Montmartre

This place used to be an old village that belongs to the city of Paris since 1860. Montmartre is located in the 18th district in the north of Paris, at 130 meters. It still looks like a pretty village with its small streets and shops.

To get there, you’ll have to climb stair treads, and then you’ll arrive to “la Basilique du Sacré Coeur”, the tallest monument in Paris behind the Eiffel tower. From this place you can enjoy one of the most beautiful panoramic views of the capital.

The “place du Tertre” is quite close to you, with its painters and drawers, its typical alleys and the Espace Dali, a museum dedicated to the works of the surrealist artist. Because at the beginning of the XXth century Montmartre has been an important artistic center in Paris. Famous artists like Picasso, Van Gogh or Modigliani, used to live in Montmartre.

Montmartre is also known for its theater and cabarets, with the legendary Chat Noir or Lapin Agile. Famous singers started in those places, for example Edith Piaf and Georges Brassens. In Lepic street (rue Lepic) you can see the wings of the only windmill in working condition of Paris, it was painted by Renoir, that’s what makes it famous.

But there is another famous windmill close, the Moulin Rouge ! In the district of Pigalle, popular for its many bars, theaters, nightclubs, and its sexy reputation.

Pigalle

Pigalle is a place entirely devoted to the pleasures of the fest, according to its reputation. This is in fact a place full of bars, nightclubs, cabarets and sex shops! Many famous artists used to have fun in Pigalle, like Josephine Baker, Duke Ellington, Ernest Hemingway or Pablo Picasso.

Le Dandy is a nightclub housed in a former brothel; it makes this place a remarkable testimony to the history of Pigalle.

Le Moulin Rouge is one of the most touristic places in Paris that everyone knows. But nowadays young people can party in La Machine du Moulin Rouge. It’s a huge nightclub, located under the Moulin Rouge, with 3 rooms, and usually some very good music.

There is many others famous concert hall, La Cigale, le Trianon, Le Divan du Monde, la Boule Noire, where you can see actual famous singer, bands or Dj’s.

If you are a bit naughty, there are many sex shop in Pigalle, the biggest one is the Sexodrome, you’ll find everything you need, and others things that you did not know they exist. You can also walk in the small streets, get into a bar and find some girls..

Pigalle has given his name to a brand “Pigalle”, very hipster, and wear by famous rapper around the world, like Asap Rocky, or Rihanna. Finally, Pigalle is the location of all vices, that is a part of the identity of Paris, and make it so beautiful.

The week-end is coming, and the classes are soon ending.

Friday

Notre-Dame de Paris

Have you ever read Notre Dame de Paris by Victor Hugo? No? Notre-Dame de Paris (simply named Notre-Dame, or in english, Our Lady of Paris) is one the most renowned churches in the world, and a “must see” of Paris. It was completed in 1345 and was built to crown European kings.

Staring at Notre-Dame and wondering how such a massive building might have been completed is quite an experience. But, compared to the inside, walking in the church, staring at the stained glass, and looking at the organ (over 7,370 pipes) is even more amazing. Notre-Dame is also known for its bells, each one having a name, and its gargoyles. Moreover, visiting the crypts might interest you. One reason is that in those crypts, Musée Carnavalet displays detailed scale models of the cathedral’s evolution.

The visit of Notre-Dame should last the morning. It is opened from 8 AM to 6.45 PM and the entrance is free.

Lunch

For lunch, there is an excellent open-air restaurant, “La Terrasse de Pomone”, near the Musée du Louvre, in the Jardin des Tuileries. It is quite calm, and you have a wonderful view on the Louvre Museum, which is the next stop of your trip.

Le Musée du Louvre

Have you ever read the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown? When Robert Langdon goes to the Louvre Museum? No? It does not really matter, because you will visit it. Before becoming a world-famous museum, the Louvre was a fortress. It was built at the end of the twelfth century, and has modified many times since. Moreover, before they moved to the Château de Versailles, the French government and court were located in this palace.

When you arrive at the Louvre, the first thing you might notice is that there is a glass pyramid. Yes, we Parisians, have a pyramid. You’re not really interested? OK. So let’s go under the pyramid (it is the museum entrance). When you finally get your ticket, just look up at the pyramid one last time, and you will see two other subterranean pyramids. You may now enter the museum. The Louvre has some masterpieces as the Mona Lisa. But there is 8 departments at the Louvre, each one having a theme: Egyptian Antiquities; Near Eastern Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities; Islamic Art; Sculpture; Decorative Arts; Paintings; Prints and Drawings. To see everything in the museum would take many days, so I advise you to choose yourself the departments you want to visit. One other interest of the Louvre is that there is a nocturnal opening the Friday.

The tickets are 12€ for adults, and is free for under 18. The museum is open from 9 AM to 9.45 PM the Friday, from 9 AM to 6 PM the week end.

Now that you have seen the court and government location before Louis XIV, let’s go to the next stop: the Chateau de Versailles (Versailles’ castle)

Saturday and Sunday

Versailles

It is worldwide known thanks to Louis XIV. It was originally a hunting lodge under Louis XIII, but Louis XIV wanting to demonstrate his own magnificence, he ordered Andre le Notre to expand it. From 1682 to the French revolution, it was the government and court location, which was primarly the Louvre Palace. It is now on the UNESCO’s world heritage list.

The Château de Versailles and its surrounding must be visited at least once in your life. Because of the huge size of the castle and the immense garden behind, I advised you take a whole week-end to visit.

Visiting the castle, you can look at the 60 beautiful pictures of Louis XIV painted of the roof of the Galerie des Glaces, or wonder how a such beautiful might have been built. Maybe would you rather imagine what how people where living during Louis XIV reign in the castle, walking in the apartment. But you may prefer to take a walk in the garden, to admire the trees, .

It will cost 18€ for a one day passport, 25€ for a 2-day passport. You may access to Versailles thanks to the RER C (Station Versailles Rive Gauche),using a SNCF train (Versailles Chantiers and Versailles Rive Droite) or taking the Versailles Express at the Eiffel Tower (2 derpartures/day: 8am and 2pm).

Other informations

Here are the websites of the monuments, if you need more informations:

http://www.notredamedeparis.fr/

http://www.louvre.fr/

http://www.chateauversailles.fr/

I hope you will have a great trip on Paris, and that you will come back in Paris after your studies.

A.G.

A perfect week in Paris

Tag Archives: Paris

Walk in the North of Paris