Sightseeing in Paris Eiffel Tower News

PARIS NEWS

Paris is a smaller town than everyone imagines. You can walk from the north of Paris to the south in less than three hours. Furthermore, the places where tourists tend to go, like shopping, restaurants, sightseeing spots, and so on, fit into an even smaller area.

So, if you use the Metro or buses, or even the newly opened bicycle rental service Velibf, then no matter where you are staying youfll be able to have access to all of the sightseeing spots, shops, restaurants, and so on within 10-20 minutes.

Now, although finding your own way while walking around, gazing at the rows of shops and houses, is one of the best parts of a trip, during your limited time in Paris you'll want to enjoy some worthwhile shopping and sightseeing as well, so you can see the various faces of the city. Thatfs why your preparation before the trip is so important. This Paris information site, "Cahier de Paris", is your reassuring supporter, dispatching the latest information everyday concerning the boutiques, restaurants, art museums, sightseeing spots, and events of Paris and France. gCahier de Parish will show you how to get the hang of Paris so you can enjoy it 100%.

Filled With the Days of Paris and France, a Notebook of Treasure

Cahier de Paris

http://www.cahierdeparis.us

The France and Paris sightseeing trip information site, Cahier de Paris. Delivering shopping, restaurant, and event news everyday.

Paris Art Museums and Sightseeing Spots

Paris Art Museums

Certainly the places you will most want to visit are Parisfs world-renowned art galleries and museums. Therefs the three most popular, the Louvre, Orsay, and Orangerie, of course; the newly created Musee du quai Branly; Pompidou Centre, which will introduce you to modern art; the Musee Picaso; the Musee Rodan, with the work of the famous artist; Musee Marmottan with its full collection of Monet; the Musee National du Moyen Age (National Museum of the Middle Ages); Petit Palais; c and so on. And then there are museums outside of Paris we canft overlook.

Cahier de Parisfs complete list of Art Museums is here

Paris Sightseeing Spots

In addition to the museums, travelers to Paris are fascinated with the solemn churches and beautiful buildings that make you feel the history around you. The symbol of Paris, the Eiffel Tower; Central Paris; Notre Dame Cathedral, which rises up from the island of Île de la Cité, floating in the River Seine; the Pantheon, where many great men have slept; the white walls of Sacré-Cœur Basilica, erected on Montmartre; the most beautiful and famous of all of Parisfs plazas, the Place Vendomec The whole city of Paris is dotted with buildings more wonderful than any youfve ever seen.

Therefs also Chagallfs magnificent ceiling paintings at the famous Opéra Garnier; the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal where people from all over the world come seeking the miraculous medals; the Canal Saint-Martin and the Jardin du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Gardens) which are perfect for those wishing to sit down on a bench and take a rest; the Palace of Versailles, which youfll want to visit at least oncec There are a lot of spots spread all over that youfll want to check before your departure.

Cahier de Parisfs complete list of Sightseeing Spots is here

Paris Museum Pass

The Paris Museum Pass is good for access to over 60 museums and monuments in Paris and the surrounding areas of France. Get rid of the time and effort it takes to buy tickets. No need to stand in line every time you want to see something. This pass is extremely handy for getting right inside the building. During your limited time in Paris, your time is precious, and this Museum Pass will really let you have a good time.

There are three kinds of passes: 2 Day, 4 Day, and 6 Day.

The list of where you can buy, and at which museums and monuments you can use, the Paris Museum Pass is here

Shopping in Paris

Recommended Boutiques

While lining up a trip filled with sightseeing in Paris is a lot of fun, letfs not forget about the shopping! For starters there are famous department stores like Galeries Lafayette and high-class French brands like Louis Vuitton, but you'll also want to get a pair of ballerina shoes from Repetto, some beautiful silverware and crystal from Christofle, chocolate from the famous chocolatiers La Maison du Chocolat and Pierre Herme, as well as any other sweets you may like from our recommended patisseries and gourmet food stores. Youfll find a lot of stores that are really convenient for buying souvenirs. Wefve also got the best addresses for some lovely general stores, the small shops of young creators, and other charming places.

Cahier de Parisfs complete list of Boutique Information is here

Paris Restaurants

Recommended Restaurants

The orthodox school of Classic French, the refinement of Casual French invented by the younger chefs, the unchanged traditional French food you can taste at brasseriesc In the gourmet capital of Paris, even if you were to spend everyday trying out food at various places, there are more delicious restaurants waiting for you than youfll have time for. The wise way to do things is to figure out which restaurants you most want to go to during your stay, and make reservations beforehand here on Cahier de Paris. Of course, we also have lots of recommendations for, and information on, inexpensive and quick cafes and salon de thes, places that cater to single diners, and, for those times when you yearn for some rice, Japanese restaurants where the staff can make delicious dishes for you.

Cahier de Parisfs complete list of Restaurant Information is here

Metro, Buses, Velibfc A Guide to Parisfs Public Transportation

Letfs get a grasp of Parisfs transportation information

The key to fully enjoying Paris (hitting the sightseeing spots, shopping at the boutiques, eating at the restaurants you want to) during your limited time there, while still being able to move around freely, is, without a doubt, being able to handle the Metro and the buses well. If you learn the basics of the Parisian transportation system ahead of time, itfll come in very handy when need arises. The latest information on the Metro's routes is here

The rental bike service provides even more freedom.

The city of Paris began Velibf, itfs rental bike service, in July of 2007. If youfre riding around the streets of Paris on a bicycle you can eliminate the waiting time for the Metro or buses, and therefs no need to worry about a strike bringing them to a halt. Registration for a 1 day card is merely 1 Euro. And since the first 30 minutes of use is free each time, you can really do well with this if you get good at finishing your rides. Once you've mastered how to use Velibf from this page, youfll be ready to head out into Paris.

Paris monuments and hallmarks

	The Eiffel Tower : This world-famous landmark was built for the Universal Fair of 1889, held to commemorate the centenary of the French Revolution. It stands 1050 ft high. Admission (elevator to the top) is EUR 9.90 for adults, EUR 5.30 for children under 12. Opening hours: Jan 1-Jun 13: 9:30am-11pm daily (stairs: 9:30am-6pm); Jan 14-Aug 31: 9am-midnight daily.
	Notre Dame Cathedral : Work on the Hunchback's gothic home began in 1163 AD and was completed circa 1345 AD. The house of God can accommodate over 6,000 worshippers. Admission in the Cathedral is free, going to the towers costs about EUR 6. No elevator, people with a heart condition should abstain. Opening hours: 8:00AM-6:45PM daily. Towers: 9:30AM-6:45PM daily. Masses: 8AM, 9AM, 12AM, 6:45PM.
	Champs Elysees and the Arch of Triumph : The Champs Elysees avenue probably only deserves its nickname of "most beautiful avenue in the world" for its lower section, starting Place de la Concorde and ending at Grand Palais. The rest of the avenue mainly features overpriced shops and restaurants - with a few exceptions in the side streets. Walk to the Arch of Triumph, at the top of the avenue, and visit the 50-meter high structure built to commemorate Napoleon's victories. Admission is about EUR 6, and free for children under 12. Opening hours: 9:30AM-11:00PM daily from April to October, and 10:00AM-11:00PM daily from Nov-March.
	Montmartre and the Church of the Sacred Heart : The Romano-Byzantine basilica crowns the Montmartre hill. Its construction began in 1875 and was completed in 1914. Admission is free, except for the crypt and dome (about EUR 5). For a fun ride, go to the Anvers metro station, walk to "Rue Tardieu" and take the "funiculaire" (a one-car train which brings you almost to the top of the hill). Montmartre itself used to be a village outside Paris. The hill is famous for its architectural landmarks, its artistic life, and more recently, for 'Amelie'. It counts no less than 7 museums!
	Invalides : Its building started in 1671 under the reign of King Louis the XIVth, and about 30 years later. From its inception, the place was designed to serve as a home to impoverished soldiers and wounded veterans of the French army. It comprises the veteran hospital itself, a church, several museums, and the tomb of Napoleon I. Admission is EUR 6 for adults, and free for children under 12. Opening hours: October to March 31: 10AM-4:45PM, April-September 30: 10AM-5:45PM
	Saint Germain des Pres / Latin Quarter : Even today this quarter is associated with the existentialism of the 1950's, with Jean Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir writing at the Cafe Flore, and with Boris Vian and Raymond Queneau. The "invasion" (over the past 30 years) of luxury boutiques is replacing the book stores and cinemas from this aera, although a historical preservation association has now been created to preserve that which still remains.
	Place des Vosges : Its construction started in the early XVIIth century under Henri IV. It was completed in 1612. Initially named 'Royal Square', it was renamed 'Place des Vosges' by Napoleon I as an homage to the inhabitants of the Vosges region who had been particularly quick to pay their taxes. The square is remarkable both by its style (it is lined with 36 buildings, all dating from Henri IV) and by its shops and its little park where Parisians like to loaf on sunny Sundays.
	Find more comments on Paris landmarks and monuments at http://www.paris-eiffel-tower-news.com/ discover-paris.html.

Paris Event Information

œ Here you can pick out the exhibitions, movies, and concerts that catch your attention from all of the events being held in Paris. And since therefs information on events relevant to France that are being held in Japan, even those not currently planning a trip there can find some great recommendations.

Cahier de Parisfs Event Information is here.

Walking in Paris : Paris offers a number of interesting itineraries for strollers. You can follow the waterways (river Seine, St Martin Canal, river Bièvre) or the 17-km long railway transformed into a most surprising walkway hung some 50 feet above the hustle-bustle of the city. You can also spend some quality time in any of the large public parks which the city counts (Luxembourg, Buttes-Chaumont, Montsouris, Georges Brassens), discover the gardens of the 14th district, or else decide to learn live history and architecture in areas like St-Sulpice and St Germain-des-Prés. Walking in Paris

Explore Paris
Courtesy of Paris Eiffel Tower News and Monument Paris
Welcome to Paris! This page was designed especially for you who may visit Paris for the first time. The idea is to give you advices to acquaint you with the City of Light, and help you prepare for this exciting trip. Read on!

Prepare well for a stroll
Once you have settled down in your comfortable hotel room and are getting ready to take your first stroll, take some time to dress appropriately.

First, put on a really good pair of walking shoes to feel comfortable in the Parisian streets. Walking in Paris means stopping often to look at amazing details and buildings. This constant stop-and-go will wear you down if you aren't comfy in your shoes.

Visiting the Eiffel Tower means waiting often over 30 minutes to gain access to the ticket booth, then waiting some more for the elevator on the way up, and waiting some more for the elevator on the way down. So to your feet, a pair of good shoes will make a big difference!

Parisian weather is fickle in springtime and during fall: what starts out as a great clear day can turn rainy and chilly in the afternoon. Pack a sweater and a rain breaker if you are visiting during these seasons. Summer is usually fine (70-85°F), August is generally hotter (80-95°F). Winter is rainy and cold, almost as cold as in NYC.

In any case, take your umbrella along, it may become your best friend -- especially if you intend to take pictures of everything. Rain and camera lenses don't like each other.

Street-savvy tips
Now that you're dressed and all ready to venture outside, here are a couple of useful tips:

Avoid taking a taxi during the day, and notably in the morning until 11:00, and in the late afternoon from 4:00 to 8:00. Streets are jam-packed during those periods, and seeing the meter run while you're a sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic is a disheartening experience.

Taxi fares: taxi meters show your fare and one of three letters: A, B, or C. If you are within Paris and on the ring outside Paris (the peripheral boulevard), the A rate applies from 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM, and the B rate turns on from 8:00 PM till 6:00 AM. When you leave Paris intra-muros, the driver will turn on the B rate during the day and the C rate from 8:00 PM. If you are far from Paris, the C rate always applies. You will pay extra for every luggage you load in the trunk and if you take the cab from an airport. Don't try to hail a cab in the street too close to a train station: taxi drivers can't load passengers within a 100-meter radius from the train stations. Go to the station taxi head instead, or further away from the station.

French people do lunch between 12:00 and 1:30 PM, and dinner between 7:30 and 10:00 PM. If you wish to avoid the crowd, lunch at 12:00 tops and dine out from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. Restaurants rarely serve between 2:00 and 6:00 PM.

Having a drink at the terasse of a sidewalk cafe is a necessary experience in Paris (skip it between November and March though,except if weather permits). However, terasse drinks are often charged premium prices.

Although they are saddled with a reputation, cafe waiters are not necessarily rude: they're just in a hurry. So don't take offense if they are impatient with you. Smile and show them what you want on the menu. They won't return the smile, but you will get your order quickly.

In Parisian restaurants, it is not customary for your waiter to come back to you once you are served to see if everything is allright: they assume this is the case. So don't feel you are ignored: just call the waiter when you wish to have your bread basket replenished. If you dine out at an expensive restaurant, waiters will tend your table diligently. Otherwise, it won't be the case.

Gratuity: your restaurant/cafe check already includes a 15% gratuity. If you feel like giving an extra tip to your cafe waiter, leave EUR 1 ($.97) on the table. In a restaurant, you may leave EUR 3-5 ($2.7-4.5, more if you are in an expensive place) but again, that's not expected in either case. Your credit card receipt won't show any gratuity line.
Armed with these few basic advices, you are ready to conquer the asphalt. On to places to visit!

Paris monuments and hallmarks
Paris Eiffel Tower News and Monument Paris

Parisian Weather

Check what you should be wearing for the weather in Paris everyday.
Paris's weather can change frequently from day to day. Since just knowing the temperature doesn't let you know what to actually pack in your suitcase, the Cahier de Paris staff living in Paris record what garments they're wearing each day in the "Stylish Meteor", a weather calendar designed to perfectly help with this issue. Study up on the "Stylish Meteor", and you'll be able to pack efficiently!