The Conciergerie palace turned prison where Marie Antoinette was held captive

La Conciergerie was the first royal palace that was built in Paris, and is found on the Ile de la Cite island, which was originally called Palais de la Cite, which eventually became a prison.

The name Conciergerie was from the official who was appointed from the king to oversee various prison records and policing. But that’s not all, the history of the La Conciergerie is intriguing from when it was a palace through to the French Revolution and the prison it became.

Today now it is one of the more popular tourist attractions in Paris, as it was the place Marie Antoinette was held before her beheading at Place de la Concorde, also you can visit the Sainte Chapelle, which was built within the palace right back in the 1240s.

Over the years the palace has gained much damage and been destroyed so only the lower parts remain in place, but there are still many halls and parts of the building which you can visit if you plan to go there while on holiday in Paris.

The lower floors of the building were for the numerous staff and Royal Guard which amounted to around 2000 people and had medieval halls reserved for them, in fact, the floor of the medieval halls are still as they were back in the 14th century.

The Hall of Men at Arms was built in 1302 under King Philippe IV, also known as Philippe the Fair. And the hall had four ribbed vaults, lit by two twin windows. Today the hall is classed as one of the finest examples of gothic secular architecture in all of Europe, with the refectory being heated by four large fireplaces and you can still see some traces of the windows on the left wall.

Above that, The Great Ceremonial Hall was found, which held impressive receptions and were conducted by the Capetian monarchy and was served by some spiral stairs. Again that floor has unfortunately also been lost, but on the left side you can see part of a black marble table which was used and an example of the spiral staircase.

The Guardroom which was built at a similar time to the Hall of Men at Arms and was used as an antechamber to the Great Chamber where the Revolutionary Tribunal and Robespierre were to sit back during the Reign of Terror. Although sadly, the Great Chamber has also fallen since and is no longer standing, but the Guardroom is still there with its engraved stone pillars.

The kitchen Outbuilding which was built in the reign of King John II, who was also known as John the Good, was used by all of the kings staff, with food being delivered from boats via the River Seine. But again it is only the lower floors which remain.

In the 1600’s there was a fire at the prison, and again in 1776 there was another but more severe fire, where King Louis XVI modernised the prison, which was also the same prison which became used to detain many famous people during the French Revolution before facing the guillotine.

Today now you can see reconstructions of concierge offices where any prisoner names were registered, as well as seeing the Grooming room, where all prisoners were taken away from their possessions before being executed.

And on the upper floor of this historical monument you can find a list of all the prisoners which were held here at La Conciergerie as well as getting to see various cells from over the course of five centuries of prison life.

Most people have heard of Marie Antionette, and where her prison cell once stood there is now a chapel, but not just that you can also see the reconstructed cell where she was held, constantly guarded by two Gendarmes in the dungeon prior to the execution at the Place de Concorde, which is one of the famous squares in Paris.

Additionally you can also visit the Womens courtyard which was surrounded by two levels of prisoner cells and with a fountain where they could wash their clothes, which is still remaining intact even today.

There was also a stone table which prisoners would eat at, as well as the Corner of Twelve as it was known, where prisoners would have to sit in groups of twelve before they were carted off to face the guillotine.

For all the history and interesting facts to discover, you can easily visit La Conciergerie which is located on the Ile de la Cite in the middle of the River Seine, which can be accessed via bridges which connect to the island, but also via the Batobus which runs along the river and stops at various tourist attractions in Paris. Or if you wish you can use a normal bus or even use the Metro.

This monument in Paris is open every day except for national French holidays from 9:30am and through to 6pm, available for many people to visit with additional guide booklets available in a range of languages such as English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, Italian and Japanese. Or if you prefer you can pre-book guides tours for groups of people while you visit while on holiday in Paris.

And along with the Conciergerie, you can also purchase a combined ticket for the Sainte Chapelle as well, which is also rich in history, especially when you consider that it once held the religious relic of The Crown of Thorns, before you think about visiting other tourist attractions on the Ile de la Cite.

Advertisement

The Pompidou Centre and the Musee d’Art Moderne museum in Paris

The Pompidou Centre, or the official name of Centre Georges Pompidou, or the other name of Beaubourg due to where it is constructed, or if you prefer its nickname of “the inside out building” due to how the building techniques which were used to provide much space, has much to offer for all of the family.

Although the history of the Pompidou Centre shares some light onto why it is here. With the initiative of French President Georges Pompidou who longed for a free public library to gain information but also a multi-cultural centre that would become home to Musee d’Art Moderne and more.

The opinion of the Pompidou centre can vary from being hideous to some and for others being an interesting tourist attractions in Paris, which has picked up popularity over the years. With millions of visitors from around the globe who visit the Modern Art Museum and the Pompidou itself, it has become one of the top places to visit while on holiday in Paris, suitable for all ages.

Within the middle you can find Biblioteque Publique d’Information, or for short, BPI, and it is a free to use informational library which provides many documents – both visual and audio, materials and much more which are up to date. On the same floor you can also find the Mezzanine cafe.

In the centre also there is the Musee d’Art Moderne museum which showcases many different arts which over the years have accumulated to over 60,000 different pieces of work to make it the largest collection in Europe which covers both the 20th and 21st century.

Obviously as you can imagine the building is very large, but even so it cannot display all of the artworks at once so there are different exhibitions over the year. With another part of the museum found on level 4 dedicated to contemporary art and a modern art section one level higher on level 5.

This tourist attraction has an unusual construction as we mentioned it is known as the inside out building and it makes the construction of the Pompidou centre rather unique due to having all ducting, escalators etc on the outside. But in addition to the museum and library, there are also two cinemas found at the Pompidou Centre, where one is on the 1st floor and the other is in the basement level where you can go and watch a film of your choice.

Also there is an area made for children for ages twelve and below, known as the Galerie des Enfents where workshops are available. As well at the 13/16 Studio which is designed specifically for teenagers with interactive workshops and it is available for free.

In other nearby areas you can find other sections including a graphic design studio, graphic arts galleries and other sections dedicated to media and film as well as a bookshop, cafe and much more.

Centre Georges Pompidou also has a visitors lounge and various information areas for the Musee d’Art Moderne, which generally translates to the Museum of Modern Art, as well as terraces on the 5th floor and not forgetting the restaurant named Le Georges on the 6th floor which proves fantastic views across Paris.

The centre is open every day except for Tuesdays and on the 1st May. From 11am it opens through to 10pm, although on a Thursday it stayed open an hour longer for exhibitions on the 6th floor.

The Musee d’Art Moderne is open from 11am to 9pm and has the same day closings as the Pompidou centre, whereas the BPI is open from midday to 10pm on weekdays and 11am until 10pm at weekends.

The centre is also accessible for those with disabilities with the entrance for them being on Rue du Renard is needed to be used, instead of the main entrance the piazza on Place Georges Pompidou.

Although there are also themed visits which are held here throughout the year in accordance to the different temporary exhibitions which are on display at the time as well as different workshops available.

Additionally there are also documentaries and films about the artists available in the lounge of the Museum of Modern Art on the fourth floor.

Also if you wish for an audio guide you can get one at the stand beside the bookshop in either English, French, German, Spanish or Italian.

Access to the centre for all the exhibitions and museums is valid for a whole day as well as giving you access to the panoramic views of the 6th floor. And for under 18s the permanent exhibitions of them museum are free, as well as being free for everyone on the first Sunday of every month.

There is also a panorama ticket you can buy if you are more interested in the view which can be seen, although for people under 18 it is free and those under the age of 26 who are a resident of the EU are also free, and only being €3 for those who do not fall into those categories make for a great way to see out over the rooftops of Paris and possible see some of the tourist attractions in Paris.

So if you are visiting for a holiday in Paris the Pompidou Centre is a great place to visit with just one of the many museums in Paris and other tourist attractions in Paris for you to visit, great for any age.

The Lido Cabaret Venue in Paris with its impressive sets and dinner shows

The Lido is a cabaret venue in Paris which provides entertainment dinner shows, an ice rink, pool, amazing scenes, the famous Bluebell Girls, water features and much more to enjoy any type of evening.

One of the revues hosted at The Lido is the Revue Bonhour which is more than just the ordinary show, allowing you to see many different scenes and emotions sure to keep you entertained during an evening.

And from one extreme to the other The Lido has it, with many special effects to hand, 23 different sets to utilise including a 5 metre tall Indian temple, 90 different spotlights for the acts, 80 thousand litres of water for the pool and the amazing amount of electricity they use for other such lighting which can amount to over 20,000 watts of usage!

For the Revue Bonhour alone there are over 70 different artists which go on stage, where The Lido also called for assistance from some of the best costume designers and best names in haute couture. Featuring many amazing amounts of luxury with over 600 costumes and over 500 pairs of custom made shoes. Additionally with an even more amazing need of over 150,000 pearls, 60,000 crystals, 150,000 sequins just for the stage jewellery!

From 7pm to 11pm you can have an amazing evening with a meal which has an orchestra playing or dancers on stage while you eat before 9pm where the lights dim ready for the show, which has become one of the most popular places for entertainment in Paris.

They allow two different options for the dinner, with one with a fixed menu and a slight increase in cost for those to have an option between courses which is a three course meal along with a half bottle of champagne or whine.

Some of the French cuisine served varies from smoked salmon, wasabi, green cabbage followed by roast pumpkin and grapes, fried duckling fillet and desserts consisting of hazelnut eclairs with caramel shards. Although if you are wishing for a more extravagant choice and menu for a bit more you can take a look at options such as lobster broth with tarragon and whipped cream, next with roasted veal, mashed vitelotte, spinach and crispy potato chips, then for dessert you can have the house speciality.

Although if you want more of the Ultimate evening at The Lido you can take the Service Premier which gives you a personalised welcome, a free cloakroom pass and have an aperitif served at the bar or table. As well as having one of the best tables within this cabaret venue in Paris to enjoy the show with the best views, but that’s not all, you can also get privileged service, water, coffee and champagne, a programme as well as a splendid five course meal.

Although another option at this tourist attractions in Paris is to take a visit to The Lido on a Tuesday or Sunday at lunch to take advantage of the revue which starts at 1pm with a show at 3pm.

Of course if you wish to visit the cabaret without having a meal you can choose to watch the show and enjoy the atmosphere with just a champagne and programme, or if you prefer, just have a drink or nothing at all, which is more suitable for those with a budget.

Although if you want something completely different you can take advantage of a guided tour of The Lido, which lasts 90 minutes and it even takes you around backstage to finish with a dinner revue.

The guided tour is every Friday at 4pm and takes you around to the various rooms and scenes so you can learn more about The Lidos history, be amazed at the fantastic work put into the sets, stage management and technical teams as well dressing assistants and more.

After the tour you can opt in for a champagne and revue or perhaps a whole dinner show experience depending on what you want. Although they do have to be booked in advance.

Although to gain access to the venue, which is located on the famous Avenue des Champs Elysees, you will have to make sure you are in formal wear and such things as shorts or sports clothing will not allow you access, but even so a jacket and tie is not needed but is appreciated and children over the age of four are welcome.

Also taking any kind of photos or filming or similar things are strictly prohibited, but you can purchase a programme so you can remember your experience.

But no matter if you choose to go for a full dinner or just want to visit this tourist attraction in Paris you are sure to enjoy yourself and the amazing show and food they supply while on holiday in Paris.

Napoleon Bonaparte I and the Tomb of Napoleon at Les Invalides in Paris

Les Invalides is a fascinating tourist attraction in Paris with many museums, fantastic architecture, amazing history and others to keep you entertained but one of the things you can also visit is the famous Tomb of Napoleon.

A bit of history on the well known emperor can help give an insight to the past history and what happened before we move onto the crypt or the tomb of Napoleon.

Napoleon Bonaparte I was from the island, Corsica, born in 1769 he was educated in military school and soon made his way through the ranks until he was commander of the French army in Italy, where he forced Austria and their allies to make peace.

Some years later a new threat loomed when Russia and Austria allied with Britain and Bonaparte returned to Paris as the government were in a crisis.

The year 1800 Napoleon Bonaparte I defeated the Austrians and negotiated a peace treaty, making France have the controlling power over Europe.. Thanks to that victory he was made a Consul for life and saw the making of the Bank of France, centralisation of the government and re-instatement of the Catholic religion.

But in only 1803 Britain had continued war against France, in 1804 Napoleon was made Emperor and rather than attempting to invade England after a defeat at Trafalgar in 1805 he focused on Russia and Austria and became victorious after the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805, which again gained control of Europe.

After that same victory is when he decided that a triumphal arch should be created so that his armies could march on their way home to Paris. Said arch is now the well known Arc de Triomphe and is now found at the Place Charles-de-Gaulle , which is one of the squares in Paris that was originally known as the Place Etoile. Yet he also had the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel constructed, which is located by the Tuileries Gardens of the Musee du Louvre.

The Holy Roman Empire dissolved and over the course of the next few years Napoleon placed family members and loyalists as leaders of other countries such as Spain, Holland and Italy. Yet when the Peninsular War began in 1808 it had a massive impact on France, draining their resources rather dramatically.

In 1814 Paris itself fell and Bonaparte went into exile on an Island in the Mediterranean. Although he did manage to escape, he quickly marched on Paris, the Battle of Waterloo ended his second but short reign and he became imprisoned on an Atlantic island by the British.

But it was on this remote island, St Helena, that he died in 1821, May 5th, and was buried a few days later on the estate of Mr Richard Torbett close to a spring. And even if his request to be buried along the river banks of the River Seine to be amongst his people, this never happened.

In fact it was almost over twenty years and it took seven years of negotiations from King Louis Philippe and the British government in order to bring Napoleons remains back so he could eventually rest in peace.

In 1840 King Louis Philippe chose Louis Visconti, an Italian born French architect to create a tomb that would accommodate the remains and be placed within the Eglise du Dome in Les Invalides.

It took just under six months for the full trip to be taken and for the coffin to be returned to Paris, but shortly after on the 15th December the state funeral was held in Paris. During the procession, Napoleons coffin briefly rested under the Arc de Triomphe, which is another tourist attractions in Paris but was ordered to be built by him, even though he never saw it completed.

From there the coffin and procession headed down the famous Champs Elysees Avenue, across the River Seine and eventually to the park to Les Invalides.

The Tomb of Napoleon itself is found within a circular crypt in the Eglise du Dome which had to go under major reconstructions and transformations for it to seem fit for the visions of the architect Cisconti. With a gallery which surrounds the tomb, depicting Napoleons civil achievements which were all created by the sculptor Pierre-Charles Simart.

The body of the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte rests within five coffins, which are made of tin, mahogany, lead, another lead and finally ebony all held within a sarcophagus which is found in the middle of the crypt.

The sarcophagus is made from red quartzite from Russia and is placed on a green granite base that came from the Alsace region of France in the Vosges mountains, circled by laurels and inscriptions.

There are also various sculptures to show the military victories of Napoleon places around the tomb of Napoleon which were made by Jean-Jacques Pradier as well as inscriptions on the polychrome marble floor to state eight famous victories.

At the side of the crypt there is a small chamber with a statue of Napoleon in his coronation robes and beneath that statue lays the remains of Napoleon II, who was his only legitimate son and was also known as The Eaglet.

For this reason a visit to Les Invalides is a great experience to see and appreciate the incredible architecture and history behind the Tomb of Napoleon but also the other things within Les Invalides which includes three museums in Paris such as the impressive Musee de l’Armee and much more while you are on holiday in Paris.

The Moulin Rouge cabaret in Paris with its windmill and famous cancan girls

The Moulin Rouge is another famous and well known icon within Paris where many will know of it from being the origin of the French Cancan in this cabaret venue, where over 100 years it is still visited from tourists from all around the world wishing to visit and have an experience.

The history of this spectacular tourist attractions in Paris in itself is interesting in how it has played host to many famous celebrities including that of Elton John, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and more, but also helped with the introducing of the French Cancan as well as helping upcoming artists reach popularity.

Additionally the Moulin Rouge has also featured as a title of a book by Pierre La Mure, which was later made into a film in 1952 named Moulin Rouge, staring Zsa-Zsa Gabor and Jose Ferrer, yet in 2001 there was another movie made, this time with the name of Moulin Rouge! which included the actors Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor. There have also been many drawings, paintings and posters made by the famous artist Toulouse-Lautrec who was seen frequently at this cabaret.

The cabaret in Paris isn’t hard to miss, featuring a large red windmill outside which used to be a prominent feature within the Montmarte area that used to be filled with many mills, yet today only a couple remain in existence.

Although the outside may look a little towards the old side with the windmill, when you walk in you can take a look at some of the Belle Epoque era art which covers the walls from mural paintings, original posters, Morris columns and more. And each small table is equipped with a soft red lamp that helps create a very warm and inviting atmosphere.

The revues, also known as shows, are still as breathtaking as they were years ago, with perfected choreography and acts, which all begin with the letter F which was a superstition back from the 1960’s where the Revue must begin with this letter, which is another amazing fact from the history of the Moulin Rouge.

This tourist attraction has stayed popular for over a century thanks to the variety it offers from dance to music, including acts from mime, singers and right through to acrobats, it is something for a completely unusual evening while on holiday in Paris.

And yet the cabaret venue still keeps true to its roots, with a dinner show which was firstly envisioned in the mid 1950’s and is still run by Dalloyou even today.

The last revue was held in 2012 and called Feerie, having a list of 80 artists as well as international acts, world known juggler and 60 girls, as well as everything being performed to original music made by 80 musicians and 60 chorus singers.

And yet that is not all, the costumes also play a major roll. With over 1000 different costumes featuring everything from rhinestones and sequins to feathers which were produced by the top Paris workshops as well as incredible sets which were made by Italian artists.

On top of all of that, the newest revues have recently gained the famous aquarium as well, which was the original idea of Jacki Clerico who had it constructed back in the 1950’s again.

One great thing is that even if this show in Paris is primarily in French it doesn’t take away from the breathtaking performance even if you cannot understand any of the songs, they can still sound amazing.

To see the revue you can go and see the show just by itself at either 9pm of 11pm at 95€ per person, and for another ten Euros you can also enjoy a glass of champagne or another choice of drink.

There is additionally a dinner show option where you can enjoy a three course meal at 7pm which is followed by the show at the 9pm showing. And obviously there are different meal options to pick from including a vegetarian and vegan. Which is either €175 or €200 depending which you chose, as well as half a bottle of champagne as of 2012.

Children under the age of 6 are not allowed but any under the age of 12 are allowed in for €50, and for a dinner cost with a soft drink at either €120 or €145

On top of those options the Moulin Rouge cabaret venue in Paris offers matinees on specific dates to watching the Show Feerie which starts at 2:45pm which includes half a bottle of champagne for €105. Or if you prefer you can have a set three course meal which begins at 1pm until 4:45pm at a cost of €145 as of 2012.

Of course not forgetting they also have special menus for certain times of the year such as for Christmas and more, but booking and checking pricing is always advised as it can vary greatly.

For this reason it makes the Moulin Rouge a fantastic tourist attraction in Paris to visit and enjoy a meal with a whole array of acts and performances in a great setting to enjoy while on holiday in Paris.

The impressive sculptures at the Musee Bourdelle museum in Paris dedicated to Antoine Bourdelle

The Musee Bourdelle is a museum in Paris dedicated to featuring works from the artist and sculptor Antoine Bourdelle, which is to be found within the studio and apartment where he worked and lived from 1885 in the Montparnasse area.

When you enter the museum one of the first rooms you would most likely come across is the Great Hall which was added extension in 1961 to commemorate a century after his birth. It was made to hold some monumental plaster works, such as one named the Monument to the General Alvear and another called the Dying Centaur, and there is also a bronze copy of this which can be found on display in the courtyard garden.

Another area you can visit is the front garden with a gallery and terrace and it holds one of Antoine Bourdelle’s more signature pieces, called Heracles the Archer.

Further along in the Musee Bourdelle you can find a room which forms part of the house where the sculptor lived from 1885, and even if he did move to a different apartment in 1918 he still used to come to work daily and entertain any visitors here. Which also makes this room a great place to discover some of the more personal items and a few collections he gained himself.

Another place you can find are the studios where Bourdelle would have worked, where the rooms were faithfully preserved by his wife Cleopatre Sevastos and his daughter Rhodia and include the pastels he would have used and much more.

The studio not only includes items he would use to draw but also materials, which show the variety of work he created, including wood and bronze. But not only was it for himself, it was for other students whom were taught by him, including Aristide Maillol, Henri Matisse and Germaine Richer.

There is also a private courtyard garden at the museum in Paris, which holds a lot of the earlier works by Antoine, including Hannibals First Victory, Sappho and also the Dying Centaur bronze which was mentioned previously.

Another extension had to be built in 1992 which was designed by Christian de Portzamparc, who is also known for designing the Cite de la Musique located within the Parc de la Villette, and the new section at Musee Bourdelle allows two commemorative monuments including the Monument to the polish poet Adam Mickiewicz. Additionally this wing also holds temporary exhibitions, is a place for conversation and is home to a resource centre and a graphic arts room.

The main artist himself, Antoine Bourdelle, was born in 1861 within the Midi Pyrenees, which is where he went to school until he enrolled into the Toulouse School of Fine Art, also in the same region of France, when he was only fifteen years old.

At twenty four Antoine won a scholarship to go to Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris, and took the opportunity, at the same time taking resident at the studio of another sculptor, Alexandre Falguiere. In 1893 he became the assistant sculptor for Auguste Rodin which the partnership lasted for about fifteen years until 1908.

Later on he worked as a teacher but still at the same time worked on his own sculpting and the occasional architectural work, helping to draw up plans for the Theatre des Champs Elysees, as well as creating a series of Frescos as well as the decorative marble sculpture, which can be found on the front of the building, located closed to the Avenue des Champs Elysees.

Although, it was not until a year before his death in 1929 that he started to gain true recognition for his work, having gained popularity for his monument to honour Adam Mickiewicz which was inaugurated some months before he died in the October of that year.

After his death his wife Cleopatre, daughter Rhodia and son-in-law Michel Dufet wished to carry on his dream to dedicate a museum to his own work, which they also believed Antoine deserved the recognition for his fantastic works.

Eventually, the Musee Bourdelle opened to the public in 1949, and it was also in the same year that the Montparnasse area was being changed and improved which the road name also got changed to honour the sculptor with the new name of Rue Antoine Bourdelle.

But getting back to the Musee Bourdelle you can be pleased to know that is accessible for those which are disabled, with lift access to different levels, disabled toilets and large print tour guides for those with sight problems.

Now there are an estimated 6000 graphic works, 2000 plaster sculptures, 2200 bronze works, 198 paintings and an incredible 13000 photographs. But that doesn’t include the personal collection of Antoine Bourdelle as well as the major archive section the museum holds.

This makes the Musee Bourdelle one of the more unusual tourist attractions to visit while on Holiday in Paris, with a lot of history, various works of art and styles to look at, that are suitable for everyone to enjoy.

Holiday in France – Published by Kate Davis – European traveller and author of travel to guides to Paris holidays along with research for French monuments, tourist attractions, museums and much more by helping people to get the most out of a holiday in Paris. – Musee Bourdelle

Cite des Sciences science museum in Paris and the Geode cinema are the largest in Europe

The Cite des Sciences is an all round popular museum, being the largest science museum in all of Europe and the fifth most visited museum in Paris, joining other popular museums such as The Louvre, it makes it an amazing museum to visit which is suitable for all ages and types of interests.

There are some permanent exhibitions at the museum which allow you to be interactive with the museum such as within the Techno Gallery, where you can play the latest games, test prototypes, discover robots and much more.

Another exciting area is the Images exhibition, where you can include yourself within a TV advert, manipulate pictures and more. Other exhibitions include the light exhibition, outer space, satellite, along with enabling you to be able to discover optical illusions, test new sound devices and much more to stay entertained.

Yet even young children are also catered for with a designated area just for them with interactive displays and organised activities available daily, yet teenagers will also be in their element and come away from this museum after having fun and learning or discovering new things to fuel their imagination.

But forgetting the Cite de Sciences et de l’Industrustrie for a minute, you cannot forget the Argonaute submarine, which is just outside, and being a real submarine that served within the French Navy until it was decommissioned, it eventually became an unusual tourist attraction in Paris to visit. This allows many people to visit the submarine yearly and get to see how the marines used to live and work by venturing into the crew stations, torpedo launching area, the radar detectors and much more.

In addition you also have the amazing Geode Cinema which is a very shiny sphere outside which holds a cinema inside and features one of the largest cinemas in the world. And the Geode Cinema In Paris is one of the most visited cinemas in France, but also the largest hemispherical screen in the world showing large format movies.

At first glance the attraction may be seen as more of an intriguing structure rather than a cinema, with its perfectly smooth and circular shape it can act just like a mirror. But it is not to be underestimated at the equivalent of 12 storeys the building can easily tower over you, and the structure in itself is a technological feat with 1,580 bars of steel tubes comprising together to make the structure, and the whole Geode can weigh in at around 5000 tonnes.

For Omnimax films the experience is like no other with the whole screen being able to be occupied by a film it can reach 10 times that of a normal cinema, yet when digital images are shown they can also be up to 25 metres wide which is far beyond the field of vision for the viewer, making you feel like you are part of an image instead of just watching it.

The geode is a fantastic way to end a day, or start it! But with anything you can get peckish, or want a meal while you are out, which the Cite des Sciences wishes to accommodate easily with many different choices available to suite all tastes and budgets.

The first restaurant, Le Hublot Restaurant serves traditional French cuisine at your table and offers a wide choice of dishes to have, and even including that of a three course meal, which is located at the second level of this incredible museum in Paris.

The Cafe de la Cite is an internet cafe in Paris with an option to have both take away and eat-in with various internet points and microwaves available.

Aux Pains Perdus Sandwich Bar, as it says in the name is a sandwich bar which serves both hot and cold food, also located on the second level allowing you to enjoy many sandwiches, snacks, desserts which again you can eat there or take away.

The Bar du Forum and the separate Bar des Lumieres are perfect for a quick coffee stop or to grab an ice cream for children, allowing you to have a short break if you are on either the first, or second floor without a problem.

Among other things there are the little extras you can find at the museum to use to your advantage to help make your time spent at the Cite des Sciences even easier.

Firstly there is a cloakroom where you can leave coats, bags and more which are available for individual visitors and groups completely free when you show your ticket to the museum. Additionally there are also wheelchairs and push chairs which can be borrowed.

For shows within the Planetarium which is all about space there are free audio guides for the sight impaired individuals available in French, English, German, Spanish or Italian. And in the main hall there is also a scale model of the cite de sciences designed for the visually impaired which talks when you touch it to help those understand where they are more so.

Lastly, but not least there is a gift and book store located in the main hall where you can purchase many various items including that of games, souvenirs, magazines, catalogues, science experiments and much more suitable for all people of all ages.

So as you can tell, a visit to the Cite des Sciences along with the Geode and the Argonaute submarine, which are all located at the Parc de la Villette, can make a fun packed day out while you are on holiday in Paris. Not forgetting that there are also other tourist attractions here as well, such as music venues and the Cite de la Musique with its concert halls and museum.

The Sacre Coeur Basilica

The Sacre Coeur Basilica, or known as the full name of Basilique du Sacre-Coeur de Montmarte is noticeable from nearly everywhere in Paris, standing on top of a hill within the Montmartre area which is 129 metres above sea level.

Montmartre, which translated means hill of martyres, which in turn leads back to the martyrdom of Saint Denis, who happened to the be the first bishop of Paris all the way back in the 3rd century has since then had many saints visit this hill, including that of Saint Germain and Joan of Arc.

No matter which way you are entering Paris, whether it be by road on the Peripherique ring road around Paris, one of the train stations including via the Eurostar, or even a flight this monument is one of the few you will be able to see almost instantly.

One reason for that is that the monument stands at the second highest point within Paris, the only other being the most well known tourist attraction in Paris, the Eiffel tower which holds the highest point in the city.

The monument can also be spotted form various other tourist attractions, including that of the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, Pompidou Centre and much more while on holiday in Paris, but thanks to the impressive height the Sacre Coeur Basilica is at, when you go to visit it you can enjoy a great view over Paris.

However if you want even more of a fantastic view you can venture to the top of the Sacre Coeur Basilica and visit the dome which is 200m above sea level, which on a clear day can let you see the panorama as far as 50km away.

The Sacre Coeur is not just a monument in the city, but also a renowned place of worship, with people taking pilgrimages to visit this place of worship and masses being help daily.

Numerous people every day go to the Sacre Coeur Basilica to pray, for both the prayer of adoration and the prayer to the Sacred Heart, or you can take part in a confession and in addition to all those you can also share your prayer intentions or ask for a candle to be lit for you.

But with the monument so high up, getting there can be a trip in itself, but fear not as there are numerous different ways to gain access to the basilica.

First you can arrive by bus lines 30, 31, 80 and 85, the nearest stop being at the base of the hill, and from there it takes an extra twenty minutes to reach the top after travelling up many steps.

If you prefer a train you can arrive on the Metro at the Jules Joffrin Metro station and from there take a bus to the top of the mountain, or for the more fit walk.

If you want a more direct route you can choose the Montmartrobus that runs from Place Pigalle to the top of the hill and by Place du Tertre before heading down the other side to Place Jules Jofferin and back and these smaller buses run roughly ever fifteen to thirty minutes.

And in addition to the previous ways there is also a funicular (a cable car) which is the same price as a Metro ticket. Unfortunately it does not start at the very bottom and neither finishes to the very top so some step negotiating is still required if you choose this option. And even though there can be a queue during the height of season it can quickly go down as it runs every few minutes.

The Sacre Coeur Basilica is open daily from as early at 6am and to 10:30pm, the last possible visits being thirty minutes before closure.

Yet if you want to enjoy a fantastic view and climb up to the Dome you can only do this from 9am to 6pm in winter and 7pm in summer. On top of that you can also visit the crypt, but the times for that are more variable and thus it is always an idea to check first before going.

In addition to that you can also attend Mass, which on a weekday are conducted at 11:15am, 6:30pm, and 10pm. On a Friday there is an additional Mass with a time of adoration or Eucharistic procession. And on a Sunday there is a Solemn Mass at 11am, 6pm and at 10pm.

Confessions are held daily between 10am and midday, between 2:30pm and 6pm and finally at 8:30pm and 10pm.

Finally on top of the services and view there are also special events that take place during holy weeks, such as the week of Easter, Christmas and more along with a shop and religious book shop which opens daily from 9:30am and 5:30pm which you can look around and buy from.

So if you want to visit the Sacre Coeur Basilica for the services, the view or just for an experience, you are not going to be disappointed when you go on holiday in Paris.