The Eiffel Tower

The tower was designed by a man called Gustav Eiffel.  He designed it and therefore named it after himself.  It was created in 1889 to be part of the amazing International Expo event.

The structure was only supposed to be temporary and was to be taken down at the end of the occasion.  However it proved to be a really popular attraction so the decision was made to leave it as a permanent part of the city.  It is now one of the most visited places in Paris.

Notre Dame de Paris

When this cathedral was built, it became the first of its types to be categorized as a gothic cathedral.  It has gone through many changes due to periods of history such as the French Revolution, the world wars and natural disasters.

If you get the opportunity, make your way up the almost 400 steps and take a look at the impressive view from the top of the cathedral.  You can also get the chance to look at some of the wonderfully created gargoyles that decorate the exterior of the building.  The bell tower is also a major attraction, especially for fans of Disney as you can imagine the scenes from the film called the Hunchback Of Notre Dame.

(photo credit: Simon Howden at Freedigitalphotos.net)

The Louvre Museum

The Louvre Museum is quite deceptive in its size.  It has a beautifully constructed glass structure that is set in the middle of a square.  It has since become more famous due to the fact that it was written about in Dan Brown’s book, The Da Vinci Code.  It was subsequently made into a blockbuster film staring the great Tom Hanks.

If you want to see the whole museum, you will need to start off quite early in the day as there is a lot of ground to cover.  However, most people will make the journey to the Louvre in order to see the portrait of the Mona Lisa.  This is now such a popular attraction the you will only have a short time to actually see the painting and there will definitely be a crowd of people hoping for the same thing so be prepared to wait.

(photo credit: Raphael Frey)

The Champs Elysees

Positioned in the heart of Paris is the Champs Elysees.  This is a beautiful tree lined street where you will find lots of designer shops where you can happily spend the whole day buying everything you desire from the various famous and luxury designer boutiques including Chanel, Dior and Yves St Laurent.

After you have shopped to your hearts content, you can take a well deserved break at one of the many street cafes.  Take you time to enjoy a glass of wine and watch the world go by.

(photo credit: Benh Lieu Song)

The Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe is a beautifully crafted monument that can be found at one end of the Champs Elysees.  It is situated on the central island of the large roundabout that is in the centre of Paris.

It was erected in 1806 in order to celebrate Napoleon’s battle victories and used to be the actually entry point into the Paris city borders.

These days the area is populated with a lot of traffic so you have to  be careful if you are hoping to take a picture in front of the Arc.