20 Paris Landmarks And Monuments

Paris goes by many nicknames, including the City of Light, adopted after Paris became the first city to incorporate a network of streetlights in Europe. Paris is also the City of Love, and many couples flock to its streets to enjoy the city’s unmistakable romantic atmosphere. Paris is also famous the world over for its links to the fashion industry. From Paris Fashion Week showcasing incredible collections from fashion powerhouses such as Chanel, Dior and Saint Laurent twice a year to the casual yet hard-to-imitate style of its citizens, Paris is a must-visit city for any fashionista.

Paris is a city where its history is its lifeblood. Monuments and landmarks in Paris are a legacy of its fascinating past. The French Revolution ravaged the city, which saw the infamous prison La Bastille destroyed, and many French monarchs losing their lives at the guillotine. The streets of Paris were also once home to Spanish painter Picasso who spent much of his life living in Montmartre. Art is a key part of Paris’ culture, and it houses many large museums that protect some of the world’s most famous pieces of art. The Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, has a permanent residence within the Louvre. Other notable paintings residing in the City of Light include numerous works by Van Gogh and Monet.

For many in Europe, Paris is a regular weekend city break, with so much to see and do that it draws visitors back time and time again. Paris is also famous for its incredible food, and its restaurants have more than 70 Michelin Stars combined. Whether you splash out on a fancy silver-service restaurant or keep things simple with a Jamon-beurre from a street vendor, Paris’ food is enough to keep you coming back for more. Whether it is history, food, or atmosphere drawing you to Paris, the City of Light is undoubtedly one not to be missed. Here are 20 landmarks in Paris to add to your bucket list.

One of the best ways to explore Paris is through a city tour such as one of these:

Paris Cityrama Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tours

Paris City Tour By Minivan

Paris City Tour Glasstop Luxury Bus (includes lunch)

20 Paris Landmarks For Your Bucket List

Famous Landmarks in Paris – 14th Century

1- Notre Dame de Paris

One of the most iconic landmarks in Paris is Notre Dame, which came to fame through its appearance in countless works of art, literature and cinema.

The cathedral stands on sacred ground and has been a symbol of the city since it was built.

Ile de la Cite, or City Island, is the very centre of Paris and where the Battle of Lutetia was fought in 52BC.

A Roman Palace once stood on this land, featuring several altars and temples.

Unfortunately, much of its archaeological history has been lost.

The design of Notre Dame features the golden ratio, a favourite inclusion in architecture and art, known to reflect true perfection.

The western facade of the cathedral shows this ratio through its height, width and positioning of windows.

At present, Notre Dame is closed to the public following a devastating fire in 2019 that destroyed its spire but you can learn about the rebuilding of Notre Dame on this intriguing virtual reality tour.

The French government is currently raising money to restore the cathedral to its former glory.

Notre Dame was built between 1163 and 1345.

Notre-Dame de Paris is at Ile de la Cite, 6 Parvis Notre-Dame, Pl. Jean-Paul II, 75004.

While in Paris, learn more about Notre Dame by joining this medieval history walking tour of Notre Dame Island.

2- Place de la Bastille

Another of Paris’ reminders of the French Revolution is Place de la Bastille.

The Bastille, a notorious prison, stood in the square until it was stormed and destroyed in 1790.

The Bastille was completely destroyed, and only the area it covered remained.

The square is centred by the July Column, a monument that commemorates the July Revolution of 1830.

The square is filled with open-air markets twice a week, and it is dotted with pleasant cafes and restaurants.

After the destruction of the Bastille, the square became a location to celebrate liberty, and many curiosities were erected there.

One such curiosity included a 24m (78ft) high elephant monument cast from bronze.

The monument was given immortality in Victor Hugo’s novel Les Miserables but was sadly demolished during the 1840s.

Place de la Bastille dates back to the 14th century and is at Place de la Bastille, 75011.

Learn more about this fascinating period on this French Revolution Walking Tour of Paris.

3- La Conciergerie

La Conciergerie is a vast palace that dates back to the Middle Ages. During this time, the palace was repeatedly modified and developed, with part eventually being turned into a prison.

The palace also served as the home of the French Parliament and is most famous for its role in the French Revolution. Spanning 10 months, the revolution saw more than 40,000 people die from execution or due to prison conditions.

La Conciergerie became a key prison where those who were due to be executed were kept.

Famous prisoners at La Conciergerie include Marie Antoinette, Robespierre and Andre Chenier.

It’s open to the public and is still used as the centre for Parisian Law.

La Conciergerie is at 2 Boulevard du Palais, 75001.For more about France read:

Famous Paris Landmarks – 16th Century

4- The Louvre

The Louvre is arguably one of the most important museums globally, housing everything from famous paintings, sculptures and archeological finds.

You would need at least 100 days to view every piece of art within the museum’s walls.

Impressively, more than 66% of the works within the Louvre are by French artists.

The Louvre, despite its grandeur and popular appeal, does have a dark history.

During WWII, the Nazis used the museum to house stolen art from homes and businesses they raided and destroyed.

The Louvre was a gigantic storeroom for everything they collected, and a display in 2018 showcased the stolen art.

It was originally built in 1546 on the site of a 12th-century fortress and its first use was as the palace of King Francis I.

The Louvre is at Rue de Rivoli, 75001. Skip the line and book your Paris Louvre Museum guided tour in advance here or if you’d prefer to wander around yourself with an audio guide, book it your tickets and skip the line.

Historic Parisian Landmarks – 17th Century

5- Avenue des Champs-Elysees

There are many famous landmarks in Paris but only a few come immediately to mind when discussing the City of Lights.

However, one that is never missed is the iconic Avenue des Champs-Elysees.

Avenue des Champs Elysées runs for approximately 2 km (1.2 miles) and despite its luxurious nature today, the avenue was once a swamp.

Since the 17th century, it has been developed into a must-visit landmark in Paris that is particularly popular with those interested in luxury fashion brands.

Stores such as Louis Vuitton and Guerlain have held flagship stores on the avenue since the early 1900s.

Avenue des Champs Elysées runs from Place de la Concorde to Arc de Triumph.

Explore the Champs Elysees and other landmarks in Paris by booking this Paris City Highlights In A Vintage Citroen.

6- Pont Neuf

Pont Neuf, translating to ‘new bridge’, is the oldest still existing bridge crossing the Seine River.

Baptiste du Cerceau designed the bridge, which was built between 1578 and 1607.

The bridge was once considered the centre of Paris and filled with shops. It was also the main thoroughfare for movement in and out of the city.

The bridge has been renovated several times, including under the reign of Napoleon, who had the bridge’s foundations rebuilt. Further restorations in 2007 marked the bridge’s 400th birthday.

Pont Neuf is at Ile de la Cite, 75001.

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Historic Landmarks in Paris – 19th Century

7- Catacombs

A Parisian landmark for the brave, the Paris Catacombs is a dark labyrinth of bone beneath the streets of the City of Lights.

The catacombs are 20m (65ft) underground and were created during the 18th century when disease was rife.

The cause was the cities cemeteries, and authorities decided to move the bones of the deceased into a labyrinth of 15th-century quarry tunnels to Montrouge, outside of the centre of Paris.

The bones were moved under the cloak of darkness to avoid protests from the church and were piled high inside the tunnels.

Hericart de Thury decided to rearrange the bones in a more decorative, respectful and interesting manner in 1809, and so the Catacombs we know today were born.

Catacombs is at 1 Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 75014. Skip the line with this Paris Catacombs Tour offering VIP access to restricted areas.

8- Arc de Triomphe

At the top of the Champs-Elysees, the Arc De Triomphe is a symbol honouring the countries military achievements both centuries ago and more recently in wars post-1900.

The land given to the Arc de Triomphe was originally planned to be given to a more unusual structure.

Charles Robert, a French architect, had plans sketched to construct a three-story elephant that would stand proudly as a landmark in Paris.

The elephant would feature staircases from the ground where people could see views over the city.

Sadly, authorities denied permission for the gigantic creature, and the Arc was built in its place.

The Arc is uniquely carved, and each of the four pillars tells four different stories of French history by four different sculptors.

It was built between 1806 and 1836.

Arc de Triomphe is at Pl. Charles de Gaulle, 75008. Skip the line and access the terrace and book your Arc de Triomphe entry ticket here.

9- Obelisk of Luxor

The Obelisk of Luxor was given as a gift from Egypt to Paris in 1830.

The Sultan and Viceroy of Egypt, Mehemet Ali, offered the two obelisks that stood at the entrance to the Luxor Temple as a gift of friendship to King Charles X.

The gift was a thank you for Champollion’s role in deciphering hieroglyphs on many newly discovered artefacts from Ancient Egypt.

The Obelisk of Luxor stretches for 22m (72ft) and, due to its shape and positioning, is the largest sundial in the world.

The obelisks are of great historical value, as they were built during the reign of Pharaoh Rameses II in the 13th century BC.

Obelisk of Luxor is at Place de la Concorde, 75008. Here’s a fun Paris private city tour in an electric tuk-tuk that goes to Place de la Concorde.

10- Boulevard Sant-Germain-des-Paris

Every city in the world has a handful of must-visit streets, and Paris is no different.

Aside from the glitz and luxury draw to the Champs-Elysées, which draws millions of tourists each year, Boulevard Saint-Germain-des-Paris is a lesser-visited yet no less luxurious area of Paris that is not to be missed.

The Boulevard was created during the 1850s as part of the renovation of Paris.

The street takes its name from the nearby church of Saint-Germain-des-Pres, which dates back to the middle ages.

The Boulevard has long been a must-visit Parisian landmark thanks to its numerous and famous cafes such as Les Deux Magots and Cafe de Flore, which drew famous Parisians and creatives from the world over to their doors.

Boulevard Saint-Germain-des-Paris runs from Pont de la Concorde to Pont de Sully. You might like this guided walking tour of Saint Germain.

11- Fontaine Saint-Sulpice

French architect Louis Visconti designed and built the spectacular Fontaine Saint-Sulpice between 1843 and 1848.

The fountain features four sculptures of important French religious figures during the 17th century.

Each of the four statues on the fountain were designed by a different sculptor.

Each statue also faces one of the four points of a compass, which gave the fountain the nickname of ‘La Fontaine des quatre points cardinaux’ or ‘Fountain of the four cardinal directions.

Despite being a monumental work of sculpture and design, the fountain was commissioned as part of a scheme to improve the water supply in Paris.

Once completed, it enabled residents to access clean drinking water.

Fontaine Saint-Sulpice is at 76 rue Bonaparte, 75006.

12- Palais Garnier

Charles Garnier designed the Palais Garnier during the 19th century, and it opened its doors to excitable audiences for the first time in 1875.

The opera house was the 13th opera house built in Paris following the introduction of opera to France by Louis XIV.

The architectural marvel reflects the style of Napoleon III, who commissioned the venue during his renovations of the city.

Palais Garnier is genuinely a reflection of French style and refinement thanks to its high levels of gilding across balconies and columns, rich red velvet seats and curtains and of course, the inclusion of lots of marble and onyx.

Palais Garnier is at Place de l’Opera, 75009. Reserve your spot on the popular Treasures of the Opera Garnier walking tour.

13- Eiffel Tower

You cannot think of Paris without thinking of the Eiffel Tower.

This Parisian landmark was meant to be temporary as part of the Worlds Fair but has become an important attraction and symbol.

Unusually, the Eiffel Tower was sold on two separate occasions for scrap metal by famed con artist Victor Lustig.

20,000 light bulbs light up the famous tower each evening, and there’s a giant moving searchlight at its top, adding to the cities nickname of the City of Lights.

Gustave Eiffel designed the Eiffel Tower, however, 72 engineers, scientists and mathematicians contributed to building it. Their names are engraved on the side of the tower.

The Eiffel Tower opened on 31 March 1889 and is at Champs de Mars, 5 Av. Anatole France, 75007. Skip the line and book your Eiffel Tower Small-Group Tour for access to the summit by elevator.

14- Musee d’Orsay

On the left bank of the River Seine is the spectacular and not to be missed Paris landmark of Musee d’Orsay.

Musee d’Orsay fills the former railway station of Gare d’Orsay, which was designed in the Beaux-Arts style in the final years of the 1800s.

Since its transformation into an art gallery, Musee d’Orsay celebrates the greatest works of French creativity, from paintings to sculptures.

While the crowds flood the Louvre for glimpses of the Mona Lisa, head to Musee d’Orsay to see a vast collection of Van Gogh, Monet, Cezanne, Renoir and more.

Musee d’Orsay is at 1 Rue de la Legion d’Honneur, 75007.

15- Pont Alexandre III

Pont Alexandre III is a magnificent bridge crossing over the River Seine and another famous landmark in Paris.

The bridge was completed in 1900 and was unveiled as part of the Universal Exhibition.

The bridge’s grand appeal comes from its white carved features and golden detailing.

The four corners of the bridge are finished by 17m (55ft) high columns topped with bronze sculptures of winged horses. Each horse is symbolic of the arts, sciences, commerce and industry.

The bridge crosses the River Seine at the Invalides on the Left Bank over to the Grand Palais on the Right Bank.

The best views of the bridge come from both the water and the river banks, where both vantage points can take in the bridge, the surrounding architecture, and of course, the Eiffel Tower.

Pont Alexandre III is at Quai d’Orsay, 75008.

16- Grand Palais

Grand Palais was built in 1900 as part of the Universal Exhibition.

The building’s design resulted from an architectural competition but no singular design wowed the committee, so three separate architects created the Grand Palais in its Art Nouveau style.

Henri Deglane designed the main section of the building, which looks out onto Avenue Winston-Churchill. Albert Louvet created the middle section, and Albert Thomas designed the rear of the building.

The building was constructed from steel, stone and glass, and still features the largest glass dome in Europe.

Within its spectacular walls are statues, mosaics and ornaments by more than 40 different artists.

Grand Palais stages more than 40 events each year, including theatrical performances, operas and ballets.

Grand Palais is at 3 Av. du General Eisenhower, 75008.

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Historic Paris Landmarks – 20th Century

17- Sacre Coeur

Sacre Coeur is another unmissable landmark in Paris.

The basilica, located at the top of Montmartre Hill, is one of the younger historical monuments in Paris, as the building began in 1870 and was only completed in 1914.

Sacre-Coeur’s location has been a sacred place for centuries.

The peak of Montmartre hill is one of the highest locations in Paris and was once an important location for Pagan worship.

Temples for Roman gods Mars and Neptune were once built at the site before Christians took it over.

An unusual feature of the basilica is its pristine white walls that defy the grey built up by pollutants that coat the city surrounding it.

The white walls are made from travertine limestone, which, when in contact with water, self cleans as it releases calcite.

This release of calcite gives the Sacre-Coeur its year-round pristine white walls.

Sacre-Coeur is at 35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, 75018.

Modern Landmarks In Paris

18- Centre Pompidou

An unusual landmark in Paris is Centre Pompidou, which is a marvel of controversial architecture.

Centre Pompidou is dedicated to modern art and showcases regularly changing exhibitions featuring Pop Art, Cubism and more.

The building’s exterior replicates the modern art interior through its unusual boldly coloured ‘inside out’ structure.

Each colour has a significance, with green representing plumbing pipes and yellow showing the electrical wires.

Aside from its artistic allure, Centre Pompidou also houses an impressive library fully open to the public. There are more than 55,000 books and other media available.

The Pompidou Centre was completed in 1971.

Centre Pompidou is at Place Georges-Pompidou, 75004.

19- Fondation Louis Vuitton

Foundation Louis Vuitton is a marvel of modern architecture and contemporary art.

The Foundation was created in 2006 by the LVMH Group who desired to develop a commitment to arts, culture and heritage.

Frank Gehry designed the building for LVMH Group as a ‘magnificent vessel for Paris that symbolises France’s profound cultural vocation.

The architecture of the building is as much a draw as the art and culture housed within.

The Foundation’s main aim is to open up the arts to the public and make them accessible to everyone.

The Foundation hosts numerous temporary exhibitions covering both modern and contemporary art.

It also houses several pieces of work that are part of LVMH’s private collections.
Fondation Louis Vuitton is at 8 av. du Mahatma Gandhi.

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Natural Landmark in Paris

20- Seine River

The Seine River stretches 775 kilometres (481 miles) across Northern France before ending in the Paris basin.

The river has been the city’s lifeblood and has featured in many works of art and literature, including Les Miserables and Madeline.

One of the best ways to take in the major landmarks of Paris is from the waters of the Seine, on a daytime or nighttime river cruise.

Head out during the day for spectacular views of these landmarks and perhaps a three-course meal.

See the city and the water light up during an evening cruise thanks to the nightly light show at the Eiffel Tower and the romantic streetlights along the river bank.

The Seine River runs through the centre of the city and is a natural landmark of Paris.