A Long Weekend in Paris
As a big fan of rom-coms such as Amelie and Paris Je T'aime, I have always wanted to visit and explore the romantic city of Paris.
To celebrate our anniversary, we had booked a long weekend away to see the capital and to find out what it's really like.
We did find out when we got there in August, most of the independent shops, restaurants and cafes close and have a shutdown for the summer. However, the high street shops and restaurants remain open. Its worth planning beforehand if you want to dine in a particular restaurant.
Day 1
First stop, breakfast! Continental style. We decided to visit a bakery. There were lots of French pastries to choose from, however the pain au chocolate stood out. I would definitely recommend visiting the bakeries even if you do not like pastries, they also sell sandwiches that were home-made.
The Louvre Museum
One of the most famous landmarks in Paris and not to mention the world's largest art museum. The Louvre Museum's vast art collection includes ancient Greek and Roman sculptures, paintings and artefacts from the 6th century B.C. to the mid-19th century A.D., and of course, Leonardo da Vinci's; The Mona Lisa and greek sculpture's Venus de Milo and The Winged Victory of Samothrace.
Day 2
Notre-Dame
Notre-Dame de Paris (Our Lady of Paris) is one of the most iconic landmarks in France. The medieval catholic cathedral was consecrated to the Virgin Mary and was completed in 1260. The cathedral was the setting of the famous Victor Hugo novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
There is a ticketing system where at the side of the Cathedral you collect a ticket with a time to enter the Cathedral. Climb the narrow steps to the bell tower and you will be rewarded with a great view of the city. I loved the Gothic architecture and the flying buttress, chimeras and gargoyles.
Saint Chapelle
The Saint Chapelle or Holy Chapel is a gothic style chapel that was built to house Louis IX's precious collection of relics including Christ's crown of thorns. It is widely recognised for its beautiful stained glass windows. The fifteen windows, fifteen metres high depict scenes from the Old and New Testament.
This museum was previously the former Gare d'Orsay railway station. Inside you will find the largest collection of French Art dating between 1898 to 1900. Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces from Monet, Van Gogh, Manet, Edgar Degas, Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley, Paul Gauguin, Alfred Sisley, Georges-Pierre Seurat.
Day 3
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is named after the French civil engineer Gustave Eiffel who designed and built the wrought iron structure. You can see his office at the top of the Tower.
The Eiffel Tower is symbolic to Paris and was constructed from 1887-1889 to commemorate the centennial of the French Revolution and to demonstrate the country's industrial engineering strength.
There are three levels; First level - glass floor, shops and cafe, Second floor - shops, restaurants, Third floor - observation deck and champagne bar.
Arc de Triomphe
The biggest arch in the world was commissioned in 1806 by Napoleon to celebrate his victory at Austerlitz. In 1836, King Louis-Philippe dedicated the Arc to the armies of the Revolution and Empire. The Unknown soldier was buried under the arch and the flame of remembrance is rekindled each evening.
Macaroons in Ladurée
Day 4
Palace of Versailles
This royal palace was the former residence of French kings from 1682 and was commissioned by Louis XIV. The Unesco World Heritage Site is located on the outskirts of Paris. Make sure you visit the Queens Hamlet in the Trianon Gardens and the landscaped gardens. I would recommend spending a day here as there is lots to see and the ticket queue can be long.
Bowl of Mussels
Sacré-Coeur
Montmarte's sacred basilica sits on top of the hill. The Roman Catholic Church dedicated to the Sacred heart of Jesus and was consecrated in 1919. You can walk up the steps or take the funicular to the upper station.
All images and material on the Under the Olive Branch blog are copyright protected and all rights reserved. Images and material are for personal viewing and evaluation only and are copyrighted @Undertheolivebranch unless otherwise indicated.