Paris is known as the City of Light and is famous for its art, architecture, and world-renowned landmarks. Some of the most notable sites include Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre museum, Arc de Triomphe, Sacré-Cœur basilica, and Champs-Élysées. The city is also home to beautiful parks, gardens, and former royal palaces like Versailles outside the city.

1. Paris, la Ville Lumière Capital of France Capital of fashion, art, technology and cuisine Nickname= city of light= knowledge Approx. 12 miles across

2. Notre Dame de Paris Name means “Our Lady”= Mary Located on Ile de la Cité Gothic cathedral pointy arches, gargoyles, stained glass, tall=600 feet Took 200 years to build during the middle ages Built to house the crown of thorns and cross Parvis= small plaque in front on sidewalk that measures all distances to and from Paris 2 front towers were left unfinished

3. La Sainte-Chapelle Small gothic cathedral Only took 20 years to build Home of the crown of thorns and portion of the cross Next door to Notre Dame Famous for stained glass windows Connected to Palais de Justice / Supreme Court

4. Sacré C œur Name means “Sacred heart” built to honor Catholics who were martyred on the hillside White basilica= domed church In Montmartre, district to north known for artists Located on Place du Tertre

5. La Madeleine White Greek-style temple On Rive Droite / Right Bank No windows Built by Louis XV Sculptures of the 10 commandments

6. Le Pont Neuf Name means “New Bridge” Oldest bridge in Paris - begun 1578 & finished 1607 Connects Ile de la Cité to the Rive Droite & the Rive Gauche

7. L’Arc de Triomphe Built by Napoleon Roman in style On Place de l’Etoile which was later renamed Place Charles de Gaulle, after the French President 12 avenues that radiate out form a Rond Point (traffic circle) Located at end of the Champs Elysées

8. L’Arc du Carrousel Built by Napoleon in 1800 Roman in style Resembles Arc de Triomphe, but smaller and has 3 arches 3 arches= liberty, equality and brotherhood Outside Louvre, marks entrance to Tuileries Gardens

9. La Grande Arche Built in 1989 for France’s bi-centennial Modern interpretation of the Arc de Triomphe Modern office building, “cubes” Located in La Défense district Has a strange bat-like tarp that hangs in the middle So large that Notre Dame would fit inside the arch!

10. La Tour Eiffel Built in 1889 for the Universal Expo + France’s centennial 3 étages (levels) Controversial- hate turned to love Has restaurants, movie theaters and shops Military post, satellite and weather station Located on the Champs de Mars which is on the Rive Gauche / left bank

11. Le Louvre Former royal palace Largest art museum in the world, through 1890 New entrance, glass pyramid Famous works include La Joconde = Mona Lisa; Winged Victory = Nike; Venus de Milo

12. La Joconde By Leonardo Da Vinci Italian painter brought to France by François I during the Renaissance Unknown woman with a strange glance

13. La Victoire de Samothrace Known as Nike, the Greek goddess of victory Nike adopted the swoosh and Just-do-it logo, after the Winged Goddess of Victory

14. La Vénus de Milo Famous Greek statue of the goddess Aphrodite Carved of marble about 100 BC Found in 1820 on the island of Milos

15. Le Palais de Chaillot 4 museums: science + mankind, Naval, and Cinematography Home of Einstein’s brain Shaped like two embracing arms Center area has a platform, excellent for viewing the Eiffel Tower

16. Le Musée Rodin Former hotel, turned art museum Ground and hotel used to display statues by Rodin Le Penseur (The Thinker) is a famous statue which greets you at the garden’s entrance

17. Musée d’Orsay Former train station Art museum which houses art from 1850-1920 Known for its Impressionist paintings

18. Claude Monet

19. Auguste Renoir

20. Vincent Van Gogh

21. Le Centre Pompidou Modern art museum Also known as Beaubourg, this district where it is located Renamed for the French President who was in charge of its development, Georges Pompidou

22. L’Hôtel des Invalides Former church First used by Louis XV to house wounded soldiers Napoleon also used it for his soldiers Contains military history museum and veteran’s center Napoleon is buried here

23. Champs Elysées Most famous street in Paris Begins at Place de la Concorde Ends at L’Arc de Triomphe Up-hill, tree-lined All parades and political events happen here

24. Place de la Concorde Square outside the Louvre Former site of the guillotine Today the Obelisk de Luxor, a gift from Eygpt, stands there

25. Le Jardin des Tuileries Garden outside the Louvre The Tuileries wing of the Louvre burned; all that remains are the gardens Kings of France used to stroll here Fountains used for toy boat races

26. La Cimetière Père LaChaise Famous cemetery Eternal resting place for many famous singers and actors Jim Morrison, Edie Piaf, Charles Balzac, Chopin, Toulouse-Lautrec, Marcel Proust

27. Le Jardin du Luxembourg Gardens and home of the French Senate On the Rive Gauche, left bank Cinquième arrondissement, 5 th In the Latin Quarter Near the Sorbonne University

28. La Conciergerie Former Prison for the elite, aristocracy Marie Antoinette was held here Dungeons and torture chambers, Oubliettes, and Leper Colony Today - museum and concert hall

29. La Bastille Former prison that was stormed and destroyed at the outset of the French Revolution July 14, 1789 Prison and armory

30. L’Hôtel de Ville Municipal building that houses city administrative offices Almost destroyed by fire in 1871, most of the building had to be rebuilt

31. L’Opèra Home of the French ballet Inspired the story Phantom of the Opera, famous staircase, chandelier, and river beneath the building On Place de la Bastille

32. La Sorbonne Oldest university in France On Rive Gauche, cinquième arrondissement In Latin Quarter, as all classes were taught in Latin

33. L’Odéon Theater built especially for Marie Antoinette Still used today for concerts and other productions

34. Le Moulin Rouge Name means “Red Mill” Trademark is the red windmill located on the roof Famous nightclub, shows Can-Can Dance Located in Montmartre, on Place Pigalle

35. Le Château Versailles Little hunting cabin in the woods, became the largest, most lavish home in the world “ built” by Louis XIV to lure nobles out of Paris so that the King could rule without interference About 12 miles south of Paris It was rebuilt several times since the 17th century

36. Le Château Fontainebleau Famous castle near Paris Famous for its horse-shoe shaped staircase Many movies have been filmed here

37. Giverney Monet’s home and gardens Water lilies and Japanese gardens served as a source of artistic inspiration About 30 minutes north of Paris

38. Malmaison Famous castle near Paris Home to Napoleon, as Versailles was in ruins and France was not able to afford to restore it.