The Louvre Museum is the most popular museum in the world, with 8.5 million visitors in 2008 according Art Newspaper, which tracks yearly museum attendance rates. Visit the Louvre to see da Vinci's Mona Lisa and the Apollo Gallery, which contains the royal crown jewelry, solid gold table settings and luxurious furnishings. Exhibits include Greek sculptures carved thousands of years ago, such as the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory, and the collection of preserved Egyptian mummies. Originally built as a royal castle and expanded over the years, the Louvre is one of the largest museums in the world. Plan your time wisely in order to see the treasures that most interest you.
The Louvre
Mo Palais-Royal / musée du Louvre
Paris, France 75001
011-33-01-40-20-50-50
louvre.fr
Built in 1889 and originally intended as a temporary attraction for the 1889 World's Fair, the Eiffel Tower is the tallest building in Paris and one of the most recognizable towers in the world. Plan to visit the Eiffel Tower at night for panoramic view of Paris. Approach the Eiffel Tower from a distance by walking through the Trocadero Gardens, over the River Seine to the base of the tower.
Eiffel Tower
5 Parc du Champ de Mars
Paris, France 75007
011-33-01-44-11-23-23
tour-eiffel.fr
Notre Dame Cathedral, immortalized in Victor Hugo's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," sits on the oldest point in Paris. The cathedral is considered one of the best examples of French Gothic architecture in the world. The cathedral was constructed in 1345 on an island in the middle of the River Seine. Inside the cathedral, and view the famous rose stained glass window, then climb up to the top of the bell tower for a view over Paris and a chance to see the Notre Dame gargoyle sculptures up close.
Notre Dame Cathedral
Parvis Notre Dame
Paris, France 75004
011-33-01-42-34-56-10
notredamedeparis.fr
