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