
One of the most visited places in the world is Paris.
I believe that everyone from the Americas who likes to travel dreams of going to Europe.
Not only because of the famous places but also because it is part of our history.
We always study and hear about Europe as a place where we from the Americas are descendants.
Here in Brazil, there is no one who does not have a little European blood, even those who have a little bit of African blood.
Paris, in 2015 would be my first visit to the old continent and I planned to visit several places,
Starting with Paris, Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe, Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome and Barcelona.
A little history of Paris.
Paris began with its founding by the Celtic tribe of the Parisians on an island in the Seine (Île de la Cité), where Notre Dame Cathedral is located today.
It was a fishing village that fell under the power of the Romans in 52 BC, who began to call it Lutetia.
The name Paris only came into being in the 4th century.
Paris resisted Attila’s invasion thanks to the intervention of Saint Genovese, who became the city’s patron saint.
Clovis, king of the Franks, made Paris the capital of his kingdom in 508.
The city gained importance throughout the 11th century, thanks to the silver trade and because it was part of the pilgrim and merchant route.
Over time, the city has experienced many revolutions, wars and diseases, such as:
At the beginning of the 12th century, when students and professors confronted the Pope, and he ended up authorizing the creation of a “university” corporation.
Louis IX granted Robert de Sorbon the right to found the “La Sorbona” college.
And so, Paris also became a university city.
In the 14th century, there were at least three revolts:
The Merchants’ Rebellion of 1358, the Maillots’ Revolt of 1382, and the Caboche Revolt of 1413.
In which a merchant led a mob that ended up storming the Bastille.
This period became known as the Hundred Years’ War.
In 1328, Paris, once the most populous city in Europe, saw its population decimated by the Black Death.
At the end of the Hundred Years’ War, Paris was devastated and Joan of Arc was unable to free the city from the English and their allies, the Bourguignons.
On August 24, 1572, the “St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre” took place, organized by the French kings against the Protestants (Huguenots).
That same year, Marguerite de Valois, sister of the King of France, married Henry of Navarre (head of the Huguenot dynasty).
This promised to reduce conflicts, but in 1588, French Catholics rose up against King Henry III on the Day of the Barricades.
The king was assassinated and Henry of Navarre was crowned.
In 1648, the second “Day of the Barricades” took place, marking the beginning of the “Fronde”.
A series of civil wars that took place in the country between 1648 and 1662. Fifteen years later, King Louis XVI decided to transfer the court to Versailles.
As a result of the “Fronde”, poverty spread throughout the city.
The prevailing current of thought at that time was also based on reason, equality and freedom.
Storming of the Bastille
On July 14, 1789, the Parisians stormed the Bastille fortress.
On September 3, 1791, the first Constitution in the history of France was approved.
On August 17, a new Constitution was approved, granting executive power to a Directory.
The new Constitution met with much opposition with several revolts, culminating on November 9, 1799, when General Napoleon Bonaparte overthrew the Directory and installed a Consulate.
Paris experienced a period of great expansion during the fifteen years of Napoleon’s empire.
It ended on November 20, 1815, after the final defeat at the Battle of Waterloo and the signing of the second Treaty of Paris in 1815.
In 1851, a coup d’état took place and Napoleon II came to power, remaining at the head of the government for 17 years, during which he promoted growth.
The city was conquered by Prussian troops in 1871 and a few years later (at the end of 1800) the Third Republic was proclaimed.
A period of economic growth began, which led to the construction of the Eiffel Tower in 1889, an internationally renowned symbol of the city.
In the 20th century, the city began to undergo several changes.
The First and Second World Wars caused much destruction, but they were an opportunity for reconstruction.
It experienced several revolts and in “May ’68” a series of protests that were the largest student revolt in the history of France and, possibly, of Europe.
But enough of history and let’s see the Paris of our time.
What to do in Paris
Anyone who thinks about Paris certainly wants to see many of the places, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Seine River, the Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Moulin Rouge, the Champs-Élysées, etc.
I always prefer to use public transportation and stay where I can visit most of the places on foot.
That way I can get a closer look at local life and have more time to appreciate the architecture, customs and interact with people.
So I stayed at the IBIS Paris Eiffel Tower, a 10-minute walk from the Eiffel Tower.
We arrived at Charles de Gaulle airport and took the train to the city center.
We went to Denfert-Rochereau station and transferred to line 6 in the direction of Charles de Gaulle Etoile.
We got off at Cambronne station, which is a 3-minute walk from the hotel.
Since we only had 3 days in Paris, we decided to use the tourist bus, as it saved a lot of time compared to public transportation.
The company L’Open Tour (Today Tootbus Paris) had 3 lines that went to all the tourist attractions in the city. Today there is only one that goes to the main attractions.
Visit to Paris
After dropping off our bags and taking a shower, we went to visit the Eiffel Tower, our first destination.
First, we stopped at a typical Parisian café to eat a croissant and drink a coffee.
We continued on to the Champ de Mars and soon had a majestic view of the Eiffel Tower.
Since it was already late, we left the climb up the tower for the next day and went to the Seine River.
At dusk, the Tower lights up, which is a very beautiful and romantic sight.
The view of the illuminated tower, the light show and the night tours along the river make everything more magical.
Second day
We started early by climbing the tower.
On a clear day like ours, you have a beautiful view of Paris, basically 360 degrees of the city.
Afterwards, we went on a tour of the Seine River, right after you get off the tower, there is the port where the boats leave.
The tour of the Seine River is very pleasant, where you can see monuments, museums, palaces, among other tourist attractions.
It is an activity for the whole family, as well as being romantic for those who are in the mood.
We did the tour during the day and also at night, where the romantic atmosphere is much more appropriate.
Afterwards, we went for a walk on the Champs-Élysées, where the most famous brands are on display.
Just looking at the shop windows is more than enough, since each product is extremely expensive.
At the end of the avenue is the Arc de Triomphe, which is a landmark in the city.
Although it is a large roundabout for the city, it has a very big symbolism.
Night was approaching and we went to have dinner and rest, as we still had two days ahead of us.
Third day
We slept a little longer, because the previous day was full beyond the time zone.
We dedicated a good part of the day to visiting the Louvre museum.
It is simply magnificent, although I am not a museum person, the Louvre is like a summary of all the others.
It has almost everything, from a simple engraving to rooms measuring several meters, from a tiny sculpture to one larger than a person.
The Viajoteca website has a very complete article about the museum.
I think that for those who like museums it is worth about 3 days of visits.
For those who want to visit the museum, check out the official Louvre website here.
Among other things, what I wanted to see was Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa (originally La Gioconda).
It was a mixture of excitement and disappointment due to its size (77 cm high by 53 cm wide) and the difficulty in seeing it, as it was overcrowded.
There are paintings that are much larger, more impressive and easier to see than the Mona Lisa, but for those who have the opportunity to see them, it is a unique experience.
In the afternoon we went to see the Moulin Rouge and then the Basilica of Sacre-Cœur.
It has one of the best views of Paris.
Fourth day
Our goal for the day is the Notre Dame Cathedral.
The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris; in English: “Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris” Built between 1163 and 1245 on the Île de la Cité.
It is a work dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is one of the oldest Gothic cathedrals in the world.
We went to explore the surroundings of the cathedral
And also to see the Paris that most people don’t know.
One of the easiest ways is with the tourist buses that do the tour.
You can see it from the top of the bus and get off wherever you want to explore the neighborhoods and other locations.
Check out the 21 unmissable things to do in Paris.
Our time in Paris is over, now it’s time to go to Chamonix.