Paris has no problem living up to the painted images and movie myths with which we're all familiar. Indeed, the whole city is something of a work of art. Two thousand years of shaping and reshaping have resulted in monumental buildings, sweeping avenues, grand esplanades and celebrated bridges. Many of its older buildings have survived intact, having been spared the ravages of flood and fire and saved from Hitler's intended destruction. Moreover, they survive with a sense of continuity and homogeneity, as new sits comfortably against a backdrop of old - the glass Pyramid against the grand fortress of the Louvre, the Column of Liberty against the Opéra Bastille. Time has acted as judge, as buildings once surrounded in controversy - the Eiffel Tower, the Sacré-Coeur, the Pompidou Centre - have become well-known symbols of the city. Yet for all the tremendous pomp and magnificence of its monuments, the city operates on a very human scale, with exquisite, secretive little nooks tucked away off the Grands Boulevards and very definite little communities revolving around games of boules and the local boulangerie and café.
Architecturally, the Cathédrale de Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle and the Palais du Louvre, in the city's centre, provide a constant reminder of Paris's religious and royal past. Must-sees when you visit, along with the world's finest museums and galleries – not the least of which is the mighty Louvre. And make yourself at home on the streets of this magnificent city by walking along the Seine and stopping for a late afternoon lunch. Few cities can compete with the thousand-and-one cafés, bars and restaurants that line every Parisian street and boulevard.
To learn about the Best of Paris, click here. For information on festivals and when they're held, click here.
To look for and make hotel reservations in Paris, click through to our Hotel Search page. For information about transportation options in and around the city, go to Getting Around. To research the many options available for sampling French cuisine, check out Eating and Drinking establishments.
Here are more links to help you plan your fabulously romantic holiday to Paris:
• Arrival Information
• Exploring Paris
• Entertainment
• City Directory
• Search for Flights and Hotels
• Search for Vacation Rentals
Bon voyage!
Previous Destinations:
• Banff, Alberta, Canada
• Cape Town, South Africa
• Sydney, Australia
• Japan
• The Bahamas
• Zurich, Switzerland
• Fairbanks, Alaska
• San Diego, California
REMINDER: PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS
Traveling abroad? It's important you know your passport, visa, and health requirements, which vary by destination. Make sure you get all the information you need well in advance of your trip.
As of January 1, 2008, passports will be required for all U.S. citizens traveling to or from the United States via land as well as air or sea, regardless of destination. As of January 8, 2007, passports will be required for all U.S. citizens traveling to or from the United States via air or sea, to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
For more information on travel requirements, contact the U.S. embassies of the countries you're visiting. A complete list of U.S. embassies worldwide can be found at the Department of State Web site.
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