Eiffel Tower
Anyone familiar with the area of Paris in close proximity to the Eiffel Tower?
Will be in Paris for a day and overnight. Staying at a hotel close to the Eiffel Tower. Since I dont have too much time there, what are some things I could see in the neighbourhood immediately around the Eiffel Tower?
Assuming you are fit and capable of doing quite a bit of walking you can see a lot of Paris in a day. There are many tourist “must see” sights in a long fairly narrow area on both sides of the Seine.
Start at the Eiffel Tower. Across the Seine you will see the Place Tracadero. Turning your back to it you will see a large park. This is the Parc Champ de Mars.
Walk thru the park to the Ave. de la Motte Picquet. which will cross your path at 90 degrees. You will see a peace memorial and across the street the Ecole Militaire.
Turn left and walk up the Ave. de la Motte Picquet to the corner where the Ave. de Tourville crosses. Turn right and continue a few blocks and you will see the Invalides on your left. This was built by Napoleon as a hospital for his wounded troops. The French army museum is here. There is a large church on the right side of the grounds which houses the tomb of Napoleon and of his son the King of Rome. Both buildings are open to the public.
Continue down the street to the Blvd. des Invalides and turn left. the Rodin museum will be immediately to your right (cross street is rue de Varenne). When you get to the rue de Grenville the street you are on takes a job to the left and changes name but simply continue in the same direction until you reach the river.
Across the river you will see the Grand and Petit Palais, huge art deco exhibition halls. Crossing the river to your left is the Pont Alexander III, considered by many to be one of the most beautiful bridges in the world. (If you’ve seen the movie “Desiree” this is where Michael Renne meets Jean Simmons)
Turn right along the Quai d’Orsay and the French National Assembly will be on your right. Continue walking and the Musee d’Orsay built in the old train station will appear. This houses the Impressionists and is thought to be the best of the Paris Museums.
Keep walking and the Louvre will be seen across the river. When book stalls along the Seine begin to multiply you’ll have reached the Latin Quarter and you will see Notre Dame.
Look for the Pont Neuf (the “new” bridge) and cross over to the Isle de la Cite on which Notre Dame stands and which is where Paris began.
Once you’re over the bridge you’ll see a little park to your left. This is where Jacques de Molay, Grand Master of the Knights Templar was burnt at the stake. The little Tavern Henri IV which you will also see is a nice place to stop for a glass of wine by the way.
Now just head for Notre Dame along the river. You’ll pass Saint Chapelle on your left built by Louis IX in the early 13th century to house the Crown of Thorns and part of the True Cross.
Continue on to Notre Dame. Entrance is free as this is a “working” church. This is the first place I go when I arrive in Paris. I also always light a candle at the Statue of the Virgin Mary in thanks for being in Paris again. (Odd given that I’m not a Catholic but what the heck).
Continue on past Notre Dame and at the tip of the Island you’ll find the Memorial to the Deportees. Take a moment to visit. Its a moving experience.
At this point you should already be exhausted. You’ll need to decide to how to proceed. I also don’t know when you will have started (morning, afternoon).
What’s been described so far you should have been able to cover in three or four hours of brisk walking and assuming you didn’t choose to go into any of the sights other than Notre Dame and the memorial.
Assuming that you didn’t start first thing in the morning but that you still have some reserves of energy and have another couple of hours of daylight left I suggest crossing the river on the Pont d’Arcola. (just follow the bend of the Island around). On your right is another small island, the Ile St. Louis. (This has some gorgeous architecture and is the home of Berthillion, the iconic ice cream maker but it can wait till your next visit.)
When you cross the Pont d’Arcola you’ll see the ornate city hall (the Hotel de Ville) to the front and right. Turn Left and walk along the river. As you pass the second bridge you’ll see the Conciergerie back on the Isle de la Cite on your left. This is where Marie Antoinette was imprisoned before the Revolutionaries cut her head off.
A few more blocks and the Louvre will again come into view. Take the first street away from the river that fronts on the Louvre, turn left and walk into the grounds.
As you pass thru the first courtyard the now famous (or infamous) glass pyramid by Chinese American architect I.M. Pei will appear and beyond that the Arc du Carousel.
Continue walking and you’ll be in the Jardin des Tuileries, all that remains of what was once the site of a palace built in the 16th century by Catherine de’ Medicis, widow of King Henry II. (the palace burned down in 1871).
You’ll exit the gardens at the Place de la Concorde. This is where the guillotine stood in revolutionary days and where the King and Queen along with hundreds of other Royalists were executed. Today there is an Egyptian obelisk on the spot.
On the other side of the Place de la Concorde is the beginning of the Champs Elysee. You can walk along it to the Arc de Triomphe (or you can take Metro line one which has a station at the north side of the Place de la Concorde).
Either way you have now just about completed a grand circuit of the sights close to the Seine.
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