Highlights

The Louvre

After important renovation works decided by French President François Mitterrand in 1981 and the construction of the famous glass pyramid by I.M. Pei creating the new main entrance, the Louvre has proceeded to a full reorganisation of its collections gaining the status of one of the greatest art museum of the world.

Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris

The Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris dates back to 1163 but was not completed until 1345. It is one of the masterpieces of Gothic art in Western Europe. Its facade, the soaring Gothic ribbed vaulting, its huge light-filled interior and awe-inspiring stained glass windows are magnificent artistic achievements. The square in front of the Cathedral is called the Place du Parvis. In the center is a plaque from which all road distances in France are measured. Of course, this is the setting for Victor Hugo’s ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’.

Eiffel Tower

The worldwide symbol of Paris. It was built for the World Fair of 1889, held to commemorate the centenary of the French Revolution. Named after its designer, Gustave Eiffel, it stands 1050ft high and held the record as the world's tallest structure until 1930.

Montmartre

Montmartre was a small village covered with vineyards from Gallo-Roman times. Since the middle of the 19th century the “butte Montmartre” has been a place for walking and enjoyment. On the slopes were the taverns, eating-houses and the dance halls where the workers and the middle-class met on Sunday afternoons. Montmartre was the place to celebrate. This effervescent atmosphere in addition to the low cost of rents at that time attracted all the artists of Paris to Montmartre. The Sacre-Coeur was completed in 1910 and was built in remembrance of the Franco-Prussian war of 1870. It has a magnificent view across Paris.

Visit of the most spectacular and renowned historical sites of Paris as well as a few "special" spots:

The grand tour starts at the Opera Garnier, then onto place Vendôme (Ritz), avenue de l'Opéra, Comédie Fratçaise, Louvre (short stop), along the Seine to the Ile de la Cité (Stop), guided visit of the outside and inside of Notre-Dame before a well earned Coffee, Tea, or Capuccino Break.

We then drive through the Marais take a walking tour to discover the grand mansions and contemporary boutiques and a brief stop at Place des Vosges and then a quick glass of wine in the area before we stop for lunch in a typical bistro.

After lunch Church St Germain l'Auxerrois then we cross the Ile St Louis and take some photos on the bridge of the Fying buttresses of Notre-Dame.

We are now on the Left Bank and see the Val de Grace, Panthéon, Luxembourg Gardens, a guided visit of the Sainte Chapelle, St Sulpice Church, St Germain, Ecole Nationale des Beaux Arts. We continue along the Seine past the Orsay Museum, toward Place de la Concorde (stop for photos), Church La Madeleine, Champs Elysées, Grand Palais, Petit Palais, Alexandre III bridge, Rodin Museum, Les Invalides (stop for photos), Ecole Militaire, Eiffel Tower (stop for photos), Palais Chaillot, Arc de Triomphe and then a walking tour in Montmartre where you will visit Place du Tertre and Sacre Coeur and where we stop for tea and patisserie at the end of the afternoon.