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Paris, the capital
"The Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Elysées, the Louvre: that’s Paris for you."
"The streets are full of history. You see so many monuments and statues."
"Is Paris really like the rest of France?"
In the 1850s, Baron Haussmann was Prefect of Paris , a post which enabled him to make key decisions to modernize the capital. He flattened the old medieval districts and replaced them with the wide avenues we know today.
>Who is hiding behind the Arc de Triomphe?
The names of Napoleon and the 386 generals of his Grand Army are engraved on the stone of this Roman-style victory arch.
Beneath it, on the tomb of the unknown soldier you can see an eternal flame which burns in memory of all those who gave their lives for the freedom of France. Looking down from the top of the Arc de Triomphe, there is a superb view: 12 avenues spread out from the Place de l’Etoile-Charles-de-Gaulle in the shape of a star (“une étoile”) which, of course, is why it’s called “Place de l’Etoile”.
The Champs-Elysées
The best known avenue, the Champs-Elysées , is very expensive in the French version of Monopoly. Its elegant shops and smart café terraces give it a special atmosphere which means tourists, and Parisians themselves, love to stroll along it.
Who went up 1710 steps on March 31st 1889 to raise a French flag at the top?
Gustave Eiffel ! He was opening his crazy tower which was built in 2 years, 2 months and 5 days. To recognize his achievement, the Eiffel Tower bears his name. This Iron Lady has inspired songs, paintings and sculptures and has become the best known landmark of all. She is the symbol of Paris and attracts a record number of tourists to France. She is lit up every evening and sparkles like a diamond for the first ten minutes of every hour until 2 o’clock in the morning. To celebrate Europe Day on May 9th 2006 , the Eiffel Tower was illuminated in sapphire blue.
La Tour Eiffelest un grand i
le i dont ne peut
se passer Paris
car sans ce i
mes amis
Paris mais oui
ne serait pas Paris
Andrée Clair
The Eiffel Tower
is a big letter I
the I Paris
can’t do without
for without this I
my friends
Paris wouldn’t be
No wouldn’t be Paris
Which is the best-known face in the Louvre?
In her 0.407m2 picture frame, the Mona Lisa has been smiling the same enigmatic smile since 1507. She was created by the brush of the genius Leonardo da Vinci.
People who like paintings, sculpture and art in general never fail to visit the Louvre Museum. Depending on how interested you are, you can spend anything from an hour to a whole day there. Entry is free on the first Sunday of each month. The Louvre Palace has its own pyramid in which ancient stones meet glass and steel.
The Beaubourg Centre
Modern art is displayed in the Beaubourg Centre which is also called the Pompidou Centre.
The Cité de la Musique
Music is based at La Villette in the « Cité de la Musique », designed by the architect Christian de Portzamparc. This complex has sprung up in the 19th arrondissement of Paris in what was once a working-class area.