The main feeling you get from visiting Notre-Dame Cathedral (Notre-Dame de Paris) is “déjà vu”. Everyone who has been to Paris, feels obligated to get a picture with lancet arches, Gothic steeples, “rose” windows backgrounds or take a picture of himself at the background of H-shaped facade, where the author of the novel “Notre Dame” saw the first letter of his name – Hugo.

Notre Dame de Paris – view from the Seine river

By the beginning of new millennium the Cathedral, blackened by urban smog, has been thoroughly cleaned, and the fronts still look unusually white. Despite of the crowds of tourists Notre Dame is a current cathedral, on Sundays masses take place (four in the morning and one in the evening), and sometimes magnificent wedding ceremonies are arranged here.

The great French novelist Victor Hugo was inspired by the Notre Dame Cathedral

find more

In the very heart of Paris one can find two small natural islands in the Seine River – Île de la Cité where Notre Dame de Paris is situated, and Île Saint-Louis (named by Saint Louis). They can be easily found both from the Left Bank and the Right Bank. You can come here any time of the day or night when you first get to Paris. Though you will still have to get back in the morning – because of the Conciergerie (La Conciergerie), the Sainte-Chapelle or “The Holy Chapel” (La Sainte-Chapelle) and Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Île Saint-Louis and Île de la Cité – a bird’s-eye view

find more

Paris is a circle of boulevards, spiral of districts, rays of avenues and elegant squiggles of bunders on the map. There are many borders: administrative, topographic, symbolic. Topographic borders align with a ring of so-called “boulevards of marshals” (boulevards des marechaux) that have names of Napoleon’s military commanders – Ney, Davout, McDonald, Masséna. Around this ring that passes through the line of municipal frontiers of XIX century; almost joining to it, boulevards peripheriques by-passing highway is situated. The Seine is flowing from east to west smoothly bending that is thruway, symbolic border and the symbol by itself: the ship is represented on the emblem of Paris. The Cité island (Ile de la Cité) divides cradle of Paris into two branches. There is smaller island near it that is called the Île Saint-Louis, one of the most romantic old places in the city. Tourists that come to the main and the most Parisian cathedral, Notre Dame de Paris, prevail on the Cité. They walk and taste famous local ice-cream Bertillon on Saint-Louis. Two banks of the river are different: the Left bank (Rive gauche) is quite differs from the Right bank (Rive droite). The spirit of the Left bank is defined by Notre Dame School. School became Sorbonne; Latin district appeared around Sorbonne – students, youth, artists, musicians, professors, poets. Traditionally Latin bank considered being artistic and bohemian, and Right bank is administrative and business.

find more

Every sixth habitant of Paris is a foreigner. Only more than 300 thousands of them settled on legal bases within peripherique (ring road). It is almost impossible to count illegal immigrants and those, who were able to get rid of foreign status. Africans, Chinese, Russians, Japanese, Greeks, Armenians, Portuguese, British, Indians and Brazilians were living and are living here.

Arab mosque, Russian Orthodox Church, Japanese pagoda, Irish pub and Chinese supermarket are neighboring with frontispieces of Paris designed by Haussmann. Charles Aznavour’s family is from Armenia. The best caviar in the city is in Petrossian shops. Beginning with 1920 th Polish bookshop opened on the Boulevard Saint-Germain. Parisian Greeks feed tourists and students with shawarma in the Saint-Séverin Quarter. Parisian Portuguese guard porches as concierges. But for the first time they appeared long ago: the best friend of Rabelais and Montaigne was Antonio Gouveia vice-chancellor of Saint-Barb College. Latin American cabaret and clubs are always full of people. At different times from Romania to Paris have moved countess Anna de Noailles, writer Mircea Eliade, sculptor Brîncusi who is now called Brâncusi after the mode of France . Russian writer Andreï Makine has got prestigious Goncourt Reward (Prix Goncourt). Czech Milan Kundera writes novels in French. Everything has mixed and became Parisian.

find more

How do you think, where the most attended place in Paris is? Doubtless, it is the 1st district where the gorgeous Louvre Museum stretches out its ancient estate. This is the biggest treasure house of art with permanent giant crowd in front of one of the most famous woman of the past the Mona Lisa.

Besides Louvre 1st district is popular by the Tuileries Gardens. It is one of the most romantic green corners of the whole Paris. 63 acres of verdure, pretty benches, fairy ponds, relaxing people, park amusement and, of course, two cozy galleries Jeu de Paume (contemporary art) and L’Orangerie. The latter one is an exhibition of art works of 1870-1930 that also has two of Monet’s Waterlilies paintings which maestro presented to the museum himself. Moreover, from this garden you can have a way to the river Seine and Place de la Concorde.

By the way, about Place de la Concorde. This square is very popular between both native Parisian and foreigners due to its dark past, Egyptian obelisk, marble statues of French towns, Ferris wheel and beautiful fountains.

In the heart of Paris you can also visit Palais Royal that stays royal residence, theater and a training ground for extreme sportsmen at the same time.

Living in 1st district you have a great opportunity to walk across two main bridges Pont Neuf and Pont des Arts. And if the first one is the most ancient, the second is known as romantic place where you can spend lovely dinner, enjoying music, boats, the Seine and passengers.
Another worth visiting place is Place Vendôme that is the concentration of the luxury and jewellery world in Paris with Forum des Halles and lots of boutiques and unusual design shops, as instant, the stamp collectors market on Avenue de Marigny.

This district had its name La Bourse from stock exchange. This area isn’t well known among tourist, may be because of its the smallest size in this megalopolis. You won’t find anything truly famous here. But nevertheless, it is an important business district with prosperous financial and banking sectors and textile industry, as well.

What shall you see if you find yourself here? Well, the first thing you should get into account is marvelous architecture. Then try to find the National Library, Place des Victoires and the Avenue de L’Opéra with the Opéra Garnier at the end of it. Seemed rather non-tourist, this place can be discovered as one of your favorite one due to the atmosphere of ancient town.

This district is perhaps one of the most energetic. It is a location of 17th century structures and houses where once lived many world famous person. The most pleasant place in the area is Place des Vosges that is only a part of a giant ensemble of thirty six Rennaissance palaces. There are fountains and statues, beautiful architecture, big park area. By the way, it is the oldest Paris square where in previous days you could see Victor Hugo or Madame de Sevigné walking.

Going from the palaces it’d better to visit the National Picasso Museum and the Carnavalet. The latter is dedicated to the history of the city and contains some of the greatest collections of art.
The biggest part of the vicinity is taken by celebrity Le Marais that spreads also across the 4th district. This quarter has a very long history but today it is a major Jewish community centre in Paris.

There are the synagogues, Jewish restaurants with kosher food, bookshops and other national features. A little bit to the North of the district you will see Paris’s gay village with cafés, bars, shopping. And of course, Passage du Grand Cerf that is known by its best flea markets in the whole city.

4th district seems to be especially amazing because of the wide canal system and beautiful sceneries from the right bank of the Seine. Also, this arrondissment should be surely included into every tourist route due to the number of sights.

First of all, it is Hôtel-de-Ville. This building has been the house for Paris administration since 1357. But the whole structure was damaged into a fire of Paris Commune. Today, besides the restored facade, beautiful square behind it and some theme sculptures in the yard, you can see a department store called Hôtel de Ville, the Rue de Rivoli, the St-Gervais Church on the left side of the building and Bazar de Hôtel de Ville nearby.

The second sight will be the Centre Pompidou which is notable mainly by its unusual modern style. And the third one is Place de la Bastille that is a place of crossing more than ten streets and avenues. And, don’t forget to have a look at the Colonne de Juilllet which was established in commemoration of July Revolution in 1830.

Also we advise you to visit some old Paris areas like the Ile St. Louis and the Ile de la Cité that are considered to be the place where Paris was appeared. By the way, the amateurs of celebrity musical may drop at the most famous cathedral in the world Notre Dame Cathedral.

From historical point of view, this district is famous for Natural History Museum and giant cemetery called Panthéon. This is the place where many graves of outstanding Parisians are. You will find the resting places of Voltaire, Monnet, Dumas, Rousseau, Soufflot, Hugo and Zola etc.

But from cultural point of view the main spot in this district is the Quartier Latin. This name originated from Latin students who had studied in Sorbonne University and lived in this area. Quartier Latin has its own specific atmosphere of separate town inside a big one and various alternative trends of local youth. Visiting this place you will find one amazing side street the Boulevard Saint Germain where there are many small cafés fulled by progressive students, peculiar persons and impressed tourists. Being in this district surely visit collector’s stalls at the Quai de Montebello and fascinating Rue Galande where you will hear real street-jazz, will see unusual painted houses and will be in Caveau des Oubliettes pub with working guillotine.

Actually, 6th district is called Luxembourg. But this information isn’t wide known, so everybody calls it Saint-Germain, charming Saint-Germain. This is an amazing location of holiday and weekend life.

Narrow streets hide many modern art galleries, various shops, cafés and restaurants. Here you will find typical fountain at Place Saint Sulpice and outstanding designer flea market nearby, that certainly change your attitude to such phenomena of many European cities.
What is more, Saint-Germain is popular by its 17th century’s buildings like the French Senate, the Luxembourg Palace and the magnificent Luxembourg Gardens around. You can feel majestic beauty, dignity and centuries-old history in every part of this old quite edifices that hold memories about some generations.

But the most important spots here are intellect’s cafés (Café de Flore, Cafe Lex Deux Magots ). Don’t think that waiters offer you to answer some difficult questions to get a cup of tea. These cafés are named this way because once world-known people as Hemingway, Sartre, Picasso liked to be there, having drinks and discussing their ideas.