| When you want to view Paris from the top, | | | | |
| four vantage points offer an easy access. | | | | Just a word of advice: wear a windbreaker |
| Paris expert Phil Chavanne has located them | | | | when you visit the tower. The metallic |
| for you. | | | | structure is a big Swiss cheese, and there is |
| | | | absolutely no wind protection whatsoever on |
| To my friends who take the trip to Paris I | | | | either of its platforms. |
| always recommend to 'look up while walking'. | | | | |
| Paris should not be visited at eye level | | | | Arc de Triomphe |
| only; there is much to be seen upstairs, just | | | | |
| like in New York City. | | | | This vantage spot isn't just as well known as |
| | | | Mr. Eiffel's tower. Yet, it offers a very |
| Or try this: grab a map, climb an elevation, | | | | interesting panoramic view of Paris. |
| and look around, trying to place the | | | | |
| monuments you see. Rent a top-floor apartment | | | | This monument was erected to the glory of the |
| on the Montmartre hill, and you'll see a | | | | French armies. Its four pillars bear the |
| whole new aspect of Paris. | | | | names of the killing fields where millions of |
| | | | European died uselessly to satisfy the blood |
| So I picked four easy-to-access vantage | | | | thirst of one dictator or another. |
| points from where to admire the Parisian | | | | Commissioned by Napoleon I in 1806, the |
| panorama. Some are self-obvious, others are | | | | structure was completed 30 years later under |
| not as well known. All are yours for the | | | | King Louis-Philippe. At the base of the |
| enjoyment. | | | | monument lies the grave of the Unknown |
| | | | Soldier, a Frenchman who was killed during |
| Granted, some of these spots were obvious | | | | WWI. |
| picks. But I bet you don't know a couple of | | | | |
| them. Here is the story. | | | | The structure is hollow, and can be visited. |
| | | | The ticket booth is located under the plaza |
| Tour Montparnasse | | | | on which the Arch is built. It can be |
| | | | accessed at the end of a tunnel opening at |
| The Montparnasse Tower offers one of the most | | | | the upper end of the Champs Elysees Avenue. |
| remarkable panoramic views of Paris. And not | | | | Taking the tunnel is a much safer option than |
| everybody knows that it can be visited. It is | | | | trying to cross the traffic-laden plaza on |
| therefore my first pick. | | | | foot. |
| | | | |
| The construction of the Montparnasse Tower | | | | On the rooftop, a round gazebo features a |
| started in 1958 and was completed in 1972 | | | | ceramic map on which you can orient yourself |
| after a much heated public debate. Just like | | | | in relation with the various monuments |
| the Louvre Pyramid, and the Beaubourg Museum | | | | around. When you face the Champs Elysees |
| of Modern Art, the building of the skyscraper | | | | Avenue, the Eiffel Tower and the Montparnasse |
| sparked two decades of furious controversy. | | | | Tower are at 2 o'clock, the Invalides dome at |
| The Montparnasse area used to be a small, | | | | 1 o'clock. The Concorde obelisk stands at 12 |
| quaint village, and the locals didn't like | | | | o'clock, and the Montmartre hill is at 10 |
| the idea of having a 210-meter high structure | | | | o'clock. |
| disfigure their landscape. | | | | |
| | | | Rue du Telegraphe and the Parc de Belleville |
| The Tower triggered a controversy which | | | | |
| continued well after it was completed. | | | | I bet you didn't know this one! Who ever |
| Dwellers of the picturesque old Montparnasse | | | | heard of the Belleville Highs? Mind you, this |
| area hated to see a tall structure disfigure | | | | area is quite interesting, and it offers a |
| their area. They fought tooth and nail to | | | | good panoramic view of Paris. |
| kill the project. In vain. Constructions | | | | |
| works started in 1958, and were completed in | | | | When asked for the highest elevation in their |
| 1972. The Tower was inaugurated in 1973. Just | | | | city, most Parisians will reply "the |
| a few months after the event, the City | | | | Montmartre Hill". Wrong answer: the highest |
| council passed an ordinance forbidding the | | | | point in Paris (altitude 128) is located at |
| construction of any building more than 7 | | | | Rue du Telegraphe, No. 40. Right at the |
| floor high in Paris. Go figure. | | | | entrance gate of the Belleville Cemetery. |
| | | | This spot was used by the inventor of the |
| The Montparnasse Tower counts 59 floors | | | | telegraph, Mr. Claude Chappe, to set up and |
| crowned by a terrace which is accessible by | | | | test his contraption under the French |
| helicopter. One of its 25 elevators is the | | | | revolution (1789-95). |
| fastest in Europe: it will take you to the | | | | |
| top floor in 38 seconds flat. There is a bar | | | | Just down from Telegraph St., the nearby |
| on the 56th floor where you can enjoy the | | | | neighborhood is dubbed "Hauts de Belleville", |
| view sheltered from the wind. | | | | or "Belleville Highs". Belleville (literally |
| | | | "beautiful town") used to be an independent |
| La Tour Eiffel | | | | commune built on a hill outside Paris until |
| | | | 1860. |
| Yes, you did figure out this one. I picked it | | | | |
| though as numerous subscribers to ask me | | | | Though renovation works started in the |
| questions about it. I thought this would be a | | | | district in the 80's, many streets have kept |
| good opportunity to give you a few relevant | | | | their old looks. Not all of them are safe at |
| figures. | | | | night, and I recommend you to visit the area |
| | | | in broad daylight only. |
| Just a few facts: the Eiffel Tower is | | | | |
| 324-meter high (including flagpole). Its | | | | The best vantage point of the district is the |
| first floor stands at 57 meters above the | | | | Belleville Park which was opened in 1988. |
| Seine, its second floor at 116 meters. It is | | | | This expanse of land is tucked between Rue |
| 117-year old, and weighs 'only' 10,100 metric | | | | des Couronnes, Rue Piat, Rue Jouy-Rouve, and |
| tons, concrete footing included. | | | | Rue Julien-Lacroix. Its grassy slopes extend |
| | | | all the way to the bottom of the hill. The |
| To access each platform, you have a choice of | | | | park features The Air Museum, which offers |
| taking the elevators, or climbing the 1665 | | | | its visitors a full explanation of how |
| step staircase. Sporty. I calculated that the | | | | pollution affects our daily lives. Tourists |
| waiting line to the ticket booth is 22 minute | | | | can follow the guided tour in English. |
| long on average. | | | | |
| | | | Just a last word on Rue du Telegraphe: it |
| The first and second floors are home to two | | | | hosts an interesting farmers' market every |
| restaurants: Altitude 95, and Le Jules Verne, | | | | Wednesday and Saturday, between 7 am and 2-3 |
| respectively. Both offer a rewarding dining | | | | pm. |
| experience. | | | | |