Poets, dreamers, artists and lovers… Paris displays a love for art as passionately as it does the art of loving!

Ah! Paris! A city one could fall in love with immediately, for its grace and casualness. The Parisians truly know what it is to live le bon vivant or the good life. Roadside cafes abound, with Parisians and tourists alike having a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, watching the world go about its business. Smartly dressed women take their dogs (often dressed in a matching suit), for a walk. The traffic is as crazy as in any modern city. But there's something in the air that seeps into your soul and makes you wish you wouldn't have to leave. And this is on day one!

Paris is like a museum of architecture and fine arts without any walls. Every building is an architectural masterpiece, exuding dignity and grace. In fact, like London, Paris too, is an agglomeration of 20 arrondisements or districts, each with its own character. There's the Latin Quarter, the Jewish Quarter, the Artists' district, and so on. The river Seine divides the city down the middle and there's even an island in the center of the city!

The Eiffel Tower

Our Tour of Paris begins at the Eiffel Tower. Built as a temporary exhibit in 1889, it is today, Paris' most recognizable landmark. Take the elevator to the top for a breathtaking view of Paris. From the Eiffel Tower, we move on to its classical counterpart, the Arc de Triomphe. This 160 year-old stone arch was built to commemorate the glory of France and its victory in over 128 battles! The arch is a monument to the soldier's bravery and there's a small museum in one of the towers too! For a truly magical experience, visit it just before sunset and then wait until it is bathed in a soft yellow light, once the sun goes down.

Arc De Triomphe

Paris has one more arch that's worth a visit. The Grande Arche de La Defense, in the suburb of La Defense, is a 35 storey arch, conceived in the 1600's, but built over 300 years later. From the Arc de Triomphe, we go to another one of Paris' enduring icons, the Notre Dame Cathedral. Stories from the Bible are masterfully told through friezes on the walls and stained glass windows. Climb to the top of one of the towers for a panoramic view of the Seine and much of Paris.

No tour of Paris is complete without a visit to the Cathedral du Sacre Coeur (Cathedral of the Sacred Heart), perched upon the hill at Montmarte. Visit the Cathedral at night and the meaning of the word ethereal becomes immediately apparent. The Cathedral is one of the few structures that survived the German Blitzkrieg during World War II and is lit only by candles from within. And tales from the Bible are told by exquisite mosaic paintings. Spend a litlle while together in this oasis of peace, before stepping out into the hurly-burly of the Parisian night, once again.

The modern and Classic faces of the Louvre Museum

Another must see in Paris is the Louvre Museum. Once a royal palace, it is today the home of the famous Mona Lisa and has the honour of being the world's largest museum. Its treasures comprise of antiquities and artefacts from all the major civilisations and cultures in history. It would take a person a few years to see the entire collection!Paris lives in the little streets, the bakeries touting baguettes (French bread), the little cafés and the cuisine. The French believe that a meal should have many courses and each should be savoured, followed by a short break to allow one course to be truly appreciated before the next one comes along. So, you'll have more than enough time to gaze into each other's eyes, between courses!

More >>