Low cost web self-organized tour of Paris, the beautiful capital of France

Travel DIY low cost web-organized,

 

Arrival

Organized travel via the web, reading a lot of travel stories and opinions on the various sites.
We start from Turin Saturday, May 7, 2011 by TGV of 8 (cost / r 120 euros for two, booking in advance), we arrive at the Gare de Lyon at around 14, having pictures buy decouverte Navigo card that will allow us to travel on transport all of the city from Monday to Sunday, taking into account that do not apply only to the metro areas, we reach the Hotel Jules Cesar, about 400 meters, we assign the room No 11 side yard (silent), quite spacious, full bathroom with shower and bidet. Free wifi, lift, cost 80 euros per night without breakfast.
I state that is not the first time I visit Paris, this is dedicated above all to deepen our knowledge of the Gothic, that's why we carry a good pair of binoculars that will allow us to see the stories in glass windows and sculptures.
We start the tour, visiting the area near the hotel: Place de la Bastille, on the one hand the large modern opera, nothing remains of the revolution, then the Place des Vosges (seventeenth century), one of the most beautiful and elegant I saw squares, square, symmetrical with 36 magnificent stone buildings all the same (9 per side) filled with history, with beautiful gables, a blazing sun highlights the reddish color of the buildings and slate roofs, the center of the square a large monumental fountain garden, full of boys lying on the grass, under the arcades, bars, restaurants and shops crowded, always home to celebrities of all ages such as Cardinal Richelieu, Victor Hugo to name a few.
We enter in the rue Saint-Antoine, where the royal road came the personalities of the court. We see the Seine near the Hotel de Sens (fifteenth century), a palace that despite the restructuring preserves elements of medieval architecture even if it looks like a fairy castle.
We rest at the edge of the Seine, crowded with people of all ages, the river a row of almost continuous packed Bateaux Mouches.
We continue with the small island of Saint Louis, now an elegant residential neighborhood with elegant buildings 800, we stopped to dine at the restaurant - ice cream Pom. Cannelle, simple local, eat onion soup au gratin, salad, ice cream and sorbet, kitchen satisfactory, average prices.
Sunday: La Defense district of Paris and futuristic technology with great thickening of skyscrapers, is no coincidence that the area is called "the forest of skyscrapers."
From the main square (the Esplanade) climb the wide staircase of the Grand Arche, a huge cube of white marble, glass and steel that measure over 100 yards in length, empty inside, is a modern arch of triumph with a kind of tent soaring steel, and despite the cloudy weather you can see the Arc de Triomphe (the famous Etoile ...).
Then we are lost to Saint Germain des Pres, one of the symbol of Paris, crowded streets, restaurants, bars, shops, visit to the abbey (sixth century), destroyed and rebuilt several times, the exterior retains some traces of the original aspect , its bell tower dominates the neighborhood, the nave is the eleventh and twelfth centuries, is the result of the restructuring of the nineteenth century, some are beautiful stained glass of the thirteenth century.
Church of St. Sulpice, a large Gothic church, with a beautiful neo-classical facade of two storeys with colonnades, has undergone radical changes over time that makes it seem almost baroque in the first chapel to the right of Delacroix frescoes, beautiful even raised the pulpit (eighteenth century) , has a huge organ, many are attracted by the "gnomon", a meridian line built in the eighteenth century Astronomical Observatory of Paris, however, is partially covered by chairs, I think the current interest is also due to film in the series code da Vinci.
Lunch at Pizzeria Vesuvio, nothing special.
Then the Latin Quarter where we visit the Gothic church of St. Severin (thirteenth century) as the other has undergone significant changes, often beautiful ornaments and stained glass windows belonging to different eras, ranging from Gothic to modern, Older illustrate the lives of saints and Bible stories, and modern (years 70) the sacraments (if you have not read the paper would not have understood at the entrance), also remarkable palm-shaped columns, not missed for those who want to see the evolution of the stained glass windows in time.
Dinner at a restaurant in the rue Montorgueil Epicerie, pedestrianized street, next to the church
St. Eustache, the restaurant with outdoor seating, we will be back many times.

The visit

Monday: visit to Chartres, we start from the Gare de Montparnasse, arrive in an hour (21 euros / r each)
The famous cathedral dominates the city, is one of the greatest masterpieces of Gothic architecture, we immediately notice that the west facade is covered with a tarp for work in progress, are fortunately visible, the sculptures of the three portals, are not all original, but I think the best preserved Gothic cathedral.
Often the binoculars is not enough to distinguish the sculptures and the stories contained in the glass, remember that cathedrals were called "books of glass and stone" that illustrate stories from the Bible and New Testament.
The cathedral is rather dark, but that was not the impression at the time of construction, in fact, people used to light candles or lanterns, so the concept of enlightened place was different, however, the architecture of Gothic cathedrals is based on the Platonic notion that God is light, and this is the reason for the large stained glass windows that let in the sunlight.
It 'is evident that the Sainte Chapelle or Notre Dame, which are illuminated by electric light, this did not you think, you should also consider that the sculptures of the cathedrals were now colored gray.
Hidden between the chairs of the traits we see the famous Labyrinth, a path of penance that the original spiral on the floor, which probably was on his knees.
Note that the cathedral (and not just this one) was often frequented by the esoteric symbolism and alchemical meanings which some have attributed to some sculptures and stained glass.
Take the opportunity to make one complete revolution of the exterior, being the only cathedral in Ile de France where you can make a complete revolution, we are amazed system lintels and buttresses that support the cathedral.
Tuesday: The Sainte Chapelle, the Promenade and Plantée Branly Museum
The Sainte Chapelle (thirteenth century) built as a chapel connected with the royal palace, it is virtually built into the courthouse. It consists of two chapels, the lower paid staff of the building, the upper one to the royal family who guarded the relics, dominate in the colors red and blue (symbol of France), not original, but the result of the restructuring of the nineteenth century, The ceiling is also decorated with stars, the upper chapel is fantastic, magnificent stained glass all around us (about 600 square meters) from stories of the Bible and New Testament, are about 60% for the original, I think it's the place where the windows are best seen, not to be missed.
Then at the Musée du Quai Branly, located in the area at the edge of the Eiffel Tower and the Seine, in a building architecturally very modern, contains a huge collection of objects belonging to the civilization of the four continents, displayed in an exceptional manner, among other things on the screens are popular images and sounds, you stroll through charming corridors, bridge structures, flanked by windows with objects, paintings, in a completely original exterior structure is also a botanical garden.
Then lunch with Rita (who went to the Promenade Plantée) Bazar Hotel de Ville, the 5 th floor has a large self-service at reasonable prices, in a large room overview, we will come almost every day.
Rita tells me that the Promenade Plantée: a beautiful green area is obtained by transforming a disused railway line, a green route between flowers, gardens, sculptures, which begins not far from the Gare de Lyon, along approximately 5 km, frequented by joggers , to school children that draw on the benches, it is hard to imagine that this place is in the city center, the walk is based on the Viaduct des Arts popular with tourists for the workshops.
Then we go to visit two exhibitions at the nearby Hotel de Ville, a town on which exhibits photographs of the revolt, the other on the time of the Impressionists in Paris, with works from the Musée d'Orsay (under renovation), very interesting, free admission.
Let's go then to the Jardin des Tuileries, a large garden in the heart of the city, located between the Louvre and Concorde, there are plenty of chairs and sun loungers available, pools where the boys are sailing their remote-controlled boats, many decorative statues.
In the evening dinner in the area and visit the Beaubourg neighborhood, beautiful lit the Beaubourg.

Wednesday: Montmartre, Saint Denis, Champ Elysees, Arc De Triomphe.
We reach Montmartre, one of the most frequented by tourists hoping to find the environment of the past, in fact, was considered the neighborhood of artists, especially impressionists, is still characterized by narrow streets, paved with the "paved", full of However, stalls selling the usual souvenirs, of course the Place du Tetre and Rue des Abesses are very crowded, the old charm is gone.
Let's go then to the Church of the Sacre Coeur (nineteenth century), situated on a small hill, climb by cable car (I browse the card is valid), while Rita prefers to do the steps, the choice of which will repent.
We enjoy the panorama of the city, the church is of white marble, with four domes, in Byzantine style, great crowds both inside and outside.
Then with the meter to the Cathedral of Saint Denis (that I browse the card, if you go by metro), the Romanesque facade is imposing, perhaps less decorated than those already seen, a single tower (the other was dropped), the height of the façade seems divided on three floors, the 3 portals are beautifully decorated with statues tall, narrow, high in the nave, of course, big-wall windows with stained glass, with stories from the Old and New Testament, however, few are original, very nice North rose window, the cathedral was chosen as a cemetery by the kings of France, and the sculptures placed on their graves are a veritable museum of funerary art (visit fee), I noticed in particular the tomb of Dagobert, the first king to be buried.
Then Rita flannel Champs Elysees, Berthillon ice cream, sitting in a cafe near the Arc de Triomphe.
Dinner at the restaurant Swann and Vincent, not bad.
Friday: we use the Batobus, the water-line of Paris, to continue the visit, calling at many places, especially tourist, the cost is 9 euros valid for unlimited travel for one day (for 5 days the cost is 21 euros).
We have been visiting the museum of the Orangerie, located virtually in the gardens of the Tuileries, before museum a beautiful sculpture by Rodin, admission fee, within the beautiful and huge panels of Water Lilies by Monet and the rich collection of large Impressionist painters such as Paul Cezanne, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, to name a few, free photos. Do not miss
In the afternoon walk in the Latin Quarter, and visit the small church of St Julien le pauvre (sixth century), the church is all fenced in, we see little of the ancient past, even after the transformations over time. He is currently a Melkite church in worship, the interior was redone almost everything
Then the church of Saint Etienne du Mont (XV-XVII century) built where there was one of the oldest monasteries of the city, in an attractive wooden pulpit, and a bridge structure (pulpit), that perhaps was once a great pulpit with attractive staircases on either side, all seems baroque, some interesting stained glass windows of the seventeenth century, we see outside the Tower of Clovis, that belongs to another structure, opposite the Pantheon, but viewed only from outside
Saturday: Morning on the Seine where we focus on the stalls selling souvenirs, books and prints
In the afternoon visit to the cathedral of Notre Dame, the Ile de la Cite, in front of the Parvis, a large garden square, dell'Haussmann result of the restructuring, the view of the western façade is very impressive, considering that the setting sun makes the most beautiful colors.
Magnificent three large doors finely carved with stories of wills, is one of the masterpieces of Gothic, although in time he has had many vicissitudes.
Sitting on a wall of Parvis, with the binoculars we look at the sculptures of the portals, the higher rose the great and typical, in the great nave, the vaults are about 35 meters, the choir with sculptures, not counting magnificent stained glass windows, although not all are original, in particular, are certainly original glass rose windows of the north and south, with scenes from the Old Testament, the west rose window is partially covered by the body
In the evening visit to the Louvre (it was the night of the museum, free entry to all museums), one of the greatest museums in the world, and there are proposals to expand, today if you want to go all the corridors 15 km, we reflect on sectors of the Greek and Roman antiquities, Flemish painting, then, finally, in some areas to see some masterpiece of the period, the fifteenth-sixteenth century, we had noted, the output we see the striking illuminated pyramid.
Dinner at Bistrot late S. Eustache, period furniture, French cuisine, small cabaret songs, great end of the evening.
Sunday: Rita returns to Notre Dame to attend Mass with Gregorian chants while I go to the church of Saint Germain l'Auxerrois (XIV-XV century), situated in a beautiful square, an imposing bell tower (he gave the signal to start the massacre of the Huguenots), on the front stands a frame balustrade, Gothic portal sculptures and statues of XIII with high and narrow, while the interior is of the fifteenth century, was the church of the Louvre, where the king resided there
Then return to the Louvre to see the building and the Cour Carre, and the Pyramid.
In the afternoon we visit the area of ??the Madeleine, the largest church in the square that looks like a greek temple, in fact, is surrounded by tall Doric columns on the outside does not bear any sign that it is a church, there are no steeples or crosses within a long nave (80 m) and remarkable sculptures of the nineteenth century, to note that the stairway is almost covered with flowers, gastronomy Fauchon in the square, known around the world.
Then last evening stroll along the Seine.
Our trip is almost over, what about .... Paris is always Paris and as always has much to offer everyone who visits it, certainly some things we wanted to review were not available as the Picasso Museum, the Orsay Museum, so we know that we will return.
Ferny Forner