The center of the city is named Île de la Cité, home of the Notre Dame cathedral and the Palais de Justice. On the northern bank of the Seine you will find the government and business districts and the Marais and Bastille quarters. On the southern bank there is the university of the Sorbonne, the main district for academics. You will find the major attractions in the 1st six districts, located in the center of the city and gathered around the River Seine. La Banlieue is the name for the suburbs found outside of the city’s inner circle and they are mostly residential areas. Tourist Attractions The city of Paris is filled with museums, and if you want to visit many of them, it’s best if you buy the Carte Musées et Monuments.

This card can be found at any tourist office in the city and allows entrance to almost seventy hotels within the city’s limits. If you want to visit a limited number of museums, you should miss The Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, the Carnavalet, the Centre Georges Pompidou, the Rodin Museum, the Picasso Museum, the Delacroix, the Invalides, and the Jeu de Paume. All these attraction are located in the first seven Parisian districts. Also try to reach some of the most important landmarks of Paris, whether there are buildings or places with historical or art signature. Try to get to the Eiffel Tower, the Sainte Chapelle, the Père-Lachaise Cemetery, the Catacombs, the Pantheon, the Arc de Triomphe, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Sacré Coeur, the Chateau de Versailles, and the Grand Arche de la Defense. Keep in mind that one can never see all that Paris has to offer in just a brief trip.

Many people who constantly live in Paris haven’t seen all the attractions. Paris by night Going to Paris and not do shopping is close to impossible. This fashion capital of the world lives up to its reputation and offered department stores and boutiques with the greatest brand in the world and the most luxurious ones. However, nothing comes cheap and expect to spend a lots of money because Paris is one of the most expensive cities on the globe. An extremely large selection of restaurants is in the first six city districts. Make a reservation if you want to go to a trendy restaurant and keep in mind that most of the times you can find a good meal on the corner cafes or local diners. Usually, the restaurants that are tourist-oriented are the most expensive. Besides food, Paris is popular for its drinks so check out a club or bar if you are there. In Bastille you will find the best pubs and clubs and usually they close around 6am.

About the Author

Learn more about Paris, including things to see, do and what to eat at Guide To Paris, a site written from the perspective of a Paris tourist.

Post from: Global Blog.com - Travel and Global Vacations-Guide - Cruising Tips. Tourist-Information.

What To See And Do In Paris

In 1998, Lyon became one of only a few urban centres on the UNESCO World Heritage List. And France’s third-largest city (after Paris and Marseilles) is intent on keeping its privileged position: over the last decade, Lyon has restored and replanted some 100 public spaces. The warehouses along the River Saône, for example, have been transformed into galleries for the Biennial of Contemporary Art.

Sightseeing

The Basilica of Fourvière (Basilique de Notre Dame de Fourvière) dominates Lyon as Sacré Coeur does Paris. It’s a steep walk up the Fourvière Hill to the dazzlingly white church, but there’s also a funicular. The adjoining esplanade gives a panoramic view of Lyon’s different quarters. Nearby is the Museum of Gallo-Roman Civilization (17, rue Cléberg; www.musees-gallo-romains.com) for a quick archaeology lesson. One of the museum’s most prized possessions is the Claudius Tablet, which contains fragments of a speech made by Emperor Claudius in front of the Roman Senate.

If you drop by the Romanesque-Gothic St.-Jean cathedral, situated at the foot of the Fourvière Hill, at noon, you can see the 14th-century astronomical clock do its cuckoo-like re-enactment of the Annunciation.

In Vieux Lyon, the largest Renaissance quarter in France. duck into the many traboules, covered passageways originally used by Renaissance silk weavers, or canuts, anxious to avoid exposing their delicate handiwork to rain showers, and which later became escape routes for the French Resistance during World War II.

Lyon’s Musée des Beaux-Arts (20, place des Terreaux) is known affectionately as the “little Louvre”. The museum offers a complete retrospective of Ancient Greek and Egyptian arts and civilisations, as well as sculptures and paintings from the Middle Ages to the present day.

The massive red-sand-covered Place Bellecour, to the east of the Rhone and Saone rivers, is an impressive 18th-century architectural ensemble in its own right, but the Lyonnais know it best as the city’s ultimate rendez-vous point; friends will arrange to meet “under the horse’s tail,”? a reference to the equestrian statue of Louis XIV that dominates one end of the square.

Getting Around

The Lyon City Card (valid for one, two or three days) allows free and unlimited use of city transport (bus, metro, funicular and tramway lines), free access to the main museums, temporary exhibitions and the Biennial of Contemporary Art. It also includes guided tours, an unusual visit to the rooftops of the Fourvière Basilica and river cruises (from April to October), as well as short noon concerts at the Lyon National Opera or at the Auditorium de Lyon

Fooling the Eye

In Lyon, the walls tell stories. This is the kingdom of trompe l’oeil paintings, with more than 150 large-scale murs peints (murals) scattered around the city. One of the most popular, at the corner of quai St-Vincent and rue de la Martinière, memorializes dozens of native Lyonnais who have left their mark both on the city and on world culture, history and science. You may recognize Emperor Claude, Laurent Mourguet, (creator of the beloved Guignol puppets), the Lumière brothers (inventor of the movie camera), filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier, Antoine de St-Exupéry (author of The Little Prince), and Michelin-starred chef Paul Bocuse.

Bocuse or Bouchons?

Though Lyon is most often associated with Paul Bocuse’s temple of gastronomy L’Auberge du Pont du Collonges (40, quai de la Plage, Collonges-au-Mont-d’Or, +33 (0)4 72 42 90 90), no visit to Lyon is complete without a meal (or two or three) at one of the city’s bouchons. Bouchons are bistros of a sort, but with even more limited menus. Their decor tends to be modest to the point of austerity, and they specialize in the classic cuisine mère (mother’s cooking) of Lyon of days gone by. Here are two to try:

Chez Georges

A jolly, cluttered little place where about twenty-five customers can sit elbow-to-elbow to devour classic Lyonnais cold hors d’oeuvres on the order of museau de boeuf, a salad of pressed calf’s muzzle; cold chicken liver salad; or pink, unsmoked cervelas sausages served with lentils dressed with a tart vinaigrette-followed by gratinéed tripe or by andouillettes (sausages here made from both tripe and veal intestines).

La Meunière

Proprietor Maurice Débrosse used to be Paul Bocuse’s maître d’hôtel and specializes in classic dishes like lentils with a spoonful of cervelle de canut (“silk weaver’s brain”), an herbed cream cheese that was once a favorite dish of the silk weavers who helped make Lyon rich.

Where to Shop

Chez Disagn’ Cardelli

Lyon is the birthplace of Guignol, the marionette that has been entertaining audiences for centuries. You can find him and a wide selection of his descendants, including a jolly French waiter here. There are puppet shows, too.

Bernachon

The shop’s master chocolatiers are renowned for their palets d’or – small disks of bittersweet chocolate flecked with real gold leaf.

Soierie Vivante

The area of Croix-Rousse was the center of Lyon’s silk industry; you can discover the last authentic family silk weaving workshops (and their stunning wares) with Soierie Vivante (twww.soierie-vivante.asso.fr).

La Halle de la Part-Dieu

Butchers, bakers, sausage makers and the occasional oyster bar line the aisles at the 1971 covered market where the city’s best chefs shop. Cheese lovers shouldn’t miss a pilgrimage to la Mère Richard’s stall, where Renée Richard displays her spectacularly unctuous St-Marcellin, three-inch disks of creamy goat’s- and cow’s-milk cheese rumored to have been Louis XI’s favorite.

The “Other” Lyon

Lyon’s charm can have intriguing repercussions: a Dubai businessman, captivated by the city on a vist last October, has even decided to build a miniature version of Lyon back home in Dubai. The project, temporarily called Lyon-Dubai City, will include a university; small versions of Lyon’s main museums; housing, hotel and office space; cafes, restaurants, pedestrian malls, town squares, courtyards, a film center, even a church, all inspired by Lyon.

About the Author

BCD Travel is your all inclusive corporate travel agency offering competitive ongoing corporate travel management solutions to companies across Australia. We do more than simply organise your corporate travel, we also coordinate conferences and incentives and assist staff with personal holiday planning to any destination worldwide.

Post from: Global Blog.com - Travel and Global Vacations-Guide - Cruising Tips. Tourist-Information.

Lyon, France: Mysterious and Beautiful

In Midi Pyrenees, one can explore the landscape of the Bastide towns, historical castles and Romanesque churches. Head towards Toulouse for the multi-ethnic ambience or get inspired from the amazing works of the Toulouse Lautrec. Apart for a slow speed of life, discern the unspoiled timeless countryside of the Gascony and visit Lourdes, recognized for its healing waters.

While in Midi Pyrenees, one of the best things to do is to visit various famous attractions of the place, such as Auch, Toulouse, Millau Viaduct, Grotte de Niaux, Musee de la Prehistoire, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie and Pech-Merle,. Also, do not fail to see the last magnificent Sainte Marie’s Gothic Cathedral with its gracefully carved oak choir stalls, great organ and gold and red stained glass panes that shimmers during the sunlight.

In addition, explore the half-timbered homes, castle ruins, fortified church as well as art galleries and few good-looking villages of the city, which is made so easy when renting holiday accommodation in this region.

Discovering the Midi Pyrenees natural beauty and geography will simply amaze you. The freedom of a self catering holiday gives the tourist time to explore at their leisure. The Pyrenees national park constitutes a few of the highest peaks like the Midi d’Ossau. Ride on the donkey or walk to the awe-inspiring amphitheatre engraved out from the rock at the Cirque de Gavarnie bordered by sky-scrapping cascading water falls such as the greatest Grande Cascade de Gavarnie.

The park further boasts more than 200 lakes, a few valleys and sign posted sauntering trails. Besides, a district of plateau and mountains made by the volcanic upheaval separating it through the River Rhone from the mountain Alps will certainly thrill you.

The rivers at the Massif Central allow you to participate in a variety of water sports, such as canoeing and river rafting. The best thing to do is exercising mountain biking that is liked almost every tourist.

The rich delicacies of Pyrenees are worth trying, as they are delicately flavored by various spices for reminding you about the region’s nearness to Spain. Few of the best foie gras of the entire world is provided here with truffles, pate and the Toulouse Cassoulet (stew of duck or goose), sausages plus pork in addition to white beans along with spices or garlic.

The foods of the region make preparing meals easy when renting a holiday home, visiting the markets and then taking the foods back to the holiday home and enjoying the freedom and privacy of your own home.

There are wide opportunities for the family skiing in Midi Pyrenees, one of the most thrilling things to do where the spectacular Gavarnie Gedre also provide cross-country skiing. The highest skiing resort in Midi Pyrenees is Piau Englay, fully covered with snow and presents excellent facilities. The Cauterets is the village resort offers areas for snow boarding for children and beginners.

Discovering the sanctuaries or sampling the water apparently owning extraordinary healing properties is the best thing to do while in Midi Pyrenees. Also, stopover to the world famous pilgrimage centre boasting magnificent abbeys and churches.

Take a trip to the beautiful churches or try the exclusive Midi Pyrenees cuisines, your trip to this French city will certainly surprise you. Tourists come to the Midi Pyrenees region of France and rent a holiday home and use it as a base to explore everything this beautiful region has to offer.

About the Author

Andrew Gibson is M.D of Direct Holiday Bookings. France rentals are popular with families staying in self catering holiday homes in Midi Pyrenees. They also have a great selection of self catering apartments to rent in Midi Pyrenees as holiday rentals.

Post from: Global Blog.com - Travel and Global Vacations-Guide - Cruising Tips. Tourist-Information.

Midi Pyrenees A Wonderful French City