Paris Sightseeing, Attractions & Activities Guide

commissioned in 1806 by Napoleon to celebrate his victories, taking thirty years to build, finally completed in 1836. Visitors can climb steps to the top where there is a viewing platform

situated outdoors on the banks of the Seine, this unremarkable collection was founded in 1980 and is devoted to modern sculpture, mainly of the period since World War II

containing great period scenes of historic French war figures, as well as actors, singers and cartoon characters, this waxwork museum, founded in 1882, is now a Paris landmark on a par with Madame Tussauds in London

covering 25 acres with a long, rectangular ornamental pool, bordered by stone and bronze-gilt statues with the Eiffel Tower close by.

with over 13,000 fishes and invertebrates, sharks, jellyfish and 700 coral colonies, this is a marvel for all the family

an imposing, classical façade and Art Nouveau ironwork and housing a continuous programme of temporary exhibitions

France's oldest public zoo is situated in the lovely surroundings of the Jardin des Plantes. It was set up during the Revolution to house survivors for the Royal menagerie at Versailles - all four of them

established in the seventeenth century with a variety of gardens and a school of botany

french cognac and perfume producers, and the luxury trade in general, have been plagued for years by counterfeiters and this museum exhibits the type of frauds which have been taking place since Roman times

Henri Langlois was obsessed with the history of the cinema and put together this brilliantly eclectic collection, covering the evolution of film making

waxwork figures illustrate the history of wine-making in these vaulted medieval cellars, once used by the monks of Passy. The exhibits include a collection of old wine bottles and glasses as well as other interesting exhibits

known for its fine collection of Italian Renaissance and French 18th Century works of art and with a varied programme of temporary exhibitions

covering palaeontology, entomology and evolution. The museum has as its mission both research (fundamental and applied) and public diffusion of knowledge of the history of the evolution of Planet Earth

the Palais de Chaillot houses three major museums – the Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine, the Musée National de la Marine and the Musée de l’Homme. It has spectacular views of the Eiffel Tower from the terrace

built for the Universal Exhibition in 1900 to stage a major display of French art, this jewel of a building now houses the Musée des Beaux-Art de la Ville de Paris with fine examples of work by Cézanne, Courbet and Dürer

dating from the lated 2nd Century, the remains of the vast Roman arena, seating up to 15,000 people, still impresses

a veritable labyrinth in the heart of underground Paris, the Catacombs were installed in the tunnels of former quarries. They now house the remains of millions of Parisians taken from Les Halles in the 19th Century

dating from 1427 and built for the brothers of Charity, or Billettes, these are the only remaining cloisters in Paris.The adjoining church is classical in style

founded in 1980 and house in a magnificent modern building, bringing cultural links from the Islamic world to the west with a museum and exhibitions

one of the best known Parisian buildings due to its prominent location and size, with paintings, sculpture and splendid mosaic work

originally a dyeing workshop set up in about 1440 by the Gobelin brothers, the building became a tapestry factory early in the 17th century, with a wide selection of tapestry and furniture exhibits as well as lace and lace production

with many artefacts relating to Balzac's life and an interactive video display and original manuscripts

straight in and straight up – just 38 seconds and you’re 200 metres above Paris, contemplating the very best view you can get of this beautiful city! The Eiffel Tower is right in front of you

home of the prolific sculptor, Antoine Bourdelle until his death in 1929. The house, studio and garden are now a museum devoted to his life and work

this lively museum covers the major trends in the 20th century art and is located in the east wing of the Palais de Tokyo. Highlights include Raoul Dufy's gigantic mural "The Spirit of Electricity", created for the 1937 World Fair

situated in the west wing of the Chaillot palace, tracing human evolution through a series of anthropological, archaeological and ethnological displays

small and charming with an entrance that was originally exclusively used by the emperor. Exhibits include the history of opera through manuscripts, photographs and other memorabilia

every conceivable aspect of the history of the French postal service and methods of transportation is covered in this well laid out collection. There is even a room devoted to mail delivery in time of war

a small, but fascinating museum displaying a guillotine, uniforms, evidence from famous criminal cases, photographs, letters, memorabilia and drawings from the French police force

the headquarters of the state run Radio-France, designed by Henri Bernard in 1963, containing many studios where visitors can get an insight into how programmes are made. Special children's activities

valuable collection of coins, medals, jewellery and classical objects is part of the Bibliothèque Nationale. Exhibitions include the Berthouville Treasure

opened as a museum of scientific discoveries for the World Fair in 1937, it was an immediate success which has continued to this day

watch this film taking the visitor through Paris' history, including a behind-the-scenes look at the famous monuments and surprising aerial views of this romantic city

built by Jacques Lemercier in the mid seventeenth century and became a monument to Cardinal Richelieu, considered to be a masterpiece of French classical art and is topped by an elegant dome

with a wealth of french cinema history from its beginnings to today, with costumes, set designs, lighting techniques, all regularly rotated to offer an every changing exhibition to the public

housed in the basement of the main university building with more that 1,400 cut and uncut gemstones and rock crystals, all beautifully displayed in all round viewing cabinets

despite its small size, the collection has many fascinating treasures including church plates, miniatures, silverware and ceramics

with paintings from the Impressionists onwards and a varied programme of modern art throughout the year. Special areas dedicated to children's activities

french maritime history from the days of the royal wooden warships to today's aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines told through wonderfully exact, scale models, many of them two centuries old

devoted to French monumental art. It was the inspiration of Eugène Viollet-Le-Duc, who restored Notre-Dame in the 19th century

7,000 objects from the Far East bequeathed to the State in 1894 by Clémence d'Ennery, wife of the journalist Adolphe d'Ennery. The collection illustrates daily life and beliefs in China and Japan, from the 16th to the 19th

housed in a late Gothic mansion, with a varied collection of stained glass windows, altars and sculpture. The most famous exhibit being the six medieval tapestries, called The Lady with the Unicorn

foundations laid in 1758, but not completed until 1780 with frescoes of the life of St Genèvieve with many famous men buried in the crypt including Rousseau, Voltaire and Dumas

founded during World War I, and run by the army medical corps, this museum is also known as the Museé du Val-de-Grâce. It is in the west wing of the Val-de-Grâce church, which became a military hospital in 1795

one of the most beautiful churches in France built for Anne of Austria (wife of Louis XlV) to give thanks for the birth of their son. A light and airy building with lovely low relief stone carvings

16th Century, Gothic style with some unique features including and early rood screen, a wooden pulpit held up by Samson with a bone in one hand and a slain lion at his feet. There is also impressive stained glass

dating back to the 9th Century with many fine paintings including the 17th Century 'St Joseph Walking with Christ' by Francisco de Zurbaran

constructed of pink marble in 1926, this is the oldest mosque in France, it was built to honour the North African countries that had helped France during the first World War

a prime example of Art Nouveau architecture, designed by Jules Lavirotte, winner of the first prize at the Concours des Façades de Ville de Paris in 1901

set amid splendid English style gardens, the Elysée Palace was built in 1718 and has been the official residence of the president since 1873

this neo-classical temple of commerce was commissioned by Napoleon and was home to the French stock exchange between 1826 and 1987. Serves as a stunning example of historic architecture