04 September 2009

Planning A trip To Paris- Guide To Its Modern Art and Architecture.

By Suzanne Crasto

In Paris France, the earliest sign of civilization dates back to 4,200 BC. This was when the Parisii of Gaul, which was a Celtic tribe of boaters and traders, dwelled there. The Romans brought their culture to the Left Bank, bringing palaces, baths, temples and theaters. Once the empire collapsed, rule of the city passed from Germans to the Franks to Burgundians and to the English. Finally, French kings assumed the throne again in 1436. Paris survived a number of upheavals, power struggles, revolutions, wars and disease outbreaks over the centuries. Today visitors staying in Paris hotels can see bits of history all around them, if they know where to look.

Architecture buffs have a number of places to see when they visit Paris France. You'll see palaces like the Palace of Versailles, which was built in the French Renaissance tradition circa 1678; Chateau de Villette, another 17th-century palace, crafted in French Baroque style for Louis XIV's ambassador, Jean Dyel; or the Palais de Chaillot, a stripped classical structure designed for the 1937 World Exposition. Other French Baroque palaces include the Chteau de Maisons, Chteau de Vaux-le-Vicomte, the Jardins des Tuileries, Palais du Luxembourg and Palais Royal-Muse du Louvre. In addition to palaces, there are churches in Paris that date back to the 12th and 13th Centuries, such as the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral (1163), La Sainte-Chapelle (1238), Basilique Saint-Denis (1136) and the Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres (1140). Mont Martre, St. Louis des Invalides, the Church of Saint-Sulpice and the Paris Pantheon are other beautiful, historic churches.

In addition to showcasing beautiful palaces and churches, Paris France is world-renowned for its impressive monuments. The Arc de Triomphe, at the western end of the Champs-lyses, was built in 1806 to honor soldiers who fought for France during the Napoleonic wars. The Eiffel Tower was the tallest structure in the world from 1889 to 1930 and is considered one of the most romantic spots on the planet. For architecture buffs who also are intrigued by history, the Invalides museum is the burial place for French soldiers like Napoleon, Turenne and Vauban, while the Panthon church holds the bodies of Voltaire, Victor Hugo and Marie Curie. There are two Statues of Liberty located on the le des Cygnes on the Seine and in the Luxembourg Garden, which was the prototype for New York's famous monument. The Paris Opera house and the University of Paris in the Lation Quarter are other beautiful places to Paris visitors.

Paris fashion is known for stylishness in much the same way as New York, Milan and London. Paris's reputation for fashion began at the turn of the 19th century, when Charles Frederick Worth opened up a fashion house containing clothes with his signature label. He began advising clients what to wear and designing new ensembles for them. Prior to that, rich nobility would hire no-name seamstresses to tailor custom garbs. Talented illustrators composed sketches of new clothing designs for magazines, which started to draw the international spotlight to Paris couture. Notable designers to come out of Paris France include Coco Chanel, Christian Lacroix, Jeanne Paquin, Christian Dior, Jean Paul Gaultier, Michael Kors, Guy Laroche, Givenchy, Giorgio Armani, Gaspard Yurkievich, Yves Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton and John Galliano.

If you are passionate about food, then you can come to Paris and request a food tour from www.edible-paris.com, www.viator.com/paris-food-tours, www.poshnosh.com/tbkaf/foodlover-paris.html, www.meetingthefrench.com or circatours.com/tours-wine-cuisine/paris-food-fairs.htm.

Whether you stay for a romantic weekend at hotels in Paris or you spend several weeks soaking it all in, you'll find all that Europe has to offer all in one world-class city

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