Top 60 Things To Do In Paris, France
What to do in Paris?
51 Fontaine des Innocents
The Fontaine des Innocents (Fountain of the Innocents) is named
after the church cemetery "Église des Innocents"
which was named after the innocent children killed in Judea by Herodes.
The fountain is adorned with nymphs, angels and naked, plump little
boys with wings. The fountain was designed by prominent Renaissance
architect Pierre Lescot. Pierre spent most of his life working on
the Louvre. The fountain was created between 1546 and 1549 making
it over 450 years old and it is the last remaining Renaissance fountain
in Paris.
In 1788 the Église des Innocents and its cemetery were
to be replaced by a market. The fountain was relocated to the Square
des Innocents. A fourth side was added to the fountain by Augustine
Pajou. This was necessary as there were originally only three sides
because the fountain was set against a wall.
The Fontaine des Innocents was renovated in 1856 adding the water
basins at its base.
52 (45) Parc André Citroën
The popular formal 14 hectare (35-acre) park is named after the
old french automobile manufacturer Citroen . The park is situated
on the site of Citroen's old factory.
The park's main attraction is its attractive greenhouse pavilions.
The fountains are also popular with children and adults alike.
Parc André Citroën presides on the banks of the River
Seine. The design is based around artifice, architecture, movement
and nature.
53 (67) Bibliothèque Nationale de France
Bibliothèque Nationale de France contains the treasures
of France’s literary world. Built in 1996 the glittering new
library is quite futuristic in design which is interesting when
you consider its main function is becoming redundant.
54 (69) Hôtel de Ville (City Hall)
Built in 1882 the Hôtel de Ville is Paris's city hall by
a death square. The building has hundreds of statues representing
famous Parisians and thirty statues representing French cities.
If you look around the clock at the central tower you'll find some
feminine looking sculptures representing the River Seine, Paris,
'Work' and 'Education' . The guy statues were out smoking cigars
and drinking brandy :)
Tread the large staircase, gawp at the long Salle des Fêtes
(ballroom), enjoy the painted walls, the stained glass windows and
get a stiff neck looking up at the chandeliers and decorated ceiling.
The square (Place de Greve) is of bloody interest as most of the
executions in Paris took place here. Beheading, quartering, cooked
alive or burned at the stake. These were gruesome times. In 1792
a more civilised (?) process was a adopted for the French Revolution.
La guillotine. The executions were given the chop in 1830 and Place
de Greve was renamed Place de l'Hôtel de Ville. Maybe they
should have called it Red Square.
55 (25) Place de la Bastille
The Place de la Bastille (Bastille Square) was where the French
Revolution was born. The Square's original function was that of
a fort to protect Paris from the infidel English. Place de la Bastille
was completed in 1382.
Place de la Bastille had four meter wide walls and eight 22m (72ft)
high towers yet it was successfully stormed and subsequently destroyed
by revolutionaries. The original outline of the fort is marked out
by special paving stones covering the Square. In the centre of the
Place de la Bastille is a 50m column in memory of the victims of
the 1830 and 1848 revolutions. Some of fortress remains can be found
in a nearby park.
Behind the ex-fort you’ll find a marina for pleasure boats
and further south, the Canal Saint Martin.
56 (29) Montmartre
The heart of Montmartre is Place du Tetre, full of 'quick-draw'
artists. A great spot to see art in the making – quickly.
57 Palmier Fountain
The large Palmier Fountain holds court over the Place du Châtelet,
an historic square in the middle of Paris. The Palmier Fountain
was built in 1808 to commemorate Napoleon’s numerous lets-get-out-there-and-meet
people exploits.
58 St. James Tower (Tour St-Jacques) and Pascal
Dating back to the 16th century the tower is all that remains of
a butchers church (Saint-Jacques-la-Boucherie). Yes, no kidding,
wealthy French butchers had their own church.
59 (18) Museum of Eroticism
Entertaining and funny. Include in your plans to lighten-up your
stay. You are on holiday after all.
Have some fun and bring your camera. Think of all the people at
home and give them something to chuckle about when you return.
60 (24) Paris beach
From July to August the beach comes to Paris. With the global economy
in the state its in this could catch on. It might also save the
planet. The city beach is located on the bank of the not to be swam
in Seine from Ile St. Louis to the Jardin des Tuileries.
The beach is a people magnet just like the real thing. It feels
a little like a city park with umbrellas and sand of course.
Watch a wild Friday summer nights bike ride-parade-street thing
happening near the nearby Hotel de Ville.
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100 Things To Do In Paris, France
