Louvre, Marais & Île de la Cité

The Louvre is not only the largest but also the most visited art museum in the world: 380,000 works, of which 35,000 are on display, spread over 72,735 m² of exhibition space. It would take 100 days to view each work for 30 seconds. The Louvre was originally a fortress (12th century), then a royal palace, and has been a museum since 1793. The glass Pyramid (I. M. Pei, 1989) is the modern entrance.

The 10 Masterpieces You Must See

1. Mona Lisa (Leonardo da Vinci, 1503–1519): Smaller than expected (77 × 53 cm), behind bulletproof glass, surrounded by hundreds of selfie sticks. Yet, the smile is indeed enigmatic. Room 711, Denon Wing.
2. Winged Victory of Samothrace (190 BC): The winged goddess of victory at the end of a dramatic staircase — one of the most dynamic sculptures of all time. Denon Wing.
3. Venus de Milo (100 BC): The armless marble beauty — epitome of Greek aesthetics. Sully Wing.
4. The Coronation of Napoleon (Jacques-Louis David, 1807): 6 × 10 meters — the largest painting in the Louvre. Napoleon crowns himself, the Pope looks on. Denon Wing.
5. Liberty Leading the People (Eugène Delacroix, 1830): The icon of the revolution — Marianne with the tricolor on the barricades. Denon Wing.
6. The Code of Hammurabi (1750 BC): One of the oldest legal codes of humanity — 282 laws in cuneiform on a basalt stele. Richelieu Wing.
7. The Wedding at Cana (Veronese, 1563): The largest painting in the Louvre hangs opposite the Mona Lisa — and is far more impressive. 10 × 7 meters, 130 figures.
8. The Dying Slave (Michelangelo, 1513): Two unfinished sculptures that touch with their raw power. Denon Wing.
9. Vermeer's Lacemaker (1669): Tiny (24 × 21 cm), perfect — the quiet counterpart to the overwhelming Mona Lisa. Richelieu Wing.
10. Egyptian Department: The Sphinx, sarcophagi, mummies, and the scribe — one of the best Egyptian collections worldwide. Sully Wing.

Practical Information

The Marais (3rd and 4th Arrondissement) is Parisian diversity in a compact space: Renaissance city palaces next to hip concept stores, the historic Jewish community alongside the vibrant LGBTQ+ scene, falafel stands next to Galeries Lafayette. The Marais is the only district that escaped Haussmann's major urban renewal in the 19th century — hence the medieval and Renaissance buildings have been preserved.

Highlights in the Marais

• Place des Vosges: The oldest planned square in Paris (1612, Henry IV) — a perfect square of red brick facades with arcades. Victor Hugo lived here (No. 6, now a museum, free). Under the arcades: art galleries and cafes. In the park in the middle: picnics, children, sunbathing.
• Musée Carnavalet: The museum of the history of Paris — from the founding of Lutetia to the present. 625,000 objects in two Renaissance palaces. Free and excellent. Recently renovated.
• Centre Pompidou: Renzo Piano's and Richard Rogers' radically modern cultural center (1977) — all pipes, ducts, and staircases are on the outside, color-coded. Inside: the Musée National d'Art Moderne (largest collection of modern art in Europe). The rooftop terrace offers a panorama over all of Paris. Admission: 15€.
• Rue des Rosiers: The heart of the Jewish quarter (Pletzl) — here kosher bakeries, delicatessens, and the most famous falafel shops in Paris line up.

Food & Drink in the Marais

• L'As du Fallafel: The legendary falafel pita (8€) on Rue des Rosiers — the queue is part of the experience. Allegedly the best falafel in Europe (Lenny Kravitz is a regular).
• Chez Janou: The best profiteroles (chocolate cream puffs) in Paris and over 80 types of pastis. Reservation recommended.
• Breizh Café: The best crêpes and galettes (buckwheat crêpes) in the city — traditional Breton cuisine, modernly interpreted.
• Jacques Genin: World-class patisserie craftsmanship: millefeuille, tarts, and hot chocolate that is addictive.

Île de la Cité — Where Paris Began

The Île de la Cité is the cradle of Paris: Here the Celtic Parisii settled, here the Romans founded Lutetia, here rose the cathedral and the royal palace. The small island in the Seine is the historical and geographical center of France — the Point Zéro in front of Notre-Dame marks the point from which all distances in France are measured.

Notre-Dame de Paris

The Notre-Dame Cathedral (1163–1345) is the heart of Paris and one of the most significant Gothic structures in the world. The devastating fire of April 15, 2019, which caused the spire to collapse and the roof to be destroyed, shocked the world. The cathedral was reopened on December 7, 2024 after five years of restoration. The restored interior shines brighter than before — the centuries-old patina was removed, the rose windows restored, a new altar and liturgical furnishings created.

• Facade: The iconic west facade with the two towers, three portals, and the large rose window (13 meters in diameter) — one of the most harmonious Gothic structures ever.
• Interior: 130 meters long, 48 meters high — a forest of clustered columns and pointed arches, flooded with light from the rose windows.
• Towers: 387 steps lead to the towers (69 meters) — view over all of Paris, the bell Emmanuel (13 tons), and the chimeras (not gargoyles!) up close.

Admission: Cathedral free. Towers: Reservation required (tickets online). Opening hours: Daily 8–19 (weekdays), until 20 (weekends).

Sainte-Chapelle — The Jewel of Gothic Architecture

The Sainte-Chapelle (1248, Louis IX) is one of the most beautiful churches in the world — and most visitors are left in awe. The upper chapel is almost entirely made of stained glass windows (600 m², 1,113 scenes from the Old and New Testament). When the sun shines through the windows, the room transforms into a kaleidoscope of color — red, blue, gold. It's as if standing inside a gemstone.

Admission: 11.50€ (combination with Conciergerie: 18.50€). Opening hours: Daily 9–17 (winter), until 19 (summer). The most beautiful church in Paris — highly recommended!

Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th Arr.)

Saint-Germain is the intellectual heart of Paris — the district where Sartre and Beauvoir philosophized at Café de Flore, Hemingway wrote at Café Les Deux Magots, and Miles Davis played in the jazz cellars. Today it is elegant and expensive, but the spirit of literature and philosophy lives on: antiquarian bookshops, galleries, the oldest church in Paris (Saint-Germain-des-Prés, 6th century), and some of the best bakeries and chocolatiers in the world.

• Café de Flore: The most famous literary meeting place in the world — Sartre, Beauvoir, Camus sat here. Café crème: 7€ (yes, expensive — you pay for the history).
• Les Deux Magots: The rival café next door — equally famous, equally expensive, same literary history.
• Rue de Buci: Market street with fruits, flowers, cheese, and croissants — perfect for a morning stroll.

Latin Quarter (5th Arr.)

The Latin Quarter — so named because Latin was spoken here at the Sorbonne until the French Revolution — has been Parisian student life for 800 years. Narrow streets, inexpensive restaurants (especially Greek on Rue de la Huchette), bookstores (Shakespeare and Company is a must!), jazz cellars, and the Panthéon.

• Shakespeare and Company: The most legendary bookstore in the world (since 1951, successor to Sylvia Beach's): English-language books, readings, and the tradition that young writers can sleep in the bookstore for free. Opposite Notre-Dame.
• Panthéon: France's hall of fame: Voltaire, Rousseau, Hugo, Zola, Marie Curie, Joséphine Baker. The dome offers a 360° view. Admission: 11.50€.
• Jardin du Luxembourg: The quintessential Parisian park: metal chairs at the Grand Bassin, children's sailboats, joggers, students with books. Free and indispensable.