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Historical Places in France

The Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris is known for its splendid location, towers, flying buttresses, and spire. For centuries, the 70 metres high Notre Dame Cathedral remained as one of the tallest and most precious edifices of Paris. Visitors coming here admire the beauty of the cathedral as a masterpiece carved out from French Gothic architecture.

Till date, it is rightly acknowledged to be one of the most significant Middle Age monuments of Paris.What makes the Notre Dame Cathedral as a unique monument is its unique revolutionary medieval design. The brilliance of the innovative Gothic flying buttresses technology is evident in every nook and corner of this cathedral.

Founded in the year 1163, the construction of this magnificent structure lasted for around 200 odd years with tonnes of architects’, stonecutters’, and carpenters’ contribution. The magnificently stained stunning windows here filter every ounce of the ethereal light that strikes the cathedral. In the evening, the illumination created by the votive candles amplifies the spiritual sense of the ambience here.

The cathedral has twin towers which are opened for visitors. To enter the tower, you need to make your way through the left side of the front doorways and then climb the 387 steps present there. The moment you make it to the top, you will be treated with a splendid view like never before.

The Louvre Museum, officially known as the Great Louvre, is the national museum of France and is situated on the right side of the 12th-century fortress of Philip Augustus. It is the most-visited museums of the world that preserve a collection from ancient civilization to the mid 19th century.

The magnificent, baroque-styled palace and museum sit on the bank of the Seine river in Paris. It is one of the biggest tourist attractions in France and the entire Europe. The Louvre’s collection includes Egyptian antiques, ancient Greek and Roman sculptures, crown jewels, paintings by old masters and artifacts from French nobles among other such things.

Its collection spans from the sixth century BC to the 19th century AD. More than 35,000 works are on display at any given time at the museum.

Spread over the 5th and 6th arrondissements of Paris, the Latin Quarter is a culturally and geographically rich area in France's romantic capital. It graces the river Seine on its left bank and roughly encircles the University of Paris or Sorbonne.

The Latin Quarter is known all over the world to be an educational centre. Besides the historic University of Paris, institutions including École Normale Supérieure, the École des Mines de Paris, Panthéon-Assas University are present in the area.

Even the Schola Cantorum, the Jussieu university campus, and the École Polytechnique educational institutions have been established in the area very recently. Due to the presence of such significant centres of education, this area has a vibrant student life, bistros, pubs, restaurants, malls and cafes.

If you are looking to spend your vacation amidst the lively streets of Paris, the Latin Quarter is one area you shouldn't miss exploring.

The Panthéon is a major monument in Paris which was built before the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. The monument offers a panoramic view of the city and is visited by tourists in large numbers. This historic monument was built between 1764 and 1790 as a church. Later, after a few decades, the building was converted into a mausoleum.

Panthéon has undergone many architectural changes and modifications due to the damage done during the First and the Second World War. Due to the various modifications done to the Pantheon, tourists can witness an amalgamation of various architectural styles in the monument.

The monument is admired for its architecture and designing. Panthéon has the Gothic style of architecture with a blend of Corinthian architectural patterns. With its detailed engravings on the walls and the pillars, Panthéon is one of the most architectural and beautiful monuments.

A shrine to the military history of the French Capital, Les Invalides is a building complex located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. Serving as both a care facility for war veterans and a revered place of worship, the compound was designed in the 17th century in Paris. The hospital complex is situated towards the left bank of the River Seine and faces a long esplanade attached to the great river.

Les Invalides is identified by its grand golden dome and intricately decorated features. Its grandiose architecture is the signature of the Baroque style. Constructed by king Louis XIV as a care facility for French war veterans, the complex still holds to its original purpose.

Les Invalides is home to several tourist attractions including three famous museums and the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte. These sites hold your hand and make you travel through time to the era of the French revolution.

Musée de l'Armée is an army museum where you could find some priceless collections dating back to the Middle Ages to Modern Days. Situated in the heart of Paris, the museum is known to organize a fully modernized tour to acquaint you with the historical settings of France’s military. Some of the exciting collections at the Musée de l'Armée are inclusive of swords, armor, and coats of arms, emblems, historical figurines, artillery, photography, paintings, and uniforms. 

Due to its diversity of all in-house collections and the period they belong to, the Musée de l'Armée crowns itself as one of the most significant military and art museums in the world. The Hôtel National des Invalides, The Dome (tomb of Napoleon), Main Courtyard,  From Saint Louis to Louis XIV, From Louis XIV to Napoleon III, The Two World Wars,  The Historial Charles de Gaulle,  Extraordinary cabinets, The St. Louis Cathedral,  Museum of the order of the Liberation, and Relief maps are important map spaces here. 

Besides, the museum schedules regular exhibitions and guided tours for their visitors to relieve all the significant moments of France’s military history. There are recreational activities regularly scheduled for the young adult population. 

Once the museum closes for the public visit, you can accompany their curators and Museum restorers to extend your discussion or suggestions with a glass of champagne. Take this opportunity and share what better suggestions you have in your mind for the exhibits displayed here. Not many museums will allow you to do so!