Over the centuries, long before the Internet or travel guides existed, Paris has earned a reputation as the most beautiful city in the world. No wonder: Divided only by the Seine, the French capital offers everything lovers of art, gastronomy, architecture and culture could wish for. Even today, it is considered a center for lovers, for people from all over the world and, due to its diversity, a symbol of the former French power in the world. Among the many possibilities that you have in Paris, the capital of France , it is difficult to say which of the sights you should definitely have seen. They all offer their own form of beauty. However, some of them are an absolute must if you decide to visit the city.
Louvre
When it comes to pure beauty, at least the construction of the Louvre should not really play a role. Access via the controversial glass pyramid is still considered a point of contention for the Parisian population today. But once you have fought your way through the queues, you will truly come to one of the most beautiful places in the world. Not only the Mona Lisa can be found here.
The Louvre houses art from different eras, from peoples and masters all over the world. Friends of art in particular will get their money’s worth once they are in the museum itself. You should take your time and let the pictures work their magic on you.
Of course, it is always a question of one’s own taste when art is really beautiful. But there is probably no better place in the world to develop a taste.
Notre-Dame Cathedral
The cathedral of Notre-Dame took over 200 years to build and was considered the real landmark of the city long before the Eiffel Tower was even planned. Its towers towered over Paris before Versailles was just an idea, and the cathedral will probably still be around hundreds of years from now.
It is not only the architecture behind the church itself that is particularly beautiful. The interior should also be looked at in any case. The beautiful stained glass windows are only one part of why the church is considered one of the most beautiful buildings of Gothic architecture. It was no wonder that Napoleon was enthroned as emperor here. You can also walk in his footsteps on a walk through history.
Sacré Coeur Basilica
Not quite as well-known as the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame is the Sacré Coeur Basilica. It was built in the late 19th century in the Byzantine style and its peculiarity is mainly the stones. The church is able to cleanse itself completely without human influence from the dirt of the big city.
Due to its exposed location on a hill in the north of the city, it shines with its white stones at all times and attracts visitors from all over the world to its special architecture. Here, too, the magic can only really be understood if you dare to take a look inside the church itself. When visiting Paris, the church should definitely be visited, as just a look and a grip on the special stone can be worth the visit.
Versailles
Not quite in Paris, but close enough in the vicinity of the city is the fairytale castle that Louis the Sun King once had built for himself. The plans of the maker were never completely completed during his lifetime, but even today it is possible to guess what was to be built here.
It didn’t hurt the castle either – after all, it was expanded by later generations and was considered the centre of aristocratic France before the revolution for many years. Not only the castle itself is of impressive beauty: If you have the time, you should take a look at the wonderful gardens, which alone justify a trip.
The Catacombs of Paris
Again, it may not be the classic beauty that attracts visitors to the capital’s catacombs. It is the morbid attraction of experiencing the remnants of the many hundreds of years of active history of Paris.
A parallel world has developed under the streets of the city and even under the metro. Diseases, war and historical upheavals have led to a unique system of tunnels. Of particularly creepy beauty are the long rows of bones of the former plague victims, which still dominate the image of the catacombs and the stories of the visitors today.
Other places to visit in Paris
