The Most Famous Tourist Attractions in Paris
With over 38 million visitors in 2019, including 2.6 million Americans, Paris is the most popular tourist destination in Europe and one of the most visited globally. These high numbers are because the city has some of the best tourist attractions that any city can offer. These attractions provide visitors the opportunity to experience French culture, arts and see prominent structures.
One major attraction is the Eiffel tower. Inaugurated on March 31, 1889, the structure attracts almost seven million visitors annually. It is a cultural icon and is recognized globally as the primary universal symbol of Paris and France and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Until the erection of the Empire State Building in New York on May 1, 1931, the Eiffel was the tallest structure in the world.
The most adventurous part of the tower is reaching its top level at an elevation of 276 meters using an elevator. At this point, you'll get an unforgettable panoramic view of the city. The tower also has two restaurants offering visitors the best of French Cuisine. In addition, it is one of the most photographed structures in the world as visitors always ensure to take photographs covering the structure.
Religious structures are also some of the most visited sites in Paris. The Basilica Sacre-Coeur, a Roman Catholic church, and minor basilica is one of the main cultural attractions in the city, welcoming millions of visitors each year. Erected in 1914 in honor of the victims of the Franco-Prussian war in 1870, the church has a massive mosaic of Jesus Christ and is also one of the world's largest clocks.
The Notre Dame de Paris, is another catholic church that is widely popular among tourists. The church was built in 1163 with construction spanning over 100 years. There are also stunning artworks in the church like the rose window, gothic carvings, relics, and sculptures. The church has, however, been closed since April 2019 due to a fire outbreak that damaged a significant part of the cathedral.
Paris also features some of the most prominent museumsglobally,d. One such museum is the Louvre Museum; it is the most visited museum globally and one of the largest in the world. This museum was initially constructed in 1190 as a fortress but transformed by different French governments. There are over one million art objects in this museum, including the world-famous Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci. Other artworks include the Greek statue Venus of Milo, Micheal Angelos Dying Slave, and Winged Victory of Samothrace.
Another prominent museum that attracts tourists is the Musee d'Orsay. The museum houses plenty of 19th and 20th-century French impressionism art collected between 1848 and 1914. Some of The most prominent arts in the museum include The Magpie, Poppy Field, and Luncheon on the Grass, all by Claude Monet, Dance at Moulin de la Galette by Renoir, and the self-portrait of Vincent Van Gough. The museum also provides visitors with cafes, restaurants, and a gift shop.
In addition to the aforementioned museums, Paris has the Centre Georges Pompidou, a multi-purpose building that opened in 1977 and has welcomed more than 150 million visitors since its opening. The structure not only houses the Musee National d'Art Moderne, the largest museum for modern art in Europe, but also a public information library and other important museums organizations.
Also, Shoppers of luxurious goods can get them in the Champ Elysees, one of the most famous streets in the city. The street features many prominent establishments like Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co, Cartier, among others. Visitors can also get French food from the patisserie shop, Maison Laduree, which offers mouth-watering pastries and 18th-century tea-salon.