Paris holiday - day 3 - Catacombs

On Saturday we decided to walk to the nearby Catacombes, passing the Tour Montparnasse. A 210m tall office block and the tallest sky scraper in France. A great landmark for finding our way back to the hotel.

The Catacombes is a subterranean cemetry. Rampant disease in the late 18th centruy, caused by the overcrowded Les Innocents graveyard in Les Halles was the reason the remains were exhumed and relocated in the Catacombes. If you want to know more click on the link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catacombs_of_Paris . D was quite disappointed when she disovered the Catacombes was a ghoulish collection of bones and not a feline hair stylist!

Tour (tower) Montparnasse


Catacombes - Freaky place. The pictures say it all

Paris holiday - day 3 - Montmartre (Sacre Coeur & Moulin Rouge)

After visiting the Catacombes we caught the metro to Gare du Nord and wandered the streets of Montmartre, stopping to view Basilisque du Sacre Coeur and Moulin Rouge. Loads of scammers at Sacre Coeur. Top Tip - Just blank them and don't let them get your attention or they'll follow you around pestering and walking in front of you.

Basilique du Sacre Coeur


View of Paris from Sacre Coeur


Detail Sacre Coeur


D at Moulin Rouge. Very cheesy, much like the rest of Pigalle with it's numerous sex shops and peep shows

Gare du Nord. The grandest of the 19th Century railway stations. We were surprised to discover it is the busiest station in Europe, and the third-busiest railway station in the world and also featured heavily in the Bourne Identity and Bourne Ultimatum films.

I wanted a large beer after a long day but was surprised when this monster appeared!

Paris holiday - day 2 - Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel tower and others

Carrying on from Notre Dame and heading back towards the Louvre and Jardin des Tuileries we passed Tour St Jacques (tour is French for tower)



Jardin des Tuileries to the West of the Louvre



One of many statues in the garden



Looking from Place de la Concorde, up Avenue des Champs-Elysees to the Arc du Triomphe

D at Place de la concorde

Arc de Triomphe

Statue in Jardin du Trocadero, on the way to the Eiffel tower

Eiffel tower

and at night from our hotel room balcony

Every other street has a row of pushbikes, which are completely free. You grab one, cycle to your destination and park up at the nearest rack. This is provided to reduce traffic and help the environment

We walked a fair distance today. Starting and ending at point "1", the numbers are sequential and follow our route. Covered a distance of roughly 11 - 12 miles by foot.

Paris holiday - day 2 - Notre Dame

Notre Dame - This is where we broke from the plan and went into Notre Dame. At least we did once we fought through the crowds and the very persistent beggers and scammers.

D in front of the building made famous by Victor Hugo's 1831 novel, the hunchback of Notre Dame



Various photos of the building, external and internal. Have a look at the detail in the stonework, particularly the gargoyles

Paris holiday - day 2 - Louvre (external)

We stopped for a look at the Louvre but planned on returning and spending a day inside on Sunday.

The famous pyramid

M in front of the Arc du Carousel at the entrance to the Louvre

Some close ups of statues and stonework

Paris holiday - day 2 - St Sulpice & St Germain des Pres

On Friday we set off early, heading towards Notre Dame and the Louvre. Enroute we passed St. Sulpice and St Germain des Pres. We didn't go into the buildings as the purpose of day 1 was to walk around and find our bearings and decide which buildings to visit on days to come. At least we set off with this intention.

Place St Sulpice; the square in front of the building



D at Place St Sulpice


The main entrance to St Sulpice


St Germaine des Pres, only a stones throw from St Sulpice and on the way to the Seine