Things to Do in Île-de-France - page 2

Poised overlooking the Seine, the Palais Bourbon dates to 1722. Originally built for the Duchesse de Bourbon (a daughter of King Louis XIV), the Palais Bourbon has been used to house legislative bodies, including the French National Assembly—the lower house of the French Parliament—since the end of the 18th century.

The Panthéon, which dates back to 1790, is one of Paris’ most striking monuments. A fine example of early neoclassical architecture, the mausoleum houses the remains of some of France's most revered artists and writers, among them Rousseau, Voltaire, Zola, and Dumas.

Glass-sheathed, modern towers house a world-class book collection at the French National Library in Paris. More than 15 million volumes are here, including royal book collections that date back to the Middle Ages, and the library hosts rotating exhibitions that range from artistic masterpieces to historic manuscripts and artifacts.

With more than 61 acres (25 hectares) of flower-lined lawns, formal French gardens, and shady chestnut groves, the Luxembourg Gardens (Jardin du Luxembourg) are one of Paris’ most idyllic green spaces. On sunny afternoons, this is the Left Bank picnic spot of choice for fashionable Parisians.

Place du Tertre is a famous square in the Montmartre neighborhood of Paris known for its artists and bohemian crowd. It is located just a few meters from Basilique du Sacré-Coeur and close to where painters like Picasso and Modigliani used to live and work; at the time, Montmartre was called the capital of modern art in the early 20th century. In fact, there is a museum dedicated to the works of Salvador Dali a few steps from Place du Tertre. Its other claim to fame dates back to 1898, when Louis Renault’s first automobile was driven up the steep Montmartre hills, kickstarting the lucrative automotive industry in France.

The smaller companion to the neighboring Grand Palais, the aptly named Petit Palais is both an art venue and an architectural landmark. Like the Grand Palais, the Petit Palais was originally built for the World’s Fair in 1900. Today, it houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris (the Fine Arts Museum of the City of Paris).

From riding Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain to flying with Peter Pan and snapping a selfie with Mickey Mouse, few theme parks serve up as much fairy-tale magic as Disneyland®. With some 14 million annual visitors, Disneyland® Paris is Europe’s biggest theme park, boasting adrenaline-fueled rides, state-of-the-art movie sets, and spectacular shows and parades that make it a fantasyland for kids and adults alike.

One of the highlight outlet shopping malls of the Greater Paris region, La Vallée Village is located in Marne-la-Vallée, very close to Disneyland® Paris. Home to over 110 boutiques from a range of brands and designers, and featuring discounts of at least 33 percent, the mall is popular among budget-conscious fashionistas.

Crazy Horse cabaret’s burlesque-style show celebrates femininity and the art of seduction, with elaborately choreographed routines performed by dancers wearing custom-made red-soled Louboutins, bob wigs, bright red lipstick—and often little else. Avant-garde artist Alain Bernardin established the intimate underground venue in 1951.

Home to elegant hotels, storied couturiers, jewelry houses, and even the Ministry of Justice, the sweeping Place Vendôme is one of Paris’ most rarefied public squares. Located in the first arrondissement and near the Louvre, the square is famed for its history, impressive architecture, and for the Napoleonic Vendôme Column.

The Alma Bridge stretches over the Seine in the center of Paris, connecting the Champs-Élysées area to the Les Invalides monument where Napoleon Bonaparte is buried. Here you will find a perfectly composed view of the Eiffel Tower—plus a font of city history, both triumphant and poignant.

Built under the orders of Louis XIV beginning in 1670, Les Invalides—also known as the Hôtel National des Invalides—was created as a hospital and care facility for wounded war veterans. Today, the site still serves that purpose, though the sprawling complex also comprises several museums, numerous courtyards, and Paris’ tallest dome.

An expansive green space that stretches between the Eiffel Tower and the École Militaire (Military School), the Champ de Mars has been an important public park since the 18th century. Key episodes of the French Revolution took place here, as did several World’s Fairs. Today, it’s a popular stop for relaxing and sightseeing.

With its mixture of gourmet markets, cool bars, and historic landmarks, Paris' bohemian Bastille neighborhood allows travelers to escape the city's bustling center and discover the "Parisian's Paris." The heart of the area is Place de la Bastille—the former home of the Bastille fortress—where traffic whirls at a roundabout topped by the 170-foot (52-meter) Colonne de Juillet.