| There is an old saying which states that Paris is the | | | | the museum in 2002. |
| place where all good people go to die. It is the | | | | Another attraction is the Centre Pompidou. This is |
| combination of historical charm, modernism, and a | | | | actually the museum which houses all of France's |
| heady underworld which makes Paris a fantasy tourist | | | | greatest masterpieces by modern artists. The |
| destination. It is the top 5 Paris attractions which draw | | | | Museum has large collections of paintings spanning the |
| people to this great city, again and again. Beyond the | | | | 20th century and including works by the most famous |
| Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre there are attractions | | | | artists (Picasso, Braque, Max Ernst, Magritte, Chagall, |
| which take visitors by surprise and in doing so create | | | | Matisse, Delaunay, Kandinsky, Klee and many others). |
| memories that last a life time. Below are a few of the | | | | The Centre national d'art et de culture Georges |
| hottest destinations in Paris. If you visit Europe, for | | | | Pompidou was the brainchild of French President |
| work or pleasure, be sure to find the time to explore | | | | Georges Pompidou who wanted to create an original |
| these attractions. | | | | cultural institution in the heart of Paris completely |
| Paris is an old city and with history comes a great deal | | | | focused on modern and contemporary creation, |
| of memories. It is within France that these memories | | | | where the visual arts would rub shoulders with theatre, |
| are replicated in stone. Paris is the capital of France | | | | music, cinema, literature and the spoken word. Some 6 |
| and the city of monuments. This beautiful city is home | | | | million people pass through the Centre Pompidou's |
| to hundreds of monuments and intricately carved | | | | doors each year, a total of over 150 million visitors in its |
| structures which dominate the cityscape. The Eiffel | | | | 25 years or so of existence. |
| Tower embodies the essence of the city of lights. It is | | | | The Notre Dame Cathedral is an attraction that can |
| the most famous and visited of all the cities attractions. | | | | not be overlooked. This is the most breath taking and |
| The tower was built in 1889, as a physical and tangible | | | | spiritual structure of Paris. It is here that the world's first |
| representation of all things French. It was created only | | | | true basilicas can be found. Some would assert that |
| to be a temporary structure and was to be taken | | | | they are the best in the entire world. The Notre Dame |
| down after the world's fair. It remains today as one of | | | | Cathedral was built in the 12th century and has since |
| the most recognizable and most visited (6+ million | | | | remained a solid structure and representation of |
| visitors per year) monuments in the world. | | | | French gothic architecture. |
| One of the most photographed places in the top 5 | | | | In 1870, the Sacre Couer or Sacred Heart church |
| Paris attractions is the Louvre. This small castle is now | | | | started being built. The structure is preceded by an |
| home to a number of paintings and sculptures by | | | | exerting 237 step stone staircase. Inside the church |
| famous artists. Arguably the world's most famous art | | | | you will find one of the worlds largest mosaics "Christ |
| museum, the Louvre's most popular piece is Leonardo | | | | in Majesty" that depicts Christ with outstretched arms. |
| da Vinci's "Mona Lisa". It was established in 1793, and is | | | | From the top of the dome, you have a stunning view |
| one of the oldest museums in Europe. Its art collection | | | | of Paris extending over 30 kilometers. With a long |
| spans from the birth of great civilizations up to the 19th | | | | tradition of culture and art, Paris should always be on |
| century. An amazing 5,000,000+ million tourists visited | | | | your list of European destinations. |