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Highlights:
  • Arc de Triomphe
  • Louvre
  • Eiffel Tower
  • Champs Elysees
  • Notre Dame Cathedral
  • Seine River cruise
  • Fragonard Perfumery
  • Louis XIV's Palace
  • Gardens of Versailles
  • Paris' Gay Life....
  • Amsterdam Gay Life...
About Paris - City of Lights Highlights

Gay Paree will put the joie back in your vivre .
Paris stimulates the senses, demanding to be seen, heard, touched, tasted and smelt. From romance along the Seine to landscapes on bus-sized canvases to the pick-an-ism types in cafes monologuing on the use of garlic or the finer points of Jerry Lewis, Paris is the essence of all things French.
Gaze rapturously at its breezy boulevards, impressive monuments, great works of art and magic lights. Savour its gourmet selection of cheese, chocolate, wine and seafood. Feel the wind in your face as you rollerblade through Bastille, or a frisson of fear and pleasure atop the Eiffel Tower.



























Parisian gays are really lucky! They will hardly admit it (autopunishment is a french national sport), but they live in a beautiful city, human sized, with too much things to see and do in an whole life time. And their have freedom too. One can see gay couples in the streets, lovingly holding each other with no problem (at least with good sense and decency limits, of course). This french tolerance for private life can really be tested in saunas or cruising bar where adults can do whatever they want.

Paris has a huge choice of gay or lesbian venues (349 different adresses in the guide section!). Most of them are concentrated in the very center district called "Le Marais" (the swamp), in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements. In these historic narrow streets, so typical of Paris, are most gay and lesbian bars, restaurants or fashion shops. While going from museums to hotels particuliers, while shopping in Sainte Croix de la Bretonnerie street or visiting the splendor of Place des Vosges, tourists meet same sex couples going out in Marais' venues.

Boys can start discovering Le Marais by visiting Open Cafe at the crossroad of two main streets, rue Des Archives and rue Sainte Croix de la Bretonnerie. The busy streets, especially in late afternoon, show a good sample of gay life in the neighborhood. After this first look, it is always interesting to try smaller bars and less known venues. When it comes to Le Marais, some talk of a Gay Ghetto, others prefer to see a friendly district.

Girls will prefer another crossroad in south Marais between rue Du Roi de Sicile and rue Des Ecouffes. In few steps, they can see three of the main lesbian bars in Paris and the only female dedicated sex-shop.

Two steps from there, the former gay district of Les Halles or Montorgueil (1st arrondissement) in the70's 80's, has kept lots of rainbow venues.
In the rest of the town, gay lesbian or gay-friendly places are in almost every district, but somehow more discrete. It is not a good reason to ignore them, as they are often more friendly than the Marais' ones. Many parisian gays prefer not to go in oriented places and mix with the usual people with no problem. Be carefull though. Some bars or restaurants could dislike to see you french kiss your boyfriend ;-)

Bars usually open at the beginning of the afternoon or around 5pm and close at two o'clock in the morning (the legal and compulsory hour). Some can be open until morning by a special license. Note that all bars are fully licenced. Clubs open around midnight for all night long, and sometimes untill noon ! Public transport is closed between 1am and 5. 30am, except on Fridays and Saturday nights when it closes at 2am. In between, you will need to use taxis (very rare in week-ends) or night buses.



























With a population of just over 2.15 million people, Paris has far fewer residents than the world’s other ‘global cities’: London, New York, and Tokyo. Yet the French capital attracts in excess of 20 million visitors a year, more than any other tourist destination on the planet. Whether you are drawn to its remarkable collection of art, its architectural heritage, its fashion houses, or its famous cafés, there is something in this bustling city for everyone. It is reportedly home to over 1,800 official monuments, 170 museums, numerous parks, and countless churches. Most people believe that you need at least a month or two here to develop more than a passing acquaintance with it. Newcomers can understandably feel overwhelmed by the number and variety of attractions from which to choose. 

Paris is a city best explored on foot.  Be prepared to pound the pavement, ideally in comfortable footwear.  Attractions are often located quite far apart from one another, so consider using the efficient Paris Métro, which runs daily from 5:30AM to 1:15AM and has stations located near all the popular sights.  An efficient and economical alternative for the tourist is to use one of the many sightseeing companies available.  We used the Paris L’Open Tour service (www.paris-opentour.com), where you can purchase a pass valid for 1 or 2 days that lets you hop on and off their double-decker buses at over 50 different stops throughout greater Paris. 


























Île de la Cité, the boat-shaped island on the Seine River (which runs through the centre of Paris) is where the city was founded. Founded in the 12th century on the site of a Gallo-Roman temple, the gothic style Cathédrale de Nôtre-Dame (www.cathedraledeparis.com) took some 170 years to build. The cathedral was the site of such historically significant events as the posthumous trial of French patriot Joan of Arc and Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte’s coronation. Unfortunately, it was also the scene of much vandalism and turmoil over the centuries, resulting in destruction of much of the original structures.  Thanks in large part to the popularity of Victor Hugo’s novel ‘Hunchback of Nôtre Dame,’ the cathedral was eventually restored to its original glory.
Nôtre-Dame attracts 10 million visitors annually, who flock to see the spectacular flying buttresses on the its eastern façade, the famous gargoyles perched between the twin towers to ward off evil, and the three 9.5 metre wide stained-glass rose windows adorning the north, south and west façades.  Admission to the cathedral is free except for a treasury housing ancient manuscripts and relics, as well as access to its 69 metre tall twin towers.

Just west of Nôtre-Dame are the grounds of the Palais de Justice. The residence and seat of royal power until the 14th century, it now houses various law courts, the small but beautiful church Sainte-Chapelle, and the former prison Conciergerie.  Sainte-Chapelle was originally constructed by the devout King Louis IX in 1241 as a shrine to house his relics (including Christ’s alleged crown of thorns, a piece of the cross, and nails from the crucifixion). The interior of the upper chapel is an impressive sight, its walls consisting of the original 13th century stained-glass windows soaring 15 metres to a star-covered vaulted roof. The windows, separated by stone columns, depict 1,134 Biblical scenes, starting from Genesis through to the Crucifixion.  
























When the royal palace was relocated to the Parisian neighborhood of Marais, the Conciergerie (the section of the palace administered to by the keeper of the King’s mansion) was transformed into a prison.  During the French Revolution, it achieved infamy as the antechamber to the guillotine, where more than half of its 4,000 prisoners, including the infamous Queen Marie Antoinette was decapitated.  Today you can still view the impressive vaulted Salle des Gens d’Armes (where the guards of the royal family once lived), the prison quarters, and the cell where Marie Antoinette was held. Check out www.monum.fr for more information.

Many of France’s heroes can be found entombed in the magnificent Panthéon, located south of the Seine in the trendy Latin Quarter.  Originally built in 1744 as a church by King Louis XV to resemble Rome’s Pantheon, it was later turned into a mausoleum.  Interred within the large underground crypts are such notables as noble laureate Marie Curie, author Victor Hugo, inventor Louis Braille, and writer Voltaire. The Panthéon’s Roman-inspired façade consists of 22 massive Corinthian columns supporting the portico roof.  Equally impressive is the building’s interior, which is made up of four wings arranged in the shape of a cross, from the centre of which arises the 10,000-ton 83-metre tall dome.  Hourly tours to the upper level of the dome afford visitors a spectacular 360-degree panoramic view of Paris.

Another popular Paris landmark where the French honor their dead is the prestigious Cemetière du Père Lachaise (www.pere-lachaise.com). First established by Napoleon in 1803, it draws hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. The grounds, which occupy a sprawling 44 hectares, hold an estimated one million graves. Among those buried here are French novelist Marcel Proust, Irish playwright Oscar Wilde, Polish composer Frédéric Chopin, and of course legendary singer Jim Morrison of The Doors.  Maps are posted around the cemetery to help visitors locate the more popular graves, and more detailed maps can be purchased at the entrances to the grounds. 


































No first trip to Paris would be complete without at least a brief visit to one or two of its many impressive museums.  Even for those who aren’t particularly interested in viewing collections of art and sculptures, the buildings themselves, often hundreds of years old, deserve a visit. One of our first stops in Paris was the Musée du Louvre (www.louvre.fr), the world’s largest and most visited museum, with a record 7.3 million tourists in 2005. Originally built as a fortress in 1190 to protect Paris against Viking attacks, it was home to kings and emperors until it was converted into a museum during the French Revolution.  One of its recent and most controversial additions was the central courtyard’s glass pyramid, designed by architect I.M. Pei, which now serves as the main entrance to the museum. 

Alternate entrances, to help avoid the often long lines at the pyramid, include the underground shopping mall Carrousel du Louvre and the Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre Métro station.  One can also purchase Le Carte Musées et Monuments (Museums and Monuments Pass), which allows you priority access via the Passage Richelieu as well as entry to some 70 other city attractions.  We limited ourselves to a mere three hours at the Louvre, and only quickly skimmed through such highlights as da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and the opulent Napoleon apartments.  A true museum buff could easily spend a week wandering through all its magni-ficent galleries (which display only a fraction of the museum’s pieces), and still barely scratch the surface of it. 



























While the Louvre generally features works from 10th century France to the mid-1800s, later French art (1848-1914), including one of the best Impressionist collections in the world, is displayed in the nearby Musée d’Orsay (www.musee-orsay.fr). Housed in a former railway station, d’Orsay attracts many visitors simply because of its magnificent old façade and arched glass roof.  Crowds flock here to see Whistler’s Mother, Van Gogh’s canvases, and of course Monet’s famous Blue Waterlilies. 

An obligatory part of any trip to the City of Lights is the avenue des Champs-Élysées, one of the world’s most famous promenades.  It stretches from the Place de la Concorde in the east to the Place Charles de Gaulle in the west, at the center of which 12 busy avenues converge on the Arc de Triomphe.  It is on this wide thoroughfare that Parisians celebrate national events such as military parades and funeral processions. The promenade is home to the President of France, embassies and consulates, upscale shops, and five-star hotels.  Unfortunately, the Champs-Élysées is also now littered with movie theatres, fast food joints, and car showrooms. One of the best panoramic views of Paris can be had for a climb (or elevator ride) to the observation deck at the top of the Arc de Triomphe.

On most days, you can easily see the Tour Eiffel from the top of the Arc de Triomphe.  Once the tallest structure in the world (until it was surpassed by the Empire State Building in 1931), the Tower (www.tour-eiffel.fr) remains one of the most distinctive symbols of Paris.  Built as a temporary attraction for the 1889 Universal Exhibition, it was fiercely denounced by critics but saved from demolition because of its utility as a radio tower. For those not willing to wait in long lineups to take the elevator to the viewing gallery 247 meters above ground, there are stairs that will let you climb to the 57-metre-high first level and then to the 115-metre-high second level. The panoramic view from either of these levels is still spectacular.  If possible, visit the Tower in the evening, when it is illuminated for 10 minutes every hour.

If your schedule allows, consider spending half a day in the Montmartre district of Paris. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it was home to artists such as Picasso, Dali, Van Gogh, Renoir, Degas, and Manet.   Today the area is alive with quick portrait artists and souvenir stalls. It does however retain some of its old village charm, with its narrow winding cobblestone streets and small terraces.  Armies of tourists climb the hill for the magnificent view of Paris from the Basilique Sacré-Coeur. Other popular attractions here include l’Espace Salvador Dali (www.daliparis.com), where some 300 of the Spanish surrealist’s works are on display, as well as the Musée de Montmartre, which features the work of artists formerly living there. 

On a final note, Paris is not just about visiting museums and other tourist attractions.  Experiencing the best of Paris also means leafing through paperbacks at second-hand bookstalls in the Latin Quarter, having a leisurely meal (and people-watching) at a corner café, and taking a romantic moonlit walk along the Seine.  Indeed, it is these activities that many tourists feel are the highlights of their visit to the City of Lights. 
Visas:
American & Canadian passport holders are NOT required to have visas to enter France, Holland or the UK for tourism purposes. A valid passport is required.

Currency and Money Issues:
It is very easy to withdraw money from ATMs located throughout Europe as well as to use your credit card. Travelers checks are also accepted.
Euro is the official currency.
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