A trip to Europe would not be complete without a stop to France and so, in 2015, we journeyed to the amazing city of Paris. As France’s capital, it is a global cultural center full of vibrant entertainment, glorious architecture, wonderful works of art, and delicious food. During our stay in this lively city, we were able to see countless popular landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame, the Statue of Liberty, as well as the incredible Louvre Museum and the enchanting Palace of Versailles.
Our adventures around Paris began with a visit to the Sacre Coeur. Also known as the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, it is a beautiful Roman Catholic church that is located at the top of the Montmartre, which is the highest point in the city. For those willing to brave the several staircases that lead to the top, you will be rewarded with a wonderful panoramic view of the whole of Paris. It is definitely a must see for anyone visiting this thriving city. The Sacre Coeur has cream-colored Romano-Byzantine features that rise high in the sky, and the inside is lavishly decorated with one of the largest mosaics in the world. The basilica also includes a garden with a fountain which can be used for meditation. As we walked around the Sacre Coeur, we were struck by its majesty. And so, before we left this lovely church, we lit a candle and said a silent prayer.
Once we had marveled at the Sacre Coeur, we took the metro to the far side of the city to see another famous religious building located in Paris, the Notre Dame. Built in the 12th century, Notre Dame is a cathedral of massive proportions and showcases the uniquely beautiful design of French Gothic architecture. We were thrilled to look upon the impressive and symmetrical white entrance, the lifelike gargoyle stone figures placed high atop, and the vibrantly colorful array of the stained glass windows, all of which left us breathless.
During our wanderings, we also came across the Pont de Grenelle Statue of Liberty. France gave America the Statue of Liberty in 1886, where it was placed with honor on Liberty Island in New York City. But we were interested to learn that America also gave France a smaller version of the same statue in 1889, to celebrate the 100 year mark of the French Revolution and to increase the bond between France and the United States. It is located in the middle of the Seine river, and is one of the wonders of Paris.
And of course no trip to Paris would be complete without a visit to the famous and impressive Eiffel Tower. It was purposely constructed as the entrance to the 1889 World’s Fair and has now become one of the hallmarks of the city. After enjoying the sight of the Statue of Liberty, we chose to take a nice long walk to this massive monument. As we strolled the length of the river, the Eiffel Tower’s large spire got larger and larger until we were directly beneath it. We gazed in admiration at the grand and intricate iron structure. It is beautiful in its own right – a perfect balance of art, science, and engineering.
Towards the end of our stay, we took a whole day to visit the Louvre, which is one of the largest and most famous museums in the world. Established in 1793, it now proudly showcases such dazzling works of art as the Mona Lisa painting, as well as the Venus de Milo and Winged Victory statues. Created in ancient Greece, the Winged Victory of Samothrace is a marble sculpture in the Hellenistic style and represents Nike, the goddess of victory. It is one of our favorite pieces of art and we were so thankful that we got to see it. As we both have backgrounds in the Humanities and Art History, we had a fun day excitedly running around the whole of the museum. Luckily, we were able to see most of the galleries before the doors closed.
France is a dazzling country, and Paris is its crown jewel. We’re so glad we got to experience this country as a whole, and this amazing city in particular. The memories gained during our stay will last a lifetime. 😀
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