of the stairs to the top of the 130-meter hill to the architectural pearl - Sacré Coeur. End the day well with a stroll along Boulevard Clichy, visiting the Moulin Rouge cabaret, located near metro Blanche.

Basilica of Sacre Coeur

Approaching the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, one is overwhelmed by the awe emanating from the beauty of the temple-palace, which combines the styles of Byzantine and Romanesque architecture. The white stone structure, 83 meters high, shimmering in pink, is the embodiment of graceful decor and ideal construction, completed with a large central dome. The majesty of Sacre-Coeur is given by the bell tower, rising 100 meters high.

Near the entrance to the church, visitors are greeted by sculptures of King Louis IX and Joan of Arc, and on the pediment in a niche is a statue of the Sacred Heart of Christ. The divine atmosphere in the basilica is created by stained glass windows with biblical scenes reflected in colorful reflections on the white walls and picturesque mosaics. You can admire the wonderful interior of the temple for free.

Place du Tertre

Turning left from the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, you will come out onto the compact, crowded Place du Tetre - the epicenter of bohemian life. Here, each house has its own story about the celebrities who lived in it. Among the numerous cafes, the oldest restaurant-bistro La Mère Catherine is popular, where more than 200 years ago Russian officers liked the cuisine, shouting “quickly”! The creative elite of Montmartre also loved to come here.

On the square, lined with outdoor tables, you can have a snack while watching the vibrant life of the bohemian public. After resting, walk between exhibitions of street artists who are ready to immortalize you against the backdrop of Sacre Coeur or Moulin Rouge for 20-40 €. From Place du Tetre, turn onto Rue Poulbot and head towards the Salvador Dali House Museum to see the world's most valuable collection of paintings by the artist.

Salvador Dali Museum

Salvador Dali spent his creative life in Paris, Montmartre. It is not surprising that the largest collection of the artist’s works - more than 300 paintings and sculptural masterpieces - is located in Montmartre. Visitors discover not only new paintings, but also sculptural works that embodied the master’s futuristic fantasies when the two-dimensionality of the canvas was not enough. Dali's boundless imagination is reflected in a collection of engravings on literary themes.

Here you will see paintings by the genius of surrealism, painted with a rhinoceros horn and snails crawling on the canvas, soaked in paints. The museum also displays Dali’s personal collection of paintings by outstanding artists of the “Lost Generation”. From here we continue our way to the vineyards of Montmartre, opposite which you will see the Agile Rabbit cabaret.

Cabaret "Agile Rabbit"

“The Agile Rabbit” is listed among the oldest cabarets in Montmartre, which became one of the favorite places to hang out at the turn of the 19th - 20th centuries among the bohemian literary and artistic public. Its regulars included Paul Verlaine, Guillaume Apollinaire, Auguste Renoir, Amadeo Modigliani, Pablo Picasso, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec and others, famous personalities in art.

The history of the cabaret began in 1869 with a village tavern called “Meeting of Thieves”. After a while, an entertainment establishment, “The Murderers Cabaret,” opened there, renamed after a local artist painted a sign for the cabaret with a funny rabbit. Today, the Agile Rabbit has become a venue for humorous and musical evenings. After passing by the Agile Rabbit, you need to go down the steps leading to the Saint-Vincent Memorial Cemetery.

Cemetery Saint-Vincent

To get inside the Saint-Vincent cemetery, opened in 1831, you need to go around it, focusing on the Sacré-Coeur basilica, rising on the hill. This churchyard is a real open-air museum, housing 900 graves, among which are the graves of brilliant creators of music, science, art and literature, who left a bright mark on world culture.

Here, each marble tombstone is a unique monument. It is convenient to walk through the cemetery using the path layout located on the stand located near the entrance. A detailed plan showing the location of the famous graves can be obtained from the cemetery caretaker. Having been alone with eternity, return to reality along Rue Sol, where, turning onto Rue Abrevoir, stop near the “Pink House”.

Restaurant "Pink House"

The colorful house, with its eye-catching pink façade and green shutters on the corner of Rue Abrevoir, now houses a restaurant. The pink house depicted in many paintings by the famous landscape painter Maurice Utrillo, who lived in Montmartre, was not always such an impressive color. His artist friends repainted the house. Once, when a group of artists were returning drunk from Montmartre at night, Maurice Utrillo thought this house was nondescript, and he exclaimed that it should be pink.

Friends, picking up this idea, didn’t have to wait long and painted the building pink. Not forgetting about the great artists, from here we will go to Place Émile Goudeau, from where we will go up Rue d’Orchampt, passing by house number 11, where the singer Dalida lived, and we will approach the Moulin de la Galette on Lepique Street.

Mill Moulin de la Galette

The old windmill, which became a tavern in 1830, is depicted in paintings by artists Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec, Van Gogh and Pablo Picasso, who often dined here with country bread and a glass of wine produced by the mill owner. When the rural area turned into an urban neighborhood, the owners of the tavern turned it into a music hall. The atmosphere of a dance evening in a music hall was conveyed by Renoir in one of his canvases.

Nowadays, the historical mill has acquired the status of a national architectural monument. Near it, the Moulin de la Galette restaurant was built with the Moulin Rade mill above the entrance. After enjoying a cup of coffee in the famous restaurant, it is pleasant to leisurely walk along the ancient street of Toloze, the boulevard of red light districts of Cliche, which will lead to one of the most coveted attractions of Paris - the Moulin Rouge cabaret.

Cabaret Moulin Rouge

The Moulin Rouge cabaret is the spirit of bohemian and voluptuous Paris, thanks to which it gained fame as the European capital of love. Founded at the end of the 19th century, Le Moulin Rouge cabaret is named after the huge wooden mill built above the entrance. The establishment gained unprecedented popularity after dancing with a touch of light eroticism.

Representatives of high society and bohemians gathered in the evenings to watch the cancan. It is known that the artist Toulouse-Lautrec almost settled in the Moulin Rouge, depicting it in his paintings. Today, the cabaret delights with an enchanting show with a wealth of scenery and luxury costumes, contemplated at a table with a glass of champagne. In the evenings there are 3 performances, where the most expensive ticket with dinner costs from 190 €. If you don't visit the Moulin Rouge, you won't feel the spirit of Paris.

Fourth day in Paris

It’s good to start the day with a river walk along the Seine, which divides the city into 2 banks, along which there is a series of attractions, already familiar and new, that you will want to visit when you see them from the deck of a boat. We recommend continuing your trip to Paris by visiting museums that represent the wealth of world culture. We'll tell you about the most popular museums in Paris, and the choice is yours.

Louvre

The most famous art museum in the world, the Louvre, is located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris on Rue de Rivoli near Tuirly Park in an ancient royal castle. You can get there quickly by metro, getting off at the Palais Royal - Musee du Louvre station on lines 1 or 7. The main facade of the royal palace, facing the Louvre Square, is represented by a classical colonnade. The central entrance to the Louvre passes through a glass pyramid, where you can buy a ticket for 17 €. Not only the famous Mona Lisa and the statue of Venus de Milo will bring aesthetic pleasure.

Here, 35,000 paintings, statues, engravings and prints are on display. In the halls of the Louvre, you will see a unique collection of jewelry, ceramics and decor created in the world over 5 thousand years. Even if you spend a whole day at the museum, it will not be enough to devote 1 second to each sample. When heading to the Louvre, prioritize your priorities by learning about the main sections of the exhibitions. You can see world masterpieces on any day of the week except Tuesday.

Museum d'Orsay

The Musée d'Orsay in Paris is a real treasury of artistic and applied arts. It is located in the center on the left bank of the Seine, and can be easily reached by metro: “Solférino” and “Assemblée nationale” (line 12). The museum was located in 1986 within the walls of a former railway station, built at the beginning of the twentieth century for the World Exhibition. More than 4 thousand works of fine art for the Orsay Museum were selected from various galleries in France.

The museum collection is especially proud of paintings by famous impressionist artists: Claude Monet, Renoir, Edgar Degas, Edouard Manet, Paul Cezanne and many others. The large collection of famous modernists and contemporary authors is also of interest. You can view unique paintings for 8 € on any day except Monday.

Rodin Museum

The Rodin Museum in Paris is the largest exhibition in the world of works created by the talent of the French sculptor. It is located in the former Biron Palace of the first half of the 18th century on Varenne Street. You can get to the museum by metro, getting off at Varenne or La Tour-Maubourg stations. The building is famous for the residence of Isadora Duncan, Henri Matisse and Jean Cocteau at the beginning of the last century. From 1908 to 1917, Auguste Rodin had his apartment and studio here, where he created his ingenious sculptures, bequeathing to Paris his collection of more than 30 thousand works of art.

There are more than 6 thousand sculptures by the author alone, including the original sculptures – “The Kiss” and “The Thinker”. The unique collection is open for viewing all week except Monday. A ticket to enter the museum costs 9 €. Sculptures by Rodin also decorated the square near the house and the entrance to the Varennes metro station.

Picasso Museum

In the ancient Salé mansion in the historical Marais quarter on rue de Thorigny there is a museum of the famous artist Pablo Picasso. The easiest way to get to the museum is on metro line 8, getting off at Sant Paul station. The museum was founded on 2,000 works by the artist, with which the heirs paid the state for taxes on the inheritance received from the deceased artist. The museum collection includes about 5,000 exhibits: paintings, sculptures, drawings and archival documents.

You will see Picasso's work in chronology from the period of cubism to realism, from baroque to nude. A collection of paintings by other artists is exhibited separately: Matisse, Cezanne, Rousseau, Andre Derain, Degas, Doan Miró and objects of African art. You can view the masterpieces any day except Tuesday by purchasing a ticket for €12.50.

Fragonard Perfume Museum

In the center of Paris on Rue Scribe, not far from the Opera Garnier, there is a museum that interests every woman. This is the Fragonard perfume museum, where the scents of all the world's brands are dizzying. In three departments of the museum, you will learn the history of the origin of perfumes and see elaborate bottles made for perfumes in past centuries in different countries. In addition to perfumes, unique gold and silver jewelry with a “secret”, women’s cosmetics, bottles, powder compacts, and toiletries are on display here.

The section called “The Art of Living” opens up the world of home decorations and design objects. In the perfume gallery, open daily, you can buy your favorite scent at the manufacturer's price from 15 €. It’s easy to get to the museum by metro to Opera station on lines 3,7,8.

House-Museum of Victor Hugo

The Victor Hugo Memorial Museum is located on the Place des Vosges (metro Bastille) on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Rogan mansion, where his family lived in 1832-1848. To reach Hugo's apartment, take the wide staircase leading to a suite of spacious rooms that recreate the family's living environment. In the “Chinese living room” you will admire the collection of porcelain tableware collected by Victor Hugo.

The office replicates the work environment with furniture, rare editions of novels, drawings and photographs made by the writer. The “red room” breathes a special atmosphere, where Hugo met with friends: composers Liszt and Rossini, writers Balzac, Mérimée and Alexandre Dumas, who immortalized this apartment in the novel “The Three Musketeers”. The apartments are open to the public free of charge all week except Mondays.

Fifth day in Paris

On your last day in the capital of France, you want to do everything: plunge into the world of entertainment, fully experience the taste of French delicacies and wine, enjoy the aroma of France in famous perfume boutiques. Someone might want to take a trip to the famous castles in the outskirts of Paris. After reviewing our proposals, choose your favorite final chord of the five-day symphony of Paris.

Disneyland

Disneyland Paris is located in a ring with a diameter of 3 km, 32 km from the capital, where there are 2 parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park, 7 hotels and the town of Disney Village with shops and cafes. The center of the ring, where the train station is located, is served by trains from the center of Paris every 40 minutes. It is convenient to get there by yellow bus from the Opera and Chatelet metro stations.

Today we will go to Paris and build our own route to see as many sights as possible. Task: see the whole of Paris in a maximum of 4 days. Of course, we are not talking about visiting museums - unfortunately, there is simply no time left for them this time. This means that we will dedicate our next visit to museums.

Paris is divided by the Seine - everyone knows that. And it divides the city almost in half. Therefore, we will build a route so that one day is devoted to the left bank, and the other to the right. The first day, immediately after arrival, we will spend the very heart of Paris, and half the day before departure we will take a walk in Montmartre.

Let's imagine that we arrived from the airport on one of the most popular routes, on the Roissy Bus to the Opera, on Haussmann Boulevard. By the way, Baron Haussmann is one of the perfectors of Paris, who gave the capital of France a significant part of its current appearance. In this area you can find quite decent and budget accommodation, so we’ll start our walk from here. The metro station from which we begin this leg of the journey is called “Chaussee d’Antin La Fayette”.

First of all, let's go to Galeries Lafayette. The luxuriously designed shopping complex does not require any shopping, but entering its luxurious vault is definitely worth it. The first floor, dedicated to perfumes and cosmetics, will finally convince you that you are in Paris. Luxury and aroma - only this city can be associated with these concepts.

To admire the tiers-floors of Galeries Lafayette, you should use the elevator, and not modern escalators, because the elevator has retained the appearance of the past decades, and only the absence of a garçon reminds us that this is the age of automation.

From Galeries Lafayette we will go to the famous building of the Paris Opera. On the steps of this majestic structure you can catch an impromptu concert of street performers surrounded by grateful spectators.

From Place de l'Opéra we will go to Place Vendôme. In its center stands the Column, which gave the name to the square and bears the second name “Column of Victories”, a monument to the Napoleonic era and his deeds. It is cast from the metal of hundreds of guns captured from the enemy, including Russian ones. The column is crowned, of course, by the figure of Napoleon in the form of an ancient warrior.

On the right hand side in the direction of travel is the luxurious Ritz Hotel, from the windows of which Peter O’Toole’s character practiced throwing a boomerang in order to steal Cellini’s famous Venus in the film “How to Steal a Million.” Next we go straight to Rivoli Street, crossing which we find ourselves in the Tuileries Garden. This is the heart of Paris.

Through the Tuileries Garden, decorated with antique-style sculptures, fountains and elegant flower beds, we emerge into the Carousel Garden, which ends at the Arc de Triomphe. Next - Napoleon's Court and... the Louvre. The main entrance of the largest and most famous museum in Europe. A little behind, on the other bank of the Seine, you can see the building of another famous museum - Orsay. It houses Impressionist paintings. Collections of works by Monet, Manet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Toulouse-Lautrec attract thousands of tourists here. By the way, lovers of paintings from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries and original souvenirs can buy magnets and T-shirts in Paris with the image of the famous black cat - a symbol of the cabaret of the same name, instead of the traditional Eiffel Towers and windmills of the Moulin Rouge. By the way, the cat is much funnier.

But let's return to the Louvre for a moment. Palace of the French kings from the 14th century. An example of Renaissance architecture, its heyday and the period when it gave way to Baroque. A witness and symbol of the era in which France came to the forefront, when it decided the fate of Europe, was a trendsetter and tradition, and its language was spoken by the entire enlightened world. The Louvre is beautiful and harmonious. Even the glass pyramid does not spoil the impression. This building really exudes grandeur and good taste, unlike Versailles, which, in accordance with the traditions of Baroque and Rococo, “went too far” in pretentiousness. In front of the Louvre building, you need to stop and look at it a little, noticing the details of the buildings and decorations. Only upon careful examination will you understand that this is not a building built at once, but parts skillfully fitted to each other.

Coming out to the embankment of the Seine, we will pass under the arch of the Denon wing and then walk along it between the Louvre and the river. By the way, somewhere there, in one of the halls of this wing, the famous Mona Lisa is looking at the world, smiling mysteriously at it.

Then the walk goes along the embankment. In the evening, down by the river, in some places you can see Parisians and tourists having dinner right on the rocks. Don't be surprised if you see champagne on this makeshift table - you're in Paris!

The embankment is interrupted by numerous bridges. It is on this section that the Pont des Arts stands out, a notable feature of its fences being the locks. They densely cover the metal pattern. This is a tradition, a custom, a belief. Each castle is hearts connected forever, locked problems and failures. Anyone can find a place here to bolt something from their life, and the key must be thrown into the Seine.

And finally, the most famous bridge in Paris - Pont Neuf - Pont Neuf. The word "nave" sounds both like the number 9 and "new". That's why there is even a joke about this bridge. Translated from French it sounds like this:

“An elderly French woman turns to the guide: “Tell me, where is bridge number 10?” - “No, this is not the ninth bridge, this is the New Bridge.” - “Oh, that means he’s modern!” - “No, Madame, the New Bridge is the oldest bridge in Paris.”

In fact, just by looking at its massive structure, reminiscent of fortifications, you immediately understand that the existence of the bridge dates back centuries of history. Pont Neuf is one of the bridges leading to the Ile de la Cité. The island from which the history of the city began even when Paris did not exist at all, and on these lands the Celts founded the city of Lutetia. Paris only became Paris in the 4th century.

The first royal palace, the predecessor of the Louvre, was also built on the Ile de la Cité.

The mystical Notre Dame stands on the island. Underneath it, archaeologists discovered the remains of buildings from the reign of the Merovingian dynasty. A monument to these first kings of France is erected next to Notre Dame.

On the site of the first royal palace today is the gloomy Conciergerie prison, where thousands of victims of the French Revolution, including Marie Antoinette, died. Conciergerie, like the famous Sainte-Chapelle part of the Palais de Justice. Its building, overlooking the Orfevre embankment, was given over to the criminal police; the most famous detective in France, Commissar Maigret, went to work here.

It is best to end your first day in Paris on the Ile de la Cité, in the place where Paris began. Having glanced at his monuments, we will go down to the metro at the Cité or Notre-Dame - Saint-Michel stations. Tomorrow we will visit the Places de la Bastille and Vosges, the Comedie Française, the Palais Royal, the Champs Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe.

Trip to Paris

Paris is the city of dreams. The number of world-famous attractions here is simply off the charts: the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame de Paris, the Louvre, Moulin Rouge, Montmartre... Add to them cozy restaurants, charming narrow alleys, picturesque parks and colorful townspeople - and you will understand why. Great writers and artists sought and found their inspiration in Paris.

However, we should not forget that this is a multimillion-dollar city with busy traffic, vast distances and a large number of visitors, and not at all the scenery from a movie. A trip to Paris is full of contrasts: it is at the same time a city of pompous palaces and shabby facades, romantic love and cruel revolutions, high art and the simple joys of life. It may not turn out to be what you imagined, but give it a chance and Paris will enchant you!

How to get to Paris?

The fastest and most convenient way to get to Paris from Moscow, St. Petersburg or Kyiv is by air. The non-stop option is provided by several airlines: Aeroflot, Transaero, Air France, Aigle Azur. Travel time from Moscow to Paris is about four hours, from St. Petersburg even less. Ukraine International Airlines or Air France will take you from Kyiv to the French capital in 3.5 hours. Many airlines offer options with one or more transfers, which will take longer, but will cost much less than direct flights.

The Aviasales service will help you speed up your selection of the most convenient and affordable flight. It provides flexible filter settings that will allow you to specify various parameters: departure dates and times, number of transfers, desired airports. But the main thing is, of course, the opportunity to compare prices among dozens of offers from various airlines and ticket sales agencies. Read more about this in the Ever.Travel review.

Where to stay in Paris?

Paris is beautiful all over - from the tip of the Eiffel Tower to the Luxembourg Gardens, from Montmartre to Montparnasse, any of the 20 administrative districts of this great city has its own charm. But still, there are areas that are more suitable for staying during a tourist visit, especially if you are visiting for just a few days and want to see as much as possible.

Map of Paris districts

City center

The ideal option would be to find housing in the central part of Paris, on the banks of the Seine. Districts 1 to 7 form the historical and tourist center of the city. Here you'll visit some of Paris's most famous landmarks and museums, admire its stunning architecture, and understand why this city is considered the most romantic in the world. The Louvre, Notre-Dame de Paris, the Orsay Museum, the Tuileries Gardens, Les Invalides, the Latin Quarter, the Saint-Germain district and, of course, the Eiffel Tower - all this will be within walking distance if you choose a hotel in the center of Paris.

Visa to France

France is one of the countries of the Schengen zone, so to enter its territory you will need to obtain a Schengen visa. To receive it, you must provide a package of documents. We advise you to check what is included in it and how much this pleasure will cost on the official websites of the French Visa Center in Russia and the France Visa Service Center in Ukraine.

As a rule, when you first apply to French visa centers, you will receive a six-month visa with a period of stay in the country of up to 90 days. For repeated applications, the validity period of the visa may be increased to a year or two.

Applying for a Schengen visa usually looks like a rather intimidating and troublesome task, especially if this is your first time. In addition, to guarantee a positive result, all your documents must be in perfect order, because if you are denied a visa, your vacation plans may be hopelessly ruined. If you are not sure that you can cope with bureaucratic tricks, or you just don’t have time to deal with the hassle with documents, use the VisaToHome service. You will only need to take photos, answer a few questions on the website and give a package of documents to the courier, and then the specialists will do everything for you. A few days later, your passport with the coveted visa will be delivered directly to your home!

How to get from Paris airport to the city

Paris - Charles de Gaulle Airport (L"aéroport de Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle) or Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle (Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle)- one of the largest airports in the world. Located 25 km from the capital. A trip to Paris by public transport will cost about 10 euros.

High-speed trains RER (line B) connect the airport with the city center and Gare du Nord station, where you can change to the metro or trains of other lines. The movement interval is 12-15 minutes, the trip duration is about half an hour.

There are also several bus routes from the airport to different areas of the city, including at night. This trip will take about an hour.

Taxi ranks are located at the terminal exits. A trip to the center of Paris by taxi during the day will cost approximately 50 euros, from 17:00 to 10:00, and on weekends and holidays - 15% more. Low-cost airlines fly to Beauvais Airport (Aéroport de Beauvais-Till). It is separated from Paris by about 70 km. By bus this distance can be covered in 1.5 hours and 15 euros.

Arriving in Paris late at night, with large suitcases or small children, finding a taxi or public transport is not an easy task. To save yourself the stress, it is better to book a transfer from Paris airport to your hotel in advance. We recommend using the KiwiTaxi service for this. On their website you will not only choose the car you want, but also immediately find out the exact cost of the service. 100% meeting at the airport guaranteed!

Car rental in Paris

If you want to visit not only Paris, but also its surroundings, such as Versailles, Fontainebleau or Disneyland, we recommend that you consider renting a car. It will be a little more expensive than using public transport, but imagine the freedom you get! By renting a car, you can go to the Cote d'Azur or even to one of the neighboring countries for a day. It is most convenient to use the RentalCars service to rent a car. It compares prices from several companies at once, allowing you to choose the most attractive option. Read more about this in the Ever.Travel review.

Paris city transport

In Paris there is an extensive network of bus routes, including night ones, and several tram routes. However, the most popular and convenient transport is the metro. Actually, the word “metropolitan” itself originally meant Parisian underground transport.

Paris Metro- record holder for the density of stations: from any point in the city to the nearest station will be no more than 500 m. The average travel time between them is 2 minutes. The RER high-speed train network operates within Paris similarly to the metro, the only difference being that there are fewer stations and trains run less frequently but faster. Navigation is well organized - you can easily reach your destination if you carefully follow the signs. The outputs are labeled “Sortie”.

It is very convenient that a universal T+ ticket costs 1.7 euros for all types of public transport in Paris. A set of 10 tickets - “carnet” - is sold for 13.3 euros, which allows you to save money. Almost every station has a ticket vending machine with a menu in English.

Bicycle rental Velib

The city's bike-sharing network is considered part of the public transport system. It is very popular and easy to use. First you need to register in the system using a credit card. The cost of registration for 24 hours is 1.7 euros, for a week - 8 euros. 150 euros are blocked on the card as a deposit until the bike is returned. The first half hour you ride for free, then every 30 minutes the cost increases from 1 to 4 euros. However, no one forbids you to change your bike every half hour - there are really many rental counters.

Tourist maps of Paris

And those who don’t like to think through anything can use ready-made guides to Paris:

Main telecom operators: Vodafone, Orange, SFR, Bouygues. Tourists can buy a SIM card for about 10 euros, of which 5 will be credited. To register a SIM card, you usually need to provide your local address (for example, a hotel). The same card can be used when traveling around Europe - the tariffs are practically the same.

Shopping in Paris

It’s difficult to name the best place for shopping in the capital of world fashion, but we can say with confidence: here you can find everything - from haute couture masterpieces to affordable youth brands, from inexpensive souvenirs to works of art. Flea markets, small designer clothing stores, luxury boutiques and outlets - there is something for every taste and budget. The department store Galeries Lafayette is even considered a city landmark in its own right.

Sales with discounts up to 60% are held twice a year: in January-February and July-August. Most stores are open from 9:00 to 19:00 from Monday to Saturday. In tourist areas (Champs-Élysées, Le Marais, Carrousel du Louvre) boutiques of famous brands are open on Sundays. On weekends, numerous street markets are open until lunchtime.

French cuisine

The number of cafes and restaurants in Paris seems impossible to count. The townspeople know how to enjoy food and do not refuse gastronomic pleasures. Everyday food is quite simple but tastes very good. In addition to wine and cheese, they love all kinds of soups: onion, tomato, potato, cream soup “Saint-Germain” from green peas, meat soup in a pot “potofeu” and bouillabaisse from different types of fish. Parisian chefs cook excellent meat and fish, the taste of which is enhanced by a variety of sauces. Moroccan cuisine is very popular, especially couscous. Hot flavored crepe pancakes (Crêpe) with or without filling, which can be bought on almost every corner - a wonderful snack while walking around the city.

According to the official Paris website, all prices already include a 15% service surcharge, so tipping is not necessary. However, if you want to personally thank the waiter, it is not forbidden to leave him 5-10% of the bill. By the way, the price of food and drinks may vary depending on where the table is located: indoors is cheaper, on the terrace more expensive.

History of Paris

It is believed that the capital of France was named after the Celtic tribe of Parisians, who lived on the Isle of Cité even BC. At the beginning of the new era, Julius Caesar built a military fortification and a city here. Until the 4th century, these places were called Gaul and belonged to the Romans - before the leader of the Franks, Clovis I, annexed them to his kingdom, making Paris the capital.

In the 12th-13th centuries, a period of rapid development began: new buildings were built, streets were paved, trade developed, and a university appeared. Since then, Paris has slowly but surely developed - hampered by plagues, wars, and uprisings. Craftsmen and officials, scientists and artists came here. At the beginning of the 18th century, half a million people already lived in the city.

In 1789, Paris thundered throughout the world: under the slogan “Liberty, equality, fraternity,” the townspeople seized the Bastille, giving rise to the French Revolution. After several decades of terror and chaos, power passed to Napoleon I. The ten-year reign of the emperor left many masterpieces as a legacy to the capital.

Napoleon III gave Paris its modern appearance. The actively developing city needed redevelopment. In the second half of the 19th century, most of the dense medieval buildings were destroyed, giving way to spacious boulevards and modern houses. The project was led by police chief Eugene Haussmann and, as they say, he had his own interest. On the wide streets, explosive Parisians could no longer build barricades, but it became very convenient for the authorities to disperse demonstrations.

It is important to know:

• Official language: French
• City area: 105 sq. km. Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements, numbered in a clockwise spiral from the center. In the very heart is the island of Cité, full of attractions, where the city itself was once born.
• Population: 2.2 million people. Together with nearby cities, it forms the so-called “Greater Paris” - an agglomeration with a population of about 10.6 million people. About 15% of the residents are foreigners.
• Visa: Schengen, standard requirements. The cost of a tourist visa for Russian citizens is 35 euros.
• Currency: Euro
• Time difference with Moscow:-2 hours in summer, -3 hours in winter
• Climate: The best times to visit Paris are spring and autumn. It can be very hot here in summer, but quite cool and rainy in winter and late autumn. Temperatures rarely drop below zero, but frequent rain and high humidity can make walking the streets uncomfortable. Officially, the high season is considered to be the period from April 1 to October 31.

Holidays:

Also celebrated in Paris:

Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) - the European analogue of Maslenitsa

The third weekend of September is cultural heritage days. Many historical buildings open their doors to visitors.

The third Thursday of November is Beaujolais Nouveau, the holiday of new wine.

Every first Sunday of the month is Museum Day. Entry to most museums is free.

This concludes our review of the French capital. The next step is yours: select the places and walking routes that interest you on the map, synchronize your travel plans to Paris with the Ever.Travel mobile application and go to conquer this beautiful city!

Photos used in the review Lola Pidluska,

Of course, 5-7 days is only time for a quick acquaintance with the city. However, if you happen to find time to visit Paris, even for such a short period of time, try to prepare in advance so as not to waste precious hours in this beautiful city in order to get the necessary information.

There are probably no such number of stereotypes about any other city in the world: Paris is considered a city of legends, a city of romance and love, the capital of world fashion and culture, etc.

I would like to make a reservation right away that if this trip had taken place in the summer, and not in December, the program would have been somewhat different, for example, in the summer we would definitely have set aside a day and definitely would have gone (to admire the magnificent garden that the famous artist Claude Monet built around his house and which he immortalized in his creations), or maybe . And so, I had to focus on visiting Parisian museums, and instead of the aroma of roses in the Luxembourg Gardens, I had to be content with the aromas of roasted chestnuts and mulled wine, sold everywhere in the city. But, looking ahead, I can say that the trip did not disappoint us in any way, and the beauty of the city, which, moreover, appeared before us in Christmas decoration, beckons us to return there again and continue to get to know it.

And one more thing: we compiled our routes, which will be discussed below, not according to the principle of “see all the sights of Paris and die right there,” but in such a way that, if you want, you have the opportunity to deviate from the chosen route, without “driving” yourself into a strict schedule so that you have the mood and strength to just slowly walk around the city, sit at a cafe table, drink coffee or freshly squeezed juice, in general, if possible, feel the taste, aromas and mood of this city.

Like most of our compatriots, the “gateway to Paris” for us was the largest in France and one of the largest airports in the world - Roissy-Charles de Gaulle (Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport). Here I wrote in detail how we got to the center of Paris from the airport, as well as how to get to Paris if you arrive at another airport - Orly:

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Evening after arrival

On the first evening, immediately after checking into the hotel, we walked to Notre Dame Cathedral (Notre Dame de Paris), fortunately the walk there from our hotel took only 15 minutes. Impressive. Preparations for Christmas were in full swing in Paris, so the Cathedral appeared before us in all its splendor. In the following days, we tried, if possible, to lay out our routes so that we could look here several more times and admire this majestic structure and piece of architecture!

The first day

Actually, we didn’t want to plan anything specific for the first day: on the first day it’s much more pleasant to just wander the streets of a new city and feel its atmosphere. But this time I had to change my habit, as it was raining in Paris. A walk around the city had to be replaced with a trip to the Louvre.

Louvre

One of the greatest and most famous treasuries in the world, located in the stunning interiors of a real royal palace. A definite must-see. Perhaps the most famous painting in the world, the Mona Lisa, is kept here, as well as magnificent statues, including the Venus de Milo, Nike of Samothrace, etc. And the collection of paintings by Italian and French masters of the Renaissance, not to mention the interiors of the Louvre itself, is simply amazing!

Also, if you are going to visit museums a lot, it makes sense to purchase Paris Museum Pass, then entry to the Louvre will be free for you and without a queue. Price Paris Museum Pass:

for 2 days: €42
for 4 days: €56
for 6 days: €69

What does it include Paris Museum Pass, – free and queue-free entry to many museums in Paris and the surrounding area. Full list . If there is a search at the entrance to the museum for security purposes, then you still have to stand in line like everyone else.

Let's return to information about the Louvre. They say that sometimes there are simply gigantic queues at the main entrance. To avoid them, it makes sense to either purchase a Paris Museum Pass in advance, or try to enter the Louvre through other less popular entrances. Here list of entrances to the Louvre:

• Inputs Pyramid(Pyramid of the Louvre) andGalerie du Carrousel: open daily (except Tuesdays): Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays - from 9:00 to 19:30; on Wednesdays and Fridays – from 9:00 to 22:00.
• Entrance Passage Richelieu: open daily (except Tuesdays) from 9:00 to 17:30 (and until 18:30 on Wednesdays and Fridays)
• Entrance Porte des Lions: sometimes closed for technical reasons.

You can easily spend a whole day in the Louvre, but you still won’t have time to see the entire exhibition in one day. Therefore, read the website in advance and decide what exactly you would like to see first. For connoisseurs, tickets are available for 2 days or more, but it seems they can only be purchased at the box office of the Louvre itself.

The Louvre has an excellent audio guide, however, recently Russian has been missing from the languages ​​that can be selected on the audio guide. Rumor has it that the lobby of Russian-speaking guides in Paris tried to do this.

In the evening, when the rain stopped and we were pretty tired from walking through the endless halls of the museum, we went out for a walk around the city. And here Paris appeared before us in all its pre-Christmas splendor.

The route of our walk that evening was as follows: Louvre – Tuileries Garden – Place Vendôme – Place de la Concorde – Champs Elysees. All this is located quite compactly, and if you are in good physical shape, you can endure such a walk even after a day at the Louvre.

Second day. Rodin Museum, Les Invalides, Champ de Mars, Eiffel Tower

I chose the hotel in Paris in such a way that most attractions could be easily reached on foot. It turned out very cool: from a cozy hotel located in the Saint-Germain area, we only had to cross the bridge over the Seine to the Louvre, and to implement the route planned for the second day, we also did not have to use public transport.

After a walk along the beautiful Boulevard Saint-Germain and through charming Parisian alleys, we came to the Rodin Museum.

Rodin Museum

Address: Musée Rodin, 79 rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris, France
Metro: Varenne (line 13) or Invalides (line 13, line 8)
R.E.R.: Invalides (line C)
Buses: 69, 82, 87, 92

Working hours: open every day except Monday (closed), from 9:00 to 17:45, on Wednesdays - until 20:45.

Price: €8.30

The museum includes an elegant palace, called The Hotel Biron, a park building called "The Chapel", in memory of the neo-Gothic chapel built on the site in the late 19th century and stood here until the 1960s, when it was planned to reconstruct the museum , giving it a modern look. The palace is surrounded by a small but very cozy garden, where perhaps the main exhibit of the museum is located, a magnificent statue - Rodin’s “The Thinker”:

Home for the Invalids

A magnificent building built in the 1670s by order of King Louis XIV as a hospital and home for disabled people and war veterans. The king was touched by the pitiful appearance of his soldiers, doomed to survive on alms and to do this, flaunting their injuries on the New Bridge. Social services and institutions dealing with the issues of the disabled are located here to this day, however, for us as tourists, the museums located in the building complex are primarily of interest - located in the very heart of the Invalides House, the Army Museum (collections of artillery pieces in the front yard, weapons and armor of the XIII-XVII centuries, the section of the New Age (from Louis XIV to Napoleon III, 1643-1870), the section of the two world wars and the history of the army from 1871 to 1945, Historic of Charles de Gaulle), Museum of relief plans (about 100 models of fortresses and fortified cities of France on a scale of 1/600) and, perhaps, the most “iconic” landmark - the Cathedral of the Invalides, under the main dome of which, in a monumental sarcophagus made of red Finnish porphyry, rests the ashes of Napoleon Bonaparte, brought to Paris by Prince Joinville in 1840 from Saint Helena.

Information on the official website - in Russian - almost full version: http://www.musee-armee.fr/ru/home.html

Address: 129, Rue de Grenelle, 75 007, Paris, France

Nearest metro stations: La Tour Maubourg, Invalides, Varennes

Opening hours: from April to October - from 10:00 to 18:00, from November to March - from 10:00 to 17:00. Admission to visitors ends, traditionally, 30 minutes before the museum closes.

Cost: full price – €9.50, reduced price – €7.50. There are categories of visitors for whom admission is free, please check.

After visiting the Invalides' Home, we moved past the military school building towards Field of Mars(at the foot of the Eiffel Tower).

The Champ de Mars itself does not make an impression in winter, I hope it looks better in summer... View from above:

Eiffel Tower

We couldn't come to Paris for the first time and not climb the Eiffel Tower. Still, it is she who is now the main symbol of Paris, and of France in general. The queue, despite the frightening length, moved quite quickly, and after 20-30 minutes we received the coveted tickets. Unfortunately, on this day access to the very top (3rd level, or Summit) was closed, either for technical or weather reasons. In the end, we had to settle for a visit to the 2nd level, tickets there are almost half the price.

How to get there: There are many ways, which you can read about in detail. However, the most spectacular way to get to the Eiffel Tower is to take the metro to Bir-Hakeim station (line 6), as this line is above ground, and when approaching the station, you will be able to enjoy one of the best views of the Eiffel Tower tower. Another metro station nearby is “Trocadero” (line 9).

Working hours varies depending on the season and the method of ascent (by elevator/by stairs), check on the website.

To avoid queues at the box office, you can buy tickets online no later than 24 hours in advance, here.

Price:

Level 2 (Adults / Youth (12-24 years old) / Children 4-11 years old): €9 / €7 / €4.5

Level 3, or Summit (Adults / Youth (12-24 years old) / Children 4-11 years old): €15.5 / €13.5 / €11

This price is for tickets with an elevator. There is also a cheaper option - to climb the tower on foot, but such tickets (cost €5 / €4 / €3.5, respectively) can only be purchased at the box office; they are not available for online purchase.

The only slight difficulty is that for such advance purchase of tickets you need to clearly decide on the time of your visit and arrive early, because if there is a queue of people with the same tickets at the entrance, and in the end you will arrive at the control for 30 minutes ( or more) later than the time indicated on the ticket, you may not be allowed in (as written on their official website).

If you want to extend your acquaintance with the Eiffel Tower, you can stay in one of the bars or restaurants located right on it. – information about them. Indeed, why not have a glass of champagne at the bar at the very top of the tower?

Batobus waterbuses in Paris

Having completed our program for this day, we decided to take a ride along the Seine on the Batobus river bus. For us, living in the center, this type of transport has become a good alternative to the metro and buses. The eight Batobus berths are located very conveniently, close to all central attractions. As a result, we took tickets for Batobus for 5 days and enjoyed using these trams every day, since the stop called Saint-Germain-des-Pres is located a 5-minute walk from our hotel. (Now I’m looking at the official website (http://www.batobus.com/en.html) - the only options left are for 1 (€16) or 2 days (€19), or an annual subscription (€60)).

Day 3. Latin Quarter: Sorbonne, Hotel Cluny, Pantheon of Glory, Luxembourg Gardens and much more. The true spirit of Paris

This quarter most accurately preserved the spirit of Paris, which we all read about, for example, in the novels of A. Dumas, V. Hugo or Hemingway. It is here that you can try to find the real Paris, which is often greatly missed by tourists who have “been to Paris, but never seen it”... The Latin Quarter is named due to the fact that students and teachers of the large number of educational institutions located here previously communicated in Latin. In Paris, the name “Latin Quarter” is unofficially given to the area that partially covers the 5th and 6th arrondissements of Paris.

Sorbonne

Here is the famous Sorbonne(or the University of Paris), consisting of 13 educational institutions, the buildings of which today occupy almost the entire quarter. The Sorbonne may today be inferior to educational institutions in the UK and the USA in the world university rankings, but it is still very popular in Europe.

However, we arrived in this quarter exactly on Christmas Eve, so we were not able to appreciate how student life was bustling at the university and the adjacent cafés. But no one stopped us from walking along picturesque alleys and looking into equally picturesque courtyards.

Abbey of Cluny

In the heart of the Latin Quarter is the Abbey of Cluny. The Gallo-Roman baths built in the 2nd-3rd centuries are adjacent to the medieval hotel of Cluny, a rare monument of secular architecture of the Middle Ages. The entire complex of buildings is part of the National Museum, created in 1843. In the premises of the Cluny Hotel (built in 1485-1510) works of medieval art are stored, but the baths can be interesting in themselves (in the sense, like ancient baths) with mosaics that are well preserved for their age on the walls and as evidence the capital that was already emerging here at that time.

Pantheon

The Pantheon building is actually the Church of St. Genevieve, built on the initiative of Louis XV in 1790. A year later, the French Revolution turned it into the tomb of “great people” - the Pantheon. In 1806, Napoleon returned the church building, but in 1830 Louis-Philippe turned the building into the Pantheon, which in 1848 was named the Temple of Human Fraternity, and in 1853 - the National Cathedral of St. Genevieve. In 1885, the building finally became the Pantheon again, in connection with the burial of Victor Hugo (this was during the Third Republic).

The cathedral is very beautiful outside and inside. On the pediment of the portico on the outside is inscribed in gold letters: “To great people, a grateful Fatherland.” The dome inside the building is decorated with a fresco by Antoine-Jean Gros glorifying Saint Genevieve.

In 1851, Foucault conducted experiments here with his pendulum. The pendulum can still be seen here today.

In the tomb (as it should be according to Christian tradition, below ground level) rests the ashes of about sixty famous personalities, including: Emile Zola, Victor Hugo, Voltaire, Pierre and Marie Curie, etc.

To the left of the cathedral, slightly behind, stands the Basilica of St-Etienne du Mont:

Luxembourg Gardens

From the Pantheon along Rue Soufflot we walked to one of the most luxurious Parisian parks - the Luxembourg Gardens. The building of the Petit Luxembourg Palace located here today, after its acquisition in 1570, was given its name by Prince Tengri, Francois de Luxembourg. And in 1612, the palace, along with the surrounding lands, was bought by Maria de Medici, who ordered the construction of a palace worthy of her, but at the same time preserving the old mansion. Also, at the direction of Mary, a French-style garden was laid out here, which today is decorated with fountains and fifty statues. Over the next almost two centuries, the palace changed hands many times, until in 1800 Bonaparte transferred the building to the Senate. The Senate is located in the palace to this day.

Confectionery Dalloyau

Since it was the eve of Catholic Christmas, we, of course, could not miss this event and decided to celebrate it (even though we are not Catholics). To do this, we went to the first pastry shop we liked, located directly opposite the gates of the Luxembourg Gardens, at place Edmond Rostand - 75006 Paris, (Luxembourg metro station) and bought a traditional French Christmas treat - boucher, taking with it several other types of cakes, “to try”. And also a bottle of pink brut Taittinger champagne. Having bought all this at the market on the way to the hotel, fruits, nuts, cheese with delicious (still hot) bread, we received our “Christmas” menu.

The expensive wrapping and boxes, as well as the quite “boutique” bags in which our purchases at the confectionery store were packed, intrigued me, and I decided to look on the Internet. It turned out that this is one of the most famous confectionery shops in Paris, which, together with its competitor Ladurée, has largely determined the fashion in confectionery art in Paris since the Middle Ages. It turned out that the history of Dalloyau confectioneries dates back to the time of Louis XIV. In 1682, the Sun King hired Charles Daloyo as court baker and pastry chef. The family dynasty of royal confectioners has not been interrupted since then; just after the French Revolution, the Daloyo family moved to Paris, where they opened their first tea salon on the rue Faubourg Saint-Honoré. The Daloyos came up with the recipes for several world-famous French cakes, in particular the delicious Opera cake. They were also the ones who came up with the idea of ​​selling baked goods and ready-made takeaway meals. Like Ladurée, Daloyo has many boutiques in Paris, as well as in Japan, the Republic of Korea and Dubai.

I have absolutely no sweet tooth, at home I don’t look at pastry shops (or the “Desserts” section in the restaurant menu), but it’s true that it’s impossible to resist Dalloyau’s masterpieces! As a result, all the cakes were eaten faster than it occurred to us to capture them in a photo.

Day 4. Ile de la Cité. Marais quarter. Place de la Bastille

Isle of Site or Cite(French - Ole de la Cité) - one of two surviving islands of the Seine River in the center of Paris, which is, at the same time, the oldest part of Paris. Back in ancient times (at least from the 1st century BC), the island of Cite in Paris (then, by the way, called Lutetia in the Roman manner) was inhabited by one of the Celtic tribes - the Parisians. And in the 6th century, after Clovis I moved the capital of the Frankish kingdom to Paris, it was here, on the island of Cité, that the first Christian basilica in Paris was built - the Church of St. Stephen, on the site of which Notre Dame Cathedral was erected several centuries later.

The Ile de la Cité is connected to both banks of the Seine and the neighboring Ile Saint-Louis by nine bridges, the oldest of which today, in a strange twist of fate, is called the Pont Neuf and crosses the island.

By the beginning of the 11th century, a royal palace was built for Robert II on the Ile de la Cité, which remained the residence of French kings until the 14th century. In 1244-1248, the palace complex was supplemented with a real pearl of medieval architecture - the Sainte-Chapelle chapel, conceived as a repository of relics taken by Louis IX from Constantinople in 1239. Since the Louvre Palace, built for Philip II Augustus, could no longer accommodate the increasingly growing royal court and was too small to receive guests, by order of Philip IV the Fair, the royal palace on the island was rebuilt in 1302-1313. However, the new palace did not serve as the residence of the king for long - during the largest peasant anti-feudal uprising in the history of France in 1358, it became clear that the palace could not provide reliable protection for the ruler, so the royal family was forced to move first to the Hotel Saint-Paul near the Bastille, and then to the rebuilt Louvre. Charles V gave the palace complex partially into the possession of Parliament, which then performed the functions of a judicial body. The Palace of Justice exists on the island to this day, in a new building. The remaining premises were given to the manager of the palace, the concierge, from whom the name came Conciergerie:

Before the revolution, in addition to Notre Dame Cathedral, there were up to 20 churches and 15,000 inhabitants on Cite. In the 19th century, the architecture of the Ile de la Cité changed greatly: regardless of the historical and architectural value of the buildings, the town planner Baron Haussmann demolished all the buildings between the royal palace and the cathedral. In their place, the buildings of the police prefecture and the commercial tribunal were built. Three straight streets were laid between the new buildings, turning into bridges.

However, even today there is something to see in Cite. Moreover, perhaps no other place in Paris can boast so many attractions per unit area.

We were happy to devote a whole day in Paris to walking around Cite and getting to know its main attractions and museums, which deserve the closest attention and time spent getting to know them:

Notre Dame Cathedral

The second most important landmark of Paris, according to some classifications, is the cathedral, the construction of which began back in 1163 - Notre Dame, which also bears the unofficial title of “the most recognizable Gothic cathedral in the world.” Climbing up the cathedral tower, where 387 steps lead up, you will get a unique opportunity to look at one of the most famous panoramas of Paris in the company of chimeras and gargoyles.

Inside the cathedral - here she is, Our Lady of Paris, in person:

Ancient gothic chapel Sainte Chapelle:

Inside Sainte Chapelle:

Clock on the wall of the Conciergerie:

Palace of Justice:

Marais Quarter

The romantic name “Marais” translated from French simply means “swamp”. However, it was here, on the right bank of the Seine, in the area of ​​the Place des Vosges, that many noble nobles settled already from the 15th century. By the way, there was a swamp here, but already in the 13th century it was drained by representatives of the Templar Order.

By the way, on the Place des Vosges itself, which is considered the oldest and, according to some, the most beautiful square in Paris, until the 14th century stood the Tournelle Palace - the residence of the French kings before moving to the Louvre.

The quarter is located between Place de la République and Place de la Bastille. The boundaries of the quarter are: in the north - Boulevard du Temple, in the west - Sevastopol Boulevard, in the east - Beaumarchais Boulevard, and in the south - the Seine River.

The quarter is famous and interesting for tourists because it survived Osman’s “urban planning frenzy”, remaining almost untouched, and now here you can admire many magnificent palaces and mansions, adjacent to very ancient dwellings of artisans. And the royal family itself in the 14th century, while the Louvre was being reconstructed, lived in this area, in the “hotel” (mansion) of Saint-Paul. Today, here, on the right bank of the Seine, is the Parisian town hall, a beautiful palace Hotel de Ville(fr. Hotel de Ville), where the Parisian municipal authorities have been located since 1357. The Hôtel de Ville, with its graceful 110 m long façade, is located on the former medieval Place de Grève ( place de Greve), now the Hôtel de Ville square.

On New Year's Eve, when we found ourselves in Paris, life in the square was in full swing: there was an outdoor skating rink, music and a Christmas market. Fun and beautiful.

At the western border of the Marais quarter is the world famous Pompidou Center, built in the 70s based on an innovative design by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, selected from 680 competition entries. The Center for Contemporary Art, one of the best in the world, was named after French President Georges Pompidou, who, alas, did not live to see the project realized. The Pompidou Center is the third most visited attraction in Paris, after the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower.

Official website of the Pompidou Center: https://www.centrepompidou.fr/en

Cost: €14 (adult); You can buy it on the website, for a specific date, here.

Place de la Bastille

On the Place de la Bastille in Paris was the famous Bastille prison, captured on July 14, 1789 and completely destroyed during the French Revolution by July 14, 1790. The Bastille fortress was built in 1370-1383 as part of the defenses of Paris. It is believed that it was converted into a prison in the 17th century by King Charles VI. At that time, the Bastille held mainly political prisoners, as well as religious prisoners and "seditious" authors. The fortress-prison acquired a bad reputation when it became the main prison for prisoners arrested by order of the King of France, although the conditions in the Bastille were not the worst: there were many more terrible prisons in France at that time. The destruction of the Bastille became an expression of the struggle of the common people against the ruling regime, and the day of the storming of the Bastille is to this day the main national holiday of France (although, according to official data, it is not the storming of the Bastille itself that is celebrated, but the reconciliation of the king and the deputies that occurred exactly a year later). The outline of the Bastille fortress, marked on the pavement with stones of contrasting color, can be seen at the end of the street of the modern Rue Saint-Antoine. Some of the stones remaining after dismantling the walls of the fortress were used for the construction of a new bridge over the Seine - the Concorde Bridge, the other part was used to make souvenirs.

These days, Place de la Bastille is a busy transport hub where more than a dozen Parisian streets converge. The metro station of the same name is also located here. Until 1984, the Bastille railway station stood on the site of the modern opera house.

The square contains a number of attractions.

In the center of the square stands the July Column - bronze, 80 meters high, dedicated to the events of the July Revolution of 1830. The Bastille Opera, an ultra-modern building built to commemorate the bicentenary of the storming of the Bastille (1789-1989), is a significant concert venue. In fact, it is on this stage that most opera productions take place in Paris today, while ballet performances are increasingly taking place on the stage of the Opéra Garnier. Part of the fortress's former moat was rebuilt into a port, now known as Port Arsenal, used for pleasure boats. Here you can also see a section of the Canal Saint-Martin.

The square often hosts concerts and various public events, including political demonstrations. The north-eastern part of this area, with its numerous cafes, bars, nightclubs and concert halls, becomes especially crowded at night.

Day 5. Montmartre. Opera Garnier. Champs Elysees. Triumphal Arch. A little shopping

Of course, we could not ignore Montmartre hill(the literal translation of the name is Mount of Martyrs), which is the highest point of Paris, with its famous basilica of Sacré-Coeur (Sacred Heart, or Heart of Christ). You can climb the hill using the famous stairs or using the funicular (you can pay for the journey with a metro ticket).

Sacré-Coeur is one of the most famous Catholic churches in Paris, it is very photogenic, both outside and inside, but is quite young, it is only a century old (built in 1875-1914). By the way, it was built “in memory” of the liberation of Paris from the commune, after the bloody massacre of members of the commune in May 1871. I suspect that the French National Assembly decided to build this church on the Montmartre hill rather not as a memory, but as an edification...

In addition to the basilica, the hill itself and, perhaps, the area at its foot are definitely of interest to tourists. On the hill, to the left of the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, is an ancient Benedictine monastery (12th century) - one of the oldest sacred places in Paris.

And the intricate streets on the hill, winding in the vicinity of the famous Place du Tertre, are full of bohemian charm: it was here, on the hill and at its foot, that in the 19th century, impressionist artists huddled in their closets (Renoir, Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec lived and worked here , Utrillo, Apollinaire, Customs Officer Rousseau; a little later - Picasso, Braque, Modigliani), and this is where today there are art salons in almost every home. Many artists still work here today. A very interesting and “atmospheric” place.

Montmartre Hill, the highest point in Paris, offers a beautiful view of the city:

When we went down the hill, we decided to take a walk to the famous and, perhaps, the most “promoted” cabaret for tourists - Moulin Rouge (aka “Red Mill”). Our path ran along the well-known “Red Light District” - Boulevard Clichy, located between Places Blanche and Pigalle. The place, let me tell you, is not an acquired taste: numerous sex shops and brothels (it seems that they are already open, despite the morning hours), dubious-looking personalities, mostly of Arab origin, in general, the quarter gives the impression of being not only a “dirty” place, but also very criminal. It is clear that any place looks completely different in daylight and artificial lighting. However, we had no desire to check how this area would look in the dark: here, even at 11 am, we wanted to clutch our purse tightly and, having taken a photo with the Moulin Rouge in the background, quickly move from here to some more “civilized” place. area.

Opera Garnier

National Opera of Paris. Official website: https://www.operadeparis.fr/. In fact, the Palais Garnier, or Palace Garnier, is only one of the venues of the national opera, which currently hosts mainly ballet performances, but, undoubtedly, the most luxurious. The second site is the ultra-modern Opera Bastille building, located at 130 rue de Lyon, 75 012 Paris.

It was interesting to get inside, but we didn’t have time to bother buying tickets for the performances in time, and by that time we didn’t know anything about the fact that there are excursions to the Palais Garnier building (as well as to the Opera Bastille building), the tour lasts about 75 minutes, tickets are available buy 10 minutes before the start, cost for adults is €12 at Opera Bastille and €10 at Palais Garnier (audio guide at Palais Garnier costs additional €5). No problem, we'll leave that for next time. But even from the outside the building looks truly luxurious.

The square in front of the Opera Garnier building is considered by many to be the very heart of Paris. At least, many popular tourist routes start from here.

How to get to the Opera Garnier building:

Address: Corner of Rue Scribe and Rue Auber, 75009 Paris

Metro station: Alight at Opera, lines 3,7,8
RER: Auber stop, line A

Champs Elysees

According to a popular stereotype, the Champs Elysees is “the most beautiful avenue in the world.” I don’t know what about “in the world”, but walking along the Champs Elysees illuminated for Christmas is very pleasant! By the way, the length of this street is 1915 m, width 71 m.

The Champs Elysees is a wide avenue (I would rather call it a boulevard) between Place de la Concorde, on which stands the Luxor Obelisk, donated to France by the Viceroy of Egypt in the 1830s, and Place des Stars (or, since 1969, Place Charles de Gaulle), in the center of which is the Arc de Triomphe.

What to see and pay attention to on the Champs Elysees

The Champs Elysees is conventionally divided into two zones: park and shopping. From the Place de la Concorde to the Round Square on both sides of the avenue there is a walking park 700 meters long and 300-400 wide, divided by alleys into squares:

northern sector, from east to west:

• Square of Ambassadors (the name comes from the hotels built by the architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel for foreign diplomats on the Place de la Concorde). Not long ago, the famous couturier Pierre Cardin organized his cultural center Espace Pierre Cardin here. The famous sculptural group “Horses” by Marly Guillaume Coustou is also located here.
• Elysee Square (in front of the Elysee Palace). At the corner of the Champs-Elysées and Avenue Marigny there is a monument to Jean Moulin, a hero of the Resistance who was captured by the Nazis and died under torture. One of the main attractions of the Champs Elysees is the Parisian residence of the head of the French Republic, the Elysee Palace. All French presidents, starting with the Third Republic, lived and worked in this palace.
• Marigny square (where the Circus street begins). The Marigny Theater has been located here since 1855 and for several years it was led by the founder of French operetta, Jacques Offenbach. There is also a philatelic market in this square.

southern sector, from east to west:

• Georama square, or Ledoyen (opposite the Ambassadors square): Here is located one of the oldest French restaurants - Pavillon Ledoyen. The pavilion (a yellow building that has survived to this day), built back in 1848 under Louis XVI, played a significant cultural role: such celebrities as Flaubert, Maupassant and Zola, Jean Cocteau visited here.
• the large square of the Games, or the large square of the Holidays (opposite the Elysee square). This site, which overlooked the windows of the Elysee Palace, was organized by the Marquis of Marigny on behalf of Louis XV's mistress, the Marquise de Pompadour. Here is the Small Palace and the Grand Palace, where the Museum of Discoveries and Inventions opened. In the center of Place Clemenceau stands a bronze statue of the great military leader Clemenceau, who led France to victory in the First World War.

In each of the squares, except the last one, fountains were installed in 1840-1847.

The park part of the Champs Elysees ends at the Round Square (Ron Point), where the theater of the same name is located (Theater de Rond-Point).

Further to the west begins the so-called “shop” part (two sidewalks of 22 m each and a roadway of 27 m), where banks, airline offices, car exhibition windows, the editorial office of the newspaper Le Figaro and the newspaper Jour de France, a large number of cinemas are concentrated, restaurants, many different shops famous around the world, including the multi-level music shopping center Virgin Megastore, the aristocratic Russian restaurant Rasputin, the famous Lido cabaret, the central tourist office of Paris, and also the best (in my humble opinion) in everything world Sephora store.

Triumphal Arch

The Champs-Élysées ends at Place des Stars, so named because 12 streets radiate from here, but in 1969 renamed Place Charles de Gaulle. In the center of the square is the famous Arc de Triomphe. The roof of the arch is an observation deck with a good view of the Champs Elysees and Paris, built in the 19th century by Haussmann. In the central span of the arch, since 1921, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has been built, on which the Eternal Flame has been lit since 1926. Although troops no longer pass under the arch, it is one of the most solemn and formal places in Paris.

According to the law of meanness, on the day we ended up there, it was a day off, and we didn’t have a chance to get on the roof.

By the way, the easiest way to get to the Arch is by metro, station Charles-de-Gaulle-Etoile.

Grand Boulevards, or a little shopping

We turned right from the arch onto Boulevard Haussmann, where there are two centers of attraction for all shopaholics arriving in Paris - eternal competitors - department stores. Au Printemps(address: 64, Boulevard Haussmann; official website: http://departmentstoreparis.printemps.com/) and Galeries Lafayette (address: 40, Boulevard Haussmann, official website (in Russian!): http://haussmann.galerieslafayette.com/ru/).

We spent the rest of the day there, enjoying shopping and the incredible Christmas atmosphere.

I cannot help but note the highest level of professionalism of the consultants in the cosmetic departments of these two department stores: I have continued to use much of what was selected and recommended by the female consultants for many years now.

Shopping in Paris

This time shopping was not the purpose of our trip, however, I cannot help but note that shopping in Paris is very pleasant! I am pleased with the choice, the prices, and the surroundings. First of all, I would advise going to Paris for perfume and cosmetic shopping (Sephora on the Champs-Elysees, you are forever in my heart!), as well as for clothes. Yes, prices in Au Printemps and Galeries Lafayette department stores are often “biting” (unless you compare them with prices for products of the same “first-level” brands in Moscow and St. Petersburg), so that the French themselves usually risk coming here only during periods sales But there are areas - for example, Saint-Germain Boulevard and others, as well as department stores (for example, Bon Marche, etc.) where you will truly enjoy not only the assortment and quality, but also the prices.

Day 6. D'Orsay Museum. Once again admire the Seine as a farewell

On the last day before leaving, we decided to go to the famous D’Orsay Museum ( Musé e d‘ Orsay) . How could you leave Paris without admiring the famous masterpieces of the Impressionists in their, so to speak, historical homeland?

The museum is located on the left bank of the Seine, directly opposite the Louvre and the Tuileries Garden. It is located in a former station building, built on the occasion of the World's Fair of 1900, and houses the richest collection of works of Western art from the period 1848-1914 - masterpieces of painting, sculpture, objects of decorative and applied art, photographs, architectural drawings... The museum presents the most outstanding artists of the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries: Daumier, Millet, Courbet, Carpeaux, Manet, Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cezanne, Rodin, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Halle, Guimard, Lalique, Redon, Moreau, Villars, Bonnard, Buredel, Maillol and others. Actually, tourists are primarily interested in the works of the Impressionists here. However, the station building itself, as a museum space, is also very interesting.

The famous clock through which you can see the Montmartre hill and other hills in the vicinity of Paris

Ticket price: €11 (adult). At the entrance, as a rule, there is a queue; during the off-season, we stood for 20-30 minutes. It’s scary to imagine what happens here in the summer! I think it makes sense to purchase tickets online in advance. They are available on several sites: http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/visit/admission/ticket-purchase.html

There are also combined tickets - Musé e d‘ Orsay + Musé e de l‘ Orangerie (€16) or Musé e d‘ Orsay+ Rodin Museum (€15). In general, it’s beneficial, and it would be useful to us, but we only found out about it on the last day of our stay in Paris.

Having admired the paintings of Renoir, Cezanne, Monet, Manet and others, we boarded the Batobus river bus at the pier near the museum and, as a farewell, made a circle around the entire center of Paris, then getting off at the Saint-Germain pier, near our hotel.

How would I plan a program for 6 days in Paris?

If the weather had allowed me to express myself the way I wanted, my routes for the first time in Paris would have been something like this:

Day 1

Get to any of the central metro stations (for example, Chatelet, or Saint-Germain-des-Pres, or any other) and just wander aimlessly along the streets wherever your eyes go (but without going to museums!), drink a cup of coffee with a croissant in one of the Parisian cafes, to feel the atmosphere of the city. Visit a couple of Gothic cathedrals, take a boat ride on the Seine, and walk along the Champs-Elysees. Perhaps, go to Notre Dame Cathedral and walk around it with an audio guide. In the evening, have dinner at a restaurant you like or buy wine with delicious French cheese and fruit for dinner at one of the shops.

Day 2

Louvre. Coming to Paris for the first time as a tourist and not going to the Louvre is a crime! The Louvre is a museum in which everyone (everyone, without exception!) will find interesting rooms and exhibits for themselves, not paintings and sculptures, but ancient Egyptian or ancient Mesopotamian collections. And if you are too lazy to look at the exhibits on the walls and in the windows, just come and stroll through the stunningly beautiful halls of the palace. In the evening, go for dinner to one of the famous Parisian cabarets - the “branded” Moulin Rouge, Lido, Crazy Horse or the small cozy La Belle Epoque (this is what real Parisian connoisseurs recommend visiting; tickets can be ordered on the website. If you’re not greedy, buy yourself a menu V.I.P. or l'Ocean, then you will have good seats. A ticket with a full dinner will end up costing half the price of the above-mentioned cabarets promoted for tourists).

Day 3

Ile de la Cité and the Latin Quarter. In the evening - go to the opera.

Day 4

Trip to Versailles (official website: http://en.chateauversailles.fr/homepage)

or (if with children) to Disneyland, or better yet, not even to Disneyland (it’s better to go there in its “historical homeland” - in America) but to the truly French amusement park “Asterix”

Amusement park "Asterix", which opened in 1989 just north of Paris, is an alternative to Disneyland located in the east of the capital; it is entirely dedicated to the national culture of the Gauls. The idea of ​​its creation emphasized that the French (with nothing against the American-style entertainment industry that brings them income) are capable of building their own “city” of fun leisure time - homely, cozy, congenial, imbued with local flavor.

The main distinctive feature of “Asterix” is the combination of entertainment and reverence for national traditions, which is presented in an easy and entertaining way, with the humor characteristic of the French. The theme of the park is the adventures of a funny Gaul Asterix. The character, although fictitious, is considered a folk hero because, with the support of a friend, Obelix, is waging an irreconcilable struggle against the Romans who invaded the territory of Gaul. Surely you have seen films starring Gerard Depardieu, based on the comic books of the same name.

Day 5

Rodin Museum

Les Invalides (Cathedral + Army Museum + Charles de Gaulle Museum)

Eiffel Tower

Champs Elysees

Triumphal Arch

Defense skyscraper district

Day 6

Museum D'Orsay or Pompidou, shopping, stroll through your favorite places in Paris.

For lovers, one day you can take a walk to one of the cemeteries in Paris - an unforgettable experience is guaranteed! Read more about the most.

Public transport in Paris

Parisian public transport website: www.ratp.fr

The metro is quite comfortable, utilitarian in a European way, without any architectural frills; it’s not difficult to understand the layouts and stations. One trip on the metro will cost you €1.80, if you buy 10 tickets at once - then €1.41.

If you plan to travel a lot by transport, it may make sense to purchase a single pass for all types of public transport - Paris Visite Pass. It is available for 1, 2, 3 or 5 days, for transport zones 1-3 (Paris and its surrounding suburbs) or 1-5 (includes Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports, as well as Versailles).

Includes the following types of transport:

• metro
• RER trains (RATP and SNCF lines)
• buses operating in the Ile-de-France region (except buses to Jetbus and Allobus Roissy CDG airports and the Air France branded bus network, as well as tourist excursion buses)
• trams
• funicular to Montmartre hill

The ticket is valid from 0:00 on the start date until 24:00 on the end date. Prices can be viewed.

Before use, you must sign your first and last name on the back, as well as the start date. After this, the ticket becomes personal and cannot be transferred to other persons.

Links about public transport in Paris:

Simpler restaurants, cafes and brasserie in Paris

To enjoy excellent cuisine in Paris, you don’t have to spend fabulous sums.

In restaurants and cafes in Paris, there are so-called set menus, sometimes there are several of them (the French simply call them menu - in our opinion it is a “business lunch”, and the menu in our understanding is called a la carte). The menu consists of at least two dishes and prices are fixed. It is wise to take a menu at lunchtime because it costs about €20 even in upscale restaurants and about €12 in simpler restaurants and cafes.

Even the most famous restaurants in Paris offer menus at lunchtime that cost almost half as much as in the evening. If one dish is enough for you, order the plat du jour. Ordering a la carte will have more variety, but will cost more. Service is included in the bill in all restaurants, bars and cafes in Paris, but you can leave a few coins as a tip. House wine is usually inexpensive, but a bottle of something more famous will add €15 to the bill almost indefinitely.

Fast food and takeaway

You can find sandwich stalls on almost every corner in Paris. Most bakeries (boulangerie) sell not only bread and cakes, but also a variety of pies. At train stations and central streets, the chain Paul sells sandwiches. When packing for a picnic, try a charcuterie (charcuterie shop), a cheese shop, a market, or the deli section of any supermarket. Charcuterie specializing in meat products sometimes also offer ready-made salads and side dishes.

There are also specialized gourmet shops (traiteur), for example Fauchon. You can buy products in pieces or slices and ask them to pack them in a cardboard box (barquette). Asian, especially Chinese, delicacies are popular in Paris, as are Jewish and Eastern European delicacies. Sushi is sold everywhere (including takeaway).

Hot food can also be purchased to take away. In a creperie (pancake house), a huge number of which are just street stalls, you will be offered pancakes (sweet or with ham, cheese, etc.), pancakes and waffles with a variety of toppings and fillings. Turkish and North African kebab shops are very common, the latter also serving couscous with merguez (spicy sausage), chicken or lamb, or all three.

Couscous is usually topped with a spicy tomato sauce, and kebabs are wrapped in pita bread along with fried potatoes (frites). If you search, you can also find Middle Eastern falafel (fried chickpea balls) with salad and much more.