Paris is brimming with attractions and things to do. The city’s architecture alone is a sight to see, let alone the countless museums, monuments, landmarks, and recreation locales scattered throughout this huge metropolis. Despite a somewhat grueling history of enemy invasion, most of the city’s historical attractions remain well preserved, never failing in their old-world appeal. A considerable number of modern attractions (relatively modern, that is) serve only to compliment the city’s archaic appeal.

Most of the city’s popular sites are concentrated along the banks of the Seine River, or within close proximity. All attractions are easily reachable via the underground railway system. There are two different lines of the Paris subway: the RER (regional train) line and the Metro Tube line. The system is inexpensive, safe and often the quickest way to reach a destination. For information in English call +33 8 36 68 41 14: RATP.

Of course, when one thinks of Paris one can’t help but envision the sky piercing Eiffel Tower. Built in 1889, the tower is the city’s most powerful landmark, standing at 984 feet high and offering a city view that stretches for 50 miles. In close competition with the Eiffel Tower is the Arch de Triomphe, which stands at the center of the Charles de Gaulle circle and punctuates the esteemed Avenue de Champs Elysees. The Arch also offers a bird’s eye view of the city, with a unique look at twelve avenues converging in a star shape around the monument. The Champs Elysees, which in English means “Elysian Fields”, is the fifth and most famous avenue of Paris, lined with numerous cafes, department stores, fancy restaurants, nightclubs, models, actors and more. At the other end of the Champs Elysees is the historical Place de la Concord, a beautiful square that served as the scene of several important historical events, including the execution of Louis XVI.

Paris offers some of the most inspiring museums in the world. Undoubtedly, the most notable venue is the Musee du Louvre. The Louvre is home to da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, in addition to countless other incredible works of art. Across the river is the The Musee d’Orsay, which is devoted to the various art movements between 1848 and 1914, featuring pastels, sculpture, furniture, photography, architecture and art objects dating specifically from that 65-year period. Another renowned museum is the Musee Picasso, featuring some of the most famous paintings, drawings and sculptures created by the master of cubism.

Visitors to Paris should not forget about the famous cemeteries -- Cimetiere Montparnasse and Cimetiere Montmartre -- which serve as the burial grounds for numerous dignitaries and celebrities of various nationalities. About a thirty-minute subway ride from the city is the magnificent Chateau de Versailles, once the summer home of Louis XIV. An attraction not as well known but interesting just the same is the Sewers of Paris, which offers an inside look into the city’s sewer network, its growth, and its affect on citizens throughout the generations. The Centre George Pompidou, built in 1977, is one of the city’s more modern cultural centers, housing the Musée national d' Art Moderne, the public information library, the IRCAM, the centre of industrial creation and the salle Garance.

Being one of the most traveled cities in the world, Paris is naturally overly saturated with tourists and often times the waiting lines to get into certain attractions can eat away at one’s motivation for sightseeing. And just as Paris is aesthetically wondrous, it can be equally as ugly in that many attractions and highlights are expensive and usually crowded. Nevertheless, this city remains as seductive as ever, and continues to delight and inspire the millions of visitors it sees each year.---Words and photos by Michael Rando