Places |
 |
Paris Opera - Garnier Palace
It was Napoleon III who took the decision to have this major Parisian opera house built and he entrusted its construction to Charles Garnier, a young architect. It was started in 1860 and was building work was completed in 1875.
The Opera Garnier is a magnificent gilded marble building which it's hard to be indifferent to.From the end of the avenue de l'Opéra, imposing and majestic, the Opera Garnier never fails to impress.
Inside, a huge staircase takes you to the different levels and it is flanked on both sides by a blend of paintings and sculptures and most notably the ceiling painted by
Chagall which light up the auditorium with red and gold.
In this sumptuous showcase, operas, ballets and international productions become ever more majestic, the setting perfectly complementing the sheer magic of these first class performances.
More information
The Musée Grévin
At a time when photography was only seldom used by the press, journalist Arthur Meyer took it upon himself to try to depict celebrities of the time with three-dimensional representations. He commissioned a sculptor and costume-maker to help him, one Alfred Grévin, and thereby made history…
The musée Grévin still boasts its beautiful antique interior (courtesy of financier Gabriel Thomas), and the collections within have been growing steadily for the past hundred years!
Today there are more than 3 000 wax statues in the museum. Some are great men who made history (French history in particular), from Marat to De Gaulle, but also actors, singers, writers, etc. More recently, various celebrities have been honoured with their own wax statue: chef Alain Ducasse, Rachida Dati, Geneviève de Fontenay and Barack Obama to name a few of the most well known.
Located on the Grands Boulevards, the Musée Grévin is a living museum of popular history, which relates directly to the changing nature of current affairs and popular culture!
More information
Musée du Luxembourg - Luxembourg Museum
Built under Marie de Medicis in 1615, the Palais du Luxembourg in Paris is today the seat of the French senate.
Since its construction the palace has showcased masterpieces such as Rubens's series of paintings depicting the Queen's life story (today at the Louvre).
Back in 1750 the Palais du Luxembourg became the number one French museum dedicated to painting. It wasn't until the 19th century that the museum was relocated to a new building commissioned by the Senate. Today, the Musée du Luxembourg is a popular exhibition space that hosts temporary exhibitions throughout the year (Raphaël, Titian, Arcimboldo, Vlaminck…).
In 2011 the museum will reopen with a new look now under management of the RMN (Association of National Museums).
More information
Place Vendôme
The grandiose Place Vendôme perfectly illustrates the classic architecture such as it existed under Louis XIV and Louis XV. Octagonal in shape, the designs were drawn up by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the architect of the Château de Versailles.
Initially at its centre it had a statue of King Louis XIV which was beheaded during the Revolution and some years later (in 1804) was replaced by a Roman-inspired column, with a statue of Napoleon erected on its summit.
This magnificent square remains, even today, a symbol of grandeur which is home to many luxury jewellery shops and grand hotels.
More information
The Louvre Museum
The Louvre Museum is the world's largest museum; it is a temple to Art, a veritable treasure trove which houses artefacts and artwork from the four corners of the globe.
Commissioned by French king François I in the 16th century, the Louvre is today one of the most visited monuments in the world. Within you can admire Egyptian, Western and Islamic artwork, Etruscan, Roman and Medieval works of painting and sculpture. The collections include truly legendary works such as Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, Veronese's Wedding at Cana or the famed Venus de Milo.
The Louvre has decorative arts sections where you can admire objects dating from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. You can see the famous statuette of B>Charlemagne or Charles le Chauve, a self portrait medallion by Jean Fouquet or furniture in the rococo style.
The Louvre Museum possesses a department for the conservation of prints and drawings, which exhibits a selection of the works occasionally due to their fragile nature.
For the past few years the Louvre has included a section dedicated to primitive art, an annex of the Quai Branly museum. There you can admire over 100 masterpieces of African, Asian, Australasian or American art.
More information
Eiffel Tower - Tour Eiffel
The most famous and visited monument in Paris, the famed Tour Eiffel, was designed by Sauvestre, a talented architect, and engineering genius Gustave Eiffel. It was completed in 1889 for the World Fair, or Universal Expo.
It is interesting to note that, before being accepted by the Parisiens for its modernity, the project was met with vitriolic criticism and even downright contempt by some of the city's top patrons. Much has changed and today the "Iron Lady" is a member of the family of monuments.
From the third platform you can admire a spectacular view which includes the Champ de Mars, the Palais de Chaillot, the musée de l'Homme, and also the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur, the Champs-Elysées, the Arc de Triomphe…
If you're feeling strong, take the 1 665 stairs up to the second floor: the view will reward you for your hard work!
Every 7 years, the "Iron Lady" has a makeover, receiving a fresh coat of paint, and continues to welcome thousands of visitors every day!
More information
le Walt ****
37 avenue de la Motte Picquet
75007 Paris
T. +33 (0)1 45 51 55 83
F. +33 (0)1 47 05 77 59
the 7th arrondissement, our 4 star luxury hotel is situated in close proximity to the Invalides Hotel . Do not hesitate to consult our tarifs to reserve a Classic, Superior or Deluxe room.
