Notre Dame Cathedral

The only way to really grasp the magnificence of the Notre-Dame cathedral and towers and view it in its entirety is to catch a glimpse of it from a bridge across the Seine. The size and scope of this almost 800-year-old church are inspiring, the two towers stretching to reach the sky above the main entrance to the cathedral.
Bishop Maurice de Sully laid the first stone of the Notre-Dame in 1163. Age shows on the darkened stones of the Gothic structure, and the dimly lit interior of the cathedral speaks to the centuries the faithful have worshipped here. As you walk around the cathedral, purchase a guidebook to point out the highlights and their significance. The church organ here is one of the biggest in the world, with 113 stops and 7800 pipes. Rose windows in the cathedral show intricately designed stained glass. Carved wood panels created during the 14th century should not be missed. (more…)

Avenue des Champs-Elysees

The most famous street in Paris was built in the 17th century, but did not attract fashionable society until after the French Revolution. The avenue extends from the Arc de Triomphe at one end to the Place de la Concorde at the other. During the day, you’ll find fast-food joints and chain stores along with fine dining establishments and expensive boutiques. At night, clubs and cabarets pulse with life as crowds walk both sides of the street.
Famous marches, celebrations and events have taken place down its length – something to ponder over a cup of coffee at one of the outdoor cafés lining the street. (more…)

Musee du Louvre

The world’s most famous works of art live here, including the Mona Lisa, the statute of Venus de Milo, the ancient Winged Victory, and thousands of other priceless works many of which originally were collected privately by French royalty throughout history and donated to the museum. You will not be able to see everything, not even in several trips on multiple visits to Paris, but your experience will be better if you research ahead of time just a few things you would like to see, then check with your concierge to see which times would be best for avoiding the crowds, so you can have a more leisurly time of it.
The Louvre is the largest and arguably the most renowned museum in the world. The building itself is 800 years old, and the treasures within represent centuries of priceless works of art. (more…)

Disneyland Paris

Despite its American roots, Disneyland Paris is the paradigm of European amusement parks. This 5,000 acre resort, one-fifth the size of Paris itself, is just 20 miles to the east from downtown Paris, and if you start early and allow yourself a full day, you can see a good bit of it. Your concierge can help you select from a variety of public transportation and hotel shuttle alternatives, or if you prefer, you can enjoy one of the excellent theme hotels right at the resort.
Meet Mickey, fly away with Dumbo and be carried away in the wild tea cups of Alice in Wonderland! Go on an adventure with Pinocchio, and discover ‘its a small Worldâ€?. Find your characters of your favorite Fairy tales. Go and discover the Swiss Family Robinson’s cabin hiding in the giant tree. And, be careful not to be captured by the Pirates of the Carribean ! (more…)

Bois de Boulogne

The 865 hectares Bois de Boulogne lies on the western edge of Paris and was created under Napoléon III (second part of the 19th century). Its designer, the Baron Haussman, was an admirer of the large and central London parks (such as the beautiful Hyde Park and Regent Park). He decided to create two similar parks in Paris.
They are respectively the Bois de Boulogne on the west side of Paris and the Bois de Vincennes on the east. The Bois de Boulogne, the most fashionable of the two, is bordered by the very residential cities of Neuilly and Boulogne.
The Bois de Boulogne is a favourite destination of Parisian walkers, bicycle and horse riders. It also houses the two Parisian horse courses (Auteuil and Longchamp) and the pretty Bagatelle gardens. The Roland Garros tennis courts lie on the edge of the Bois de Boulogne. At night, the Bois de Boulogne welcomes a very different population and becomes the red district of Paris.