Paris Long Weekend

Paris is the cosmopolitan capital of France and - with 2.2 million people living in zone 1 (Central Paris) and another 9.9 million people in the suburbs (la banlieue) - is one of the largest cities in Europe. Located in the north of the country on the river Seine, Paris has the reputation of being the most beautiful and romantic of all cities, brimming with historical associations and remaining vastly influential in the realms of culture, art, fashion, food and design. Dubbed the City of Light, it is among the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

Central Paris is officially divided into 20 districts called arrondissements, numbered from 1 to 20 in a clockwise spiral from the centre of town. Each arrondissement has its own unique character and selection of attractions for the traveler.

One of the best value and most convenient ways to see the sights of Paris is with the Paris Museum Pass (previously known as Carte Musées et Monuments), a pre-paid entry card that allows entry into over 70 museums and monuments around Paris. Those there are too many to list, highlights include: Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, Père-Lachaise Cemetery, the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay and the Picasso Museum.

"Take a breath of fresh air in the quiet Bois de Boulogne park, stroll down the ChampsElysees and the Place de l Etoile, go shopping at the Palais des Congres at Porte Maillot. The Residence Foch Hotel and its renovated, quiet and cosy rooms bring you the wonders of residential Paris.

Paris just wouldn't be Paris without the Eiffel Tower. Designed by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World Fair, at 300 meters (984 feet) it was then the world's tallest building. Not everyone was happy when it was first built; many considered it an eyesore and wanted it pulled down, but today it is one of the world's most visited monuments. The first and second floors can be reached using the stairs, and elevators take visitors to the magnificent view at the top.

Nearly 2.5 million visitors each year come to see the largest collection in the world of impressionist artwork, found in the splendid Musée d'Orsay. The building itself, called the Gare d'Orsay, was built for the World's Fair of 1900. During World War II, it was used to welcome freed prisoners. Once the train station (the Gare) fell into disuse and the adjacent hotel closed down in 1973, the building was threatened with demolition. However, it was decided to instead transform the building's function to house a collection of art from the second half of the 19th Century. It was inaugurated in 1986 under the governance of François Mitterand. The principal gallery of the ground floor, 138 meters long (453 feet) and 32 meters tall (105 feet), is a reminder of the building's history. Among the masterpieces in this gallery are the scandalous Enterrement à Ornans by Gustave Courbet and the Glaneuses by Jean-François Millet. Fans of impressionism should head directly up to the fifth floor, where works by the greatest masters of this genre are hung in galleries 29 to 48. In order of appearance, these include La Classe de danse by Degas, Still Lifes by Manet such as L'Asperge, Le Bal du Moulin de la Galette by Renoir, and La Gare Saint-Lazare, La Cathédrale de Rouen or the Nymphéas by Claude Monet. Works by Van Gogh in gallery 35 and Cézanne in 36 follow, the small galleries 37 and 38 contain pastels by Degas, and galleries 43-44 are devoted to Gauguin's paintings of Tahiti. Decorative arts are located a few flights down, worth visiting notably for the impressive collection of Art Nouveau. While on this floor, don't miss the terrasse Rodin, where L'Homme qui marche is located, and worth taking the time to appreciate. For a short rest to help absorb this astonishing collection, visit! the Café des Hauteurs on the third floor or the restaurant on the sixth floor. Also don't forget to check out the beautiful Hotel Le BelleChasse, which is walking distance from here. -Aurélie Pichard.

Established in 1900 for the Worlds Fair Exhibition, Grand Palais stores a great treasury of history within its boundaries. The beautiful structure has attracted many a tourist through the years and why not, the architecture is breathtaking. The glass ceiling and walls allow a flood of natural light to immerse the objects within. There's a lot for you to explore here: Nef du Grand Palais, Palais de la découverte and Galeries nationales du Grand Palais.

This museum is a historic monument situated in the heart of Paris. It was constructed for the Universal Exposition in 1900 to showcase the city's most prominent art from that time. It was recently remodeled, and now Petit Palais presents a stunning collection of artifacts, manuscripts, sculpture, paintings, and more. After perusing the galleries, make sure to take a break at the verdant interior garden, or stop in at the café-restaurant for a recharge.

Originally known as place Louis-XV, this square was created between 1755 and 1775 by the architect, Gabriel. Renamed Place de la Révolution in 1792, a guillotine was installed and 2800 executions took place including that of King Louis XVI. Louis-Philippe christened it Place de la Concorde in 1830. The Louqsor obelisk, a gift from the Viceroy of Egypt to King Charles X of France, has been standing in the center of the square since 1840. The eight statues representing France's largest cities and the two fountains were also added at this time. The square is home to one of Paris' most prestigious hotels, the Hôtel Crillon.

Stretching for two kilometers (one mile) and lined with trees, les Champs-Élysées has become the center for festivities and official parades. It is a magnet for tourists and for the multitudes who enjoy evenings spent strolling along the broad and picturesque avenue. The many cinemas, cafés, and restaurants tempt visitors to rest their legs for a few hours, tired from walking by the designer boutiques, banks, and embassies also situated in this chic neighborhood. The avenue was originally created in 1667 by André Le Nôtre, Louis XIV's gardener, in order to improve the view from the Jardin des Tuileries. The avenue was lenghtened at the end of the 18th Century, to run from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe.

The arch is a site of memories, current events and celebrations. The lists of the dead will move you. And the cars that drive around the monument will terrify you! Standing in a direct line between the Louvre and the Grande Arche de la Défense, the monument links the past with the present and offers amazing views. A truly impressive landmark, 50 meters (164 feet) high and 45 meters (147 feet) wide, Paris would not be Paris without it! Open daily from 10am.

Chef Guy Savoy and his self-named restaurant appropriately garner the finest of reviews for its famous French cuisine. The restrained decor only emphasizes the quality of the food. Renovated under architect Jean-Michel Willmote in 2000, the decor features noble raw materials like wood and leather to invite patrons to relax in a modern, yet warm atmosphere. The dishes have rustic accents, but embellish the finest ingredients used in French Haute Cuisine. Depending on the season, try the Pan-Fried Oysters and Scallops on a bed of Parsley Purée, or perhaps a Bouche of Fois Gras and Toast followed by Cream of Mushroom Soup with Chive Oil. For the main course, delight in such selections as Grilled Blue Lobster or the Steam-Baked Bresse Chicken Breast with lemongrass. Finish off the evening with a Fondant of Chocolate with Layered Praline and Chicory Cream.

Ironically Pont Neuf, which in English means "New Bridge" is one of the oldest bridges which stretches across the river Siene. Standing at the western point of the Îlele de la Cité—island of the city, the bridge connects the left and right banks of Paris. The bridge was officially inaugurated in 1607, by King Henry IV. The attraction and specialty of Pont Neuf is that, it was one of the first to have pavements. Parisians love to socialize and hang out here, and hence there is no doubt that the bridge is one of the most visited spots in the city.

Located in the center of the city within the Palais de Justice complex on the Île de la Cite, La Sainte Chapelle (Holy Chapel) is a small Gothic chapel constructed in the Rayonnant style. Built by King Louis IX from 1238-1244, the chapel housed holy relics from the Passion believed to be Jesus' Crown of Thorns and a piece of the True Cross. These items were purchased from the Byzantine emperor Baldwin II in 1239 for a huge sum of 135,000 livres (the church cost 40,000 livres to build) due to the King's desire to elevate France as the leader of Western Christianity. La Sainte Chapelle provides visitors with a spectacular visual experience, since the entire upper tier of the chapel is surrounded by enormous stained glass windows.

Built between 1764 and 1790, this impressive building was commissioned by King Louis XV in honor of Saint-Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris, who had cured him from a mysterious illness. It was completed just before the French Revolution, when it was changed from a church to a secular mausoleum for great men of France. Today, visitors admire this early example of Neoclassical architecture, the resting place of famous writers and philosophers such as Emile Zola, Victor Hugo, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire, the scientists Pierre and Marie Curie, and Andre Malraux, a minister under Charles de Gaulle. The architecture of the façade is recognizably inspired by the Roman Panthéon. The dome, 83 meters high (272 feet), resembles the dome of the St. Paul's Cathedral in London and that of the chapel at Invalides, also in Paris. The monument de! dicated to Diderot just before entering the crypt is particularly striking, decorated by magnificent frescoes of Saint-Genevieve.Open daily from 9.30am

It is located near the famous Sorbonne University and is one of the best examples of 15th-century architecture. The museum showcases armor, chests, ivories, mirrors and hangings which were gathered by Alexandre du Sommerard to portray the Medieval ages and the Renaissance. There is a whole room depicting the most amazing pieces of art from the 16th Century, such as Dutch tapestries full of flowers and birds, a woman spinning while a cat plays with the end of the thread and a pretty woman in her bath, overflowing into a duck pond. But the best exhibit is that of The Lady with the Unicorn tapestry, which features six inscrutable scenes of a beautiful woman flanked by a lion and a unicorn.

East meets West in this multi-purpose cultural center's eye-catching design. Retracing the history of the Arab people, this museum contains ancient manuscripts, exquisitely-made silk carpets, pottery and a wide range of utensils, as well as scientific and astronomical instruments dating from between 750 and 1258 CE. Temporary exhibitions, organized on a regular basis on the ground floor, are a showcase for contemporary paintings and sculptures that reflect the latest artistic movements currently in vogue in the Arab world. Information is provided in pamphlets and interactive videos.

This very small restaurant is the more modest and affordable version of chef Joël Robuchon's finest dining. You can expect carefully prepared dishes seasoned with the same innovative creativity. Must haves include Lamb Cutlets with Smoked Salmon or Pan-fried Asparagus with Comté Cheese. If that's not what you fancy, then try the scrumptious Braised Duckling and Caramelized Quail. There is also a wide selection of wines from California, Australia, Argentina, Spain and Italy. Apart from French cuisine, the chef also serves delicious sushi with crusty baguettes. The place fills up very quickly since it can only host up to 37 guests, so make sure to come early if you want to get in.

The Montparnasse cemetery stretches over 18 hectares (45 acres) and houses the tombs of several famous French people. Situated on the land of former farms, the site was chosen by Napoléon and the cemetery was created in 1824 (after Père-Lachaise and Montmartre). It is divided up by straight walkways, two of which demarcate the Grand and the Petit cimetière. People laid to rest here include Alfred Dreyfus (of the Dreyfus Affair), the author Guy de Maupassant, Jean Seberg (the actress who starred in À Bout de Souffle ((Breathless)) among others), the poet Baudelaire, the literary couple Sartre and de Beauvoir, Samuel Beckett and Serge Gainsbourg.