Paris is an old city that has recently celebrated its 2,000th birthday. While there are no buildings that old in the city, its Old City is one of the most spectacular in the world. Today most of the classical parts of Paris are characterized by 19th architecture, but it also boasts some parts going back further. Paris used to have many river islands on the Seine River that slices through the city, but over time many have been joined to be mainland. Today there are two adjacent islands that form the center of historical Paris the Île de la Cité and the Île Saint-Louis. This is a large city and it's important to know some things to plan your trip to Paris.
7 Notre Dame Cathedral
The Île de la Cité is in the heart of the city and is the original point of the settlement of Paris. In Roman times it used to have a palace but today it is most famous for being the site of the incredible Notre Dame de Paris cathedral. Notre Dame's construction began back in the 10th century and was the site of the coronation of Napoleon as Emperor. This is one of France's most iconic and greatest landmarks and a must-see. Currently, however, it is closed due to extensive damage from the 2019 fire that gutted the building. It is set to reopen just before the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.
- Notre Dame: Closed To Fire Damage; Reopens 2024
6 The Sainte-Chapelle
The Sainte-Chapelle (literally "Holy Chapel") is another of the most famous as well as one of the oldest buildings of Paris. It was built in Gothic style and is situated within the medieval Palais de la Cité (the old residence of French Kings).
- Date Of Construction: 1238
Like Notre Dame it is also located on the Île de la Cité in the River Seine. It was built to house some of the holiest catholic relics. One of these was Jesus's Crown of Thorns. They were later moved to Notre Dame and since the fire in Notre Dame, they are in the museum of the Louvre. Unlike Notre Dame, the Sainte-Chapelle was secularised during the French Revolution and is now a museum.
- Notable For: The Most Extensive 13th Century Stained Glass Of The World
5 Le Louvre / Palais Royal
A short walk from Notre Dame is the Le Louvre, together with the Smithsonian Museums and London's Natural History and London Museum must be one of the most famous in the world. It was once Paris' second Royal Palace and now it is home to 38,000 artifacts of prehistory and innumerable artworks. Despite the Covid pandemic was still the world's most visited art museum in 2020. Perhaps its most notable exhibit is the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci.
- Record: Most Popular Museum In The World
4 Les Champs-Élysées
The Les Champs-Élysées is Paris's most touristic avenue (so travelers should be prepared for some large crowds of people). This avenue is famous for high-quality shopping. At the western end of the avenue is the Arc de Triomphe.
3 Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe is also one of Paris's most iconic landmarks. The monument is to honor those soldiers who fought and died in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. It has the names of various French victories and the generals inscribed on it. Additionally, it also commemorates the destructive World War I with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier underneath it (WWI was particularly devastating for France.).
- Date Designed: 1806
- Inspired By: Arch of Titus In Roman
2 Île Saint-Louis
The Île Saint-Louis is the other natural island in the heart of Paris. It is around 11 hectares in area and is connected to the mainland and to the other isle of Île Saint-Louis (that has Notre Dame Cathedral) by four different bridges. This whole island has been carefully planned and set out. The architecture on this isle and the surrounding area offer some of the best of Paris's architecture. This area is full of quaint restaurants and boutique shops.
- Île Saint-Louis: Great For Some Of Paris's Best Archtecture
1 Les Invalides
Les Invalides is a complex of buildings in the heart of Paris and contains museums and monuments all about the military history of France. This complex also contains some of Paris's oldest buildings. The Royal Chapel here is called the Dôme des Invalides and is the tallest church building in all of Paris. It no longer serves as a chapel but as a shrine to some of France's most notable military figures from history. Most notably the tomb of Napoleon is located here (Napoleon was exiled to St Helena in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean where he died, later his remains were returned to France).