30 Top Tourist Attractions in Paris part 5

30 Top Tourist Attractions in Paris

26. Bustling Boulevards & Legendary Cafés

To discover the legendary Paris cafés, the best place to start is the Boulevard Saint-Germain in the 6th arrondissement. This broad tree-lined boulevard is lined with upscale shops, prestigious cafés, and classic brasseries. The most celebrated are the Café de Flore (172 Boulevard Saint-Germain), which was the meeting place of Jean Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, and the Café des Deux Magots (6 Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés), the haunt of James Joyce, Picasso, Hemingway, and other creative types. At both cafés, tourists are treated to a classic Parisian café experience, complete with waiters wearing bow ties (although the waiters have a reputation for their brusque service).

The brasseries of Boulevard Montparnasse were also frequented by famous artists and writers. Le Dôme in Montparnasse is a Paris institution (108 Boulevard du Montparnasse). In its gorgeous Art Deco dining room, the restaurant serves gourmet cuisine focused on seafood. La Coupole (102 Boulevard Montparnasse) is another classic French brasserie with a mythical past; since the 1920s it was visited by famous artists such as Derain, Léger, Man Ray, and Picasso. La Coupole also boasts having served Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Chagall. Le Rotonde (105 Boulevard Montparnasse) was a gathering place for painters and Surrealistic artists in the 1920s and still attracts cinematographers and artists today.

27. Grand Arche of La Défense

In the west of Paris at the end of Avenue Charles-de-Gaulle is a complex of high-rise buildings developed since the mid 1960s. The quarter is named La Défense, which recalls the bitter resistance by French forces in this area during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. Nowadays, this neighborhood is seen as heralding Paris' entry into the 21st century. Designed by Johan Otto von Spreckelsen, the Grande Arche makes a striking impression. This huge 110-meter-high rectangular triumphal arch is faced with white Carrara marble. The monument was inaugurated in 1989 on the bicentenary of the French Revolution and is considered a contemporary symbol of fraternity.

28. Place du Châtelet & Tour Saint-Jacques

The Place du Châtelet stands at the very center of Paris in the 1st arrondissement, overlooking the Seine River. Gracing this expansive square are two celebrated Parisian theaters. The elegant 19th-century Théâtre du Châtelet presents operas and classical music concerts. The Théâtre de la Ville is a listed historic monument that was once named after Sarah Bernhardt who directed shows here; this theater stages contemporary dance performances as well as a wide range of music concerts.

The area around Place du Châtelet is also worth exploring. Continue towards the Rue de Rivoli past the Boulevard de Sébastopol and wander through the small park to find the Tour Saint-Jacques. Built between 1508 and 1522 in the Late Gothic style, this tower is all that remains of the Eglise Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie (the patron saint of butchers), the town's old parish church. During the Middle Ages, this church was the meeting point for pilgrims setting out on the "Way of Saint James" pilgrimage trail to Santiago de Compostela, one of the three great pilgrimage destinations of medieval Christendom (the others being Jerusalem and Rome). The Saint-Jacques Tower is also famous as the place where Blaise Pascal conducted one of his barometric experiments, which showed the effect of altitude on the height of a column of mercury.

29. Bastille

Now, only the name of this square is a reminder that the notorious state prison known as the Bastille, the much-hated symbol of absolutist power, once stood here. After the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, the prison was completely demolished. In the center of Place de la Bastille is the 51-meter-high Colonne de Juillet, topped by a graceful gilded figure of Liberty. The monument commemorates the July Revolution of 1830, which overthrew King Charles X and brought Louis-Philippe to power. Four Gallic cocks and a lion relief on the base of the column symbolize the free people of France. A spiral staircase of 283 steps inside the column leads to a viewing platform, which offers an excellent view of the new Opéra-Bastille. On the site of the Bastille prison is the new Opera House that was officially opened by President Mitterrand on July 13, 1989. This immense modern theater has seating for 2,745 people. The view of the stage from the auditorium and the acoustics are both excellent. The Opéra-Bastille has a year-round calendar of events with performances by the National Opera and National Ballet companies.

30. Place Vendome

This graceful square was laid out by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, one of the leading architects of the "Grand Siècle" under King Louis XIV. Originally, the square was called Place Louis le Grand. The facades of the houses were built between 1686 and 1701. The original intention was that the royal academies, the Mint, the Royal Library, and a hotel for foreign envoys would be installed in the square; but due to financial difficulties, the King was forced to sell the buildings to nobles and wealthy citizens. The new owners built beautiful mansions with courtyards and gardens. The charm of the Place Vendôme is that it has retained the consistency of the overall design, which combines regal ostentation with civic simplicity. Following careful restoration in the early 90s, it has been restored in all its splendor. The square is known for its upscale jewelry shops including Boucheron, Chanel, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Cartier. Another luxury establishment here is the Ritz Hotel, which was frequented by Ernest Hemingway, Scott Fitzgerald, and Gertrude Stein. At the center of the square, the 44-meter high bronze column, Colonne de la Grande Armée, recalls the glorious deeds of the French army.