The Best of Paris, France

Top Sights in the City of Lights

Arguably the world’s most famous art museum, the Louvre was originally a fortress, built in 1190 for King Philippe Auguste. Renaissance kings converted the fortress into a palace. 17th-century kings expanded the palace; their architects gave the Louvre the shape and appearance we know today. As early as 1699, artists held exhibitions in the Louvre. After the French Revolution, the Louvre was converted to an art museum, opening its doors in 1793. I.M. Pei’s glass pyramid opened in 1989. The Louvre contains many priceless works, including the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace and the Venus de Milo.

The museum is wheelchair-accessible; English-language audio guides are available. The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays.

Notre-Dame de Paris, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris, was built over a 200-year period that began in 1163. This Gothic masterpiece is known for its colorful stained glass windows and lofty towers. Notre-Dame attracts more visitors than any other monument in France.

While the main floor of the cathedral is accessible (there is one small step at each door, and there are three steps up to the Treasury and choir areas), there are no accessible bathrooms at Notre-Dame, according to the Centre des Monuments Nationaux. The South Tower, which contains 387 steps , is not accessible. English-language audio guides are available.

The towers are open daily except on major public holidays. The cathedral itself is open every day.

This museum, which focuses on art created between 1848 and 1914, is packed with works by the world’s most reknowned Impressionist painters – Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir and more – and contains impressive Post-Impressionism, Realism and Art Nouveau collections. Housed in a converted train station, the Musée d’Orsay has been on Paris visitors’ short lists since the day it opened.

The entire museum is accessible by wheelchair, and English-language audio guides are available. The Musée d’Orsay is closed Mondays and open late on Thursdays.

Visiting the most famous boulevard in Paris gives you a “Wow, I’m here!” experience. The Champs Élysées has retained its grandeur over the years, playing host to parades and special events. The tree-lined avenue runs between the Obélisque in the Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe, Napoleon’s monument to the armies of France and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Arc’s museum has just been renovated.

The Arc de Triomphe’s museum level is only accessible if you have a companion to help you ascend the three steps leading to the elevator. The mezzanine level and the top of the Arc are not accessible.

The Arc de Triomphe is open daily, except on major public holidays.

The Eiffel Tower’s construction caused great controversy in Paris. Today, visitors and locals alike can’t imagine the city skyline without the famous steel structure. The Eiffel Tower is massive; as you stand underneath and look up at its four slanting legs, you feel very, very small. You can climb the famous landmark’s staircase or ascend in an elevator to view all of Paris spread out below. Don’t forget to come back to the Tower at night, when it is lit by 20,000 lightbulbs.

Visitors using crutches or wheelchairs may visit the first and second floor observation decks, but they cannot visit the top of the Tower.

This amazing chapel, built by King (Saint) Louis IX to house a piece of the True Cross and Christ’s crown of thorns, was completed in 1248. Since then it has been flooded, burned and ransacked, but the structure and its exquisite stained glass windows have been carefully restored. Sainte-Chapelle is considered a near-perfect example of high Gothic architecture, with soaring stained glass panels, rose windows and a beautifully-painted, vaulted lower chapel.

The ground floor of Sainte-Chapelle is wheelchair accessible, but you need to call ahead (country code 33, telephone number 01 53 40 60 93) to make arrangements for your visit. Sainte-Chapelle is open every day except Christmas, New Year’s Day and May 1.

Eating, in France, is practically a national religion. The city of Paris grinds to a halt each weekday at noon, as working people flock to their favorite restaurants. They spend the next two hours enjoying two of France’s national obsessions – good food and great conversation. Don’t make the mistake of ignoring the gastronomical delights of Paris.

You don’t have to bring mega-bucks to Paris to enjoy the cuisine. Wander the streets and read menus to find a restaurant that fits your taste and budget. It’s always helpful to carry a phrasebook, or, at least, a list of foods you don’t like, with French translations. Wherever you dine, be sure to take time to relax over a good meal with family or friends – that’s the Parisian tradition.