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10 Must See Places in Paris – No. 3 – Notre Dame

admin — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:27:00 +0000

No.3 In our Top 10 Places to Visit in Paris

Notre Dame

3. Notre Dame

Metro: Cité or St. Michel Bus: Les Cars Rouges & Open Tour bus. Official Website: Cathedraledeparis.com
One of the best loved sights in Paris, immortalised by Victor Hugo in his novel Notre Dame de Paris
Pope Alexander III laid the first stone in 1163, starting the 170 construction project by armies of Gothic and Medieval Craftsmen.
Notre Dame is nearly always busy but fortunately the flow through the Cathedral is generally steady and therefore the queues are kept at a managable length.

It is possible to ascend the twin towers which are so imposing on your approach to Notre Dame, although this can mean queuing for 20 mins to 1 hour depending on the time of year and day that you visit.
The view from the top is spectacular giving you a view over the square at the fron of the Cathederal, the River and great views of the statues on the roof of the main building.

Notre Dame Rose Window

Inside the view is equally as impressive, in particular the North and South Rose Windows are worth special mention, they’re about halfway down the length of the main building and are an impressive 13 mtrs in height.
Opening times: 8 am – 6.45 pm daily, towers – 9.30 am – 5.30pm (Winter) 6.00 pm (Summer). The Cathedral is free although there is a small charge for the Towers.

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10 Must See Places in Paris – No. 1 – Le Tour Eiffel (Eiffel Tower)

admin — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:03:40 +0000

A trip to Paris isn’t complete until you’ve seen the Sights.

In the next few posts, I’ll tell you about the top 10 that you won’t want to miss, we’ll explore them in greater depth in future posts.

No.1 In our Top 10 Places to Visit in Paris

1. Le Tour Eiffel

Eiffel Tower

Metro: Bir Hakiem RER: Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel Official Website: Tour Eiffel

Think of Paris and you’ll almost certainly think of the Eiffel Tower.

This is probably the busiest attraction in Paris so my advice is to get there early and beat the crowds. Generally out of season (Oct – Apr) if you arrive before 10.30 a.m., you’ll be alright. The best plan is to head straight to the 3rd floor (Troisieme Etage) and work your way back down.

In season, you really need to arrive at 9.00 and be prepared to wait in line until the Tower Opens. Again, head straight to the top as the queues for the vertical lift from the 2nd to the 3rd floors can be horrific!

The third floor is 276 metres above ground, so weather conditions can be extreme compared to ground level. If it’s cold on the ground it will be very cold at the top, if there’s a breeze at ground level, it will likely be stronger at the top, so dress accordingly and enjoy.

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