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