30 Top Tourist Attractions in Paris part 4
30 Top Tourist Attractions in Paris
15. Musee Rodin
Travelers who’ve seen copies of the famous sculpture The Thinker can visit the real thing when they’re in Paris. The statue was sculpted by Auguste Rodin, a famous early 20th century French artist. The Thinker as well as 6,600 other sculptures can be found at the Musee Rodin, established in 1919 in his former studio, the Hotel Biron in central Paris. Many of his famous sculptures can be found in gardens that surround the museum.
16. Seine Cruise
The River Seine runs nearly 800 km (500 miles) through France on its way to the English Channel. Cruising the river as it winds through Paris is one of the most romantic things visitors can do. Seine cruises pass under numerous bridges in Paris, going by such sights as the Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower. A Seine cruise lasts about an hour, but what a magic hour it is! A Seine cruise also is a good way to experience Paris at night.
17. Les Invalides
The Hôtel des Invalides was founded as a home for disabled soldiers. Before the time of Louis XIV disabled soldiers received medical care, if at all, in hospitals or monasteries, but were usually reduced to begging. With the Hôtel des Invalides the "Sun King" founded the first home for men that became disabled while serving in his armies.
The building was created from 1671 to 1676 under the direction of the architect Libéral Bruant and centered on the Eglise Saint-Louis-des-Invalides, which was later redesigned by the great architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart in 1706. The church became known as the Eglise du Dôme des Invalides and is an outstanding ecclesiastical building of the French classical period. The Eglise du Dôme des Invalides is most famous for being the site of Napoleon's Tomb, installed here in 1840. Les Invalides has an Army Museum, founded in 1794 as the Artillery Museum, which occupies the wings around the courtyard. The museum displays a large collection of military equipment and uniforms, weapons, prints, and curiosities from many countries. There are also mementos and relics of Napoleon and well-known generals as well as plans of the French campaigns.
18. Palais Garnier
The Palais Garnier Opera House is a sensational Neo-Baroque theater designed as a venue for opera and ballet performances. The building was created by Charles Garnier in lavish "Napoleon III" style and was built between 1862 and 1875. The facade features classical columns and eight sculptures representing allegorical figures: Poetry, Music, Idyll, Recitation, Song, Drama, and Dance.
The loggia depicts busts of composers Halévy, Meyerbeer, Rossini, Auber, Spontini, Beethoven, and Mozart. At the very top of the building are four exquisite gilded groups glorifying Poetry and Fame. Garnier's sensational floor plan of 11,000 square meters dazzles the eye but only offers seating for 2,200 people. Most of the building's space is dedicated to the grand foyer with its incredible marble entrance staircase and opulently gilded lamps. The plush red and gold auditorium is adorned with a ceiling painting by Chagall. The salons are beautifully decorated with gilded moldings and ceiling frescoes.
For a deeper understanding of Paris opera and its rich cultural heritage, visit the Bibliotèchque-Musée de l'Opera (Library-Museum of the Opera House) located inside the building. The library and museum contains three centuries of archives as well as exhibits dedicated to the art of opera. The museum's permanent collection features drawings of costumes and scenery, scale models, and paintings of the Opera House. Throughout the year, the museum hosts temporary thematic exhibits, for example a presentation of the Ballets Suédois' (Swedish Ballet) avant-garde dance in the 1920s and a tribute to the Ballets Russes (Russian Ballet) celebrating the centenary of Serge Diaghilev's company.
Attending an opera or ballet performance at the Palais Garnier is a favorite tourist experience. The Opéra Garnier hosts performances by companies of the highest caliber. The Opera House also has a bookstore-boutique and a stylish restaurant that serves classic French cuisine.
Travelers who appreciate impressionist and post-impressionist art need to check out the Musee de l’Orangerie. The museum, located in a corner of the Tuilries Garden, is home to eight Water Lilies murals by Claude Monet; these murals are considered the museum’s centerpiece. It also contains works by other impressionist artists, including Picasso, Renoir, Cezanne, Matisse and Modigliani. The orangerie was originally built in 1852 to protect the Tuileries Palace’s orange trees.
20. Disneyland Paris
When Europeans can’t get to Los Angeles to see the original Disneyland, they head to Disneyland Paris, the most visited theme park in Europe. Just like its namesake, Disneyland Paris is more than just a theme park with spectacular rides. It’s a resort with hotels, shopping and golf among its varied activities. In 1992, it became the second Disney park to open outside of the United States. It’s located about 30 km (20 miles) from central Paris. A companion park, Walt Disney Studios Park, opened in 2002.
Comments
Post a Comment