The Eiffel Tower, which stands over 300 meters in height, is France's most popular tourist attraction. It was designed by the engineer for whom it is named, Gustav Eiffel, a native of Dijon. The tower was built between 1887 and 1889. Made of iron and weighing over 10,000 tons, it stands in an open space called the Champs-de-Mars. It was initially intended as a temporary structure, erected for the Universal Exhibition of 1889 as a demonstration of engineering techniques.
The Arc de Triomphe has a commanding view of one of Paris's broadest and most elegant streets, the Avenue des Champs Élysées. Construction began in neoclassical Roman style in 1806 on the instructions of Napoleon. Its purpose was to commemorate his military victories, but work was interrupted following Napoleon's fall and the monument was not completed until the 1830s. Beneath the arch is the tomb of the unknown soldier, the remains of whom were interred here in 1920.
Notre Dame de Paris has stood on the Île de la Cité, an island on the River Seine in the heart of Paris, since the 12th century. Built in gothic style, with dramatic flying buttresses, and decorated with sinister gargoyles symbolizing the flight of evil spirits, Notre Dame is France's most famous cathedral. The towers, with their commanding view of Paris, are considered a national monument.
The Panthéon on the left bank of the Seine is the resting place of some major figures from French history. It was originally intended to be a church, but construction was completed in 1790 following the French revolution and it was maintained instead as a non-religious national mausoleum. Among those interred there are the revolutionary leader Marat, the authors Hugo and Rousseau and the scientists Pierre and Marie Curie.
Napoleon had another monument to his army constructed on the northern coast of France, just outside the town of Boulogne. Like the Arc de Triomphe, the classical architecture of Imperial Rome was the inspiration for this 53 meter high Doric column supporting a statue of Napoleon. Work commenced in 1804, but the column was not completed until 1819 and the original statue added in 1841. The statue was badly damaged by bombing during the Second World War and was replaced by a new figure of the emperor in 1962.
A spectacular cathedral outside Paris is Notre Dame de Reims in the Champagne region in northeast France. Built in the 13th century, it was once the ceremonial setting for the coronation of French kings. Like the earlier Notre Dame de Paris, its architectural style is Gothic, and the soaring towers are regarded as notable monuments.
