Doing the Tourist Thing: Paris' Most Iconic Landmarks

Even though Paris is my home for the next month, I still find it necessary to see all the major attractions. People travel from all around the world to see the sights in Paris, so I decided to join them. Besides, who doesn’t love being a tourist in their own town?! In this post I’ll recap my visits to three of Paris’ most popular destinations. Obviously, there are several more places one should go to such as the plethora of museums, the artsy district of Montmartre, and, not to mention, to experience the amazing dining culture, but the three places I selected each have special historical importance at the core of French values which is why I chose to discuss them here.

Notre Dame

The Cathedral of Notre Dame is located on one of Paris’ two islands in the Seine, which is also the city’s founding location. The first time I visited was actually during mass (it’s still a functioning church!). Being short on time and not wanting to interrupt, I decided to come back another day.

Building began in 1163, but it wasn’t finished until 1345 at the peak of French gothic architecture. Notre Dame uses flying buttresses, a form of structural support, and was one of the first in the world to use this revolutionary technique. The two towers, each standing 225ft tall, add to this church founded 670+ years ago. The exterior faced is adorned with gargoyles who keep watch over the city. At the top of the hour the church bells ring – each of which, interestingly enough, have a name! (Emmanuel, Marie, Gabriel, Anne Geneviève, Denis, Marcel, Étienne, Benoît-Joseph, Maurice, and Jean-Marie, to be exact).

Insider tip: there's an amazing ice cream stand around the corner from Notre Dame. Snacks are very important for admiring architecture or for waiting in line at monuments😊

On the inside, the columns sail upward from the ground into sharp-angled arches and are accentuated with colorful splashes of stained glass. I find Notre Dame so interesting because it has been there with Paris through everything – the Hundred Years War, Louis XIV’s reign, the French Revolution, Napoleonic Wars, both World Wars, all the way up to modern history today. Remaining in Paris’ founding location, Notre Dame is an important landmark to visit and a great starting place to begin learning about French history.

Arc de Triomphe

At the end of the Champs Élysées with twelve adjacent roads jutting from the busy roundabout, one will find the Arc de Triomphe.

With a name that translates to the Arc of Triumph, the Arc de Triomphe was commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 after his victory at Austerlitz. This battle was fought during the Napoleonic wars, which ensued after the revolution when Napoleon seized power and fought various European powers. Accredited as his greatest military victory, this battle commemorates Napoleon’s win over the Russo-Austrian army. The arch stands 164ft tall and honors those who fought during the French Revolution and in the Napoleonic wars.

Beneath the arch is the tomb of the unknown soldier from WWI. Each Armistice Day, November 11 and what Americans consider Veterans Day, a special ceremony is held at the arch to commemorate the signing of the armistice between the Allies and Germany in 1918.

In the distance, you will notice the grand arche of La Defense to the west and Place de la Concorde to the east. This is part of a strategic design plan in Paris of the Axe Historique (historical axis) in which several monuments lie in a straight line parallel to the Champs Élysées. The Louvre, the Tulieries, Place de la Concorde, Arc de Triomphe, and the Grand Arche all lie along this axis and mark important sights of French history and culture.

The Historical Axis from the Tuileries: if you look in the center of the picture you can see Place de La Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe

It’s no surprise that the Bastille day military parade starts at the Arc de Triomphe based on its military origins. This landmark represents France’s role on the global stage and all the preceding events the country has endured.

Eiffel Tower

Being the most visited monument in the world with around 7 million people coming annually, I had to go to the Eiffel Tower. Over 1000ft tall, the Eiffel Tower stands out in the Parisian skyline. The Eiffel Tower was built in 1899 for the World’s Fair, a year that also coincided with the 100 year anniversary of the storming of the Bastille which started the French Revolution! It is named after Gustav Eiffel who is the engineer who designed the tower and his office still exists at the top. From Eiffel's company, its construction required 72 engineers, all of whose names are engraved on the exterior of the tower. The tower is constructed from 7300 tons of wrought iron and takes 60 tons of paint to cover. When I went up the tower it was the perfect day which only added to the gorgeous views.

The tower originally featured three restaurants, but now has just one on the first level and a champagne bar on the summit. The restaurant is anything but touristy – it features gourmet cuisine and is ranked on the prestigious Michelin Star system! The second level hosted a space to relax and “grass” to celebrate France as the host city for the 2024 Olympics!

While it was amazing to view the tower in the day, it is necessary to see it at night, too. In 1999 lights were installed for New Year 2000 to welcome the new millennium. Still today, the bulbs sparkle at the top of every hour after dark which only enhances the tower’s beauty.

And there you have it! My experiences from these sights were among my favorite. Travel Study is a great time to see some of the most famous monuments in the world and see some of the most popular places in the city. Sometimes people will dismiss these sights as “too touristy” or “tourist-traps,” but don’t let anyone discourage you from seeing sights or doing activities you want. These places are popular for a reason and hold special meaning for France – and for that reason alone I believe they should be experienced. Paris has a rich history and it has been my goal to see experience as much of it as I can. The city offers numerous places to go, I promise you won’t have any trouble coming up with things to do and places to see!