Paris: Symbolic City of Light

by Rosanne Koelmeyer Anderson

Visiting Paris was great and was synonymously associated with two things of fame, the Eiffel Tower, once the tallest structure in the world and Europe's best known landmark and Paris's most famous symbol and the exotic fragrances of the most exclusive perfumes in the world, which mesmerises both men and women the world over.

Scrutinizing the vast chain of perfumeries at the Paris duty free alone is sufficient to drive you crazy especially if you are an addict to the aura of tantalising fragrances which are most often not affordable while you couldn't possibly miss out on seeing the Eiffel Tower in Paris which is evident from all over Paris as it were as it rises 300 metres tall and twice as high as the Washington Monument which was at that time the tallest structure in the world.

The Eiffel Tower has a wonderful history to its credit, was built for the World Exhibition in 1889, held in celebration of the French Revolution in 1789, it is said. The construction was only meant to last for the duration of the Exposition, but it still stands today, despite all protests from contemporary artists who feared the construction would be the advent of structures without and it would not fit into the architecture of Paris. Paris has become the symbol of the city of light.

The man behind the famous Eiffel Tower was Gustave Eiffel who was known for his revolutionary bridge building techniques as well as for the construction of the statue of Liberty's iron framework which took more than two years to complete and had so many intricacies and looking at the Eiffel Tower, a spate of thoughts crosses your mind.... Having viewed the awe of the Eiffel Tower, and if you are looking for some peace and quiet, away from the busy city is Park Monceau, the brain child of Duke of Oceans in the 18th century.

Park Monceau they say is known as one of the most attractive parks in Paris, with its lovely flower gardens and interesting array of statues. Going back as Napoleon III the Pretty Park Monceau, though it is now more traditional in nature, boasts of a number of elements that were added throughout the century. Visitors can still see the Duke's pyramid, the grotto and waterfall and the four monumental iron gates which one would enter through.

Taking you back in time is also the oldest bridge in Paris, the Pont Neuf (the New Bridge) together with the Pont Alexandre III, which is also beautiful. Pont Neuf was said to be the first bridge with pavements which was a meeting place of the Parisians.

Napoleon's Trimphal Arch, (the arch of triumph) one of the greatest arches in history, commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 to commemorate his victories stands with names of Generals who commanded French troops during Napoleon's regime engraved.

The arch also includes the grave of the unknown soldiers from the first World War. The arch features an observatory which can be viewed if you are prepared to walk up about 250 steps or so.

Getting religiously sentimental is Notre Dame which is quite a famous Cathedral in the world, a gothic masterpiece located on the lie de la Cite, a small island in the heart of the city which is the cradle of paris and has always been the religious centre of the city.

In the early days the Celts are said to have had their sacred ground here, the Romans built a temple to worship Jupiter, Christian basilica was built in the 6th century and the last religious structure before the Notre Dame construction started was a Romanesque church.

Notre-Dame, was the first Cathedral built in the new gothic style on a monumental style with several large rose windows became the prototype for future Cathedrals in France, which had been altered during the Revolution but subsequently said to have been restored by Parisian architect, Tugine Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century and restored once again between 1991 and 2001.

Moving away from all the serious traditional landmarks is the Famous Disneyland Paris a theme park which was opened in April 1992 which attracts so many visitors and ushers you into a world of make believe with an overview of its Magic Kingdom the coming near Paris, large billboards with Mickey Mouses on them will print the way to the park which is easily reached by car.

The park also has its own train station where the TGV (named Thalys when coming from Brussels) stops and its own RER (commuter train station takes you right into the park, and what you see over in Disneyland Paris is certainly a treat to the eye which no visitor to Paris would want to miss I'm sure.

So, though highly commercialised, Paris is a beautiful city to visit but make sure you are able to converse in French, if you cannot or don't have a guide with you I can tell, you will be simply lost and feel so miserable and wish you had never visited Paris as the French do not speak in English, not even answer you if addressed in English.

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