Paris
Notre Dame cathedral, on the Île de la Cité
More Photos of Notre Dame cathedral
Paris’s monumental architecture, dating from throughout its long history, reflects the city’s political and cultural status. Among the most important older constructions are the Cathedral of Notre Dame, on the Île de la Cité, which was begun in 1163; the nearby Sainte-Chapelle, a magnificent 13th-century Gothic structure; the Louvre, once a royal palace; the Invalides, built as a soldiers’ home by Louis XIV and now housing Napoleon’s tomb; and the Place de la Concorde, laid out in the 18th century.
ècole militare
(Eiffel tower in the background)
ècole militare
Invalides
(contains Napoleon’s tomb)
Obelisk on the Place de la Concorde
the obelisk
Place de la Concorde
During the mid-19th century Paris was redesigned under the direction of Baron Georges Haussmann, and several grandiose projects were undertaken to emphasize the city’s significance. The Arc de Triomphe, the Opéra, the Place de l’Opéra, the Place de l’Étoile (now Place Charles de Gaulle), and many of the broad avenues with their imposing perspectives date from this time.
Arc de Triomphe
in 1957
the Eternal flame in the Arc
Arc de Triomphe Photos from 2006
lighting the gas street lights (1957)
church on Rue de Saint Lazare
Madeleine church
the Opéra
Among the city’s better known thoroughfares are the Rue de Rivoli, Rue de la Paix, Rue de Faubourg-Saint Honoré, Avenue de l’Opéra, Boulevard des Italiens, Boulevard du Montparnasse, and the Champs Élysées.
the Eiffel Tower
Toward the end of the century, the Eiffel Tower was built for the Paris World’s Fair of 1889; it is now the city’s most famous symbol.
Chaillot Palace
the Eiffel Tower (2006)
the newer skyscraper in Paris
Basilica of Sacré Coeur
The Basilica of Sacré Coeur, on the summit of Montmartre, was completed in 1910. Other important buildings include the Palais de Chaillot, Palais Royal, Palais de l’Élysée (now the official residence of the president of France), Palais Bourbon (the meeting place of the Chamber of Deputies), the Palais de Justice, and the Pantheon.
city government
Grand Palace, exhibition hall
on the Seine (2006)
All of the classic monuments of Paris, and indeed the entire city, have a surprisingly clean and fresh look, thanks to the rediscovery and enforcement, in the 1960s, of an old ordinance requiring all buildings to be cleaned periodically.
Text from Microsoft Encarta
artist quarter of Montmartre
same location 2006
windmill on Montmartre
carousel in front of stairs leading to Montmartre and Sacré Coeur
wine storage sheds in Bercy
the pride of France, the TGV
the Concorde, part of its past pride
a great leader, honored in Paris
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