Amiens, north of Paris and west of Lille, is a town of about 130,000 with a long and varied history, dating, like many French towns, to before the Romans arrived. Its useful location in the Somme basin made it a battleground of note not only in World War II and World War I, but right back to the Norman era, and before, that, caught the strategic interest of various barbarian tribes. Surprisingly, Amiens features the tallest Gothic cathedral in France, topping Notre Dame in Paris. As for industry, textile manufacturing in the 17th and 18th centuries (notably velour) were a mainstay, but wholesale fighting and bombardment during the two World Wars put the town into a long decline until the...
Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris Lines 1, 2, and 6 - Charles de Gaulle-Etoile Line A - Charles de Gaulle-Etoile 22, 30, 31, 52, 73, and 92 Hotel "Stayability" Index (Five is the highest rating possible) History of the Arc De Triomphe Shortly after his victory at Austerlitz, Napoleon commissioned the Arc de Triomphe's construction. The Arc was completed in 1836. There are four huge relief sculptures at the bases of the four pillars that make up the structure. These commemorate The Triumph of 1810 (Cortot); Resistance, and Peace (both by Etex); and The Departure of the Volunteers, more commonly known by the name La Marseillaise (Rude). The Arc de Triomphe Engraved around the top of the Arch are the names of major victories won during the Revolutionary and...
The history of Antibes Juan-les-Pins goes back several millennia. The site was first settled by Ligurians. It occupies a remarkable location: on one hand, a defensive site with its natural shelter; on the other, the convergence point for sailing itineraries along the coasts of Italy and Corsica. With the arrival of Christianity in the 3rd century AD, the city became a bishopric. But the town, now named Antiboul, would soon experience difficult times, as Visigoths, Saracens, hordes of Barbarians spread terror until the 10th century. The insecurity reigning in the city incited the Pope to transfer the bishopric to Grasse in 1244 and, in 1385, the Grimaldi family were appointed Royal Captains of Antibes by Queen Marie. Antibes Juan-les-Pins from...
Place du parvis de Notre Dame , 75004 Paris Line 1 - Hotel de VilleCite, Line 4 - Cite, Line 7,11, and 14 - Chatalet Line B - Châtelet-Les Halles, Line C - Saint Michel-Notre Dame 21, 38, 47, 58, 70, 72, 74, 81, 82 Area Hotel "Stayability" Index (Five is the highest rating possible) Known as a gothic masterpiece, the cathedral of Notre Dame was conceived by Maurice de Sully in the 12th century. The cathedral took over 200 years to complete. Construction was finally completed in 1345. In April of 2019 the cathedral was damaged in an inferno that ruined much of the structure. Rebuilding efforts are underway. Stained glass at Notre Dame, Paris Notre Dame is the spiritual and geographical...
Hotel "Stayability" Index (Five is the highest rating possible) Note: Is it recommended to book your Eiffel Tower tickets in advance. Please visit the Eiffel Tower website to book. In 1889, when the Eiffel Tower was completed, it was the tallest building in the world at just over 300 meters high. The tower was originally built as a temporary structure to commemorate the centennial of the French Revolution for the 1889 World's Fair exposition. What was temporary became permanent and now the Eiffel Tower is the enduring symbol of the city of Paris and France itself. Where is the Eiffel Tower? Champs-de-Mars, Paris 75007 Bir-Hakeim, Trocadero, Ecole Militaire Line C - Station Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel 42,69,72,82,87 Back in the 1880's, the Eiffel Tower's steel construction defied...
