Landmarks and Places of Interest

Right Bank. The Avenue des Champs Ély-sées, a broad thoroughfare running generally northwest-southeast, forms the axis along which lie some of the Right Bank's most famous landmarks. At its western end is the Arc de Triomphe, commissioned by Napoleon I to commemorate his victories and finished in the late 1830's. The body of an unknown soldier from World War I lies in a tomb beneath the arch. The Champs Élysées is one of Paris's busiest and most fashionable streets. Its wide walks are shaded by broadcanopied trees and lined with cafes and exclusive shops and offices. The Grand Palais, a large exhibition hall, and the Petit Palais, housing a museum of fine arts, are located along the eastern part of the avenue. Nearby is the Élyée Palace, official residence of the president of France. At the Champs Élysées' eastern end is the Place de la Concorde, one of the city's largest and most impressive squares. It was the site of the guillotine during the Reign of Terror of the French Revolution. In the center of the square stands the ancient Egyptian Obelisk of Luxor.

To the east, along the river, are the Tuileries Gardens, an excellent example of formal landscaping. With sculptured shrubbery and flower beds, the Tuileries are among the most popular outdoor spots in the city. Adjacent to the gardens is the Louvre, perhaps the world's most renowned art museum. It is a U-shaped series of connected buildings built over hundreds of years. The two arms of the complex enclose another garden, the Place du Carrousel, and a triumphal arch erected by Napoleon I.

A short distance northwest of the Louvre is La Madeleine, a church built for Napoleon I in Greek classical style. It stands in a square at the intersection of four major streets and is a major Right Bank landmark. The Boulevard de la Madeleine leads to the Palais Ganier. Since the opening of a new opera house in 1989, this supremely elegant 19th-century structure has been used mostly as a theater for ballet.

Just south of the Palais Garnier lies the Place Vendôme, a showplace of 17th-century architecture. In the center of the square is a spiral column made from the bronze of cannons captured by Napoleon at the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805. Nearby is the 17th-century Royal Palace, once the home of Cardinal Richelieu.

Two areas of general interest on the Right Bank are Montmartre and the Marais district. Montmartre, situated on a hill in the far northern part of Paris, was once a village outside the city proper. In the late 1800's and early 1900's it was a bohemian neighborhood occupied by many artists, composers, and writers. A well-known spot is the Moulin Rouge, the cabaret made famous by the artist Toulouse-Lautrec. The cemetery of Montmartre has the graves of several noted individuals, including the writer Émile Zola and the artist Edgar Degas. Sacré Coeur, Montmartre's basilica, has multiple domes and a white exterior and is a major Right Bank landmark. Today, Montmartre is a popular and lively entertainment district.

The Marais district fronts on the Seine in the eastern part of the city. It has numerous historically and architecturally interesting structures, some dating to the 16th century. In the 17th century many prominent persons had large stately homes in the area, especially around the Place des Vosges. Many of the opulent homes have been restored and can be visited.

In the same area is the Hôtel de Ville, an ornately decorated building that houses the Paris municipal government. A short distance to the north is the Georges Pompidou Center. It offers a variety of attractions in an informal setting, including a museum of modern art, an industrial design center, a museum with working models and displays, and a public library. Since opening in 1977, the Pompidou Center has become a chief tourist attraction. Nearby is the Hôtel de Sâlé, a 17th-century structure that houses a museum devoted to the works of Pablo Picasso.

On the eastern edge of the Marais district is the Place de la Bastille, site of the prison-fortress destroyed in 1789 at the beginning of the French Revolution. Located here is the Opéra de la Bastille, which was opened in 1989. The National Opera of Paris performs here.

In the western part of the Right Bank is the Chaillot Palace, a striking 20th-century structure with a garden fronting on the Seine. It serves as a cultural center, housing a large theater and several museums.

The Bois de Boulogne, an extensive wooded park, is also in the west. It offers a variety of settings and facilities, including two racetracks, Longchamp and Auteuil; several lakes and gardens; an amusement park; and cafes and restaurants. Another park, the Bois de Vincennes in the east, has France's largest zoo and a restored 17th-century château, in addition to a racetrack, ponds, gardens, and woods.

Îie de la Cité. This island is the site of several important government facilities, including the police headquarters and the Palace of Justice, which houses the law courts. Connected to the Palace of Justice is the Conciergerie, originally the residence of the concierge, the overseer of the king's palace. Parts of the Conciergerie date to the 14th century. The building was used as a prison during the Reign of Terror. In the same area is St. Chapelle, a 13th-century church with magnificent stained-glass windows. Notre Dame stands majestically on the eastern end of the island. The cathedral is considered by many to be the epitome of French Gothic architecture.

On the western part of the Left Bank is the Eiffel Tower, to many the outstanding symbol of Paris. From the top there is a magnificent view of the city. Opposite the Eiffel Tower, across a large formal garden called the Champ de Mars, is the French Military Academy. Nearby is the Y-shaped building that houses the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

A short distance away is the Hôtel des Invalides, an impressive group of 17th-century buildings, originally built as a home for disabled soldiers. Within the compound are well-tended gardens, several small museums, and the tomb of Napoleon I.

Perhaps the most well-known part of the Left Bank is the Latin Quarter. This area got its name from the Latin-speaking scholars and students who lived here many centuries ago. The Latin Quarter holds some of France's chief educational institutions, including the Sorbonne and other institutions of the University of Paris. The Panthéon, one of the most distinguished landmarks of the Latin Quarter, is an 18th-century church converted into a burial place for illustrious Frenchmen, including Voltaire and Rousseau. According to legend it is the burial place of St. Geneviève (422?-512), patron saint of Paris. The Latin Quarter, crowded with booksellers, shops, cafes, and cinemas, bustles with activity at almost all times of the day.

An area of special interest to artists and writers is Montparnasse, southwest of the Latin Quarter. It was a bohemian neighborhood where many struggling artists and writers settled in the early decades of the 1900's. It became the temporary home of such noted artists as Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall and of the group of American writers that included Ernest Hemingway and Gertrude Stein. Today, Montparnasse is undergoing extensive urban renewal and much of the area has been modernized. Located here is the 688-foot (210-m) Montparnasse Tower, one of Europe's tallest office buildings.

Just east of the Latin Quarter are the Botanical Gardens, which also feature a zoo and an aquarium. Nearby is a partially restored Roman arena.

Part of the southern Left Bank is underlain by catacombs, which were used as a repository for bones from cemeteries excavated in the 18th century. During World War II these catacombs served as the headquarters of the French resistance movement.

Near the center of the Left Bank is the Luxembourg Palace, built in the 17th century. It is the seat of the French Senate. Adjoining the palace is the residence of the president of the Senate. The palace gardens form one of the largest parks on the Left Bank. Near the Luxembourg Palace are two of the Left Bank's notable churches. St. Germain des Prés is the oldest church in the city, dating from the 10th century. St. Sulpice is one of the city's largest churches; it dates from the 17th century.

About 10 miles (16 km) southwest of Paris is the palace of Versailles, a former royal residence. The palace, built by Louis XIV, is the supreme monument to the wealth and power of the French monarchy. Much of the palace has been restored. It houses a museum of French history, featuring portraits and period furnishings. In addition to the palace there are superb formal gardens and the Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon, châteaus built as retreats for the royal family. The palace grounds constitute a large forested park.

La Défense, just outside the city in the northwest, is a modern commercial center. It has many of the tallest buildings in the Paris area, which house mainly the offices of large corporations. The Basilica of St. Denis, in the suburb of St. Denis just north of Paris, holds the tombs of many of the French kings. Less than 5 miles (8 km) to the west is Malmaison, once a home of Napoleon I. It is noted for its museum, which has many of Napoleon's possessions and memorabilia. Sèvres, to the southwest, is renowned for its elegantly decorated porcelain and is the location of the National Porcelain Museum. Disneyland Paris, modeled after Disney World in Florida, is about 15 miles (24 km) east of Paris. Also within about 15 miles of the city are several spacious and scenic parks, including St. Cloud, which overlooks the Seine, and the Fôret de Marly and Fôret de St. Germain.