Eiffel Tower

Being the tallest in Paris, this iron lattice tower has become the global icon in France. It is one of the most recognizable structures and single most visited paid monument in the world. The 324-meter tall tower was inaugurated on 31 March 1889. The metal structure weighs 7,300 tonnes while the entire structure including non-metal components is approximately 10,000 tonnes. The tower has three levels. The first and the second level can be ascended by stairs or a lift, but the third and highest level is accessible only by lift. Both the first and second levels feature restaurants. As a global landmark, Eiffel tower is featured in media including films, videos, and television shows. (Paris, France / 2010)

Louvre Museum

Louvre museum was originally built as a 12th century fortress, then converted into royal palace in the 14th century, and then became a public museum at the end of 18th century. It is now one of the largest and most visited museums in the world. The museum contains the collections of antiquity, European paintings and sculptures, and other Roman, Egyptian , Greek and oriental work of arts. The most famous collection in the museum is the Leonardo da Vinci's Monalisa painting. The most recent addition to the Louvre was the construction of the glass pyramid in 1989 which functions as the museum's main entrance. The design of the glass allows the sunlight to come in on the underground floor. (Paris, France / 2010)

Seine River

Seine river is a major commercial waterway within the regions of Ile-de-France and Haute-Normandie. It is 776 km long with an average depth of 8 meters. About ten percent of its length is navigable by ocean-going vessels, sixty percent by commercial river boats and nearly whole of its length for recreational boating. Since Seine is centrally located in Paris, a boat tour with the famous Bateaux Mouches is a great adventure within the city. Along the cruise, the passengers can see Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Alexander III Bridge, the Pont Neuf, Orsay Museum, Louvre Museum, Les Invalides and Napoleon's burial site. In 1991, the river banks of Siene in Paris (Rive Gauche and Rive Droite) were added to the list of World Heritage Sites in Europe. (Paris, France / 2010)

Notre Dame Cathedral

The cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, though not the largest cathedral in the world, might be the most famous of all cathedrals. The cathedral was built in a new gothic style and became the prototype of the suceeding cathedrals in France. The construction took until 1345 before it was finally completed. The overwhelming building measures 128 m long, with two 69 m tall towers. The spire reaches 90 meters. The cathedral has several large rose windows with three wide portals on the frontal facade. This magnificent architecture was last restored between 1991 and 2001 to preserve its historical value. The site of the Notre Dame is the cradle of Paris and has always been the religious center of the city. (Paris, France / 2010)