Sunday, 30 January 2011

Be Delighted by the Stunning Paris Opera House and all of it's Hidden Secrets

The Paris opera house has been around since 1669 under various different names such as the Académie d'Opéra, Académie Royale de Musique and Académie de Musique after Louis XIV wanted everyone in France to attend the opera. Charles Garnier was the architect who designed the Paris opera house after winning a competition and even left his signature somewhere in the Rotunda; he drew a lot from Neo-Baroque styles to create one of the masterpieces of its age.

This amazing building took 15 years to complete and used 74 sculptors and 14 painters to decorate every part of the building with such amazing detail that in 2000 when the main façade was renovated people were amazed to see how rich and bright the colors still were.

Everything about the Paris Opera house is beautiful and luxurious; it shows how at the time of its creation it was seen as a rich country with grand taste and liked to demonstrate their construction talents. Most of the surfaces are covered with red velvet to give a comfortable atmosphere as you delighted by the opera, everything else is either behind stunning statue or covered with gold leaf so that when the light from the stunning chandelier hits it the entire room glows.

The perfect way to see this amazing building is on a tour. There are so many small details that will escape you if you walked around alone, such as where Charles Garnier’s signature is and other legends that have taken place inside this amazing building. One of the most loved parts of the Paris Opera house is the Grand staircase; this is made out of different colored marble leading to all the different sections of the auditorium. Everyone can appreciate the beauty of the Paris opera house, whether you are an expert in architecture, design, French history or you know nothing about the Paris opera house, it will amaze you.

Thursday, 27 January 2011

Amazing Paris Tourism Experiences

Tourism to Paris has always been popular for many different aspects. It’s one of the rare capitals that have the ability to attract a wide selection of people, from the romantic couples that want a break away to the intellectuals that want to see all the great works of art up close.


The first area of Parisian life to ever attract a lot of Paris tourism was its romantic activities. These included simple things that most couples wanted to do such as stand under the Eiffel Tower. This has now turned into a multi-million pound a year trade. Now there are even more experiences such as eating at the Eiffel Tower restaurant, a Seine river cruise and other romantic activities such as seeing the Moulin Rouge which has also increased Paris tourism. One of the top romantic experiences for partners in Paris is the Moulin Rough show, Eiffel Tower dinner and seine river cruise package which gives you the best highlights of Paris nightlife in one stunning evening.


Paris tourism has also been increased through the mixture of Paris museums that have developed over the years. The most popular still remains as the Louvre museum with lots of people each year booking places on the skip the line Louvre tour so they can learn about the art work in the collection. The Louvre has works from some of the most famous artists of history including Da Vinci, Van Gogh and one of the greatestmost amazing ancient statues, winged victory.


But now there are also a big range of art museums dedicated to specific artists and museums for topics such as science and culture meaning more different classes of people are traveling there and improving the Paris tourism. Many of these small museums can be found through guided tours such as the Paris hop on hop off bus tour which takes you to lots of different sights across the capital. These types of tours also have an effect on Paris tourism because they have something on the tour for everyone which means that most of them will come back for another holiday.


Wednesday, 12 January 2011

The Paris Pass Is The Ideal Purchase For Everyone Taking A Holiday The French Capital

For anyone wishing to investigate as much culture as possible in the French capital, a pass for Paris should certainly be considered. It admits as much flexibility as needed and gives entrance a lot of different sights creating the perfect way to see as much of Paris as you hope.

The Paris Pass enables entry to more than over 55 amazing sights, including noteworthy historical sites and a range of museums showing a collection of things, from art to fashion to history. There is surely something on the Paris Pass for everyone. Skip the entrance queue tickets are incorporated on the busiest sights, such as to the Louvre, Musee d’ Orsay and the Arc de Triomphe, ensuring there will be a smaller amount ofless time wasted queuing up.

There is lots of of flexibility to be had on the city pass Paris too, making it individual and enjoyable for everyone. Choose which attractions to visit, and see as many as you like. The Paris Pass includes a metro card which can be used on the days the city tour Paris Pass is valid, on all Metro, buses and RER services, making getting to the desired destinations easy and hassle-free.

The Paris Pass is offered for 2, 4 or 6 days, enabling you to pick the option which will be good for your trip.

The Paris Pass includes a variety of other benefits too; a free audio tour of Paris worth £16, a map of Paris, intended mainly for Paris Pass holders, and numerous free gifts from certain shops and restaurants. A 120 page guide book is also given to holders of the Paris Pass so it is made easy to settle on and organise what you want to do and when.

The city pass Paris actually is ideal for anyone hoping to discover as much of the French capital as they are able.

Wednesday, 22 December 2010

Paris tourist attractions

So, if a list of the greatest tourist attractions in Paris had to be written it would include, more or less, the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre and a few other various churches. Here a few ideas for the the rest to be enjoyed on when posing in front of that big metal thing just doesn’t cut it anymore.

1. Pere Lachaise Cemetery

Famous but rarely visited by those on a tight time budget this has to be one of the most weird but fascinating sights in Paris as the attraction is with the life that seems to still course through this palace of the dead. At rest here are Oscar Wilde as well as Balzac, Chopin, most of him as his heart is in Poland, Marcel Marceau, Jim Morrison, Proust and Edith Piaf among many others.

2. Sights from films

While Paris has inspired thousands of films and almost all the streets could be a location for a chilling thriller or love-struck histoire one of the most well-loved is Amélie. Taking place principally in Monmartre you will have to look closely to spot any of the scenery as computer giggery helped to romanticize these almost mundane streets. Métro Lamarck-Caulaincourt, the metro at which the heroine gives the blind man a a sensory revelation is practically hidden away in this district on rue Lamarck. The Café des Deux Moulins, 15 rue Lepic at rue Cauchois is where Amelie was a waitress and dreamt up most of her good deeds and actually exists. Jules et Jim, Moulin Rouge!, La Heine, Paris Je T’aime and a multitude of others all used the famous sights dotted around the city.

3. Bois de Boulogne

Whimsically calming and unwaveringly idyllic the Bois de Boulogne is the green heart of Paris tourist attractions where the inhabitants go to breathe a slow, deep sigh of relief. After the dashing through the boulevards and underground tunnels find solace by the lake or sit back on the grass in the wood which has survived years of Parisian expansion and advancement. Also home to the Roland Garros tennis tournament there is as much life in this haven of tranquility as in the city itself. Take care at night though, the park comes alive and its green light turns noticeably red ..

4. Markets

If you are on the prowl for an obscure souvenir then look no further than one of the great markets of Paris. Busy and lively or an antique dealers dream and full of the a bounty load of goodies there is such a wide range the search pays off when you hone in on the one most tailored to your needs. Take the metro to the Latin Quarter for books, Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves for a flea market fix or Marché aux Oiseaux for a menagerie of any kind of caged animals you can dream of.

5. Cafés

Cafés with coffees, croque-monsieurs and cajoling locals, the charm of Paris is that there is a café for every visitor and Frenchman. It is a challenge to find a street in Paris which lacks a charming venue with the smell of coffee wafting out enticing visitors. The perfect respite and a excellent excuse for having a few coffees and as many baguettes as you can manage find your own new favourite, only to have to find it all over again the next day. Monmartre is both sedate and full of character and packed full of pastry shops.

Lido Show Paris

The first and original the only thing borrowed about this show is its name. The Lido Show Paris is steeped in tradition from the golden era of late night entertainment and risqu?, daring shows. The action started at the Lido Show Paris in 1948 and still comes to life on the Champs-Elysee today drawing wide audiences from all over the world every night. Renowned for the high-quality traditions of the shows and the class and unbelievable talent with which the perfomers dance, it is obvious why this has become a world-wide phenomenon and why it continues to be centre stage of the Paris cabaret scene.

Lido di Venezia

The term Lido that gave its name to the Lido Show Paris has its roots in the region of Venice on the outlying archipelago where bathing was commonplace from the late 19th Century. In Italian meaning ‘beach’ but the term has come to take on mystery and connotations of sumptuous spectacles and black and white tourists in striped beachwear. With a reputation for relaxing the members of high society from May to September a little known film festival began on the island in 1932. The Venice Film Festival continues today and attracts the biggest names in Hollywood and the international film world. The inspiration for cultural productions do not stop there as this weirdly shaped island between Venice and the Adriatic Sea was also the setting for Thomas Mann’s 1912 novel Death in Venice. Over the last few hundred years Doges would head out to the Lido to make the offering of a ring into the water to offer thanks and show respect to the waters, a custom that may need to be rekindled today to save Venice from encroaching waters.

Lido Show Las Vegas

The show in Las Vegas is an integral part of the history of shows in this dry but ever-sizzling city, which had been taken directly from the Lido Show Paris. The Stardust hotel paved the way by staging an original show instead of an act whose name alone would draw in the fans and won the praise of the public and hotel owners across Las Vegas. The Lido Show Paris was copied from the streets of Paris to the desert of Nevada and was so popular other resorts followed suite and began to stage more outrageous and boisterous shows to rival the ones that had gone before. The show enjoyed a 31 year run and was replaced in 1991 after showing visitors to Las Vegas how to have a real good time. The presence of some European class to the star-filled programmes of yesteryear revolutionized the Vegas shows as we know (and love) them today.

Tuesday, 21 December 2010

The stunning Seine River cruise and what it has to offer you

The Seine River has throughout history been the spirit of Paris for its commercial use and now attracting tourists with the Seine river cruise. The Seine river cruise has been a piece of Paris for many years and has proven to be a wonderful way to see historical attractions such as Notre Dame and the Louvre Museum from a new point of view. The river has 37 bridges over it all of very diverse time periods so you can enjoy the contrast between them and the more modern.

A lot of tourist operators now present a land a water tour due to the rising number of cruise suppliers. Others have started offering more mature activities for while you’re on the Seine river cruise such as champagne tasting and romantic dinner’s. Whatever you decide to do after you French cruise you will be spoilt for choice because as more tours appear the more they diversify. You could find a tour that is specifically history related or art which means that everyone will feel like they have had a brilliant time.

The food on offer on some of these Seine rive cruises are at an extremely high standard for what you would be expecting on a tour. The best French cuisine is served with dinner so if you have the time to make a full evening of your tour then it is widely recommended. The evening is also one of the best times to see all the attraction of Paris and understand why it’s called “the city of light”.

Many tourists include the Seine river cruise as a must while on their Paris holiday for its splendid views of the shores of Paris. Even though throughout the evening it’s the ideal romantic setting for couples it caters for everyone during the day with some seine cruises offering lunch and tour guides to tell you a little about each site you pass.

Louvre tickets

1. The Mona Lisa

The primary reason for swathes of people waiting in line for Louvre tickets and is situated within its own room to deal with the volume of curious eyes and tours of visitors. Smaller in real life than most people expect but still one of the most intruiging faces ever captured on canvas, the young lady behind the Mona Lisa still mystifies, her knowing smile politely aimed at those who come to see her.

2. Winged Victory

Lovingly rebuilt after being discovered in 1863 the statue is an acknowledgement of the love the French maintain for the rich history housed within the Louvre. The statue has experienced a significant makeover and still provides historians with a puzzle to figure out as pieces of the arms and fingers were discovered throughout the 20th century. Homage to the goddess Nike the piece ensured victory for the brave sailors of the time.

3. Venus de Milo

A fitting statue in the city of love this sculpture of Venus, the Roman goddess of love (or Aphrodite to the Greeks) is dated to about 100BC. Even though she is today limbless on the upper part of her body the statue is one of the finest examples of Hellenistic sculpture, and is undoubtedly more enthralling in reality than in photographs or drawings, as is true of all goddesses.Worth the Louvre tickets alone.

4. Liberty Leading the People

Understand the people of Paris and France through this painting alone. One of Delacroix’s most heralded works the image stands as a symbol of the freedom of the French civilians and their struggle for liberté, egalité and fraternité. Created in 1830 after the July Revolution the painting shows hope for the future as Marianne stands at the head of the population as well as containing many images of the still-recent French Revolution.

5. The building itself

The biggest star according to some as the centuries old palace is coupled with glasswork designed and built in the 1980s. With the potential for being a crime against the Louvre palace the glass shape has transformed the entire area into a unique and fascinating attraction.