Click on the pictures to get a bigger sized one


on this page I could have included tens of pictures of other structures, monuments etc.
that are part of Paris. But, this is a skyscraper site, and because of that I will limit myself to
a few very special monuments and/or pictures that give you a view on that particular monument
or place in Paris the way you haven't probably seen it before.

Above left: the cathedral of Notre-Dame, view of the west-façade and entrance.
The first stone of this majestic building was laid by Pope Alexander III in 1163;
the cathedral was completed 170 years later (1334). The monument is 69m/226f tall and 130m/426f long.
Just past the middle of the complex Notre-Dame has a spire of 90m/295f tall, which isn't visible on the picture.
This spire was added to the monument during a large restoration (1841-1864) by architect Viollet-le-Duc.
During the French Revolution (1789-1794), the cathedral was nearly destroyed.
Fortunately, it wasn't and it was here that Napoleon crowned himself Emperor of France (1804).
Notre-Dame is also known as the place where Victor Hugo's novel (1831) 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' is set.
These days, Notre-Dame is one of Paris' and France's most favourite tourist spots.
Above middle: another favourite tourist spot is L'Arc de Triomphe,
seen on this picture from one of the observatories of the Eiffel Tower.
Above right: L'Arc de Triomphe was built to commemorate Napoleon's victory
at the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805. Though started in 1806, L'Arc wasn't completed until 1836,
long after Napoleon's victories, defeats and death.
L'Arc de Triomphe not only remembers Austerlitz. All of Napoleon's victories are commemorated on the arch.
L'Arc de Triomphe is 50m/164f tall and has an observation deck on top.
This can be reached by going up 264 steps.
On a beautiful, sunny day, the view is great, with La Défense to its west, Le Champs Elysées
and further down that street, Le Louvre, to its east, and the Eiffel Tower to its southeast.


Above left: Hôtel des Invalides and Dôme des Invalides seen from the top of Tour Montparnasse.
The 105m/344f tall Dôme (Church) was built between 1677 and 1704, while the Hôtel was built
between 1671 and 1676, by order of Emperor Louis XIV.
The Hôtel used to be a 'rest-house' for wounded soldiers. Over 6,000 used to live here.
These days, only a handful still do.
In the Dôme, which is covered with real gold, Napoleon's monumental tomb can be found.
Above middle: view (from L'Arc de Triomphe) down Champs Elysées, with in the far distance Le Louvre.
Above right: close-up of Musée du Louvre, one of the world's most impressive museums, inside as well as outside.
Inside, the museum carries over 335,000 artefacts of cultural and historical wealth.
The most famous ones being Venus of Milo, the statue from the 2nd Century B.C.,
and the Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting (1506).
Napoleon opened the museum at the end of the 18th Century.
Until that time, it had been a fortress (built in 1190 ), and the home of French Kings.
In the 16th Century, the complex was re-built in Renaissance style.
On the picture, you can see the marvellous 1989 addition to the museum, the I.M. Pei designed pyramid.
This 21m/69f tall structure is the main-entrance to the museum.
Le Louvre is a must-see when you visit Paris.


Above: a wider view of Musée du Louvre.


To go back to page 1 of Paris click here

To go to a special page about the Eiffel Tower, click here


All pictures copyright (c) 2002 Patrick Beckers. All Rights Reserved.
Download of any pictures from this site without written consent is strictly prohibited, unless for personal use!
This personal use does NOT include using the pictures on other web sites.


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