The Paris Pantheon, modeled on its counterpart in Rome, is in the Latin District of Paris. Originally built as a church, the Pantheon is also the resting place of Marie Curie, Voltaire, Rousseau, Emile Zola, and Victor Hugo. It is looking clean and impressive after undergoing extensive restoration a few years ago. This post contains…
The ageless beauty of Sainte-Chapelle, in the heart of Paris, amazes all who enter here, but it is easy to miss. From the outside, this chapel that dates from 1248 is unimpressive. Its neighbor Notre Dame is only a couple of blocks away and seems to get all the attention. But don’t let the exterior…
Paris has so many must-see places, and here’s one you may not have heard about to add to your list: The Conciergerie. Where is this? And what is it? All I knew going into the building was that Marie Antoinette spent her final days imprisoned here. A fascinating tour taught me more about this centuries-old…
Shakespeare and Company is a delightful bookstore tucked into a street that borders the Seine in Paris, right across from Notre-Dame. Modeled on its namesake opened in 1919 close by in Paris, this store began in 1951. The building was originally a monastery that dates back to the early 1600s. This post contains affiliate links….
Highlights of the Marais area of Paris include a park where locals head for relaxation, homes of the famous, a world-class museum, and high-end shopping. This area of Paris, which includes the 3rd and 4th arrondissements of the city, was built on marshland (“marais” means marsh) in the 1100s. Here are some highlights of a…
The Palace of Versailles, first a home of French sovereigns and later a museum, is well worth a visit if you are near Paris. King Louis XIV set up his government and court at Versailles in 1682. Louis XV and Louis XVI ruled from this palace until the French Revolution in 1789 forced royalty to…
Biking in Versailles is not only enjoyable but also a great way to cover ground at the massive palace. Versailles is known for the palace that housed kings and queens and hosted the treaty negotiations at the end of WWI. Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI lived here until their arrest and early deaths. The palace…
The Opera de Paris is a glittering, elegant theater in the heart of the city. Also known as the Palais Garnier, the opera house opened in 1875 after being built at the request of Napoleon III. Architect Charles Garnier used a bold design that mirrored the flamboyant tastes of patrons of the arts. Today, the…
Impressionist painter Claude Monet chose a little town near Vernon, a small village in the country outside of Paris, as his residence in 1883. Here at his home in Giverny, the gardens would become the subject of many of his great works. And you can visit these gardens today, planting yourself in essence in the…
Luxembourg Gardens definitely ranks as a highlight of a visit to Paris. If you go early in the day you’ll find yourself among joggers and rollerbladers and local families. If you visit only one of the beautiful gardens in Paris, I would put this at the top of the list. Here are five reasons you…