Great Cities of Europe

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<F16>Paris </F> <L7><F14>Basic Information </F> Documents Required: United States and EC citizens require only a valid passport for visits not exceeding three months. American Consulate: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 8e; 1/4296-1202 Currency: The French currency is the franc (f), which consists of 100 centimes (c). Banks: Hours are 9A.M.-4P.M. Monday through Friday. Central branches are open on Saturday from 9A.M.- noon. Customs: You may not export more than 50,000F (about $11,000). Climate: Summer in Paris can be unbearable, expect daytime temperatures in August to range from 75-90 degrees. In February, expect an average daytime temperature of 35 degrees. Tipping: In restaurants and cafes, service charges are almost always included. If it isn't, tip between ten and 15 percent. Taxi drivers expect ten percent of the fare. Tourist Information: French Government Tourist Office HQ, 127 avenue des Champs Elysees, 8e; 1/4723-6172. Airports: Most flights use Aeroport Charles-de-Gualle (1/4862-2280), about 35 minutes out of the city. Aeroport d'Orly, 25 minutes by bus or taxi, is south of the city and also has international flights. Getting Around: Paris's public transport system is simple to learn and efficient. By metro: Each station has a map at its entrance with a circle showing you where you are. The metro will get you through the city center and to most suburbs, as well. Buy tickets at the stations. By bus: Buses use the same tickets as the metros. They don't stop automatically; you must flag them down at stops (arrΩt). Buy your ticket on the bus, or before hand at metro stations. By taxi: The best place to hire a taxi is at a stand; cabs you hail in the street may not take you where you want to go. Station de taxi are located throughout the city. Postal and Telephone Service: Post offices are indicated by the sign PTT. To call France from the United States, dial 011-33, then the city code (Paris is 13, 14, or 16), and the local number. Public Holidays: New Year's Day, Easter Monday, Labor Day (May 1), VE Day (May 8), Ascension Day (sixth Thursday after Easter), Whit Monday (second Monday after Ascension, Bastille Day (July 14), Feast of the Assumption (August 15), All Saints' Day (November 1), Remembrance Day (November 11), and December 25. Electric Current: Plugs are standard European, with two round pins. The current is 220V. <F14>Time Line </F> Gallic Origins 200 B.C. The Parisii, a Gallic tribe, make the Ile de la Cite their fortified capital. 250 A.D. St. Denis introduces Christianity. Changing Dynasties 508 King Clovis of the Frankish Merovingian line makes Paris his capital. 751 A new dynasty, the Carolingians, is created when Pepin the Short, father of Charlemagne, deposes the king. 887 Norman pirates, invaders for decades, are defeated by Count Eudes. He is subsequently proclaimed King of France. 987 Capetian dynasty begins with Hugues Capet, and continues for 350 years. 1180-1223 King Philippe August erects the fortress of the Louvre, and the University of Paris is founded. 1328 Death of King Charles IV ends the Capetian dynasty. 1337 Hundred Years' War begins with the English dispute of the Valois claim to the French throne. 1420 Paris captured by the English. 1453 England withdraws from all of France except Calais. 1500 Italian renaissance influences French culture. 1589 Bourbons emerge as the new dynastic line. 1598 Edict of Nantes, granting freedom of worship for Protestants, is issued by King Henry IV. Grand Siecle 1600 Paris grows as a city of the arts; period known as the grand siecle. 1661 Louis XIV becomes king. France reaches its height of power. 1685 Edict of Nantes is revoked by Louis XIV; thousands of Protestants flee. Revolution 1700 Ineffectual and unpopular leadership by Louis XV and Louis XVI. 1789 Storming of the Bastille and the beginning of the revolution. 1792 Execution of King Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette. Robespierre creates the two-year Reign of Terror. 1799 Revolution ends when Napoleon Bonaparte appoints himself First Consul, or dictator of France. 1804 Napoleon has himself crowned Emperor in Notre-Dame. 1814 Paris falls to the Allied forces. Restoration 1815 The Bourbon line is restored and Louis XVIII is crowned King. 1848 Louis-Philippe is ousted and a Second Republic is declared. 1852 Republic falters; Napoleon III is proclaimed Emperor. Third Republic 1870 Third Republic declared. 1871 Franco-Prussian War begins. 1889 Building of the Eiffel Tower. 1944 General de Gaulle leads the new provisional government after liberation from the Germans. Today 1946 Inauguration of the Fourth Republic and a new constitution. 1958 Fourth Republic falters and de Gaulle forms Fifth Republic. 1959 European Economic Community (Common Market) is founded. 1962 Algeria granted independence. 1977 Election of Jacques Chirac as the first mayor of Paris since 1871. </F7> <L6><F14>Hotels</F> Le Bristol $$$ 112 Rue du Faubourg St-Honore, 8e 1/4266-9145 Headquarters to visiting dignitaries. Lutetia $$$ 45 Boulevard Raspail, 6e 1/4954-4646 Opulent and charming. Pont Royal $$$ 7 Rue Montalemebert, 7e 1/4544-3827 Once a private home; cozy rooms near the antiques district. Hotel Sully St. Germain $$ 9-31 Rue des Ecoles 1/4326-5602 Town house with stunning medieval decoration. Hotel Pas de Calais $$ 59 Rue des Sts. Peres l/4548-7874 Neat and slightly formal accommodations. Hotel Caumartin $$ 27 Rue Caumartin l/4742-9595 Sophisticated hotel in the heart of the city. Hotel du Nil $ 10 Rue du Helder l/4770-8024 Quaint, despite the proto-Egyptian decor. Hotel Montpensier $ 12 Rue de Richelieu l/4296-2850 Comfortable and modest. Prima-Lepic $ 29 Rue Lepic, 18e 1/4606-4464 Eclectic decorations and clean rooms. <F14>Restaurants</F> Tour D'Argent $$$ 15-17 Quai de la Tournelle, 5e 1/4354-2331 Pressed duck and crepes Suzette, in view of Notre Dame's flying buttresses. Arpege $$$ 84 Rue de Varenne, 7e 1/4551-4733 Blond wood and candlelight highlight inventive cuisine. Joδl Robuchon $$$ 59 Raymond-Poincare, 16e 1/4727-1227 Reserve months in advance at the chef's eponymous restaurant. Oum el Banine $$ 16 Rue Dufrenoy, 16e 1/4504-9122 Refined Moroccan dishes. Le Relais Du Parc $$ 55-57 Ave. Raymond-Poincare, 16e 1/4405-6610 Bistro fare; sit in the courtyard garden. Chez Pento $ 9 Rue Cujas 1/4326-8154 Vintage bistro near the Sorbonne. Restaurant L'Incroyable $ 26 Rue de Richelieu l/4296-2464 Hole-in-the-wall that lives up to its name: unbelievable value. </L6> <L1><F14>Sites </F> Arc D'Triomphe Place Charles de Gaulle, 8e 1/4380-3131 Built in the first decades of the 19th century to commemorate the military victories of Napoleon. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier rests underneath. An elevator or stairs will take you to the top for an exquisite city view of the Bois de Boulogne and the Champs Elysees. Champs Elysees The legendary promenade, once representative of the glamour of Paris, is more kitchy than elegant these days. Still an excellent place to stroll and people-watch. Eiffel Tower Champ-de-Mars, 7e 1/4550-3456 Built by Gustave Eiffel for the Universal Exposition of 1889. On a clear day you can see past the city for 50 miles. Napoleon's Tomb Les Invalides Quai d'Orsay, 7e Resting within the Dome church, the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte is arguably one of the most prestigious tombs in the world. His body was brought here from St. Helena in 1840 and entombed in a lavish funeral celebration. Palais Royale Place du Palais-Royal, 1e Constructed by Cardinal Richelieu in the 17th century, it was the sight of major rallies during the Revolution, and was set on fire during the Commune of 1871. Place de la Concorde 8e One of the world's most impressive squares; you can see the Arc de Triomphe, the Jardin des Tuileries, and La Madeleine from its center. The central Obelisk of Luxor is 33 centuries old and weighs 250 tons. L'Opera Place de l'Opera, 9e 1/4001-2493 Completed in 1875, the rococo edifice is monumental and magnificent. Currently, the opera house is home to the Ballet de l'Opera de Paris. Pompidou Center Entrances on Rue de Beaubourg and Rue St-Martin, 4e 1/4478-1233 Brings together contemporary design and modern art under one roof. The front courtyard is often the scene of impromptu performances by acrobats, jugglers and magicians. Tuileries Along the Seine between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde,1e Manicured gardens representative of geometric expression in French garden design. La Madeleine Place de la Madeleine, 8e 1/4265-5217 The Church of St. Mary Magdalene, built in 1842, was based on the design of the Pantheon in Athens. Saint Chapell 4 Boulevard du Palais, 1e 1/4354-3009 Built in the 13th century by Louis IX to house the Sacred Crown of Thorns and other holy relics. Its stained glass windows are a masterpiece of medieval French art, and the 247 foot spire is one of the city's most beautiful landmarks. </L1> <L2><F14>Museums And Culture</F> Musee du Louvre Place du Louvre, 1e 1/4020-5050 An awesome collection of nearly 300,000 pieces of art. The Louvre began amassing its art when Napoleon turned the erstwhile fortress into a repository for artistic booty collected from conquered lands. Musee D'Orsay 1 Rue de Bellechasse, 7e 1/4049-4814 Transformed from a railway station into a shining example of modern museum design. Impressive for its Impressionist collection, as well as other 19th-century artwork. Cluny 6 Paul-Painleve, 5e 1/4325-6200 Museum of medieval arts and crafts. The building itself is one of the only examples of medieval domestic architecture in Paris. Its most famous piece is the celebrated Lady and the Unicorn tapestry. Picasso Museum 5 Rue de Thorigny, 3e 1/4271-2521 An exceptional collection which not only includes the artist's thousands of drawings, paintings, sculptures, and engravings, but also Picasso's own collection of works by other artists. </L2> <L5><F14>Shopping</F> Shops generally open from 10A.M.-7P.M. Monday to Saturday, although they often close for an hour at lunch. Viaduc Des Arts The arcades of a viaduct in eastern Paris near the Gare de Lyon are where 40 artisans are installed in a group of shops. Arlequin 19 Rue de Turenne A great selection of exquisite antique glass, mostly stemware. Didier Lavilla Rue de Charonne, 11e Rue de Sevigne, 3e Rue du Cherche-Midi, 6e Beautiful bags, satchels and briefcases. Sommeil D'Oorphee Rue du Bac Linens, as if embroidered by angels, are the specialty of this hole-in-the wall shop. Agathe Gonnet Rue St. Sebastien A rising new star, she is known for the way she mixes textures. Alexandra Rue du Faubourg-St-Honore Place for traditional French workers' blues. Detaille Wonderful beauty products sold to a discerning clientele. </L5> <L3><F14>Children</F> Jardin D'Acclimation 12e On the edge of the Bois de Boulogne; puppet shows, distorting mirrors, an archery range, mini-golf, a dolphinarium, and a small zoo. Catacombes 1 Denfert-Rochereau, 14e 1/4322-4763 Filled with thousands of skeletons and skulls, including the remains of Danton and Robespierre. Not for the claustrophobic. Ali Baba 29 Avenue de Tourville, 7e Fanciful toys. <F14>Night Spots </F> Cafes Cafe Richelieu Musee du Louvre, 1e 1/4020-5363 Unobstructed views of the Pyramid and the best pain au chocolat in the city. Cafe Costes 4 Rue Berger, 1e 1/4508-5438 Popular with the in-crowd Parisians. Angelina 226 Rue de Rivoli, 1e 1/4260-8200 Famous for its hot chocolate. Clubs Le Moulin-Rouge 9 Place Blanche, 18e 1/4606-0019 Jugglers and magicians are interspersed with showgirls in the original cabaret show. Le Balajo 9 Rue de Lappe, 11e 1/4700-0787 Dance to latin, rock, and hip-hop. Le Cafe Vogue 50 Rue de la Chaussee-d'Antin, 9e 1/4280-6940 A favorite of those in the fashion world. Paradis Latin 28 Rue du Cardinal-Lemoine, 5e 1/4329-0707 An extravaganza, cabaret style. Le Bilboquet 13 Rue St-Benoit, 6e 1/4548-8184 Excellent jazz. </L3> <L4>EXCURSIONS Versailles 14 miles northwest of Paris Take a guided tour of the royal apartments in the Palace of Versailles, or wander the formal gardens-- in Louis XIV's heyday there were no fewer than 1,400 fountains on the grounds. Chateau de Chantilly 27 miles north of Paris Chantilly is famous for its black lace and vanilla whipped cream, and also for its romantic villa on the Nonette River. The Grand Chateau, built in the 16th century, houses the Musee Conde and the work of Corot, Ingres, Poussin, Van Dyke, and Watteau. </L4> (c) 1995 Leisure and Travel