Paris, the city of lights, and its Ile-de-France region, are an invitation to discover the French way of life. Insanely romantic, the Seine will guide you along a route that is rich with discoveries, extraordinary monuments and unlikely atmospheres... The place for culture, fashion, design and even contemporary art, Paris and its region will make your head spin!
PARIS
The capital of France is also the world capital of romanticism, shopping and gastronomy. A stay in Paris will of course include a visit to must-see monuments like the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame cathedral, Sacré-Coeur, etc. But it should also include walks around the hill of Montmartre or haphazard strolls along the cobblestone alleyways. Make time to visit its numerous museums, which will have something for every interest. The destination benefits from a calendar of cultural and festive events that bear witness to its ever-renewing vitality.
What to see
- Museum national d'Histoire naturelle
The plant and animal world will no longer hold any secrets from you, once you have visited this museum located in the Jardin des Plantes in Paris.
- Centre Pompidou
In this building sporting unusual architecture, one of the largest museums in the world dedicated to modern and contemporary art.
- Palais Garnier
Whether for a show or to admire the flamboyant architecture, don’t miss the Opéra National de Paris.
- Musée de l'Orangerie
Located at the heart of the Jardin des Tuileries, this boasts a collection of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings.
- Musée Jacquemart-André
On the illustrious boulevard Haussmann, this magnificent Second Empire private mansion houses a rich and varied art collection.
Exceptional cultural sites
1 Cité de la Musique
2 Musée de l'Armée - Hôtel national des Invalides
3 Museum national d'Histoire naturelle
4 Musée d'Orsay
5 Musées du parfum Fragonard
6 Centre Pompidou
7 Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine
8 Espace Dalí - Montmartre
9 La Cinémathèque française
10 Montparnasse 56
11 Musée national des Arts asiatiques Guimet
12 Musée Rodin
13 Musée Marmottan Monet
14 Opéra national de Paris - Palais Garnier
15 Musée du Louvre
16 Musée du quai Branly
17 Musée de l'Orangerie
18 Musée Jacquemart-André
19 Arc de Triomphe
20 Conciergerie
21 Panthéon
22 Sainte-Chapelle
23 Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral
ILE-DE-FRANCE
The historic heart of France owes its name to the many waterways that cross it. A “nature” destination then, with its parks and forests, such as the Bois de Vincennes, the Forêt de Fontainebleau and the Vallée de la Chevreuse, a paradise for the impressionists. But Paris Ile-de-France is also one of the youngest and most multi-cultural regions in Europe, and its creative energy is unfailing.
What to see
- Domaine de Chantilly
Its château, its forest, its park and its museum make the visit to this 8000-hectare medieval estate unmissable.
- Château de Thoiry
130 species of animals over 150 hectares at the foot of a sumptuous château, for a family oriented cultural and natural visit.
- Château de Vaux Le Vicomte
Built on the order of Fouquet, superintendent of Louis XIV, this 17th-century edifice was the main source of inspiration behind the Palace of Versailles.
- Villa Savoye in Poissy
Nicknamed “Les Heures Claires”, this house built during the inter-war years perfectly illustrates Le Corbusier’s ideas of modernism.
- Château d'Auvers sur Oise
Follow in the footprints of the great names of impressionism who shaped the history of the village and the world of art: Van Gogh, Monet, Degas, Renoir…
Exceptional cultural sites
1 Domaine de Chantilly
2 Château de Thoiry
3 Château de Vaux le Vicomte
4 Villa Savoye, Poissy
5 Château d’Auvers sur Oise
6 Palace of Versailles
7 Saint Denis cathedral
8 Château de Maisons
9 Château de Rambouillet
10 Château de Vincennes
11 Palais et Parc de Fontainebleau
12 Provins, medieval fair town
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Shopping in the marais
Take the opportunity to walk through the capital to meet its small designers and the districts where they are based. Head for the Marais in particular. Here, every street is the perfect chance to explore new trends. In the Haut Marais district, talented young designers have filled shops or former workshops and rub alongside the recognised brands that have given the district its identity as a haven for designers. There is also jewellery and leather goods... don’t miss it!
M Saint Paul or Hôtel de ville
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Paris museum pass
The Paris Museum Pass offers free access to the collections of more than 60 museums and monuments in Paris and its region. Different packages, pass access, attractive prices…
Agenda
May/October: Candlelight visit, Vaux le Vicomte
June: Saint-Denis festival
June/July: Auvers-sur-Oise festival
July/August: Paris Quartier d’Eté/Paris Plages
August: Rock en Seine in Paris
September: Festival d’Automne in Paris
Jazz à la Villette in Paris
September/October: Saison Musicale festival in Royaumont
Île-de-France festival
October: International Contemporary Art Fair in Paris