Paris

We last visited Paris in September 2015, including Versailles and Giverny, and Rainer later returned to this fascinating city for a few days.

The famous Notre Dame, a Gothic cathedral of impressive size and beauty, is located on the Ile de la Cité on the Seine. Climb more than 400 steps to reach one of the two bell towers with a magnificent view of the city. This masterpiece of Gothic architecture was partially destroyed by a fire in 2019 and is due to be completely renovated in 2024. On the two Seine islands and in the lively St. Germain on the left bank of the Seine, narrow alleys, small shops and countless cafés, such as the Café de Flore, and brasseries invite you to stay a while. Passing the Sorbonne University, you reach the spacious Jardin du Luxembourg. Nearby are the Invalides Cathedral with Napoleon's tomb and the Musée Rodin.

The Musée du Louvre is the home of a huge selection of artefacts. The most famous is the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. The glass pyramid in the courtyard of the Louvre is photogenic. To the west, the beautiful Jardin Tuileries invites you to relax, marvel at the large-scale water lily paintings by Monet in the Musée de l'Orangerie and enjoy the view of the Place de la Concorde and the Champs Elysees. On the other side of the Seine is the Musée d'Orsay, our absolute favourite of the Parisian museums. The reason: the many paintings of the French Impressionists. The museum is housed in the majestic building of the former Gare d'Orsay. The Centre Pompidou is virtually a chronological continuation of European art. The museum colossus with its peculiar façade is an art highlight, with artworks by Kandinsky and Picasso, among others.

The Eiffel Tower, built in 1889, is the symbol of Paris. The view from Trocadero station offers a first approach. The view of the Paris skyline from the top of the Eiffel Tower is unbeatable. Grandiose! You'll be happy to queue at the ticket office and security check. We will always keep the illuminated Eiffel Tower during a night-time boat trip on the Seine in our memories.

There is a beautiful view of the Champs Elysees from the roof of the Arc de Triomphe, which forms the upper end of the boulevard. The Champs Elysees is fashionable and prestigious with upmarket shops. At the other end of the Champs Elysees is the Place de la Concorde with the obelisk in the centre. To the right is the Grand Palais with a light-flooded roof in the inner courtyard and the Petite Palais, which has a beautiful garden and a museum with Impressionists. The Pont Alexandre III with its gas lanterns and golden figures in the foreground and the Eiffel Tower in the background is perfect for taking photos. The Alexander Bridge served as our starting point for a long walk along the Seine.

At the highest point of Paris, in the centre of the Montmartre district, stands the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, a cross-domed church made of white stone. More than 100 years ago, Montmartre was an artists' colony with a small-town charm. All that is left are a few trendy hangouts, confusing alleyways and countless steps.

The Palace of Versailles in the neighbouring town is a huge baroque palace complex from the 17th century with an extensive palace garden. The Dufour and Gabriel wings are home to countless splendid halls, and the richly decorated mirror gallery in the central building is impressive. A visit to Giverny, 80 kilometres away, is also worthwhile. In this small village, a garden has been planted around Claude Monet's house as a reminder of the Impressionist artists' love of nature who once lived here. Of course, the water lilies are not missing here as well.