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There are two opera houses in Paris, and the newest one known as
the Opera Bastille was actually meant to take the
place of the original and historical Palais Garnier,
but they are now both still running and host the Op?ra National de Paris. There are
also many different rock venues in Paris that play host to a large number of international
performers such as the incredible Stade de France
that is an impressive stadium utilised for sporting events and concerts. Of course,
when it comes to entertainment in Paris this
vibrant city is also popular for its many dance clubs, nightclubs such as Stringfellows or Club Med, and cabaret shows such as The Lido and the Moulin Rouge, which has become famous throughout the
world for its can-can and glamorous yet risqu? dancing and choreographed routines.
Of course, anyone visiting Paris for the first time will want to visit the famous
monuments and attractions such as the most well known of all, the Eiffel Tower, then there is the Arc de Triomphe with the eternal flame, the
incredible architecture of Notre Dame Cathedral
with the Tower Visit if you are up to a climb of over 400 steps! Perhaps you would
prefer taking a stroll along the Avenue de
Champs-Elysees with all its glitz and glamour, or visiting the Place de la Concorde, the largest square in
Paris and home to the oldest monument in Paris, the Luxor Obelisk.
There are so many historical attractions in Paris such as the Bastille Square, which was the original site
of the Bastille Prison, the largest mosque
in France that was dedicated to the French-Arab community that died during the First World
War, plus the Conciergerie, which was
originally a palace that became the oldest prison in France and is the place where
Marie-Antionette was held before her beheading.
Yet there are also some more recent Paris landmarks
that attract millions of visitors each year, such as La Grande Arche in the business district of
La Defense to the West of Paris or The Center Nationale d'Art et de Culture Georges
Pompidou, also known as the Beaubourg or the Pompidou
Centre, which is a giant, futuristic arts centre located in the Beaubourg district of
Paris, the Cite de Sciences which is great
for the whole family that has a movie theatre called the G?ode, which was the first ever
in France plus outside in its last resting place is a decommissioned submarine called the l'Argonaute that you could also explore.
But we cannot forget about the fabulous museums in Paris
with popular ones such as The Louvre where you
can get to see the Mona Lisa painting, or the Musee
d'Orsay, yet there are so many unusual museums like the perfume museum called Mus?e de la Parfumerie Fragonard and the
Mus?e de la Poup?e doll museum or perhaps
you would rather see the home of Victor Hugo
who wrote the Hunchback of Notre Dame, or go exploring the sewers at the Musee des Egouts located on the Left Bank under Quai
d'Orsay, that there is something for anyone to enjoy.
Other attractions, perhaps on a more morbid side, are the Catacombs of Paris (its official title is "les
Carrieres de Paris") that are a famous burial place with its network of subterranean
tunnels and rooms yet again located underneath Paris and you can even go on an official
tour through the old quarries, or what about visiting the Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise, where you will find
numerous famous people like French singer Edith
Piaf and French writer Honore Balzac are
laid to rest.
On a more pleasant note, taking a stroll along the banks of the River
Seine in Paris will offer visitors an unforgettable experience, and by being able to
get to see the sights from a completely different perspective, perhaps having a meal on
one of the traditional Bateau Mouches
long-boats while cruising the Seine at the same time, will provide some unforgettable
memories, which can be even more memorable of an evening when all of the famous monuments
are lit up.
There are also numerous different festivals and events that are held in Paris every year,
which peak during the summer months and include open air jazz concerts, the famous Tour de
France that finishes on the Champs Elysees, Bastille day that commemorates the storming of
the Bastille and so many other different concerts, fairs and markets that there will
always be something for you to enjoy.
But after all that walking and visiting the tourist
attractions you may want to rest your feet at one of the many restaurants in Paris where you can try the
wonderful French cuisine. There are of course places to eat out in Paris for all budgets from the
luxurious Tour d'Argent and Jules Verne with their fabulous views through
to the Chez Papa chain, Le Repaire de Cartouche Bistro and le Soleil, or perhaps you need a late night
meal at the restaurant that has never closed in over 40 years called the Au Pied de Cochon.
However, there is not as much going on during the month of August when a lot of Paris
shuts down and you will find that many family owned restaurants and bistros in Paris shut for this month,
although you will find that the majority of 3 Star hotels upwards do stay open and many of
the smaller family run hotels in Paris
like the 1 star and 2 star hotels also stay open and there are often some great bargains
to be found, plus you can find companies like trivago.com that can help you.
But the city does make up a beach, yes you read correctly, a beach! Known as the Paris Plage, with activities such as volleyball,
trampolines, a floating swimming pool, deckchairs for sunbathing, free WiFi, etc it has
become a big hit for the stifling weather and great for a family day out in Paris.
Yet, for those of us who would like to get away from the hustle and bustle of the capital,
the Ile de France region becomes an ideal place, offering
a multitude of nature, history, art and culture, but all within easy reach of Paris and
only a short distance from the notorious Peripherie.
So instead of just a short cruise on the river
Seine going through Paris, did you realise that there are more than 500km of navigable
waterways to be discovered, as well as many more kilometres of footpaths and historic
sites along its beautiful rivers and canals, and whether you are on foot or aboard a boat
it is a fantastic, yet a tranquil way to experience more of the region around Paris and be
inspired.
But not far from Paris again in the Ile de France region, you will discover rich
picturesque countryside and forests all within a short distance of the periphery and it
boasts many chateaux and castles such as the Chateau de Versailles where you can even see equestrian shows from the Acad?mie du
Spectacle Equestre and Chateau de Chantilly,
with the Conde museum that is the only
museum in France to have three Raphael paintings bar The Louvre. There are also
three National Parks and four National Forests that allow you to get away from it all and
enjoy the natural beauty of France along with the slow pace of French country life and one
place that many of the Parisians escape to is Fontainebleau
with its beautiful forest that also has the historical castle called Royal Chateau de Fontainebleau.
So with its stunning scenery, idyllic towns, peace and tranquillity, along with the
abundant wildlife that await its visitors, it is the perfect setting for a drive in the
country, an invigorating walk or a typical French picnic in the open air.
And although Paris still tends to have that allure as a destination for lovers, there is
also an enormous amount to do for children of all ages and the adults that still have
those tendencies! Disneyland Paris
with all of its magic is obviously one of those destinations, along with Parc Asterix that has the largest wooden
roller coaster in Europe, but you could also have a day out at Sea Life Val d'Europe, which is the largest aquarium
in the region, or perhaps you would like to pick your wits against the only interactive
maze in the world and go to a wildlife safari park at the Chateau de Thoiry.
So from interesting and historic towns, to the centre of Paris, back out to the forests
and national parks, to the amusements and the
glitz and glamour of this vibrant city at night, or perhaps trying your luck at the horse
races with venues such as Longchamp that
also hold family days out known as the Dimanches au
Galop, Paris has something for everyone of all ages to enjoy. But just make sure
that you have allocated enough time to experience this incredible region of France and its
capital city Paris.
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