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Paris

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View of Eiffel Tower

Paris,France is the capital of France and is on the river Seine.Paris has a population of 2,203,317 as of 2006.





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[edit] Hotels and lodging

  • Hotel Les Rives De Notre Dame, 15 Quai Saint Michel, tel , fax +33(01)43262709, [1]
  • Hotel Astor Saint-Honoré, 11 Rue d'Astorg, fax +33 01.53050530, [2] : sandwiched in between Champs-Elysées and the Opera districts.
  • Grand Hotel Français, 223 Boulevard Voltaire - 75011 Paris, tel +33 1 43 71 27 57 fax +33 1 43 48 40 05, Hotel 11e arrondissement Paris : Grand Hotel Français Paris has existed for more than 100 years and it has been an ideal stop for those who wanted to have a great time in Paris. It is located near Bastille and the Père Lachaise district.
  • Grand Hotel Dore, 201 avenue Daumesnil , tel +33 1 43 43 66 89 fax +33 1 43 43 65 20, Hotel 12e arrondissement Paris : Grand Hotel Dore opened its doors at the beginning of the 20th century. It is one of those Parisian hotels of charm and character combining French tradition with a contemporary approach, which has always earned Paris its reputation. Managed by one of the oldest families in the hotel business, the Grand Hotel Dore has become a place where business travellers and tourists mingle with pleasure.
  • Hotel La Tour d'Auvergne, 10, rue de la Tour d'Auvergne, tel +33 1 48 78 61 60, Hotel Montmartre : A few steps away from Montmartre, rue des Martyrs, Opéra, and avenue Trudaine. This is a district where you can find authentic places, good restaurants, small cafés and bistros, nice shops and a true Parisian atmosphere.
  • Champs Elysées Plaza, 35, rue de Berri - 75008, tel +33 1 53 53 20 20, Hotel Champs Elysees : Rooms and suites with exceptional dimensions. Elegant and sophisticated, with high tech equipment and a comfort, they offer a unique mix of contemporary chic décor with ceiling moldings, marble fireplaces and large windows looking at two beautiful quiet streets, only two minutes from the "Avenue des Champs Elysees".
  • Hotel Gavarni, 5, rue Gavarni, 75116 Paris, tel +33 1 45 24 52 82, hotel Ecolabel : Located near the Eiffel Tower and the OECD and 10min. away from the Champs-Elysées, in the heart of the Passy village and its fashion boutiques, the hotel Gavarni is the first independent hotel in Paris to be rewarded with the European Ecolabel.
  • Hotel Apostrophe (Hôtel Poème)3, rue de Chevreuse (Métro: Vavin), ☎ +33 (0)1 56 54 31 31 (direction@apostrophe-hotel.com, fax: +33 1 43 21 01 08) Set between Montparnasse and the Jardin du Luxembourg public park, near Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the Apostrophe hotel offers you an atmosphere full of poetry.16 guest rooms equipped with all the modern comfort, jet showers with light or "Chromo" jacuzzi-bath, Audio CD & DVD player,complimentary WI FI access.Each room has its own decor and invites you in a unique setting. This is a gay friendly hotel.

[edit] Attractions

  • Musée du Louvre, Rue de Rivoli, Metro: Plais Royal-Louvre. A 21 metre high glass pyramid stands at the entrance to the Louvre. The museum is divided into eight sections: Ancient Oriental and Islamic, Ancient Egyptian, Roman-Greek Art, Picture Gallery with ten sub-sections, sculptures and designs. The museum is visited by an enormous number of people anxious to see the museum's three best known masterpieces, the Mona Lisa, Venus di Milo and Samotracia's Nike. The crowds and confusion can be very disturbing, it is advisable to choose a section or historical period and to concentrate exclusively upon it. The following sections are highly recommended: Egyptian, German and late-Gothic painters, Italian Renaissance painters, Flemish and French painters from the 18th Century.
  • Musée d'Orsay on the banks of the Seine, site of an old railway station, houses in its enormous construction of glass and steel, a collection of impressionist and post-impressionist French art, sculptures and paintings from the period 1840 to 1914, furniture, photographs and films.
    • The Déjeuner sur l'herbe and Le balcon by Manet, Moulin de la Galette and Déjeuner des canotiers by Renoir are not to be missed.
  • Notre Dame, Paris' cathedral, is a true Gothic work of art. The building, constructed between 1163 and 1345, can accommodate over 600 people. The three main entrances, each one different, are ornately decorated with statues to attract the attention of the people passing by. The interior is dominated by a spectacular rosary window and an organ with 7,800 pipes. Visitors can climb the north tower of the cathedral's west face to admire the gargoyles and a spectacular view over the city.
  • A visit to the sumptuous Palace and Gardens of Versailles represents one of the finest trips to be had in the surrounding area of Paris. The palace is easily reached by leaving Paris on the A13 to Rouen and then taking the D182 to Versailles Chateau. If travelling by train, catch the RER, line C to Versailles-Rive Gauche, then continue on to the palace. It was in 1668, on the orders of Louis XIV, that the Louis XIII villa was transformed into the largest palace in Europe.
    • The palace reflects the wishes of the King, who wanted to create a private pavilion in order to meet his lovers in secret. The gardens with their statues and fountains, can be visited on bicycle, which can be rented on site. The gardens house the Grand Canal, site of royal banquets complete with naval battles and the Orangery, a large greenhouse.
    • The State Apartments and the Gallery des Glaces were the site of elegant court celebrations. The building is 75 metres long, 12 metres high with 17 windows and 17 facing mirrors. It is possible to visit other areas of the palace with a guided tour.
  • L'Orangerie Museum - there are 8 L A R G E panels of water lilies painted by Monet. The panels are displayed in two oval shaped rooms (4 panels per room) and the lighting and gentle simplicity sets a peaceful tone to viewing these works.
  • Place des Vosges, which is an area of contrast (homeless and more chic), art galleries, etc. We went to the Picasso Museum in that area.
  • You should try out a night cruise dinner with Beateaux Parisians at River Seine. Enjoying a three course dinner, especially with the famous duck foie gras as starter and two bottles of wine, you will have a great night with your significant other in the nicely decorated boat. You will enjoy the great view along the river at night, beholding the renowned landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame with the music performance.
  • Check out the guide to all the plaques in Paris.

[edit] Shopping

There is a huge range of shops in Paris to suit any budget. For department stores, the largest on Boulevard Hausmann (RER Station Auber) are Galeries Lafayette and Printemps. There are other branches of these shops in other locations.

Many shops (small and large) do not open until 10am. Smaller shops close for lunch and many stay open until 19.00, with some having late-night openings, typically on Thursdays.

[edit] Maps and transportation

[edit] Getting to Paris

RATP [3] is the Parisian public transportation system; very useful to cruise in Paris.

[edit] Exploring Paris

[edit] Practical information and resources

  • Currency: Euro
  • Electric supply: 220 Volt, 50 Hertz
  • Climate: Spring is the best time to visit Paris. August is hot and muggy.
  • Opening hours:
    • Shops are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 7pm, Saturday from 9am to 8pm.
    • Post offices are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 7pm. Some post offices are open on Saturday mornings until midday. The central post office in Rue de Louvre 52, is open 24 hours a day.
    • The majority of the banks are open from Monday to Saturday from 9am to 4:30pm.

[edit] Restaurants

Lucas Carton is in the Place de la Madeleine It's delectable and they propose a lovely wine with each course. Go for lunch or an early dinner and plan on spending a couple hours in sumptuous gastronomic pleasure!!and very very expensive...

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[edit] Nightlife

The main magazines detailing the weekly activities in the city are the Pariscope and the Officiel des Spectacles. The magazines are printed on Wednesdays and detail what's on in Paris. The choice of club and discotheques is extensive and is able to satisfy the musical tastes of everyone.

[edit] Photo gallery

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WorldFlicks in Paris Visit Paris: photos of the highlights shown on map or satellite

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