HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANDSOME!

 

View From The "Top of the World"

Oh, I love this city! I can't leave it. Here're some more pictures!

View From The "Top of The World" - Eiffel Tower Slideshow: Ana’s trip to Paris was created with TripAdvisor TripWow!

Photos by: ilovetravels

Paris New Year 2012-2013

Happy New Year from Paris - Louvre

Louvre

Louvre

The final destination of our visit to Paris was the Louvre Museum.
The Louvre Museum is one of the largest and most important museums in the world. It is housed in the Louvre Palace in the heart of Paris. Louvre Museum  first established in the 16th century as the private collection of King Francis I. One of the works of art he purchased was the now famous Mona Lisa painting. The collection grew steadily thanks to donations and purchases by the kings. In 1793, during the French Revolution, the Louvre became a national art museum and the private royal collection opened to the public.

Carrousel du Louvre

The museum has a collection of over 1 million works of art, of which about 35000 are on display, spread out over three wings of the former palace. The museum has a diverse collection ranging from the Antiquity up to the mid 19th century. Some of the most famous works of art in the museum are Venus of Milo, the Nike of Samothrake, the Dying Slave by Michelangelo and of course Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. After entering the museum through the Louvre Pyramid or via the Carrousel du Louvre, you have access to three large wings. Sully, Richelieu and Denon.

Sculptures

The Denon Wing is the most crowded of the three wings of the Louvre Museum; around the Mona Lisa, a portrait of a woman by Leonardo da Vinci on the first floor is the biggest crowd. Medieval sculptures from Europe are displayed on the lower ground floor of the Denon wing.

Famous Mona Lisa

The Louvre is so large that, unfortunately, there was not the time or the strength to visit all three parts of the museum, so we decided to visit Denon and famous Mona Lisa, for the first time, enough. The area is so large and filled with wonderful works of famous authors. So much wealth on one place, it's simply not possible to describe. It has to be experienced.

Anyway, the history of this building goes back to from 12 th century to the present. 

Crowd around Mona Lisa

Over the centuries the palace was changing, the most recent addition to the Louvre was the construction of the Louvre Pyramid, which functions as the museum's main entrance. The pyramid was built in 1989 by the renowned American architect I.M. Pei. The glass pyramid allows the sunlight to enter the underground floor. The modern addition originally received mixed reviews, as it contrasts sharply with the classical design of the surrounding buildings, but today it is generally accepted as a clever solution which has given the museum a spacious central entrance.

Louvre garden

Louvre garden

With this I'd finish my New Year's walk through Paris.

All that I have described and seen during my two visits to this beautiful city is only a small part of what Paris offers,  I always have a reason to come back here.

Therefore Paris goodbye, see you soon!

Photos by: ilovetravels

Happy New Year from Paris - Dom des Invalides

Dom des Invalides

We continued to explore the city and so we came to Napoleon's tomb, which is located in the complex known as the Hotel des Invalides. It was founded in 1671 by Louis XIV, the Sun King. He wanted to provide accommodation for disabled and impoverished war veterans. Originally only a number of barracks were planned, but King Louis XIV chose a design by architect Liberal Bruant which consisted of a large impressive building with a royal courtyard and church. The front facade facing the Seine river is 196 meters long. The whole complex features 15 courtyards, the largest being the court of honor. This courtyard was used for military parades. The building was completed in 1676 and housed up to 4,000 war veterans. A wide, 500 meters long esplanade separates the Hotel des Invalides from the Pont Alexandre III and Seine river. Later the church of Saint-Louis was added as an annex to the complex.

The church is connected directly with the Royal chapel, better known as the Dome des Invalides. This chapel with a 107 meter high dome was for exclusive use of the royal family. Construction of the dome was completed in 1708, 27 years after the first stone was laid. Plans to bury the remains of the Royal Family here were set aside after the death of king Louis XIV, and in 1840 king Louis-Philippe repatriated the remains of the Emperor Napoleon from st. Helena, where he was buried after his death 19 years earlier, to have Napoleon entombed here. The Dome des Invalides now also houses the tombs of several other military leaders like Turenne, Vauban and marshall Foch.

Hotel des Invalides is now home to several museums: The Musee de l'Armee is a large military museum located on both sides of the cour d'honneur. It covers military history from the early Middle Ages to the second World War. It features weapons, uniforms, maps and banners, not only from the western world, but also from countries like Turkey, China, Japan and India, then a Musee des Plans-Reliefs, and the museum of genral Charles de Gaulle.

Napoleon Tomb

We managed to see  Napoleon tomb and Mussee de l'Armee and that  was enough for us. We were tired of war history and we went on to the Louvre, something more spiritually then this, at least for me.






To be continued......
Photos by: ilovetravels

Happy New Year from Paris - Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower

How could you possibly visit Paris without seeing and climbing to the Eiffel Tower. Even if you don't want to climb to the top of this world famous structure you can see it from all over Paris. The tower rises 300 meters tall. When it was completed at the end of the 19th century it was the tallest structure in the world.
It was afternoon, we went boldly to the Eiffel Tower, but the queues, queues ...

So we took a boat tour instead, and decided to come here early in the morning, take place in the queue and climb on top of the world. Boat trip passed perfectly, it is in fact a boat hop on hop off, but we made the whole tour which was good for us to take a short break after a hard all day walking.

Eiffel tower by night

The Eiffel Tower was built for the World Exhibition in 1889, held in celebration of the French Revolution in 1789. The construction was only meant to last for the duration of the Exposition, but it still stands today, despite all protests from contemporary artists and people who feared that this huge 'object' would not fit into the architecture of Paris. Today, there is no such aversion anymore among the Parisians, and one could not imagine Paris without the Eiffel Tower, in fact it has become the symbol of the City of Light.
Gustave Eiffel is known from his revolutionary building techniques. These techniques would form the basis for the construction of the Eiffel Tower. The structure took more than two years to complete. Each one of the about 12,000 iron pieces were designed separately to give them exactly the shape needed. All pieces were prefabricated and fit together using approx. 7 million nails. The Eiffel Tower was the tallest structure in the world until the completion of the Chrysler Building in 1930.

View From The "Top of The World" - Eiffel Tower Slideshow: Ana’s trip to Paris was
created with TripAdvisor TripWow!

Happy New Year from Paris - Hotel de Ville-City Hall and Centre Pompidou

Hotel de Ville

Hotel de Ville

A little further from Notre Dame church is City Hall of Paris or Hotel de Ville - it's official name. Hotel de Ville is situated near the Seine River. Hotel de Ville is the center of political Paris. A building more looks like a castle than a City Hall. The first time I was there, in the spring, I was surprised that in the front of the powerful political center a carousel was located. But I didn't hesitate, I made one spin. I enjoyed every moment of it.  I felt quite good. This time, since it was winter, ice rinks were placed in front of the City Hall, everything worked full speed, children, adults, music, really funny, and again I enjoyed.I don't know how Parisians look at it, but for us, tourists, it all looks very nice.The next time I have to make one visit the interior of the palace. For now I'm happy with what I saw.

Ice rink

Centre Pompidou

Fountain near Center  Pompidou

Way further led us to the Centre Pompidou. What to say, one so unusual construction of glass and metal, centrally located. The museum was opened in December 1977, it became an instant success although, initially, people weren't thrilled by the construction of such building in the historic district. I find it interesting but....?

Background of the Center

To be continued....

Photos by: ilovetravels

Happy new year from Paris - Notre Dame

Notre Dame

We were thinking  about climbing to the towers of the Cathedral, but it was simply impossible, so many people and long waiting had no sense, so we decided to leave it for the next time, good reason for coming back. We were happy with sightseeing  the cathedral's interior, beautiful. Here are some photos, they're not the best quality, it was dark, but still ..

Zero Point in front of the Cathedral

Entrance to Notre Dame

Inside of Notre Dame

Inside of Notre Dame

Bethlehem in Notre Dame

Bethlehem in Notre Dame

Bethlehem in Notre Dame

Bethlehem in Notre Dame

To be continued...

Photos by: ilovetravels

Happy New Year from Paris - Pantheon, Sorbonne, Boulevard Saint-Michel and Notre Dame de Paris

Pantheon

Saint Etienne

Pantheon was built between 1764 and 1790 to replace the illustrious 11th century Church of Sainte Genevieve Abbey.  Sainte Genevieve Abbey was founded in 507 by King Clovis, the first french christian King, to house his tomb. Sainte Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris, was buried there in 512. During the 1789 revolution, the Abbey was closed down, the relics desecrated. The relics of Sainte Genevieve are now housed in close by Saint Etienne du Mont Church.

Le Pantheon now functions as a secular mausoleum and houses among others the remains of Pierre and Marie Curie, the physicists who discovered radioactivity, Voltaire, Rousseau and Victor Hugo, three famous French writers and philosophers. It is in Le Pantheon that French Physicist Leon Foucault made his famous pendulum experiment in 1851, demonstrating the rotation of the earth.

Sorbonne University

Sorbonne University

Paris Sorbonne University is the main inheritor of the old Sorbonne, which dates back to the 13th century. It was one of the first universities in the world. The biggest complex in France, dedicated to Literature, Languages, Civilizations, Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, is located on the original medieval foundations, and now extends to the Latin Quarter and to other areas in Paris. The University has two characteristics : rich culture and tradition, with top-quality researchers, and therefore an excellent scientific reputation shown through publications and international exchanges; its concern to constantly adapt to present day social and technological changes and to encourage as many students as possible to study at Paris-Sorbonne while preparing for their future careers.

Sorbonne University

The Sorbonne incites its students to think freely, to construct their own judgment, so that they can become responsible and inventive citizens who can promote dignity and peace culture. http://www.english.paris-sorbonne.fr/research/

Mico cat

This official site of the Sorbonne University briefly speaks about this famous institutions, I have nothing to add except that I, at this point, felt wonderful as part of a large smart family. There I met a cat Mico, who wasn't really in the mood for cuddling but I had a little chat with him.
 

Boulevard Saint-Michel

Boulevard Saint-Michel

The Boulevard Saint-Michel is one of the two major streets in the Latin Quarter of Paris the other being the Boulevard Saint Germain. It is a tree-lined boulevard which runs south from the pont Saint-Michel on the Seine river and the Place Saint Michel, crosses the boulevard Saint Germain and continues alongside the Sorbonne and the Luxembourg gardens, ending at the Place Camille Jullian just before the Port Royal railway station and the avenue de l'Observatoire. It was created by Baron Haussmann to run parallel to the rue Saint  Jacques which marks the historical north-south axis of Paris. It is really unique pleasure to walk this great spacious boulevard.

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

The Notre Dame is not the largest cathedral in the world, but surly is the most famous of all cathedrals in the world. The gothic masterpiece is located on the Ile de la Cite, a small island in the heart of the city. The site of the Notre Dame is the cradle of Paris and has always been the religious center of the city. The Celts had their sacred ground here, the Romans built a temple to worship Jupiter. A Christian basilica was built in the 6th century and the last religious structure before the Notre Dame construction started was a Romanesque church.

Notre Dame

Bishop Maurice de Sully started the construction in 1163. The Cathedral was to be built in the new gothic style and had to reflect Paris's status as the capital of the Kingdom France. During the Revolution, many of the cathedral's sculptures, gargoyles and interior was removed or demolished. Restoration of the Cathedral started in 19th thanks in part to the writer Victor Hugo who made the Parisians realize that cathedral was worth restoring who with his book 'Notre Dame de Paris'. The 20 year long restoration was led by a local architect, Eugène Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc. Viollet-le-Duc made drastic, controversial modifications to the building and even added a spire. The cathedral was restored again between 1991 and 2001, this time the historic architecture was carefully preserved.

Photos by: ilovetravels