Paris - The world’s most romantic city

“Home to the high-kicking cancan, the graceful Eiffel Tower and the illustrious Louvre, the French capital is a veritable feast for the senses.”

The very mention of Paris conjures up images of wide boulevards lined with bourgeois town houses, inviting pavement cafes alive with simmering conversation, elegant riverside lamp posts strung with twinkling fairy lights and exclusive boutiques that exude effortless style and sophistication. Arguably the world’s most romantic city, you’re sure to fall in love with Paris.

Shopping

The birthplace of haute couture, Paris simply overflows with designer stores and smart boutiques and is known for its grands magasins or department stores. Whether you’re looking for one-off pieces, up to the minute en-vogue fashion or simply want to peer in on the stunning window displays, Paris is home to some of the world’s leading fashion houses, including Chanel, Christian Lacroix, Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior.

Eating out

French cuisine is a serious art, with classical dishes relying on fresh, seasonal ingredients and flavoured with herbs and garlic, such as moules marinieres, mussels steamed in garlic and wine. From the simplest of café bars to the sleekest restaurants, Paris has something to tempt all taste buds and budget.

Nightlife

Famous for its seductive nightlife, the bright lights of Paris offer a dazzling choice of after dark entertainment. From fashionable bars and live music in atmospheric jazz venues to showy cabarets and seriously cool nightclubs, the city has it all whether you want to spend your evening strolling the boulevards or dancing until dawn.

Sightseeing

Champs-Elysees
Stretching from the Arc de Triomphe down to the Place de la Concorde, the Champs-Elysees is arguably Paris’ most famous thoroughfare. Surrounded by ornamental gardens and magnificent buildings, including the Grand and Petit Palais, it’s the perfect place to stop off for a coffee and simply soak up the charm of everyday Parisian life.

The Eiffel Tower
The city’s most famous landmark, the Eiffel Tower, originally built for the Universal Exhibition of 1889, was only ever meant to be a temporary addition to Paris’ skyline. However, today the Eiffel Tower is the city’s centrepiece and, standing at over 300 metres high, offers spectacular panoramic views across Paris.

The Louvre
The Louvre plays host to one of the world’s most important art collections. From the Mona Lisa to the Venus de Milo, galleries are filled with priceless works of art. Of particular note are the Oriental, Egyptian, Greek and Roman wings whose antiquities are of international renown.

Musee d’Orsay
Set in a former railway station, the Musee d’Orsay is one of Paris’ most popular art galleries. Representing artistic works from the years 1848-1914, it exhibits paintings, sculptures and furniture as well as early cinematic pieces. From Renoir and Van Gogh to Monet and Degas, the Musee d’Orsay simply brims with artistic treasures.

Montmartre
Set on a steep hillside overlooking Paris, the Bohemian area of Montmartre has long been associated with artists. Crowning the hill is the brilliant white Sacre-Coeur basilica, one of France’s most important Roman Catholic churches. Also head for the famous Place du Tertre – a favourite haunt for painters.

The Moulin Rouge
Originally built in 1885, the Moulin Rouge was made famous by its saucy cancan shows and has attracted scores of Parisian luminaries - including the painter Toulouse-Lautrec who immortalised the wild dance routines in his paintings. Today the Moulin Rouge is Paris’ most famous nightclub and stages glitzy revues, replete with colourful rouched skirts and high-kicks.

Cite des Sciences et de l’Industrie
Built on the old Villette slaughterhouse, Paris’ popular science and technology museum is a five-story, high-tech building that features interactive computer games, a planetarium and greenhouses. Of particular note is La Geode – a huge, metallic-looking sphere. Inside there’s a massive cinema screen which shows documentaries and films about space and the natural world.

Chateau de Versailles
Without a doubt, the highlight of any trip to the sumptuous palace of Versailles is the breathtaking Hall of Mirrors, where no less than 17 enormous mirrors reflect light poured in from an avenue of tall, arched windows. Beyond the walls of the chateau, admire the symmetry of the ornamental gardens, fountains and lakes.

Disneyland Resort Paris
Watch make-believe unfold before your eyes as Mickey and Minnie take you by the hand and lead you into a magical world of laughter, fun and fantasy. Divided into themed areas including Frontierland, Adventureland and Discoveryland, Disneyland Resort Paris has everything from roller coasters to fairytale castles and is sure to bring out the child in everyone.

Useful links

www.paris.org
www.paris-tourism.com
www.paris-touristoffice.com
www.visit-paris.com
www.paris.com
www.paris.fr
www.disneylandparis.com

Annual Events

		January
		9th January - Fête des Rois Patisseries throughout the city celebrate the Festival of Kings by selling delicious golden pastries. Filled with marzipan, these beautiful pies hide a china figurine within. Whoever bites from the slice containing the miniature statue becomes king or queen for the day.
		March/April
		7th March to 24th April - Festival of the Imagination This intriguing festival showcases the music and cultural styles of people from all over the world with the aim of exploration, revelation and discovery. Ranging from traditional Syrian choral music to French modern dance, from Japanese folk puppetry to minimalist Iranian poetry, the festival is a wonderful insight into the lesser-known arts from across the globe.
		May
		May Day France’s most popular bank holiday, May Day, is a wonderful spectacle that shouldn’t be missed. Colourful parades march through Eastern Paris past the designer bars and restaurants that line the Bastille area.
		October
		Lucien Barrière Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is the pinnacle of French horse racing. Buy yourself a new hat and watch the world’s finest horses compete for vast sums of money. www.racingseries.com
		December
		31st December - New Year Gourmet Dinner at Man Ray The most fashionable bar/club in Paris, Man Ray, hosts one of New Year’s Eve’s most glamorous parties. Featuring exquisite cuisine washed down with sumptuous champagne, expect the music and dancing to continue long into the small hours of New Year’s Day.