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France - Paris
~ Sights and Culture ~
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Paris - what
a marvellous, elegant city! A metropolis, which attracts and enchants
with its grandiose cultural treasures each year millions of visitors
from around the world. But still Paris is a city, which despite
its enormous dimension and hectic pace of modern life preserved
itself a breath of romanticism. In the multifaceted townscape all
genres of social life, art and culture, tradition, history and modern
age have merged into a harmonious whole. As well as all of this,
the famous French Cuisine, Haute Couture and perfumeries and, not
least, the exciting Parisian nightlife have over the centuries given
Paris its unique charm.
Sightseeing
/ Slideshow
 The
historical centre of Paris with the magnificent
Notre Dame Cathedral
on the Seine island Île de la Cité, the
Louvre - the former
residence of the French kings and world famous museum and art gallery today, the elegant Champs Élysées,
which connects the Place de la Concorde with the
Triumphal
Arch and the Eiffel Tower, attract visitors just as magically as the
Pantheon and
the elegant, enchanting parks such as the
Jardin du Luxembourg .
One of the most romantic places in Paris with numerous intimate cafes, boutiques and art
shops is the artists’ district at
Montmartre with the church Sacre Coeur on
the highest rise of the city. Many artists, mainly painters,
offer their works and the paintings of
 the famous impressionists, like Toulouse Lautrec, are omnipresent. Beyond this from the church
one can enjoy a marvellous view of the city in a quite peaceful
atmosphere.
No less attractive is the
Quartier Latin
- the traditional students' quarter, with its inexpensive, small restaurants and numerous bookshops, where also the time honoured
University of Sorbonne is to be found. A very popular tourist attraction
is a sail on the Seine river. Passing under some of the most
beautiful historic bridges of Paris, it conveys fascinating views
of numerous sights, as well as vivid impressions of the bustling
quais. The banks of the Seine belong to the UNESCO World
Heritage! |
Paris by night
 When the sun sets behind Notre Dame, a special lighting
arrangement casts a spell over the city, and the famous
Parisian nightlife begins. People stroll along the Champs Élysées,
visit the small Cafés, enjoy a nocturnal sail on
the Seine or admire the illuminated Eiffel Tower.
Very special of course is a visit of the famous cabaret
Moulin Rouge, where
one can in champagne mood experience excellent, delightful
entertainment and of course a genuine Cancan.
Don't miss a romantic night at Montmartre, the former artist's quarter on the highest rise of the
city (see above). It is a Must!
. On special occasions you even can experience the
Eiffel Tower on fire ! |
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 History
In the
absolutist France, in particular in the reign of Louis XIV,
literature, music, architecture and the fine arts began
to flourish in Paris, causing it to become the cultural
capital of Europe for approximately two centuries. Paris
determined the fashion and even the language; upper class
Europeans conversed in French. With the work of Jean Jacques
Rousseau, Voltaire, Diderot and others in the 18th century,
Paris took over a leading role in the Age of Enlightenment.
With the French Revolution it became the scene of world
historic upheavals and afterwards the centre of the new
order under Napoleon I. In the course of this development
the population grew so rapidly that in the 19th century
Napoleon III decided on a complete remodelling of the city,
with the aim of creating the most modern and beautiful capital
of Europe. Georges Eugene Haussmann was the man who, as
prefect of the city, was entrusted with this project, and
he designed the townscape of Paris as it is up to the present
day. |
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