Paris Landmarks - September 2013

Of course I am going to start with the Eiffel Tower, or correctly, Tour Eiffel. First, you cannot see the tower from ALL of Paris, but you will be impressed when it does come into view. The tower was initially controversial, but has now been accepted and adored by many people worldwide - many of which buy plastic replicas on the nearby streets to decorate office desks and dashboards for years to come. It is great during the day, but much more impressive and less crowded at night. The tower is open until midnight every day and makes a perfect ending to a long day of sightseeing.

This chick is also well known in Paris. Yes, that is the Mona Lisa in all her glory on display at the Musee de Louvre. The museum is massive and located in the former royal palace prior to the move to Versailles. For only 12e you can spend all day looking at paintings, sculptures, and even the Napoleon Apartments in original condition. The museum is usually packed, but is open late some nights with fewer crowds.

The Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris is much nicer now that the hunchback retired to the Mediterranean. This landmark cathedral is located on an island in the middle of Paris in the Seine River. The architecture is breathtaking and located within equally impressive gardens. It usually takes a long time to go inside, and pictures are prohibited while inside the still active Catholic church. Nearby, there is a famous bridge - Pont de l'Archeveche - where many people put love locks on the railings.

Deep underground, the Catacombs of Paris still hold the bones of many dead Parisians. They were moved in the 18th century and arranged in a very unique fashion. I guess if your job is to stack bones all day, you get a little bored and start making designs and art with the rather macabre medium. There is usually a long line for this quick attraction, but it's a very unique experience indeed.

Back upstairs, the Musee d'Orsay houses one of the most impressive Impressionist collections in the world. This museum would be the star of Paris if not for its more famous sister across the river. It is housed in an old Paris train station and retains a lot of the original features. It is fitting that several Monet painiting depicting trains are housed here. At 9e, it is also an incredible bargain for anyone even slightly interested in Impressionist paintings.

Near our apartment was La Basilique du Sacre Coeur de Montmartre. This unique basilica is at the top of a hill in the Montmarte region of Paris. Once you make your way past the crazy vendors, you can climb all the stairs to the top or use the funicular railway next door. On our visit, it was raining with thunderstorms so we took shelter inside. A Catholic mass was in process, but they let visitors walk around the interior perimeter. It was unique to see an active service in such a historic place.

The Arc d'Triomphe is in the center of the most complicated traffic intersection in Paris. The monument commerates those who died in the French Revolution and those who continue to die when 12 major streets empty into a roundabout with no traffic lines. For safety, you need to use an underground tunnel to access the monument, unless you are very crazy.

If you blink, you might miss Sainte-Chapelle near Notre Dame. This incredibly beautiful chapel was built for the private use of the early kings of France and their court. The stained glass and art is just breathtaking and photos cannot do it justice. It is very small, but you can also visit the nearby dungeons and current French Hall of Justice in the same complex.

Please enjoy the rest of the Paris Landmarks photos below.