Museums & LandmarksIf a BBQ with mates isn't your idea of a cultural experience then perhaps a trip to one of the many museums and art galleries that Paris boasts would be more your tasse de thé. And there is no shortage of choice. Paris has myriad venues to soak in the artistic and cultural history of the world artistic elite.
The internationally renown Le Louvre, home of the Mona Lisa, houses many priceless artifacts that have been accumulated by French governments over the past five centuries. Lose yourself in the endless corridors and rooms with the masterpieces of Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and Botticelli.
Le Museé d’Orsay is home to more recent art, covering the period of 1848 to 1914. Like its more reputed brother Le Louvre, Le Museé d’Orsay is on the banks of La Seine. Artists such as Picasso, Renoir, Manet, contribute to the inestimable collection of impressionist work while masterpieces from postimpressionists such as Cezanne, Van Gogh and Matisse are amongst the major draw cards.
Les Catacombes, La Cité de la musique, La Cité des science et de l’industrie, Le Museé de la Musique, La Maison de Victor Hugo, Le Musée du Luxembourg are all other very worthy distractions.
As for architectural masterpieces steeped in history, Paris is in a class of its own. The toughest question is where to start and what to leave out of the list. It really is the place to be for champagne sightseeing. Here’s a list of absolute must see’s (and this list was composed by someone who opted for the 20 schooners as opposed to the art galleries). 
Le Chateau de Versailles – this is where Louis XIV cut, among other things, his teeth. Originally a hunting getaway created by Louis’s father, Louis felt it didn’t do justice to his self importance.
Thus, for several decades he drained the country’s wealth dry in creating the most enormous, opulent paradise that one could imagine. A splendid combination of all things ostentatious from the 580 metre castle to the immaculate gardens that rekindle trigonometry phobias long since forgotten. One senses a doorknob from one of the thousands of rooms here would fetch a price heftier than Australia’s GDP.
Le Tour Eiffel – As symbolic to Paris as the Harbour Bridge is to Sydney. This 324 metre tower was intended originally as a temporary addition to the Parisian skyline.
It was constructed, despite heavy opposition, for the 1889 World Fair. It was the world’s tallest building until the Chrysler Building took that title in the 1930. It is made of 10,000 tonnes of iron and like Sydney’s Coat hanger, should be ugly but is anything but.
 A famous and apparently true yarn exists in which a forward thinking French fraudster cashed in on the towers temporary status. He managed to get rich by selling off the iron of the tower courtesy of some well worded letters on official letterhead paper of La poste (French post service which managed the towers affairs at the time). He lured in potential buyers, let them know the tower was coming down, offered them cheap iron if they bought in bulk, took advance payments, and swore them to secrecy. He then made off with the cash.
L’Arc de Triomphe – Sitting upon a multi-point roundabout at the top of les champs Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe was constructed from 1806 to 1836 as a monument to Napoleon’s success. After the Eiffel tower, this is perhaps the next most identifiable French landmark. 
It is possible to climb the arc and this is well worth the effort as there is a stunning view to be enjoyed. In 1920 an Unknown Soldier was laid to rest at the base of the arc.
Hotel des Invalides – Louis XIV, in an uncharacteristic act of goodwill, had Hotel Les Invalides constructed in the 1670s to house the 4000 invalides (disabled war veterans) that lived in poverty on the Parisian Streets. Its days as a military hospital are over and now it is home to an army museum and church. The 500 metre expanse of lawn that stretches forward from its gate is named L’Esplanade des Invalides. 
Montmartre – a bohemian quarter rich in culture and art that nestles nicely in the highest part of Paris offering a great panoramic view of the capital. This suburb is home to le Basilique du Sacre Coeur, a magnificent century old church constructed over a 46 year period spanning the 19th and 20th century. The view to be enjoyed from the church’s dome certainly justifies the energy expended in ascending 234 steps.
Notre Dame – situated in the absolute heart of the city, Our Lady of Paris is a must-see for all regardless of denomination. Work on this Gothic Architectural masterpiece started over 840 years ago and the sheer size of the building is something to behold. 
The surface area of the base is far larger than a rugby field and allows 6000 worshippers to be comfortably accommodated at any given time. Ancient gargoyles adorn the exterior and the coloured windows allow filtered light to enhance the interior beauty of the church. The sheer magnificence of Notre Dame makes the risk of blasphemy a constant threat.
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