Paris was founded around the end of the third century by a Gallic tribe known as the Parisii. The town, as well as the rest of what was once called Gaul, was conquered by Julius Caesar in 52 BC. After the Western Roman Empire fell to the barbarians, the Frankish King Clovis 1st made Paris his capital. Paris began to flower as a major medieval city in the 12th Century. It became a center of culture and learning, not to mention the seat of power of such people as Louis XIV and Napoleon. Today Paris, the largest city on the European continent, is a symbol of ambiance and a kind of culture and good living that attracts millions annually. And, of course, the City of Light is replete with historical attractions of all kinds.

The Louvre

The Louvre started as a fortress around the year 1200. It was gradually built up into a sumptuous royal palace during the subsequent centuries. It was converted to a museum in 1793, in the midst of the French Revolution. It is the most famous museum in the world and contains such masterpieces as Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. It’s collection included Near Eastern, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman antiquities and 35,000 works of art. A day, preferably two or three, should be allocated for a visit.

Tuileries Gardens

The Tuileries is a royal palace nearly adjacent to the Louvre, started by Catherine de Medici in the 16th Century. It was later the chief residence in Paris of Napoleon. Most of the palace was destroyed during the Commune of 1871. The garden that lay between the two palaces used to be a royal retreat, but is now a public park. The Tuileries Gardens are an especial favorite of children for the puppet shows and sail boat models.

Conciergerie

La Conciergerie was a palace built in the 13th Century by Phillipe the Fair. It served as a prison for centuries and was a place of torture and death. It’s most famous prisoners included Marie Antoinette, Charlotte Corday, Danton, and Chenie. Marie Antoinette's cell is now a chapel to her memory, and includes her crucifix, and two portraits of her from life. It does have some beautiful features, in particular the Salle des Gardes - the room of the guards with elegant vaulting - the colonnaded Salle des Gens d'Armes - 69m long and 27m wide now sometimes used for concerts - and the Cuisines with its four large fireplaces, each large enough to roast an entire ox. The building now makes up much of the Palais of Justice complex.

Sainte Chapelle

The beautiful Gothic church Sainte Chapelle, with gorgeous 13th century stained glass, was built in 1298 by Louis 9 to house relics, including part of the True Cross. The chapel itself is now surrounded by the Palais of Justice on the Ile de la Cité near Notre Dame. It has two "tiers", the first one at ground level being rather dark and close, the second one having radiant tall, stain glass windows, as well as a small balcony.

Sainte Eustache

Saint-Eustache was a splendid church built from 1532 to 1754. The name Saint-Eustache comes from a Roman General who was burned along with his family for converting to Christianity. Several paintings by Rubens remain in the church today.

Notre Dame

This gothic masterpiece was begun in 1163 by Bishop Maurice de Sully, and its construction was completed only in 1345. The choir was completed in 1182; the nave in 1208, and the west front and towers circa 1225-1250. A series of chapels were added to the nave during the period 1235-50, and during 1296-1330 to the apse. The transept crossings were build in 1250-67. It was essentially completed according to the original plans.

One of the grandest churches in Europe, Notre Dame has been the venue of much history. Events which occurred here include the opening of the first States-General by King Phillipe the Fair, the crowning of Napoleon as Emperor of the French, a Te Deum mass in 1944 celebrating the liberation of Paris, interrupted by sniping, and the requiem mass for Charles de Gaulle in 1970.

Sacre Coeur

The Church of the Sacre Coeur was started in 1870 after the Franco Prussian War, but not completed until 1914 and not dedicated until 1919, after the First World War. It is built in the Romano-Byzantine style and contains the largest mosaics in the world, depicting Christ with outstretched arms. The nearby bell tower contains the ``Savoyarde'' bell. Cast in Annecy in 1895, it is one of the worlds heaviest at 19 tons. From the top of the Dome, there is a panoramic view in all directions extending over 30 kilometers.

The Pantheon

The Paris Pantheon, with its neoclassical dome, was designed to be a church. However, events of the French Revolution caught up with the project and in 1790 it was designated as a “temple of reason.” It is the final resting place of many of the great people of France, including Voltaire, Rousseau, Hugo, Zola, and Pierre and Marie Curie.

Eiffel Tower

When the Eiffel Tower was first being built in the 19th Century, fist fights broke out over it. Many people thought it an eye sore. But today, no one can imagine Paris without it. It is a thousand and fifty feet high and has three levels, accessible by elevator or by stairs. The view from the third level is nothing more than spectacular. The restaurant, Le Jules Vernes, on the second level is highly recommended.

Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe was commissioned by Napoleon soon after his victory at Austerlitz but was not finished until 1836. There are four huge relief sculptures at the bases of the four pillars. These commemorateThe Triumph of 1810,Resistance,Peace, and The Departure of the Volunteers, more commonly known by the name La Marseillaise. Engraved around the top of the Arch are the names of major victories won during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic periods. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the etranl flame commemorating the dead of the two world wars are beneath the arch. The Arc de Triomphe is at one end of the Champs Elysees, considered one of the most beautiful boulevards in the world.

Hotel des Invalides

The Hotel des Invalides was commissioned by Louis XIV to house homeless war veterans. Much of the building is now occupied by the Musee de l'Armee (Military Museum), a staggering display of arms, armour and other wartime paraphernalia from prehistoric times to the two world wars. Also on site is the Musee des Plans et Reliefs (scale models of French fortified towns), Eglise Saint Louis soldier's chapel and the Eglise du Dome, with a huge, gilded cupola visible for miles. Underneath the cupola lays the tomb of Napoleon.

Musee d’Orsay

This museum, housed in a former railroad station, contains a huge collection of 19th Century art. The paintings include masterpieces by Delacroix, Millet, Renoir, Monet, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Degas, and many others. There are also sculptures by Rodin and Maillol as well as several rooms filled with art nouveau furniture.

Musee Rodin

This museum occupies the house and adjoining garden where the 18th Century sculptor lived. The collection includes such famous works as The Thinker, The Kiss, The burghers of Calais, as well as preliminary studies and unfinished marbles. The garden is wonderful, especially during spring with flowers, statues and fountains.

Visiting Paris

Paris is accessible by plane, car, or train. Getting around the city is easy, as it has an excellent metro system. There are a myriad of places to dine, some expensive, some relatively cheap. And especially good place to find a good restaurant is the Latin Quarter, with its bistros and cafes frequented by students from the nearby Sarbonne, a university founded in the 12th Century.