Day 4
Today we’ll leave the right margin of the Seine and go to the left.
So, we’re going to one of the most central places in Paris, the Ile de lá Cité, one of the two islands surrounded by the Seine (the other one is Ile de St-Louis) that has one of the most famous (and searched by tourists) attractions of the city, the Notre-Dame cathedral, which first stone was put down in 1163 by the Pope Alexander III, to which followed a battalion of artisans who finished it 170 years later.
Notre-Dame Cathedral
This masterpiece represents the geographic/spiritual heart of France and was immortalized by Victor Hugo’s romance The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, which saved it in 1841, when it finally provided for the cathedral renovation.
It’s worth entering and climbing the 387 steps to the top of its towers where we can observe the gargoyle sculptures placed by Viollet-Le-Duc, who also restored the cathedral. The view over Paris is monumental.
Near Notre-Dame we have the Saint-Chapelle, another place I advise you to visit, this Gothic style church ordered by Louis IX, and concluded in 1248, is like a sanctuary for relishes gathered during the Crusades. It is considered the most beautiful of Paris, and the 15 stained glass windows, with 15 meters of height to the ceiling, contribute to that.
Panthéon
On with our walk (today is going to be a long one), a little below these two historical marks, we find another imposing building, the Pantheon, worth of receiving the remains of some of the biggest personalities of the country, like Voltaire, Louis Braille and Victor Hugo.
Erected as a church by Louis XV, dedicated to Saint Genoveva to thank the recovery of a gout attack, the idea was for it to resemble the greatness of Rome’s Pantheon, but the result fell short, being however a beautiful monument.
Sorbonne
Furthermore, the Pantheon is inserted in the famous area of Paris’ University, Sorbonne, and all the territory of the interesting Quartier Latin, with its stores, bars and youth. Now, rest a little and recharge your energy in another amazing Parisian garden, the Jardin du Luxembourg, the biggest in town, with a fantastic Palace that gave it its name, today home of the French Senate.
Jardin du Luxembourg
Prepared to continue?
We’ll walk to the Saint-Sulpice Church, a beautiful church with some historic relevance, besides having some of Delacroix works, the famous Gnômon de Saint Sulpice, created by the English Henry Sully, it served as base for the first meridian (later substituted by Greenwich), and it’s one of the Parisian works mentioned in the Dan Brown’s book The Da Vinci Code. Walking at Bonaparte Street we find the main Pierre Hermé store and it is impossible not to go in.
Saint-Germain Church
Following our trajectory we arrive to the famous Boulevard Saint-Germain street, one the most elegant and well attended areas of the city, with another beautiful church that names the region, the famous Café de Flore and Les Deux Magouts (we’ll talk about them in a following article), a series of luxury stores and of course the typical Parisian bustle.
Walking towards the Seine, we’ll then walk the course of its margin, glimpsing the Louvre on the other side of the river, the Pont des Arts, full of padlocks from tourists in love, while we pass through a series of good restaurants and antique shops until we arrive at Musée d’Orsay.
Pont des Arts
Musée d’Orsay
An old and monumental train station transformed into one of the most important art galleries of the world, with works from the period of 1848 to 1914. Built in 1900 for the Paris exposition, was used just until 1939, and in 1977 it was converted into a museum.
Here it’s possible to find works from some of the world’s most admirable artists, like Van Gogh, Monet and Degas, besides some wonderful and insightful temporary expositions.
It’s one of my favorite museums.
To finish in an almost pornographic way, the Ispahan from Pierre Hermé.
Another day full of art, culture and glamour! But there’s a lot more to do in Paris! Therefore in the next few days we’ll get a bit out of the center of town.
This article is the forth in a series of 7. (Day 1) (Day 2) (Day 3) (Day 5) (Day 6) (Day 7) (Paris Tips)
Where to sleep – Places near these attractions from the forth day of the guide
Le Madison Hotel, L’Hotel, To the low cost travelers there are a series of small hotels near the Quartier Latin.
Where to eat – Places near these attractions from the forth day of the guide
La Truffière (*Michelin), Les Bouquinistes, Allard, Ze Kitchen Galerie (*Michelin), Patisseries like Pierre Hermé, Un Dimanche à Paris or Ladurée.
Text: Cíntia Oliveira | Photos: Flavors & Senses