3x3 basketball, BMX freestyle, breakdance and skateboarding... Place de la Concorde will be hosting several events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, adding a new page to its already rich history.
© Paris je t'aime - Amélie Dupont
Since its construction in 1772, this mythical square has been the setting for many great moments in French history, including the executions of sovereigns Marie-Antoinette and Louis XVI. It is also in the centre of the Place de la Concorde that stands the oldest monument in Paris - 3,000 years BC. - the Luxor Obelisk**. You can also admire the Fontaine des Mers on one side and the Fontaine des Fleuves on the other, both equally monumental. Situated between the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, the Jardin des Tuileriues and the Rue de Rivoli, the square also overlooks the Seine and offers beautiful views.
© Jean-Pierre Delagarde
Standing majestically on the square, the Hôtel de la Marine is one of two parts - the other is occupied by the palatial Hôtel de Crillon - of two identical buildings facing the Seine. This architectural ensemble was designed in the 18th century by Ange-Jacques Gabriel, first architect to the king Louis XV. Since its construction, the building has had several lives: it was used as the Crown's furniture repository, as a centre for the naval staff, etc., before the Centre des Monuments Nationaux took over its management. Today, the Hôtel de la Marine is open to visitors: 12,000 square metres, including 4,000 square metres of built area, 553 rooms, four interior courtyards, magnificent decorations, exceptional furniture and objets d'art from the 18th and 19th centuries. It also houses the rich Al Thani collection.
© Fotolia - Tanya
Extending from the Place de la Concorde to the Louvre**, the Jardin des Tuileries is one of the capital's legendary parks. It owes its creation to Catherine de Médicis, who ordered it to be laid out so that she could build her palace close to the Louvre, where the king lived. Its name comes from the tile factories that were located there! Although the palace has now disappeared, the park and its formal gardens, designed by André Le Nôtre, are still there. Between the ponds - where children play with sailboats - the large lawns, pathways, groves and the statues by Aristide Maillol and Auguste Rodin, it perfectly combines nature, the art of living and culture. The Tuileries Gardens are bordered by a number of major museums: the Musée de l'Orangerie, which houses a magnificent collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, including Monet's large-format Water Lilies*, the Musée du Jeu de Paume, dedicated to photography and video images, and the Musée des Arts décoratifs.
The Tuileries Gardens are alive and kicking all year round: in summer there's a funfair and in winter a huge Christmas market.
The Tuileries Gardens were the site of the creation of the Olympiad of the Republic in 1793, and have played a role in Olympic history. It was here, during the epee tournament at the 1900 Games, that the system of three medals in three different colours was first introduced.
© Olivier Thomas
Located in the Marsan wing of the Musée du Louvre, the Musée des Arts décoratifs houses one of the world's largest collections of Art Deco and is associated with the Musée de la Mode et du Textile and the Musée de la Publicité. Furniture, tableware, design, fashion and textiles, jewellery, wallpaper, objets d'art, glass, Asian art, toys, advertising, drawings, photographs... There are more than one and a half million works covering a period from the Middle Ages to the present day. French art de vivre, craftsmanship and know-how** are all on display here, transporting visitors into a world of excellence and beauty.
Feeling peckish? Go to the Angelina tea room, a Parisian institution since 1903. For over a century, Parisians and tourists have been coming here to enjoy one of the best hot chocolates in Paris and the famous Mont-Blanc, a chestnut-based pastry created right here. An address not to be missed.
© 2019 - Musée du Louvre - Nicolas Guiraud
Once a fortress and then a royal palace, the Louvre became an exhibition space after the French Revolution with the opening of the Grande Galerie. New areas were gradually opened. Today, the Musée du Louvre is one of the most prestigious museums in the world. The Louvre's countless collections are divided into 8 departments: Egyptian Antiquities, Oriental Antiquities, Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities, Paintings, Sculptures, Works of Art, Graphic Arts and Islamic Arts. Among the most prestigious works are Leonardo da Vinci's The Mona Lisa, of course, the Venus of Milo, the Victory of Samothrace, the Crouching Scribe and Paul Veronese's The Wedding at Cana. You'll need 100 hours to visit the entire museum, or more than 4 full days with a 10-second pause in front of each painting!
Want to find out more about Olympic history? Visit the Greek and Roman Antiquities section to admire works on sports in Antiquity.
© Leo Serrat
Erected in honour of Louis XIV, the place Vendôme is one of the five royal squares in Paris and one of the most majestic! Lined with 27 identical town houses, it is home to prestigious names in fine jewellery, the Ministry of Justice and the palace Le Ritz Paris. Although it once had a statue of the king at its centre, it is now decorated with the famous Vendôme column, first erected under Napoleon 1st. Made from the bronze of enemy cannons, the 44-metre high column is topped by a statue of the emperor in the guise of Caesar...
Even if your purse doesn't allow it, you can always admire the windows of the greatest jewellers. Around Place Vendôme and Place Madeleine - particularly on rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré - you'll find all the top fashion houses. But for a more original experience, head to the Nain Bleu, one of the oldest and most surprising toy shops in Paris, opened in 1836!
© Paris je t'aime - Marc Verhille
The Place de la Madeleine was built around the church of the same name. Built between 1764 and 1842, the church's original architecture, the result of an eventful history, is a real eye-catcher. It was initially designed as a classical church, before being conceived as a pantheon to the glory of the armies of Napoleon 1st. It was finally consecrated and returned to Catholic worship. It therefore has the astonishing shape of an ancient Corinthian temple, and has neither a cross nor a bell tower.
Just a stone's throw from Place de la Madeleine, the Buddha Bar is surprising in many ways. Spread over two floors, this restaurant-lounge invites you to escape, thanks to both its décor and its Japanese cuisine. A wonderful discovery.
© Paris je t'aime - David Lefranc
Whether you go there to see a ballet performance, to visit it or simply to admire it, the palais Garnier is awe-inspiring! Commissioned by Napoleon III during Baron Haussmann's major transformation of Paris, it was designed by architect Charles Garnier. Behind its majestic Renaissance façade lie some real treasures: a grand staircase and a thirty-metre-high nave, an auditorium with a ceiling painted by Chagall and an 8-metre-high chandelier, a large foyer and even a secret pool!
