Eiffeltower
on Fire
|
Paris - what a marvellous, elegant city! A metropolis,
which attracts and enchants with its grandiose cultural treasures each
year millions of visitors from around the world. But still Paris is a city,
which despite its enormous dimension and hectic pace of modern life preserved
itself a breath of romanticism. In the multifaceted townscape all genres
of social life, art and culture, tradition, history and modern age have
merged into a harmonious whole. As well as all of this, the famous French
Cuisine, Haute Couture and perfumeries and, not least, the exciting Parisian
nightlife have over the centuries given Paris its unique charm.
Sightseeing / Slideshow
The historical centre of Paris with the magnificent Notre
Dame Cathedral on the Seine island Île de la Cité, the
Louvre Louvre, which was once the residence of the French kings and is now a world
famous art gallery and museum, the elegant Champs Élysées,
which connects the Place de la Concorde with the Triumphal
Arch, the Eiffel Tower, the Pantheon
and enchanting parks such as the Jardin
de Luxembourg, attract visitors as magically as the artists’ district
at  Montmartre
- one of the most romantic places of Paris with numerous boutiques and
intimate cafes around Sacre Coeur on the highest rise of the city. No less
attractive is the Quartier
Latin - the traditional students' quarter, with its inexpensive, small
restaurants and numerous bookshops, where also the time honoured University
of Sorbonne is to be found. A very popular tourist attraction
is a boat trip on the Seine river. Passing under some of the most beautiful
historic bridges of Paris, it conveys fascinating views of numerous sights,
as well as vivid impressions of the bustling quais.
Paris by night
 When
the sun sets behind Notre Dame, a special lighting arrangement casts a
spell over the city, and the famous Parisian nightlife begins. People stroll
along the Champs Élysées, visit the small Cafés, enjoy
a nocturnal sail on the Seine, admire the illuminated Eiffel Tower or visit
entertainment centres, such as the famous Moulin
Rouge, where one can in 'champagne' mood experience an excellent, delightful
variety show and of course experience a genuine Cancan.
|
History
In the absolutist France, in particular in the reign of Louis XIV,
literature, music, architecture and the fine arts began to flourish in
Paris, causing it to become the cultural capital of Europe for approximately
two centuries. Paris determined the fashion and even the language; upper
class Europeans conversed in French. With the work of Jean Jacques Rousseau,
Voltaire, Diderot and others in the 18th century, Paris took over a leading
role in the Age of Enlightenment. With the French Revolution it became
the scene of world historic upheavals and afterwards the centre of the
new order under Napoleon I. In the course of this development the population
grew so rapidly that in the 19th century Napoleon III decided on a complete
remodelling of the city, with the aim of creating the most modern and beautiful
capital of Europe. Georges Eugene Haussmann was the man who, as prefect
of the city, was entrusted with this project, and he designed the townscape
of Paris as it is up to the present day.
|
|
