Get in

By Métro

Map of the 7th Arrondissement

See

Landmarks

The Eiffel Tower at Night, Paris

• Eiffel Tower, [1]. one of the most famous landmarks in the world. Built by Gustave Eiffel in 1887-1889, the tower was almost torn down in 1909 and only saved due to its use as a telegraphy antenna. A "must see" if you go to Paris. Queues can be very long, however.
• the Assemblée Nationale [2], 33 quai d'Orsay, open Mo, Fr, Sa 8.40 am - 11.40 am and 2 pm - 5 pm, guided tours conducted all day, ID required, tel 01 40 63 60 00 - formerely the Palais Bourbon, this building has housed the National Assembly, the French parliament's lower house, since 1827. Some interesting architecture and the library features the painting l'Histoire de la civilization by Delacroix. Visitors may be interested in attending assembly debates.
• Les Invalides [3], Métro: Invalides - founded in 1671 by Louis XIV as a hospital for 6000 war-wounded soldiers - this function explaining the name of the building - the golden-domed Hôtel des Invalides still functions as an infirmary and now also houses the Musée de l'Armée (see below). The church attached, l'Eglise du Dôme, houses the tomb of Napoleon.

Museums and Galleries

• Musée d'Orsay, [4], 1 rue de la Légion d'Honneur / rue de Lille (located on the Left Bank of the Seine, adjacent to the Pont Solferino and Pont Royal - opposite the Jardin des Tuileries in the 1st), Métro: Solferino (ligne 12), Assemblée Nationale (lignes 8, 13), RER C Musée d'Orsay, bus 24, 63, 68, 69, 73, 83, 84, 94, open Tu-Sa 10 am - 6 pm (June - September, from 9am), Th 10 am - 9.45pm, Su 9 am - 6 pm; closed Mondays, Christmas, New Years and May Days, entry €7, concessions €5, under-18s free - housed in a former Beaux-Arts railway station (completed in 1900 for the Exposition Universelle, later saved from demolition and converted to its present use), the rambling, open-plan museum is home to the works of the great artists of the 19th century (1848-1914) - Impressionists, post-Impressionists, and the rest - that were formerly displayed in the Louvre. This is perhaps the most spectacular collection of Eurpoean impressionism in the world-- breath-taking rooms full of Manet, Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh, and many others. Impressionist represent the biggest drawcard, but there is much else to explore.
• Musée du quai Branly, [5], 37 quai Branly, Métro: Iéna, Bir Hakeim. Opened in 2006, this is the newest and the most modern of Paris' great museums, housing an outstanding collection of tribal art, with a particular emphasis on France's former (and present) territories in Oceania and Africa. The museum is huge and you can easily spend half a day wandering out, especially if you pause to explore the multimedia presentations. Open Tue-Sun 10 AM -6 PM (Thu -9 PM). Admission 8.50€, concessions 6€ (permanent collection only).
• Musée Rodin [6], 77 Rue de Varenne, Métro: Varenne. +33 1 44 18 61 10, fax: +33 1 44 18 61 30. Closed Mondays. A museum dedicated to the life and work of the great sculptor. Admission 5€, concessions 3€, garden only 1€, visitors under 18 free.
• Musée de l'Armée [7] - found within Les Invalides

Other attractions

• Les Egouts de Paris / Paris Sewers, entrance opposite 93 quai d'Orsay near the Pont d'Alma, Métro: Alma-Marceau -

Do

Buy

Eat

• Le Clos des Gourmets, 16 avenue Rapp, Métro: Ecole Militaire / Alma Marceau, RER Pont de l'Alma, open Tu-Sa 12.15pm - 2pm, 715pm - 11pm, closed Su-Mo and August, tel +33 1 45 51 75 61, prix fixe (dinner) €33, accepts credit cards - a great little restaurant, elegant without being stuffy, popular with foreign visitors and American diplomatic staff (interesting conversations to be overheard....), fantastic French cuisine with a twist - try the avocado millefeuille with orange sauce for dessert (a surprisingly good combination)

• Chez l'Ami Jean, Rue Malar, A sensational little restaurant featuring food and wine from the Basque region. Prix Fixe (dinner) Approx. €30, accepts credit cards.

Drink

Sleep

Budget

Mid-Range

• Hôtel du Champ de Mars, 7, rue du Champ de Mars, tel +33 1 45 51 52 30, fax +33 1 45 51 64 36, Métro: École Militaire, Bus: 28-80-82-92, RER: Invalides-Pont de l'Alma, Airport Shuttle Bus Stop: Invalides-Montparnasse-Etoile - conveniently located close to one of the stops of the Air France airport shuttle bus, a family style hotel, homely, semi-rural decor, double rooms from €79
• Hôtel Saint-Dominique, 62, rue Saint-Dominique. +33 1 47 05 51 44.
• Hôtel Lindbergh, 5, rue Chômel. +33 1 45 48 35 53.
• Duquesne Eiffel Hôtel, 23, avenue Duquesne. +33 1 44 42 09 09.
• Hôtel de la Tulipe, 33, rue Malar. +33 1 45 51 67 21.

Splurge

• Timhôtel Best Western Tour Eiffel Invalides, 35, boulevard de La Tour-Maubourg. +33 1 45 56 10 78.

Contact