France Travel Guide

Travel Information and Travel Packages to France and Another Travel Destination in the World

August 5, 2011
by Rosemary R. Sandoval
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Les Halles and the Church of Saint Eustache

Les Halles and the Church of Saint Eustache After Ile de la Cité, that gave birth to Paris, Les Halles is the city’s oldest and most steeped in history. Today it is one of the most popular and frequented.

les halles and the church of saint eustache

Back in 1135, in the days when Paris was growing and increased their supply needs, Louis VI the market was transferred to the Place de Greve (now Town Hall Square) to the present site of Les Halles. In 1183, Philip Augustus ordered the construction of two large frames that Parisians called “find”, covered markets. For centuries retain its role of market and increase its facilities.

A mid-sixteenth century corporations and artisans were also installed there, and the streets of the area took their names: Rue au Lard, de la Poterie, the Ferronnerie, de la Lingerie, Déchargeurs des … Continue Reading →

August 5, 2011
by Rosemary R. Sandoval
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The Tuileries Garden

The Tuileries Garden, the whim of Catherine de Medici, is the oldest garden in the city and was the first public garden.

the tuleries garden

From the twelfth century this vast space had been occupied by factories “tuiles” (a kind of tiles, from which it derives its name) and orchards. In 1564, Catherine de Medici had built there a palace, the Tuileries Palace, surrounded by a large garden Florentine style, which emphasized ornate sculptures fountains, a maze, lots of fruit and ornamental trees, lawns, potted flowers, and even a vineyard garden …

Large lavish receptions and parties were held in these gardens, which by then were the queen’s personal gardens and were surrounded by high walls. In 1594 they planted cypress trees and lots of mulberry trees for silkworm rearing. Stables and cages with birds also had their place in this small paradise. Continue Reading →

August 5, 2011
by Rosemary R. Sandoval
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The Hotel des Invalides

The Invalides save the Dome Church in the mausoleum with the remains of Napoleon and is home to museums related to the military past of France.

the hotel des invalides

The Hotel des Invalides in Paris is a monument by a royal edict that ordered the construction of King Louis XIV in 1670 for the purpose of receiving war wounded soldiers or too old to serve as a way to ensure help and assistance those who risked their lives in defense of the monarchy.

The project for construction of the hotel (somewhat reminiscent of Philip II at El Escorial in Spain) was entrusted to Liberal Bruant and in just three years the construction of the set was finished. In October 1674 the first soldiers were installed. By the end of the seventeenth century, the hotel housed some 4000 retirees, who worked to combat idleness in workshops produce uniforms, footwear and upholstery. Continue Reading →

August 4, 2011
by Rosemary R. Sandoval
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The Conciergerie

The oldest royal palace in Paris became famous when it became important figures in prison at the time of the Revolution.

the conciergerie

The Conciergerie, the imposing building that occupies the western end of Ile de la Cité is the oldest remnant of the royal palace in Paris, turned into a prison in the fifteenth century. Having been the site of a royal residence since Roman times, were the Capetian who since the tenth century, to show their power against the feudal lords built the huge palace.

Between the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, Philip the Fair extended and embellished it further, making the most sumptuous palace of the royal residence of medieval Europe, while constituting an important administrative center. From this period are preserved Gens d’Armes Salle and kitchens to build John the Good. From the reign of Charles V of France in the late fourteenth century, the kings abandoned the Palacio de la Cité to fill the Louvre and Vincennes, leaving the old guard Concierge palace and given powers of police and justice. Thus, the lower parts of the building was converted in prison. For the fifteenth century, was already the main prison in the city. Continue Reading →

August 4, 2011
by Rosemary R. Sandoval
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Centre Georges Pompidou

Centre Georges Pompidou Nestled in the historic center of Paris, the Pompidou Centre a few reactions provoked not by his daring and avant-garde design.

centre georges pompidou

The National Museum of Modern Art Georges Pompidou Centre, also known as the Centre Beaubourg or more simply as the Pompidou Centre is located in the heart of Paris, between the neighborhoods of Les Halles and Le Marais, not far from City Hall (Hotel de Ville).

Saint-Martin Street, which passes in front of the museum’s main entrance, is one of the oldest in Paris, with more than 2000 years old. This area has attracted since the Middle Ages many bankers and traders who settled there forming the Beau Bourg, something like “nice neighborhood”, a select neighborhood merchants in full swing. Continue Reading →

August 4, 2011
by Rosemary R. Sandoval
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The Champs Elysees

Champs Elysees avenue in the world famous romantic and luxurious shops are concentrated, theaters and offices of major companies.

champ elysees

The Champs Elysees is without doubt the most famous streets of Paris. Stretching a mile and seventy yards wide, was born in the Place de la Concorde and reach the Place de l’Etoile, where stands the majestic Arc de Triomphe. From the Louvre, with its rectilinear succession can be seen in the Arc du Carrousel, Jardin des Tuileries, the Obelisk de la Concorde, the avenue leading to the Arc de Triomphe. This straight path is continued beyond to reach the Grande Arche de la Defense.

The eastern part is bordered by green spaces, the Plaza Marigny, and important buildings such as the Petit Palais and Grand Palais, off the Pont Alexandre III. Both palaces, facing each other and separated by Churchill Avenue, were built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900. Continue Reading →

August 3, 2011
by Rosemary R. Sandoval
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French National Library

Its modern design features four towers symbolizing open books.

french national library

The National Library of France, also known as BNF is the largest library in the country and one of the most important worldwide. Physical collections that houses are estimated at about 30 million volumes and also has an outstanding digital library of documents and images: Gallica.

The headquarters of the National Library of France is in the “Mitterrand site,” the modern building opened in 1998 in District XIII, but its activities also develop in other buildings and offices in Paris and elsewhere in France. Continue Reading →

August 3, 2011
by Rosemary R. Sandoval
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City Hall – Hotel de Ville Paris

Just a few meters from the Centre Pompidou, from the Rue Rivoli and the Seine, stands the City Hall of Paris, opposite the Place de l’Hotel de Ville.

city hall - hotel de ville paris

The square and City Hall are closely linked to the history of Paris since medieval times. The square was just a rocky area until in 1141 merchants carrying goods through the port Sena settled there, in order to relieve the de la Cité. Thus, in the port of Greve anchored boats with supplies of wheat, wood, coal, wine …

In 1170 the king had given these “merchants of water” monopoly on the supply, which gave them some power and that all goods came mainly by ship. Continue Reading →

August 3, 2011
by Rosemary R. Sandoval
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The Palais Bourbon – French National Assembly

From the Place de la Concorde, Concorde bridge leads directly to the Palais Bourbon, seat of the French National Assembly.

the palais bourbon - french national assembly

The building was built between 1722 and 1728 at the request of the Duchess Louise de Bourbon, daughter of Louis XIV. Several architects have occurred during construction, Giardini and died prematurely and continued Cailleteau Aubert and Gabriel, who concluded. In 1764 the Prince of Condé undertook an expansion that lasted until the time of the Revolution.

The building is a palace in the style of the Grand Trianon at Versailles. In 1791 it was confiscated and declared a national asset. In 1794 it housed the Ecole Polytechnique, before being affected in 1795 as headquarters of the Council of Five Hundred, which were undertaken for renovation, by architect Fontaine. Continue Reading →

August 2, 2011
by Rosemary R. Sandoval
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The Arc de Triomphe

the arc de triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe is one of the most spectacular historic monuments of Paris, in part due to its special location in Place de l’Etoile (now Place Charles de Gaulle), from which extends radially 12 avenues, one of them the famous Champs Elysees. It thus offers an impressive view of the Louvre and Place de la Concorde in the east end of the Champs Elysees, and the Grande Arche de la Defense west end of Avenue de l’Armee.

A mid-eighteenth century, a time of great achievements in urban city such as opening large avenues, where the arc is currently a large square was empty. Ideas to fill this space were numerous and some crazy-like building a giant elephant with theater and ballroom! -. Continue Reading →