The Three Biggest Tourist Attractions in Paris

The Eiffel Tower

• Towering over the city of Paris more than 1,000 feet high, the Eiffel Tower is one of the greatest modern architectural masterpieces in the world. It took builders more than two years to construct 18,038 pieces of iron for the tower's grand opening on March 31, 1889. Since its opening, an estimated 249,976,000 people have visited the tower. Guests can visit the Eiffel Tower and purchase a ticket to either ride the elevator or climb 1,665 stairs to the third level and observe the city from a height of 905 feet. Several works of art and historical exhibits are also on display at the tower. The Eiffel Tower is open every day, all year long.

  The Eiffel Tower
  5 Parc du Champ de Mars
  75007 Paris, France
  +33 (0)8 92 70 12 39
  tour-eiffel.fr

The Louvre Museum

• The Louvre Museum is the largest art museum in the world, displaying over 35,000 works of art in more than 650,000 square feet of exhibition space. The museum's original structure was built as a palace for King Louis XIV in the late 12th century. It was converted into a museum in 1793 and was known as the "Museum Central des Arts" until 1882, when the era of the modern Louvre began. Today, more than 8 million people visit the museum each year to view original artwork that dates back thousands of years, such as Michelangelo's "The Slave" and Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa." The museum is open every day except Tuesdays and major French holidays.

  The Louvre Museum
  Rue de Rivoli
  75001 Paris, France
  +33 (0)1 40 20 57 60
  louvre.fr

The Notre Dame Cathedral

• Notre Dame is one of the largest cathedrals and oldest buildings in Paris, attracting about 13 million visitors each year. Construction began on the cathedral in 1163 and was not completed until nearly 200 years later in 1345. The most recognizable feature of the cathedral is perhaps the West Façade, with dual 228-foot tall towers that stem from three portal carvings decorated with a multitude of religious figures. On display at the cathedral are several religious paintings and sculptures, stained glass windows, three organs, holy treasures and an archaeological crypt. Today, the cathedral continues to operate as a fully functional church and offers daily religious services. Notre Dame is open every day of the year for visiting and worshiping purposes.

  The Notre Dame Cathedral
  6 Parvis Notre-Dame
  75004 Paris, France
  +33 (0)1 42 34 56 10
  notredamedeparis.fr