PARIS CHARLES DE GAULLE AIRPORT

 Paris CDG airport is located about 25 kilometers (15 miles) northeast of Paris, near the town of Roissy.

 Travelling to and from CDG:

 By car:

 From Paris, take the A1 via Porte de la Chapelle; or take the A3 via Porte de Bagnolet, which later joins the A1. The drive can take between 40 minutes to two hours, depending on traffic.

 By taxi:

 Taxi service from the airport to the city of Paris is excellent. Upon arrival at the airport follow the signs to “Taxis” after picking up your luggage.

 Your taxi fare will be somewhere between 30€ - 60€, depending on the time of day you are travelling, items of luggage and of course your destination or pick-up point. There is an additional charge of 1€ per piece of luggage as well as an airport fee of approximately 1€.

 By bus:

 Air France has two lines running from Charles de Gaulle into Paris. The first line runs every fifteen minutes and has two stops, Place de l’Etoile or Porte Maillot and it departs from Charles de Gaulle terminal 1 & 2 between 5:45AM and 11PM.

 The second line runs every 30 minutes (between 7AM and 9PM) and stops at Gare de Lyon and Montparnasse.

 By train:

 The RER is the regional rail system that links the suburbs to the Paris Metro. Trains run every 15 minutes (eight minutes during peak periods) and the trip takes approximately 35 minutes.

 PARIS ORLY AIRPORT

 Paris Orly airport is located 14 kilometers (9 miles) south of Paris.

 Travelling to and from Paris Orly

 By car:

 It takes about 25 minutes to get to Paris from Orly. At the airport exit, turn south, then turn left towards Terminaux Ouest et Sud. Then turn right to Terminaux Ouest et Sud. Then turn left again to Terminaux Ouest et Sud. Take the exit heading towards Paris. Then join the A106, and you’re on your way to Paris city.

 By taxi:

 Orly airport has two different taxi ranks, one for Paris city, the other for Les Banlieues (the suburbs).  The cost may vary between 20€ and 50€, depending on traffic conditions, your luggage and pickup/departure point.

 By bus:

 Air France Bus provides a good service into town: Buses leave every 15-20 minutes between the hours of 5:40 – 23:00. Passengers are dropped off at Gare d’Austerlitz, Gare Montparnasse, or Gare St-Michel. The journey takes about 25 minutes.

 Orlybus provides a service to and from Denfert-Rochereau Metro (RER) stop with departures every 15 minutes. Expect about 45 minutes in travel time.

 By Train:

 Orlyval + RER B (Rail)

The airport connects to Paris downtown via the Orlyval (automatic métro), a short 8-minute hop to the RER station ‘Antony’ in the suburb of Arceuil. From there you can take the RER B rail line (regional métro system) north, direct into central Paris.

The journey takes about 35 minutes to reach the Châtelet Les Halles RER/métro complex (1st arrondissement). There are seven stops on RER B within Paris. Four of these offer connections (fr. correspondances) to certain Metro lines.

Of all the cities in the world, and most certainly of Europe, Paris is the one where you’ll struggle to fit everything in in just one trip. The sights, the sounds, the history, the art- the magic of Paris is truly captivating, and many tourists return again and again to lose themselves in this famous city! Here we provide the highlights, the absolute “must sees”, but don’t forget to allow yourself some time to simply wonder around and get a sense of the atmosphere of the city. After all, Paris is not just about sights and attractions; it’s about the ambiance!  People watching, latte sipping and window shopping are all part of the essential Parisian experience!!    

THE EIFFEL TOWER  

Built for the International Exhibition of Paris of 1889 beside the Sein river, the Eifle Tower officially commemorates the centenary of the French Revolution. From the 700 or so proposals submitted in a design competition, Gustave Eiffel’s was unanimously chosen as the winner.The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII of England, opened the tower, and today it’s a symbol not just of the city, but the pride the French feel about their independence and their country in general.

At 300 metres (320.75m including the antenna), and 7000 tons, it was the world’s tallest building until 1930 when New York City’s Chrysler building was finished. Make sure you visit it during the day, but also at night time when it is lit up- truly a mesmerising sight! 20 years after its birth, in 1909 the tower was due to be dismantled as part of the rules of the design competition. At this time, ownership was passed on to the city of Paris, who decided to keep the tower standing for the sake of the antenna – a valuable communication facility.

Every New Years Eve, Paris presents a spectacular fireworks show that makes headlines around the world. Well worth it if you can make it even once to watch this in person! Visitors can climb to the first and second levels, which are accessible by stairs or an elevator. Tickets can be bought from the base of the South tower where the stairs begin.  To get to the Eiffel Tower take the RER line and stop at Champ de Mars. Buses 42, 69, 72, 82 and 87 also take you close to the entrance.      

THE LOUVRE MUSEUM    

The Louvre museum began as the Royal Palace in 1190. Today it hosts the most famous and visited art collection in the world, hosting about 35,000 works of internationally cherished art.  

During its lifespan, the Louvre has been continuously expanded and embellished by French kings. President François Mitterrand added a modern touch to it with his “Le Grand Louvre” project. This 1981- 1997 project included an extension and the complete restructuring of the museum. The famous and modern Pei glass pyramids mark the new entrance to the museum.

The Louvre displays the famous “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci and many other first class paintings from across Europe and many centuries. It also displays a superb collection of Egyptian pieces of art. Tourists complain that it can take a lifetime to explore the Louvre’s extensive collection, so you may have to come back to Paris a few more times before you feel like you’ve seen it all!

Open every day except Tuesdays from 9am to 6pm ( until 9.45 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays).Entrance fee: 7.5 € before 3pm, 5 € after 3pm and on Sundays. It’s free if you are under 18.   

DISNEYLAND PARIS 

Disneyland Paris provides a great family day out, and is just a few minutes away from the city centre. Disneyland Paris features two main theme parks (Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park), the Disney Village, seven themed hotels and Golf Disneyland.

Located about 32 kilometres outside of Paris, it is about one-fifth the size of Paris itself. Millions have visited since it opened in 1990. While this isn’t exactly the most culturally satisfying destination in France, it provides a great opportunity to allow the kids to let off some steam, whilst parents are likely to enjoy the experience also.

Tickets can be bought at the entrance ticket windows or in advance from the Paris Office of Tourism or in either main Paris Airports. 

By Car: A4 motorway Metz-Nancy, exit 14 “Parcs Disney”. For Disney’s Davy Crockett Ranch, exit 13 “Provins/Serris”.

By Train: RER (regional) line A – Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy station.   

LE SACRÉ COEUR  

The Sacré-Coeur Basilica is one of Paris’s major tourist attractions. This majestic building is located on top of the Montmartre hill, which is the highest point in the city. Quite a fitting location for this holy site!

The building of the the Sacré-Coeur Basilica (“Basilica of the Sacred Heart”) was initiated by a long standing desire that originated at the end of the French Revolution. It was further motivated as a tribute to the loss of almost 60,000 lives during the defeat of the French at the hands of the Prussian army in 1870.  Finally the project was authorized by the National Assembly in 1873, and a design competition was organized in order to select the final form this important tribute should take.  

The winner of the competition was Paul Abadie, who was previously responsible for the painstaking restoration of two other cathedrals in France. He designed a large basilica in a Roman-Byzantyne style. It’s large dome towers 83m (272ft) over the top of the Montmartre hill.  The architectural style of the basilica contrasts with other contemporary buildings in France, which were mostly built in a Romanesque style.  

Built from travertine stone quarried from Château-Landon, the imposing church has managed to keep its beaming white colour even in the polluted air of a big city like Paris because the stone naturally secretes calcite, a chemical reaction that preserves the beauty of the white stone.         

NÔTRE DAME  

This famous cathedral is considered by some to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture.  Construction of Notre-Dame (meaning “our lady” in French) began in 1163 during the reign of Louis VII. Pope Alexander III laid the foundation stone. The idea to replace the Romanesque church occupying the site - the Cathedral of St. Etienne (founded by Childebert in 528)  was that of Bishop Maurice de Sully. 

Construction was completed 200 years later in about 1345. The choir was completed in 1182; the nave in 1208, and the west front and towers circa 1225-1250. A series of chapels were added to the nave during the period 1235-50, and during 1296-1330 to the apse (Pierre de Chelles and Jean Ravy). The transept crossings were build in 1250-67 by Jean de Chelles and Pierre de Montreuil (also the architect of the Sainte-Chapelle). It was essentially completed according to the original plans.After falling into disrepair and suffering great desecration during the French Revolution, a restoration program was undertaken in 1845 and was overseen by Lassus and Viollet-le-Duc. This program lasted 23 years, and included the construction of the spire and the sacristy.

The RER stations near the Cathedral are Châtelet-Les Halles, Saint Michel-Notre Dame and buses 21, 24, 27, 38, 47, 85 and 96 leave you near the Cathedral.   

MOULIN ROUGE 

A nightclub, a theatre, a brothel. The Moulin Rouge has been branded many things over the years but one thing that is for certain is its fame as an iconic entertainment venue in Paris! It was built in 1889 as a cabaret theatre, featuring a mixture of song, dance and live theatre, and was located in the Red Light District of Paris at that time on Boulevard de Clinchy, in the 18^th arrondissement.

Over the years it has become the subject of many books and films including the recent 2001 feature film Moulin Rouge! which starred Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kindman, and was directed by Baz Luhrmann.

The main show today is a four act performance featuring 100 artists including 60 “Doriss girls” with a wardrobe of more than one thousand costumes. Singing, dancing and music are all part of the show, as is a giant aquarium! See it for yourself, if only once!

Visit the official website www.moulinrouge.fr to book tickets and find out more. 

For young and old, sport fans, music fans, culture fans- take your pick! Paris is one of the world’s capitals for popular, spectacular and varied events and festivals that attract visitors from every corner of the world. Unfortunately, many official websites for these and other festivals in France are not offered, or are incomplete in English, so we’ve put together the essential information the best of the bunch to give you a taste of what you’re in for when you attend a cultural event or public festival in Paris. 

BASTILLE DAY IN PARIS

Bastille Day, or Fete Nationale (‘National Holiday’ in French) occurs every 14^th July. It is the country’s most important holiday and commemorates the storming of the Bastile Prison in 1789, during the French Revolution.  This historic act was and is still considered an important, symbolic event toward French independence and freedom. Although celebrations take place right across France, like any National Holiday, it is best experienced and enjoyed in the capital- Paris. 

 In the 1700’s, the Bastille prison was where political inmates were kept, imprisoned for their patriotic views that clashed with the absolute rule of the monarchy at the time. A protest against the rule of the government gathered outside the prison and gathered momentum, leading to the protestors breaking in, in an attempt to free the political prisoners inside.  

98 attackers and one defender died, but the significance of members of the general public giving their life in a bid for democratic freedom is the spirit of the event that is especially significant for French people today. Bastille Day is celebrated today with a public military parade down the Champs Elysées, a spectacular fireworks display based near the Eiffel Tower, and the popular Fireman’s Ball, held in all Paris fire stations on the evenings of July 13 and 14.

FETE DE LA MUSIQUE IN PARIS

This popular annual event is a celebration of the arrival of summer, held on the day of the summer solstice on June 21^st. The Fête de la Musique has an official schedule of free street and open-air entertainment by both professional and amateur musicians from all over the world, crossing every type of musical genre in existence, from jazz, rock, popular, hip-hop, folk and electronic.

The main event is the free concert generally held on the Place de République, marking the end of the festival, but many people enjoy the atmosphere of the event by simply wandering through the streets, parks, gardens and even bars that are set up as temporary performance spaces to sample a taste of today’s musical talent.  

TECHNOPARADE IN PARIS

Designed to be France’s answer to the massive electronic festivals of Germany, America and Great Britain, the Paris Technoparade takes place annually in September and is part of the larger rendez-vous électroniques festival.

Attracting a younger crowd of mostly teenagers to twenty-somethings, the parade features around 50 floats that meander the streets of Paris, with music fans in tow, playing any and every type of electronic music, complete with colourful futuristic costumes, dancers and flashing lights to rival any underground dance party.

The parade finishes in the Place de la Nation where members of the parade and party revellers come together and continue dancing well on into the night. Dazzling costumes, over sized sunglasses, body paint and glow sticks will be out in force for this event, which attracts tens of thousands of techno fans from all over the world. You don’t have to be a fan of the music to at least enjoy the spectacle. It’s a great celebration of modern youth culture and the atmosphere itself can be enjoyed by just about anyone.

PARIS FILM FESTIVAL 

French films have always been held in high esteem, so it’s no wonder that the country celebrates the worl of cinema once a year!  Entering it’s six year in 2008, the Paris Film Festival takes place in Spring and is a top quality showcase of more than a hundred films over six Parisian cinemas. There are premierès, press awards, public awards, and film novel prizes.  

Held in early July, festival organizers put together a list of events that everyone can enjoy- from children, documentary fans to fine art/ arthouse lovers. A mix of full- length feature and short films can be enjoyed at numerous open air venues throughout the city.

The program varies from year to year so check out the pariscinema.org website for current information on this years festival.

THE FRENCH OPEN TENNIS TOURNAMENT IN PARIS

The French Open is the second of the four International Grand Slam tennis tournaments that takes place every year. It is undoubtedly one of the biggest sporting events held in France, not to mention one of the most internationally important festivals that the city of Paris hosts on an annual basis.  

For two weeks between mid May and early June, a star- studded parade of the best tennis players in the world battle it out on the clay courts of the famous Roland Garros Stadium.  Ticket prices start at €27.50 for a decent seat, but the finals generally sell out at lightning pace, before the line-up is even announced. It’s cheaper to go and watch the unseeded players on the smaller courts - you will still get a taste of the event and you could sneak a preview of the tennis stars of the future.   

TOUR DE FRANCE IN PARIS 

Every summer for Le Tour de France the world’s best cyclists come together to compete in this prestigious 23 day, 21 stage race which is held in various towns and cities across France.  

By the final leg along the Champs-Elysées in Paris, each competitor would have raced a cumulative distance of 3,000kms. But even if the winner has already been determined by points already accumulated in previous stages, the atmosphere of the final leg of this world class event is not to be missed. Supporters from all over the world will be out in force! The French themselves have not had a winner since Bernard Hinault in 1985, so should a Frenchman be in the running to win the mood will most probably be especially jubilant!

FASHION  

French fashion designers have been at the pinnacle of the industry almost since it’s beginning in the international arena. Designers such as Christian Lacroix, Chanel, Dior, Yves Saint Laurant and Cardin are certainly considered to be leaders of this glamorous industry. Whether you’re looking to invest in your next Dior gown or just want to window shop, shopaholics will enjoy a visit to these exclusive boutiques!  

Paris has also attracted other internationally acclaimed fashion labels from all over the world. The list includes Kenzo from Japan, Versace and Armani from Italy, most of which are located on Avenue Montaigne near the Champs-Elysées, and Rue du Fauborg Saint-Honoré near the Elysées Presidential Palace.   

For those of us without fortunes to spend shopping for designer clothes in Paris, the famous department stores of the city are worth a visit if only to take in the atmosphere.  Head for the Boulevard Haussman, near Garnier Opera. Also worth a browse are the Galeries Lafayette and Le Printemps for tableware, furniture and other home wares, plus perfume, fashion and lingerie.   

FRESH PRODUCE  

Clothing and fashion aren’t the only shopping experiences available in Paris!  Food lovers and people- watchers will enjoy a visit to the open air food markets, which in Paris are as old as the Middle Ages!  Not only can you find an endless assortment of fresh meats, colourful fresh vegetables and fruits and amazing pastries, cakes and real French cheeses, the surrounding streets are always filled with cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy sampling French cuisine.  

Some of the best produce markets include the Rue Mouffetard near the Panthéon, the Rue Montorgueil, close to the Les Halles metro station and the Rue de Buci.  

FLEA MARKETS  

“Le marché aux puces de Saint-Ouen” is a famous flea market in Paris that has been around since 1885. This old marketplace covers an impressive six hectares of space, and in the fifties and sixties, it was the place to buy antique furniture at very low prices. Many a brgain was to be had, if you knew what you were looking for.  

These days, you’re unlikely to find real antique bargains but shopping lovers will still enjoy browsing over 2000 shops selling everything from clothes, furniture, jewellery and old French advertising posters! The atmosphere of this place is worth the visit in itself.  Open from 10am to 7pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, its best reached by the line 13 Metro at Garibaldi station.