Paris

The world's largest triumphal arch, the Arc de Triomphe de l'Etoile is set at the centre of a star-shaped configuration of 12 radiating avenues in the heart of the Champs Elysées. It stands 165 feet (51m) tall and the names of major victories won during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic periods are engraved around the top of the Arch. The names of less important victories, as well as those of 558 generals, can be found on the inside walls. Since 1920, the tomb of France's Unknown Soldier has been sheltered underneath the arch. Its eternal flame commemorates the dead of the two world wars, and is rekindled every evening at 6pm. On July 14, the French National Day, also known as Bastille Day, a military parade starts at the arch and proceeds down the Champs Elysées. Visitors can climb to the top of the Arc de Triomphe (or take the elevator) and the views over Paris are spectacular. It is a humbling monument which can't fail to inspire respect and awe and a trip to Paris is not complete without a visit.

Address : Centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle

Website : arc-de-triomphe.monuments-nationaux.fr

Telephone : (01) 55 37 7377

Opening times : Open daily: October to March 10am-10:30pm; April to September 10am-11pm.

Admission : €12 (adults), €9 (reduced).

Gustave Eiffel, the architect of the Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel) could never have guessed that it would become Paris' signature sightseeing attraction and attract more than six million visitors a year. It was built as a temporary structure to commemorate the centenary of the French Revolution and was opened by the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII of England. The Eiffel Tower was considered an eyesore by many and there were petitions to have it pulled down. It was saved only because it had become an important antenna for telegraphy. It towers 984 feet (300m) above the Champ de Mars and until 1930 was the world's tallest building. The highest of its three levels offers a wonderful panoramic view over Paris.The Eiffel Tower itself has several restaurants, including the popular Le Jules Verne, with panoramic views of the city, and a champagne bar at the very top. There are also several souvenir shops and a carousel at the base. This is a great way to keep children entertained if you plan to go to the top of the Tower, as the queues can be several hours long. A slightly different (and cheaper) way to enjoy the Eiffel Tower is with a picnic on the lawns with the famous structure providing a picturesque backdrop.

Address : Champ de Mars 7

Website : www.tour-eiffel.fr

Telephone : +33 (0)8 92 70 12 39

Transport : RER Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel station; Metro Bir-Hakeim, Trocadero, Ecole Militaire; bus 42, 69, 72, 82, 87

Opening times : Daily: 9am to midnight (mid-June to early September); 9:30am to 11pm the rest of the year. Last entry is 45 minutes before closing time.

Admission : Lift ticket to 2nd floor: €11 (adults), €8.50 (12 to 24 years). Lift ticket to top: €17 (adults), €14,50 (12 to 24 years). Stairs to second floor €7 (adults), €5 (12 to 24 years). Concessions available.

In the 16th century, Henry II and Catherine de Medici commissioned architects Philibert Delorme and Jean Bullant to build a new palace within the Fontainebleau forest, 40 miles (64km) south of Paris. Italian Mannerist artists Rosso Fiorentino and Primaticcio came to assist in the interior decoration, helping to found the School of Fontainebleau. Visitors will see the long Gallery of François I, which the artists adorned with scenes like The Rape of Europaand the monarch holding a pomegranate, a symbol of unity, as well as the richly adorned Louis XV Staircase and the monumental fireplace and frescoes in the ballroom. The palace was a refuge for French monarchs from the days of the Renaissance. They valued it because of its distance from the slums of Paris and for the rich hunting grounds that surrounded it. Many important events have occurred here, perhaps none more memorable than when Napoleon stood on the grand steps in front of the palace and bade farewell to his shattered army before departing for Elba. The chateau boasts four museums, beautiful and vast grounds and many treasures. Compared to the glories of Versailles, however, Fontainebleau can be a bit of an anti-climax; it is best to see it before Versailles.

Address : 4 Rue Royale

Website : www.musee-chateau-fontainebleau.fr

Telephone : 01 60 71 50 70

Opening times : Closed Tuesdays. October to March: 9:30am to 5pm. April to September: 9:30am to 6pm.

Admission : There are a variety of ticket options but the full ticket costs €11 (adults), €9 (reduced), free for under 18s, and under 25s if EU members.

The Jardin des Plantes is France's main botanical garden. Covering 28 hectares (280,000sq m), the garden was originally planted by Louis XIII's doctor in 1626 as a medicinal herb garden. In 1640 it became Paris's first public garden. In 1739, after a long period of decline, the gardens were greatly expanded and a maze called the Labyrinth was added. It still exists today. Currently, in addition to being a lovely green lung in the city, the Jardin des Plantes maintains a botanical school which constructs demonstration gardens and trains botanists. The massive grounds house the Natural History Museum which is one of the main attractions for visitors. There is also a small zoo, founded in 1795 to house part of the royal menagerie from Versailles, and now containing small animals in simulated natural habitats. The gardens boast tropical hothouses that are home to a variety of unusual plants, native mostly to Mexico and Australia, and there is also an Alpine Garden, a beautiful Rose Garden, and an Art Deco-style Winter Garden. There is lots to see in the garden and visitors can wander for hours.

Address : Blvd Henri IV, Quartier Montpellier Centre Montpellier 34967

Website : www.jardindesplantes.net

Telephone : 01 40 79 56 01 10

Opening times : Daily 7:30am to 8pm (summer); 8am to 5:30pm (winter).

Admission : Free. Some special gardens or exhibitions carry admission fees.

Les Invalides was built by Louis XIV in 1670 as a military hospital to take care of wounded soldiers and now comprises the largest single collection of monuments and museums in Paris, all relating to the military history of France. It is the burial site of some of France's war heroes, and a number of France's famous dead, including the ashes of the greatest French military commander, Napoleon Bonaparte, which rest under the dome of Les Invalides and attract many visitors to Paris. Its large grounds and church with a golden dome make Les Invalides a classical French architectural masterpiece. There are also impressive collections of weaponry from all periods of French history. Numerous suits of armour, including those made in children's sizes for boy kings, are part of this collection. Military history buffs will be in heaven at Les Invalides and even the less clued-up will be moved by the place.

Address : 35 Rue du Chevaler-de-la-Barre

Website : www.invalides.org

Telephone : (33) 0810 11 33 99

Transport : Acessible by Line 8 Latour-Maubourg, or Bus 32, 63, 93.

Opening times : 10am to 5pm (November to March), 10am to 6pm, and until 9pm on Tuesdays (April to October). Closed first Monday of every month and public holidays.

Admission : Tickets cost €11 (adults), €9 (reduced).

One of the world's great art museums, this vast edifice houses an extraordinary collection of paintings, sculptures and antiquities from all over the world. The permanent collections are divided into Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Asian antiquities, painting, drawings, sculptures and objects d'art.The Louvre was opened to the public in 1793, soon after the Revolution, to display the spectacular treasures looted from the royal palaces. The best-known attractions in the Louvre are Leonardo da Vinci's enigmatic Mona Lisa, which is protected by bullet-proof glass within its own room; and the ancient Venus de Milo. While the Venus de Milo is one of the highlights of a visit to the Louvre, the Mona Lisa can be a disappointment because people usually imagine it is much bigger than it is - and it is usually surrounded by a crowd. With more than 35,000 works on display, don't even attempt to see it all in one day. The building itself is a work of art and the ceilings, floors and staircases will enthral visitors.

Address : 75001, Paris Reception area is under the giant glass pyramid.

Website : www.louvre.fr

Telephone : (0)1 40 20 53 17

Transport : Metro Palais Royal or Musée du Louvre; bus 21, 27, 39, 48, 68, 69, 72, 81 or 95

Opening times : Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 9am to 6pm. Wednesday and Friday 9am to 9:45pm. Closed Tuesdays. Opening hours for temporary exhibitions vary. The museum is closed 25 December, 1 January and 1 May.

Admission : €15 for full-day pass to permanent exhibitions. Free admission the first Sunday of every month (not including the Hall Napoleon). Concessions are available and children under 18 are free.

This great museum is fairly new by Paris standards. It is situated in a railway station by the Seine and houses a vast collection of works from the significant 1848 to 1914 period. There are important works from the Art-Nouveau movement but the Orsay is best known for its Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. The collection is arranged chronologically and contains highly regarded works by Monet, Manet and Courbet. Also on permanent display is the famous painting by Gustave Doré entitled L'énigme,and Henri Chapu's marble statue of Joan of Arc in Domrémy. The Musee d'Orsay is one of the most famous art museums in the world and one of France's premier attractions. Even the uninitiated will appreciate this world-class museum, and art fanatics will be in heaven. There is a restaurant and a book shop at the museum.

Address : Entrances on Rue de la Légion dHonneur and Rue de Bellechasse

Website : www.musee-orsay.fr

Telephone : +33 (0)1 40 49 48 14

Transport : RER Musée dOrsay; Metro Solférino; bus 24, 63, 68, 69, 73, 83, 84 or 94

Opening times : Tuesday to Sunday 9:30am to 6pm, Thursday 9.30am to 9.45pm, closed Mondays and on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.

Admission : Permanent collections: €12 (adults), €9 (reduced). Free for under 18s and EU members under 25. Concessions available.

The Picasso Museum is situated in a 17th century mansion in the heart of Paris. The collection was started in 1973, after the French government accepted Picasso's own collection in lieu of death duties, and was added to after his widow's death in 1990. All the phases of work from the Paris-based artist are represented here including his paintings, drawings, ceramics, sculptures and even poetry. Memorable works include the self-portrait Paolo as Harlequinand Nude in an Armchair. Most of Picasso's great paintings, however, are owned by and housed in foreign museums or are in the hands of private collectors. It is an unusual museum - mainly because of the unusual artist - and a must for Picasso enthusiasts and anybody who appreciates art. The mansion which houses the museum is gorgeous and creates just the right atmosphere for the diverse collection.

Address : Hôtel Salé, 5 Rue de Thorigny

Website : www.musee-picasso.fr

Telephone : (0)1 85 56 00 36

Transport : Métro Chemin Vert, St-Paul or Saint-Sébastien Froissart; bus 29, 96, 69, 75

Opening times : Tuesday to Friday 11:30am - 6pm; Saturday and Sunday 9:30am - 6pm.

Admission : Tickets cost €12.50 (adults), €11 (reduced).

The Rodin Museum is situated near the Musée d'Orsay and is housed in what was formerly the Hôtel Biron, the beautiful hotel where Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) once lived and worked. Inside are many of Rodin's great marble sculptures including The Kiss,while outside, in the garden, are famous bronzes including The Thinker.The museum also includes many works by Camille Claudel (Rodin's pupil and mistress) and paintings by Van Gogh, Renoir, Manet and Rodin himself. The museum has a gift shop, with reproductions of some of the most famous works.

Address : 77 Rue de Varenne

Website : www.musee-rodin.fr

Telephone : (01) 4418 6110

Transport : Metro Varenne, Invalides or Saint-François-Xavier; RER to Invalides station; bus 69, 82, 87 or 92.

Opening times : Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5:45pm. Closed on Monday.

Admission : Tickets cost €10 (adult) and €7 (reduced).

Notre-Dame looms large over the Place de Paris, on the Isle de la Cité, and as the most enduring symbol of Paris is an alluring tourist attraction. Built between 1163 and 1345 the cathedral is considered one of the world's Gothic masterpieces. The massive interior can seat 6,000 people and it is dominated by three spectacular and enormous rose windows and a vast 7,800-pipe organ. The 387-step climb to the top of the towers is worth the effort for the panoramic view of the city and the close-up views of the famous gargoyles. The tower also holds the great bell that was rung by Quasimodo, the fictional hunchback in the novel by Victor Hugo.Opposite the north door is a museum that displays the cathedral's history, while under the square in front of the cathedral is the crypt that houses Notre-Dame's archaeological museum. The church has no real gift shop, but votive candles are available at points in the cathedral in return for a donation.For a special experience, visit Notre-Dame on a Sunday morning when many of Paris's museums are closed and services are being held, but be respectful of worshippers, especially when taking photos. Another really special time to visit Notre Dame is on summer evenings for the Night Show, an operatic performance projected on a 100-metre tulle screen hanging in the nave. The performances are held nightly in July and August.

Address : 6 Place du Parvis de Notre-Dame

Website : www.cathedraledeparis.com

Telephone : (01) 4234 5610

Transport : Citi metro; RER Châtelet-Les Halles or Saint-Mic stations; or bus 21, 24, 27, 38, 47, 85 or 96.

Opening times : Daily, 8am to 6.45pm (closes 7.15pm on Saturday and Sunday). *The Cathedral was badly damaged in a fire in April 2019 and is currently closed for restoration.

Admission : Free.

Built in the 1970s and named after former French president Georges Pompidou, the futuristic Pompidou Centre is now considered part of the Parisian landscape. The outrageous design, complete with its glass elevators, was the inspiration for the Lloyds Building in London and attracts visitors by the million; it is the city's most popular attraction by far. The building houses the Musée National d'Art Modern (MNAM), which displays a vast collection of 20th-century art, from Fauvism and Cubism to Abstract and Absurd, and its numerous cinemas and theatres have regular musical and dance performances. The square to the west of the building attracts a varied assortment of street performers. While there, visitors should be sure to check out the whimsical Stravinsky Fountain with its 16 water-spraying sculptures.

Address : Place Georges Pompidou, entrance by the plaza in Rue Saint-Martin

Website : www.centrepompidou.fr

Telephone : +33 (0)1 44 78 12 33

Transport : Metro Rambuteau, Châtelet, Hôtel de Ville; RER (train) Châtelet or Les Halles; bus 21, 29, 38, 47, 58, 69, 70, 72, 74, 75, 76, 81, 85, 96

Opening times : Daily (except Tuesdays), 11am to 10pm. Closed 1 May.

Admission : Entry to the centre and museum ranges between €14 and €18 for adults, depending on the season. The centre has numerous attractions, exhibitions and shows and prices vary. Check the website for details.

The Château de Versailles stands 15 miles (24km) southwest of Paris and is one of France's most noted attractions. Most of the palace was built between 1664 and 1715 by Louis XIV (known as the Sun King), who turned his father's hunting lodge into the grandest palace ever built. The 'Old Château' still exists but is enveloped by the vast white stone façade of the New Château. This lavish statement of monarchical power was to become a symbol of the excess that would lead to the revolution of 1789. Perhaps the most famous room in the palace is the Hall of Mirrors (Galerie des Glaces) where the Treaty of Versailles was signed, signifying the end of the Great War. Within the palace visitors can also see the former royal bedchambers, the grand staircase and other staterooms, and within the vast landscaped park and gardens are many wonderfully ornate fountains and ponds. There is a small train that ferries visitors from the palace to the Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon, former love nests where both the Sun King and Napoleon enjoyed the company of their mistresses.

Address : Place dArmes, 78000 Versailles

Website : www.chateauversailles.fr

Telephone : +33 (0)1 30 83 78 00

Transport : Buses, trains and the metro all go to Versailles from Paris.

Opening times : April to October: Palace is closed on Mondays and open every other day from 9am to 6:30pm; Trianon Palaces and Marie-Antoinette's Estate closed Mondays and open every other day from 12pm to 6:30pm; Gardens open daily 8am to 8:30pm; Park open daily 7am to 8:30pm. November to March: Palace is closed on Mondays and open every other day from 9am to 5:30pm; Trianon Palaces and Marie-Antoinette's Estate closed Mondays and open every other day from 12pm to 5:30pm; Garden and Park open every day from 8am to 6pm.

Admission : There are a number of different ticket options. The Versailles Passport, allowing access to all areas, costs €18 (and €25 for a two-day pass); a ticket for just the palace costs €15 (€13 reduced).