Paris

Paris Unit

The Moulin Rouge in Montmartre is where the “can-can” dance started!

This info pertains to a cultural unit taught on Paris. Read below for information all about Paris!

Monuments/places you need to know:

Monuments-

  • la Tour Eiffel (the world-famous Eiffel Tower was originally built as an entry to the World Fair in 1889, and has served as a meteorological observation tower, a TV and radio tower, and currently has restaurants and gift shops )
  • la Défense (the modern business district of Paris is known as “la Défense” and “la Grande Arche” (the Big Arch) is the new mirror of the old Arc de Triomphe, it can be seen down the Champs-Elysées, and here there are many businesses, stores, malls, and offices)
  • l’Arc de Triomphe (located at the “Place de l‘Étoile” which is the name of the large junction of ~12 roads surrounding this monument)
  • les Champs-Elysées (most famous street in Paris, filled with luxury boutiques, cafés, and cinémas, it’s a beautiful tree-lined boulevard which ends at the Arc de Triomphe)
  • la Place de la Concorde (the obélisque is located in this important public square, to commemorate the beheadings of the guillotine during the French revolution, today you will see statues there)

Tout Autour de Paris (All Around Paris)-

  • le Métro (the Métro is arguably the world’s best subway system, underground lines run all over Paris, artwork in many of the entrance stairways)
  • la Seine (this river runs right through the middle of Paris, and divides it into the left bank “la rive gauche” and the right bank “la rive droite“), in the center of it (and Paris), is l’Ile de la Cité, an island made up of 2 chunks of land, where the Notre Dame cathedral is located, the “bateaux mouches” are the tourist boats that take visitors around Paris for a nice visit of many of the great sights and monuments, “les bouquinistes“sell books and other paintings and souvenirs along the sides of the Seine

Eglises-

  • (Cathédrale de) Notre Dame – (Gothic architecture, gargoyles, located on “Ile de la Cité”)
  • (Basilique du) Sacré Coeur –  (Mosque-like, white basilica, located in Montmartre- the northernmost part of Paris)

Musées-

  • le Centre Pompidou (modern art museum, as well as a huge audio-visual library)
  • le Louvre (arguably the most famous museum in the world, houses a large art collection, including the Mona Lisa, known as “la Jaconde” to the French)
    “la Pyramide” is the entrance to the Louvre, a glass pyramid created by I.M. Pei
  • le Musée d’Orsay (formerly a train station, now an art museum showcasing modern & Impressionist art)
  • les Invalides* (now a military museum, used to serve as a hospital for wounded soldiers, Napoléon is buried here)

Autres-

  • la Sorbonne (Paris most famous university, located in the “quartier latin”)
  • la Madeleine (Greek-designed temple honoring Napoléon’s armies, concerts now played there)
  • le Jardin des Tuileries (big, famous garden, visited frequently because it’s located in between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde)
  • Versailles (huge castle where Louis XIV and his royal court lived)

l’Histoire de Paris

Did you know the Romans called Paris “Lutèce” originally? It was later named “Parisii” for the fisherman that lived there. Re-visit your Paris reading with the map of Paris on the back to learn more about the history of the renowned city Paris.

 

Here are some links to learn more about these popular attractions in Paris:

Whether or not you actually ever have the pleasure of visiting Paris, the city of lights, everyone can enjoy learning about this culturally rich, history filled city!

Interesting links:

-Listen to the song “Champs Elysees” by Joe Dassin

–Interactive panoramic tour of Paris and its monuments

-official website of Paris

 

 

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