| Copyright 2005 Fionnuala Downhill | | | | For something more exciting for children and |
| As the second largest city of Western Europe, | | | | families, try the Centre Pompidou. It not only |
| Paris is known as the City of Lights for its well-lit | | | | contains a museum of modern art, but a |
| displays in the late hours, which calls to visiting | | | | bookstore and a library among other things. The |
| tourists from around the world. It is the home of | | | | museum, featuring the works of artists like |
| the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and many more | | | | Matisse and Picasso, holds one of the largest |
| vacationer attractions. | | | | collections of cubist, surrealist and abstract art. |
| What can you see in a weekend in Paris? If | | | | Photo Opportunities for People Visiting Paris |
| you're visiting Paris for only a short while, try | | | | You don't need to be Catholic to appreciate the |
| these suggestions on the top hot spots. You can't | | | | majestic architecture of Notre-Dame. Its |
| miss these! | | | | construction was made to fit a monumental scale, |
| Visiting Popular Attractions In Paris | | | | and plans were made to enlarge it even before |
| Rising up over 300 meters tall, this steel | | | | the cathedral was completed. While not the |
| structure, the Eiffel Tower, can be seen | | | | biggest, it is the most famous and one of the |
| throughout most locations around the city. | | | | grandest cathedrals in the entire world. |
| Elevators lift visiting tourists to the top to get a | | | | Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806, the Arc de |
| bird's eye view of Paris. As it is lit up in the | | | | Triomphe, it is engraved with the names of the |
| evening, it is one of the most beautiful sights in | | | | generals that commanded his troupes. It now |
| the entire city. Guided tours add to the thrill as | | | | stands as a monument to the era and a popular |
| you get to peek into history on how it was made | | | | photo spot for tourists visiting Paris. The Arc also |
| and what it means to the French today. | | | | features an observatory to take in surrounding |
| The opera building, Opera de Paris Garnier started | | | | views. |
| its history back in 1862 when its construction | | | | If you're still looking for something that will arouse |
| began. It took over ten years to complete, | | | | the attention of the entire family, try the Jardin |
| because an underground lake was discovered | | | | du Luxembourg, a 224,500 square meter park. |
| under the location and was completed in 1875. | | | | An octagon pond called the Grand Bassin is |
| Tours and shows continue to operate through this | | | | located in the center of the park. It is here that |
| attraction for those visiting Paris, though now | | | | children can rent toy motorboats for a fun |
| mainly used for ballet performances since the | | | | afternoon. You can also check out the puppet |
| construction of Opera de Paris Bastille, another | | | | shows, chess games, it's many statues and it's |
| distinctive entertainment tourist spot. | | | | two famous fountains, the Fontaine de Medicis |
| Visiting Museums In Paris | | | | and the Fontaine de l'Observatoire, at the north |
| One of the largest and most famous museums is | | | | and south ends of the park. |
| the Louvre of Paris, and visiting it is none other | | | | Obviously, these are not the only tourist spots, |
| than an opportunity of a lifetime. With over | | | | but upon visiting Paris, these are the most popular |
| 300,000 wonderful artistic works, you simply | | | | and are certainly not to be missed. Most of these |
| cannot see all of it in one day. An entire weekend | | | | locations offer regular guided tours, some at little |
| could be spent simply gazing at the thousands of | | | | to no cost. Call your travel agent and make |
| painting, including Leonardo da Vinci's world famous | | | | arrangements to visit these locations. |
| Mona Lisa. | | | | |