An independent trip to Paris, where to start. What else to see in Paris? Holidays with children at Disneyland Paris

So, from Warsaw to Toulouse, a city in the southern part of France, you can find very cheap tickets (about 1000 rubles). If there is a good offer, then you can safely go here, and then to Paris (bus tickets from 20 euros). You can also get to the capital of France from Toulouse by train or plane (but this is more expensive than by bus). You can even try your luck with hitchhiking, but the road is not close (but this option will be the most budget-friendly). Now you know how you can get to Paris cheaper. But these are not all the secrets of saving for tourists:

It is not at all necessary to rent an apartment or pay for a hotel or hostel. You can live for free. But for this you will have to spend time searching for options on services for travelers, such as couchsurfing. However, we advise you to always have a plan B just in case. It’s rare, but it happens when, having found an option for temporary housing, a tourist is left without it. If the once hospitable host does not get in touch, then in this case it is better to have money for the most modest hostel. You can also contact the church if you need to spend one night (this is also a real option).

You can go to Disneyland for free. In this case, it's not about the generosity of the world's most famous amusement park, but about luck. But why not try (by the way, there are people who actually managed not to pay for admission ticket). You can hitchhike to Disneyland and then try your luck there. Sometimes people who have already gone to the park and are planning to leave can give the ticket for free. If you're not too shy, you can save 80 euros.

You can also save on food. If instead of going to a cafe you choose local food markets. There are about 80 of them in Paris. They sell excellent and fresh products. In general, of course, I would like to go to a cafe. In this case, we advise you to choose a cafe away from the city center. Will be cheaper. In addition, we recommend going to establishments at lunchtime. All restaurants offer visitors set lunches (2 or 3 courses). Therefore, going to a restaurant will cost less than in the evening or in the morning (from 10 to 20 euros).

You can even save money on the metro in Paris. Or rather, do not save, and do not pay. Some craftsmen pass through broken doors. In addition, they save money by passing through doors that are designed for people with disabilities. Of course, the methods described are questionable and not the safest legally. If you don’t want problems and unnecessary worries, then buy travel cards - this will also help you save on public transport in Paris. For example, by buying 10 tickets at once, a tourist saves 3 euros.

When moving between cities, you can save on travel by hitchhiking. Not very fast and reliable (you can stand waiting for a car for more than one hour), but it’s free.

If public transport is not too attractive for you, then you can do it even easier - rent a bicycle. One day – 1.7 euros (this is like a one-time trip on the metro).

You can also save money on attractions. Many museums accept visitors on certain days. Thus, you can visit the most famous art museum in the world, the Louvre, for free from October to March every first Sunday of the month. And if you are lucky enough to go to Paris in May, check the date of “Night at the Museum”. Perhaps you will be able to attend exhibitions in any museums for free.

In Paris, the water is of high quality, even in the taps, and you can drink it. There are also many drinking fountains around the city. Therefore, you can completely forget about bottled water.

Don't buy a lot of souvenirs. In Paris, prices are steep, it’s better to keep beautiful and free photos for yourself

Thus, it is quite possible to fit into a budget of 100 euros when visiting Paris. The main thing is to have the desire, to know English or French and not to be afraid to ask people for help, using every opportunity!

Paris is a city permeated with an atmosphere of romance and love, emanating from the beauty of the squares, the elegance of the palaces, the grandeur of the cathedrals and the magic of the masterpieces of Parisian museums. Here, every stone keeps a fascinating story, reviving in the imagination the events of the novels of Alexandre Dumas, Hugo, Balzac and Zola. Paris is a special world of dizzying entertainment and gastronomic delights. If you are planning to visit the capital of France, find out what to see in Paris in 5 days on your own so that the “holiday city” remains in your memory forever.

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1 day in Paris

Travelers hungry for excitement can tackle the 9.8 km route through the historical centre. Start your journey at 9 o'clock in the morning from the hallmark of Paris - the Eiffel Tower on the Champ de Mars, where you will go from the Bir Hakeim (line 6) or Trocadero (line 9) metro stations. Continuing the tour according to our guide, by 16:00, including lunch in one of the cozy cafes on the old street, you will end the tour at the Hotel de Ville square. Tourists who are not keen on Gothic architecture shorten their route by not visiting the Church of St. Clotilde and St. Eustache. At the end of the excursion, you can go from the Hotel de Ville pier on a boat trip along the Seine with dinner on a boat, then return to Eiffel Tower to see her in the glow of the backlight.

Eiffel Tower

A unique building in Paris - the Eiffel Tower, rising 324 meters on the Champ de Mars - is the desired goal of every tourist. Its pyramidal design on 4 supports, connected at different levels by arches and square platforms, is striking. Weighing 10 tons, it puts pressure on the ground like a person sitting on a chair. On the 2nd level of the tower at an altitude of 116 meters there is an observation deck with the Jules Verne restaurant.

276 meters from the ground there is a 3rd floor with a lighthouse topped with a dome. The view of the tower is mesmerizing with its metal openwork structure, shining in the sun with three shades of bronze color. From the observation deck, where the elevator takes you up until midnight, a wonderful panorama of old Paris opens up.

Church of St. Clotilde

Those interested in cathedral architecture are advised to take the metro to Solférino station, where on Las Cases Street stands the Basilica of Santa Clotilde, a building from 1846 that stands out in the style of medieval churches from the 14th century. It is notable for its two twin spiers 69 meters high, a luxurious facade decorated with lace stone carvings, sculptures of saints, high windows and a rose window.

Inside the basilica, under pointed vaults with colorful stained glass windows from the 19th century, there are amazing statues illustrating the life of St. Valeria of Limoges, paintings depicting the Way of the Cross of Jesus and the life of the Virgin Mary. The basilica is open daily from morning to evening. After exploring its interior, take the metro to Invalides station and head towards the Invalides.

House of Invalides

TO architectural complex XVII century - The Invalides' Invalides on Rue de Grenelle can be reached by metro, getting off at Invalides or Varenne stations. Its golden-domed dome of the 107-meter St. Louis Cathedral with an openwork lantern and spire is visible from afar. Created by decree of King Louis XIV, the Invalides' Home for the care of war veterans, while remaining a veteran's shelter, became a complex of 4 military-themed museums, a Necropolis and a temple.

IN oldest Museum The army is presented with unique exhibits - military armor, trophies, weapons and banners. The Basilica of Saint Louis houses the sarcophagus containing the remains of Emperor Napoleon. Particularly striking is the black marble tombstone with the heart of Marshal Vauban, completed with his sculpture with female images of Science and War. By purchasing a full ticket for 12 €, you can see all the exhibits.

Alexander III Bridge

From the Invalides to the other side of the Seine River, the elegant single-arch 160-meter Alexander III Bridge, built in 1900, spans the Champs-Elysees. Passers-by admire the skillful stone angels, nymphs and Pegasi, bronze statues in the image of Science, Art, Industry and Battle, created by the skill of sculptors. On the pylons, bas-reliefs depict 4 eras of French history: the Middle Ages and modernity - subjects of the right bank, the Renaissance and Louis XI are depicted on the left bank. In the center of the arched span on the river side, the bridge is decorated with a nymph of the Seine with a French coat of arms on one side and a nymph of the Neva with a Russian coat of arms on the reverse side. Among tourists, the bridge is considered a place where wishes made by lovers who kiss in the middle of it necessarily come true.

Place de la Concorde

From the Pont Alexandre III, proceed to one of the most beautiful places Paris - Place de la Concorde, founded in the 17th century between the Tuileries Garden and the Champs Elysees. It is unique in its octagonal shape with marble statues at each corner, symbolizing the 8 major French cities. The center of attraction in the square is the Egyptian obelisk, carved from pink granite 3600 years ago - a gift to France from the King of Egypt.

On both sides of the monument there are 2 Hittorf fountains, rising 9 meters. They are decorated with sculptures of Nereid, Triton, and characters from Greco-Roman mythology. On the square, two buildings, separated by the Rue Royale, attract attention - the Ministry of the Navy and the Aumont Palace, in which the Crillon Hotel is located. The square can be reached by metro to Concorde station on lines 1, 12 or 8.

Church of the Madeleine

In the ensemble of the Place de la Concorde there is the Place de la Madeleine with the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, notable for its antique appearance surrounded by a colonnade. On the pediment of the central façade, the sculptural composition of the Last Judgment is amazing. The entrance to the temple is opened by massive bronze gates depicting the 10 Christian commandments. In the depths of the hall, attention is drawn to the sculptural composition of Mary Magdalene, surrounded by three angels on the altar.

Above the altar vault is a stunning fresco of Jesus surrounded by the apostles meeting Mary Magdalene in heaven, below which a series of historical figures of France are depicted. Statues and scenes from the lives of saints decorate the walls, small altars and church pulpit. You can appreciate the beauty of the interior daily and free of charge.

Place Vendôme

After visiting the Church of the Madeleine, you need to go from the Madeleine metro station (lines 8, 12, 14) to the Opéra station. You will find yourself on the octagonal Place Vendôme, one of the five “royal squares” of Paris. Surrounded by classical-style buildings with columns, arcades and attics, it impresses with its monumentality. Here, each house preserves the memory of famous historical figures who lived at different times.

One of these buildings houses the most luxurious Parisian hotel, the Ritz. The visual center of the square is the 38-meter white marble Vendôme Column. It is topped by a statue of Napoleon in a short cloak with a laurel wreath on his head, holding a sword and Earth with the figure of the Goddess of Victory. From Place Vendôme we will proceed to the Tuileries Park by taking the metro at the Opéra station and getting to the Concorde station.

Tuileries Garden

The magnificent Tuileries Garden spreads over 25.5 hectares between the Louvre, Place de la Concorde, Rue de Rivoli and the Seine. If you go to the Tuileries from the Place de la Concorde, you will come to the Main Entrance, decorated with equestrian monuments of Glory and Mercury. The entrance from Place Concorde leads to the Orangerie art gallery with rare paintings by Monet, Renoir, Picasso, Modigliani, Cézanne and Matisse. You can enjoy masterpieces of painting on any day except Tuesday for 9 €.

Contemporary fine art is represented by the Jeu de Paume gallery. It is closed on Monday. Marble statues - copies of originals stored in palaces and museums of Paris - line the central alley. Of the numerous sculptures that decorate the garden, pay attention to a copy of Rodin's famous composition “The Kiss” and 20 original sculptures by Aristide Maillol. Heading towards the Louvre, you will approach the Carousel Arch.

Arch at Place Carrousel

Arch erected at the beginning XIX century on Place Carrousel in honor of the victories of Napoleon's army, shares the Tuileries Garden with the Louvre. A tall 19-meter building in the Empire style, it stands out with a facade with pink marble columns with the Corinthian order. The columns depict sculptures of 8 military branches in uniform. The side facing the Louvre is represented by the cuirassier, cavalryman, dragoon and carabineer; the side facing the Tuileries Garden is represented by the grenadier, infantryman, sapper and gunner.

The main facade is decorated with coats of arms: on the left - the Italian kingdom, supported by Wisdom and Strength, and on the right - France, supported by Peace and Plenty. The eastern facade of the arch is crowned with a quadriga of horses, driven by the World in the center and statues of Victory on both sides. On the small arched spans, the events of Napoleon's military campaigns are reflected in 4 bas-reliefs.

Church of Saint-Eustache

From the Place de la Carrousel it is a stone's throw to the 17th-century Church of Saint-Eustache, second in beauty only to the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris. Its architecture embodied the grandeur of the Gothic with the Renaissance beauty of the façade, crowned with a Gothic dome with the figure of a deer. The temple vaults are decorated with paintings by Rubens, stained glass windows and religious sculptures. In the center, the gaze stops at the chapel of the Virgin Mary, the striking sculpture of the Virgin and Child and the fresco of the Virgin surrounded by angels.

Famous historical figures were parishioners of the church. Here Cardinal Richelieu and the Marquise de Pompadour were baptized, Molière was baptized and buried, and King Louis XIV prayed. You can see the wonderful interior of Saint-Eustache any day for free, and on Sunday you can enjoy an organ concert.

Church of Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois

From the Church of Saint-Eustache (metro Les Halles line 4) proceed to gothic church Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois, get off at Châtelet station. On the façade of the 15th century, loggias, 5 arches with statues, and sculptures of kings and saints placed in the portals look exquisite. The skillful decor of the facade is completed by a rose window with a pointed pediment. Enter the church where masses were celebrated for crowned heads and their families, from where the signal was given for the beginning of the St. Bartholomew's Night massacre.

The mysterious atmosphere of the temple is felt by the sight of church rarities: a carved wooden bench where members of the royal family sat at mass, a Flemish altar with wood carvings depicting events from the life of Jesus, statues of Saints Herman and Vincent. The impression is enhanced by the lighting created by stained glass and rose windows of the 16th century. Take line 1 to the Rambuteau station towards the Center Georges Pompidou.

Center Georges Pompidou

After the medieval Gothic, the futuristic building of the Georges Pompidou Cultural Center looks like a contrast. A colorful structure will appear before your eyes, on the facade of which there are blue ventilation and green water pipes, yellow plexuses of electrical wires and moving red escalators with elevators.

On 5 floors there are exhibition halls with 60,000 creations of contemporary painting, design, sculpture, installations and performance, as well as works by the great artists of the 20th century: Matisse, Picasso and Kandinsky. The complex has several concert halls, there is a modern cinema. Don't miss the opportunity to climb observation deck, offering views from Montmartre to Notre Dame Cathedral. For 14 € you can see all the exhibitions of the center.

Stravinsky Fountain

Opposite the Pompidou Center, a fountain dedicated to the composer Igor Stravinsky, holder of the Legion of Honor, will not go unnoticed. The whimsical architecture of the fountain in the form of a dynamic installation enlivens the nondescript square. 16 colorful figures - characters from famous fairy tales, splashing water - move along the water surface of the rectangular pool, and their movements are repeated by black aluminum mechanisms.

Fairytale images: treble clef, frog, elephant, mermaid, clown, hat and others symbolize the period of the composer’s work, based on Russian folklore. The central figure of the fountain was the Firebird, which was a smaller copy of the huge Sun God sculpture in California. From the fountain we go towards Saint-Martin Street towards the Church of Saint-Merry.

Church of Saint-Merri

The Catholic Church of Saint-Méry, built from 1520 to 1612 in the Flamboyant Gothic style, is often called the Church of the Devil because of the figure of Baphomet on the main portal, depicted as a grinning hermaphrodite with wings behind his back. Saint-Méry impresses with its exquisite architecture and ancient history. Its facade is decorated with modern statues of saints, and inside it resembles a small Notre Dame. When viewing the temple, you should pay attention to the wooden carvings and stained glass windows of the 16th century on the naves and choir, depicting the lives of saints.

Next to the chapel, two bas-reliefs of angels are amazing: with a Bible and a cup in their hands. The oldest bell in Paris, cast in 1331, is recognized as a rarity of Saint-Méry. It is installed in a small bell tower located on the left portal of the facade. From the Church of Sainte-Méry you will go to the Place de la Hôtel de Ville.

Square Hotel de Ville

Place Hôtel de Ville or Place de Greve was founded by decree of Louis VII in 1147. Since 1310, it served as a place for the burning of heretics and the execution of criminals. In front of the townspeople, aristocrats were beheaded, and commoners were executed by hanging. In the 14th century, a stone cross was erected on the southern side of the square, where those sentenced to death said their last prayer. In 1357, the city hall building was built here, reconstructed in 1628 in the Renaissance style.

The City Hall building is decorated with sculptures of Voltaire, Moliere, Eugene Sue, Charles Perrault and Cardinal Richelieu. The central tower of the facade attracts attention with an ancient clock framed by virtues expressed by female figures. We finish the route at the Hotel de Ville pier with a boat trip along the Seine to the Eiffel Tower station.

Second day in Paris

The length of the Day 2 excursion will be approximately 4.5 km, starting from Notre Dame Cathedral at 9 a.m. for skip-the-line access. You can get to the cathedral by metro, getting off at Saint-Michel station. The journey then continues through the Latin Quarter, which can take up to 5 hours, depending on the time spent in the cathedral, churches and Luxembourg Gardens.

Notre Dame Cathedral

The neo-Gothic Notre-Dame Cathedral, the heart and soul of Paris, built from 1163 to 1345, amazes with the grandeur of its architecture, rich decor and unique shrines. When you see the façade, you’ll be amazed by the white stone openwork lace on the stained-glass rose window and balcony doors, the gallery of statues of kings and the statue of the Virgin Mary and Child. Entering through the main entrance, visitors are transfixed by the sight of the horrors of the Last Judgment.

Next comes the awe emanating from the huge stained glass windows, where the biography of Christ from birth to the Crucifixion appears. Divine energy comes from frescoes with readings of the Bible, sculptures of saints, an ancient organ and sacred relics: the Crown of Thorns, the nail that was used to nail Jesus to the crucifixion and pieces of the cross itself. After visiting the cathedral, everyone can climb the 69-meter tower, overcoming 387 steps, for 8 € to enjoy an unforgettable view of Paris.

Fountain of St. Michael

From Notre-Dame Cathedral, walk to the Fountain of Saint Michael, unveiled to the inhabitants of the Latin Quarter in 1860. From him the paths lead to everyone memorable places Islands of Cite. A fountain, made in the form of a monumental triumphal arch, decorated the square, covering the blank wall of the house. Its sculptural composition symbolizes the victory of good over evil. The four columns flanking the arch are topped with bronze statues of the virtues: Prudence, Justice, Strength and Temperance.

The accent of the center is the figure of Archangel Michael piercing the Devil with a sword. Good triumphs, washing away evil with water pouring like a wall from the pedestal and from the mouths of chimeras, flowing into a three-tiered sink. Near the fountain you feel the spirit of Paris. Here they make appointments, lovers make a wish by throwing coins into the water for luck, and musicians play in the evenings.

Holy Chapel Sainte-Chapelle

Walking from Place Saint-Michel along Boulevard du Palais, it is impossible to pass by the Holy Chapel of Sainte-Chapelle, built in the 13th century according to the architect's plan in the form of a casket for storing church relics. The chapel, with a spire rising 75 meters high and chimeras along the perimeter of the roof, is open to the public every day. Inside, the chapel amazes with the imagination of medieval architects.

In the lower tier, you will admire the multi-color stained glass windows illustrating the life of the Virgin Mary, decorative arches, and skillful medallions with the faces of the 12 apostles. Attention is drawn to the columns with royal heraldry and the vaults in the form of the night sky with golden stars. On the upper tier, the richness of the decor and stained glass windows shimmering in the light are breathtaking, showing the history of mankind from the Creation of the world to the Apocalypse. From Sainte-Chapelle we will approach the Concierge Castle.

Church of Saint-Etienne-du-Mont

The Basilica of Saint-Etienne-du-Mont, which took 130 years to build, appeared to Parisians in 1622 with a structure with 3 fancy pediments of Gothic and Renaissance styles on the facade. The main entrance is distinguished by pilasters on the pediment, antique-themed medallions and niches with statues of saints. The church interior is notable for its 16th-century stained glass windows, a three-hundred-year-old organ with a divine sound, and a baroque pulpit supported by a sculpture of Samson.

People come here to venerate the relics of Saint Genevieve, the patroness of Paris. Only here you will see a unique pulpit from which sermons are delivered. It overhangs with a gallery ending on both sides with a white stone spiral staircase, decorated with openwork stone carvings. The church is open until 19.30 and is a great way to end your 2nd day in Paris.

Third day in Paris

Arriving in Paris, be sure to visit Montmartre - the bohemian district of the city where Zola lived, Renoir, Van Gogh, Picasso painted, and Hemingway and Fitzgerald rocked. Montmartre, located on a hill, is the highest and most colorful district of Paris, permeated with an atmosphere of romance and a flair of light debauchery. A hike through the memorable places of Montmartre with a rest in one of the famous cafes will take up to 5 hours. From the Pigalle metro station it is quite easy to climb to the Montmartre funicular or climb the steps of the stairs to the top of the 130-meter hill to architectural gem- Sacré-Coeur. End the day well with a stroll along Boulevard Clichy, visiting the Moulin Rouge cabaret, located near metro Blanche.

Basilica of Sacre Coeur

Approaching the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, one is overwhelmed by the awe emanating from the beauty of the temple-palace, which combines the styles of Byzantine and Romanesque architecture. The white stone structure, 83 meters high, shimmering in pink, is the embodiment of graceful decor and ideal construction, completed with a large central dome. The majesty of Sacre-Coeur is given by the bell tower, rising 100 meters high.

Near the entrance to the church, visitors are greeted by sculptures of King Louis IX and Joan of Arc, and on the pediment in a niche is a statue of the Sacred Heart of Christ. The divine atmosphere in the basilica is created by stained glass windows with biblical stories, reflecting colorful reflections on white walls and picturesque mosaics. You can admire the wonderful interior of the temple for free.

Place du Tertre

Turning left from the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, you will come out onto the compact, crowded Place du Tetre - the epicenter of bohemian life. Here, each house has its own story about the celebrities who lived in it. Among the numerous cafes, the oldest restaurant-bistro La Mère Catherine is popular, where more than 200 years ago Russian officers liked the cuisine, shouting “quickly”! The creative elite of Montmartre also loved to come here.

On the square, lined with outdoor tables, you can have a snack while watching the vibrant life of the bohemian public. After you have rested, walk between the exhibitions of street artists who are ready to immortalize you against the backdrop of Sacre Coeur or Moulin Rouge for 20-40 €. From Place du Tetre, turn onto Rue Poulbot and head towards the Salvador Dali House Museum to see the world's most valuable collection of paintings by the artist.

Salvador Dali Museum

Salvador Dali spent his creative life in Paris, Montmartre. It is not surprising that the largest collection of the artist’s works - more than 300 paintings and sculptural masterpieces - is located in Montmartre. Visitors discover not only new paintings, but also sculptural works that embodied the master’s futuristic fantasies when the two-dimensionality of the canvas was not enough. Dali's boundless imagination is reflected in a collection of engravings on literary themes.

Here you will see paintings by the genius of surrealism, painted with a rhinoceros horn and snails crawling on the canvas, soaked in paints. The museum also displays Dali’s personal collection of paintings by outstanding artists of the “lost generation.” From here we continue our way to the vineyards of Montmartre, opposite which you will see the Agile Rabbit cabaret.

Cabaret "Agile Rabbit"

“The Agile Rabbit” is listed among the oldest cabarets in Montmartre, which became one of the favorite places to hang out at the turn of the 19th - 20th centuries among the bohemian literary and artistic public. Its regulars included Paul Verlaine, Guillaume Apollinaire, Auguste Renoir, Amadeo Modigliani, Pablo Picasso, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec and others, famous personalities in art.

The history of the cabaret began in 1869 with a village tavern called “Meeting of Thieves”. After a while, an entertainment establishment, “The Murderers Cabaret,” opened there, renamed after a local artist painted a sign for the cabaret with a funny rabbit. Today, the Agile Rabbit has become a venue for humorous and musical evenings. After passing by the Agile Rabbit, you need to go down the steps leading to the Saint-Vincent Memorial Cemetery.

Cemetery Saint-Vincent

To get inside the Saint-Vincent cemetery, opened in 1831, you need to go around it, focusing on the Sacré-Coeur basilica, rising on the hill. This churchyard is a real museum under open air, where 900 graves are located, among which are the graves of brilliant creators of music, science, art and literature, who left a bright mark on world culture.

Here, each marble tombstone is a unique monument. It is convenient to walk through the cemetery using the path layout located on the stand located near the entrance. A detailed plan showing the location of the famous graves can be obtained from the cemetery caretaker. Having been alone with eternity, return to reality along Rue Sol, where, turning onto Rue Abrevoir, stop near the “Pink House”.

Restaurant "Pink House"

The colorful house, with its eye-catching pink façade and green shutters on the corner of Rue Abrevoir, now houses a restaurant. The pink house depicted in many paintings by the famous landscape painter Maurice Utrillo, who lived in Montmartre, was not always such an impressive color. His artist friends repainted the house. Once, when a group of artists were returning drunk from Montmartre at night, Maurice Utrillo thought this house was nondescript, and he exclaimed that it should be pink.

Friends, picking up this idea, did not keep us waiting long and painted the building pink. Not forgetting about the great artists, from here we will go to Place Émile Goudeau, from where we will go up Rue d’Orchampt, passing by house number 11, where the singer Dalida lived, and we will approach the Moulin de la Galette on Lepique Street.

Mill Moulin de la Galette

Old windmill, which became a tavern in 1830, is depicted in paintings by artists Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec, Van Gogh and Pablo Picasso, who often dined here with village bread and a glass of wine produced by the mill owner. When the rural area turned into an urban neighborhood, the owners of the tavern turned it into a music hall. The atmosphere of a dance evening in a music hall was conveyed by Renoir in one of his canvases.

Nowadays, the historical mill has acquired the status of a national architectural monument. Near it, the Moulin de la Galette restaurant was built with the Moulin Rade mill above the entrance. After enjoying a cup of coffee in the famous restaurant, it is pleasant to leisurely walk along the ancient Tolose street, the boulevard of red light districts of Cliche, which will lead to one of the most coveted attractions of Paris - the Moulin Rouge cabaret.

Cabaret Moulin Rouge

The Moulin Rouge cabaret is the spirit of bohemian and voluptuous Paris, thanks to which it gained fame as the European capital of love. Founded at the end of the 19th century, Le Moulin Rouge cabaret is named after the huge wooden mill built above the entrance. The establishment gained unprecedented popularity after dancing with a touch of light eroticism.

Representatives of high society and bohemians gathered in the evenings to watch the cancan. It is known that the artist Toulouse-Lautrec almost settled in the Moulin Rouge, depicting it in his paintings. Today, the cabaret delights with an enchanting show with a wealth of scenery and luxury costumes, contemplated at a table with a glass of champagne. In the evenings there are 3 performances, where the most expensive ticket with dinner costs from 190 €. If you don't visit the Moulin Rouge, you won't feel the spirit of Paris.

Fourth day in Paris

Good start to the day river walk along the Seine, dividing the city into 2 banks, along which there is a series of attractions, already familiar and new, which you will want to visit when you see them from the deck of a boat. We recommend continuing your trip to Paris by visiting museums that represent the wealth of world culture. We'll tell you about the most popular museums in Paris, and the choice is yours.

Louvre

The most famous art museum in the world, the Louvre, is located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris on Rue de Rivoli near Tuirly Park in an ancient royal castle. You can get there quickly by metro, getting off at the Palais Royal - Musee du Louvre station on lines 1 or 7. Main facade royal palace, overlooking the Louvre Square, is represented by a classical colonnade. The central entrance to the Louvre passes through a glass pyramid, where you can buy a ticket for 17 €. Not only the famous Mona Lisa and the statue of Venus de Milo will bring aesthetic pleasure.

Here, 35,000 paintings, statues, engravings and prints are on display. In the halls of the Louvre, you will see a unique collection of jewelry, ceramics and decor created in the world over 5 thousand years. Even if you spend a whole day at the museum, you won’t be able to devote 1 second to each sample. When heading to the Louvre, prioritize your priorities by learning about the main sections of the exhibitions. You can see world masterpieces on any day of the week except Tuesday.

Museum d'Orsay

The Musée d'Orsay in Paris is a real treasury of artistic and applied arts. It is located in the center on the left bank of the Seine, and can be easily reached by metro: “Solférino” and “Assemblée nationale” (line 12). The museum was located in 1986 within the walls of a former railway station, built at the beginning of the twentieth century for the World Exhibition. More than 4 thousand works visual arts for the Orsay Museum were selected from various galleries in France.

The museum collection is especially proud of paintings by famous impressionist artists: Claude Monet, Renoir, Edgar Degas, Edouard Manet, Paul Cezanne and many others. The large collection of famous modernists and contemporary authors is also of interest. You can view unique paintings for 8 € on any day except Monday.

Rodin Museum

The Rodin Museum in Paris is the largest exhibition in the world of works created by the talent of the French sculptor. It is located in the former Biron Palace of the first half of the 18th century on Varenne Street. You can get to the museum by metro, getting off at Varenne or La Tour-Maubourg stations. The building is famous for the residence of Isadora Duncan, Henri Matisse and Jean Cocteau at the beginning of the last century. From 1908 to 1917, Auguste Rodin had his apartment and studio here, where he created his ingenious sculptures, bequeathing to Paris his collection of more than 30 thousand works of art.

There are more than 6 thousand sculptures by the author alone, including the original sculptures – “The Kiss” and “The Thinker”. The unique collection is open for viewing all week except Monday. A ticket to enter the museum costs 9 €. Sculptures by Rodin also decorated the square near the house and the entrance to the Varennes metro station.

Picasso Museum

In the ancient Salé mansion in the historical Marais quarter on rue de Thorigny there is a museum of the famous artist Pablo Picasso. The easiest way to get to the museum is on metro line 8, getting off at Sant Paul station. The museum was founded on 2,000 works by the artist, with which the heirs paid the state for taxes on the inheritance received from the deceased artist. The museum collection includes about 5,000 exhibits: paintings, sculptures, drawings and archival documents.

You will see Picasso's work in chronology from the period of cubism to realism, from baroque to nude. A collection of paintings by other artists is exhibited separately: Matisse, Cezanne, Rousseau, Andre Derain, Degas, Doan Miró and objects of African art. You can view the masterpieces any day except Tuesday by purchasing a ticket for €12.50.

Fragonard Perfume Museum

In the center of Paris on Rue Scribe, not far from the Opera Garnier, there is a museum that interests every woman. This is the Fragonard perfume museum, where the scents of all the world's brands are dizzying. In three departments of the museum you will learn the history of the origin of perfumes, see elaborate bottles made for perfumes in past centuries different countries. In addition to perfumes, unique gold and silver jewelry with a “secret”, women’s cosmetics, bottles, powder compacts, and toiletries are on display here.

The section called “The Art of Living” opens up the world of home decoration and design items. In the perfume gallery, open daily, you can buy your favorite scent at a manufacturer's price of 15 €. It’s easy to get to the museum by metro to Opera station on lines 3,7,8.

House-Museum of Victor Hugo

The Victor Hugo Memorial Museum is located on the Place des Vosges (metro Bastille) on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Rogan mansion, where his family lived in 1832-1848. To reach Hugo's apartment, take the wide staircase leading to a suite of spacious rooms that recreate the family's living environment. In the “Chinese living room” you will admire the collection of porcelain tableware collected by Victor Hugo.

The office replicates the work environment with furniture, rare editions of novels, drawings and photographs made by the writer. The “red room” breathes a special atmosphere, where Hugo met with friends: composers Liszt and Rossini, writers Balzac, Mérimée and Alexandre Dumas, who immortalized this apartment in the novel “The Three Musketeers”. The apartments are open to the public free of charge all week except Mondays.

Fifth day in Paris

On your last day in the capital of France, you want to do everything: plunge into the world of entertainment, fully experience the taste of French delicacies and wine, enjoy the aroma of France in famous perfume boutiques. Someone might want to take a voyage along famous castles surroundings of Paris. After reviewing our proposals, choose your favorite final chord of the five-day symphony of Paris.

Disneyland

Disneyland Paris is located in a ring with a diameter of 3 km, 32 km from the capital, where there are 2 parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park, 7 hotels and the town of Disney Village with shops and cafes. The center of the ring, where the train station is located, is served by trains from the center of Paris every 40 minutes. It is convenient to get there by yellow bus from the Opera and Chatelet metro stations.

Tour firms, agencies, companies are already a thing of the past for many. Now, it is often much more pleasant and cheaper to organize a trip yourself. Moreover, it is not so difficult.

Road.

This is one of the most expensive aspects of your future travel. There are many ways to get to Paris. But most tourists still prefer to fly. We have written a whole article on how to save money on a plane.

Prices fluctuate depending on the season and different company promotions. But on average, a round-trip ticket from Moscow to Paris will cost approximately 150-300 euros, and the same to St. Petersburg. Ekaterinburg - Paris - about 300 euros, Novosibirsk - Paris - about 400 euros, etc. During the discount period, you can find very good deals and fly from Moscow to Paris and back for almost 100 euros.

Hotels.

The next step is to book a hotel in Paris. On the one hand, you need to know where to live, on the other hand, you want to choose something that is not very expensive. The range of prices for hotels in Paris is huge: from hostels for 15 euros per bed per night and cheap hotels from 40 euros per triple room per night to luxury hotels for very decent money.

Or you can directly check the best prices and offers.

Directions

Entertainment.

It all depends on your imagination. Someone is walking around, and it's free. Take a ride on water bus– about 13 euros. Some people want to go to, a ticket there costs about 50-60 euros. And, for example, it won’t cost you less than 100 euros.

Excursions.

For absolutely budget travel, you can arm yourself with guidebooks and even get around the whole of Paris on foot.

Special excursions are more expensive.

You can also order in Paris.

Shopping.

Paris is the capital of fashion. Therefore, many people want to buy some things here. In the capital of France, there are quite a few and two giant department stores - Gallery and Printam. Let’s say right away that Lafayette is very touristy, which means it’s far from cheap.

If you want to save money, then go to regular shopping centers. If you want to be luxuriously dressed, go to Dior and Chanel boutiques, and, of course.

We also note that in France they are held twice a year: in January-February and July.

And the amount you leave in stores depends only on you.

Souvenirs.

There are different ones. The cheapest are the Eiffel Tower keychain (5 pieces for 1 euro). Next are postcards and everything else. Our advice is from Notre Dame. And if you can’t think of something to please a friend or acquaintance, send a postcard from the Eiffel Tower or just from Paris. It always leaves good memories.

We previously wrote the article “”. You can familiarize yourself with its contents.

Write down all the main points that we talked about on paper, and you will understand how much a trip to Paris will cost you.

But our main advice to all travelers, whether independent or on tour: Relax, this is Paris!

Enjoy the city, and don’t invent additional problems for yourself, such as how to figure out travel cards and “where they won’t break my head in Paris.” You figure everything out on the spot, and nothing will happen to you. We repeat: Relax, you are already in Paris!

Have a nice trip.

How much did you spend on your trip to Paris? Share in the comments.

The last couple of months have been quite busy in terms of work, and in August I'm finally going on a long-awaited vacation. Therefore, I haven’t taken tourists on walks for a long time and I don’t plan to do so in the next few weeks. Since I have to say “no” to people quite often, I decided to correct the situation a little and make 3 walking routes For everyone. Enjoy it for your health :)

WALK WITH A FORK

Start of the route - from the metro Felix Faure (line No. 8). At the exit from the metro we admire one of the few residential buildings in Paris in the Art Nouveau style and head towards rue du Commerce , passing the Catholic Cathedral Saint Jean Baptiste . Rue du Commerce is a miniature version of how life works in the districts of Paris: grocery stores, clothing stores, a public garden with a playground, bakeries, locals with shopping carts, parents with children, dogs with owners... I live nearby and I really like to walk here in the evening. One of my favorite places is the restaurant le cafe du Commerce (look inside). We walk along the street to the end, it turns into avenue de la Motte-Picquet - without turning anywhere, we reach Ecole Militaire And Champ de Mars , from where you can clearly see the Tower (photo above).

And then our goal is a small, lively street rue Cler , which I have mentioned many times in my texts here. Flower shops, market, restaurants and small cafes, pastry shop Francois Pralus - a charming, truly authentic place, despite its proximity to the tourist mecca in the form of the Eiffel Tower. And now - a fork!

Arriving along rue Cler to rue de Grenelle , you have a choice - turn right or left. If to the right, we reach hotel des Invalides and go into the courtyard (photo above). This is one of my favorite places in the city. It is not necessary to go to the military museum - just walk around the territory, go to the chapel Saint Louis , go up to the second floor. This is if you go right after rue Cler.

And if to the left, we run into avenue Bosquet and go right to rue de l"University . We turn left along it and reach Branly Museum . Here we are only interested in the garden. We pass right through it - and now we are already at Quai Branly , in front of the pedestrian bridge passerelle Debilly . As you can see, there is a wonderful view of the Tower from here.

Then we move to the right bank, a little to the right along avenue de New York there will be an entrance to the territory palais de Tokyo And museum d"Art Moderne . We need the last one. This free museum with an excellent permanent exhibition. Stop by here for an hour and a half if you want. And if not, cross the road (this will avenue du President Wilson ) and go to the kindergarten for Galliera Museum . Here you can take a break after a walk and eat a pre-bought/prepared sandwich while sitting on a bench :)

ROMANTIC WALK FROM 6 DISTRICTS TO 1

We start from the metro Saint-Germain-des-Pres (line No. 4) and the church of the same name. We immediately choose where to eat/drink coffee/wine: there is a cafe l es Deux Magots And Cafe de Flore - both legendary, beautiful and quite touristy, but still delicious and very Parisian. Is there Brasserie Lipp - a place where Picasso, Hemingway and other creative crowds visited. We may not stop at the establishments, but it’s definitely worth at least looking at them. And further along rue Bonaparte heading towards the square, fountain and cathedral Saint-Sulpice (pictured above).

We admire the pigeons, sit on a bench, and then turn right onto a narrow rue Ferou and we thank the French for their creativity: here the famous poem by Arthur Rimbaud “The Drunken Ship” adorns the entire wall. In the original language, of course. This is one of the small, seemingly not particularly noteworthy moments that ultimately leave the most vivid impression of the city.

Along rue Ferou we reach Luxembourg Gardens . We lie on the grass, sit on a chair, take pictures of ducks, let our eyes rest on the greenery. And we leave the garden to the side rue Vaugirard , To Odeon theater . We go around it and get to rue de l'Odeon which leads us to boulevard Saint-German .

Here we need to go through the gate to the right of the candy store Maison Georges Larnicol - this will be one of the oldest and most beautiful passages in Paris Cours du Commerce Saint-Andre (photo above). We pass through the passage and exit to rue Mazarine . We walk along it until we see the entrance to a cozy alley on the right passage Dauphine . We turn here and reach the end - here we are rue Dauphine . From here we need to go left, towards the Seine...

So we go to bridge Nave (which, by the way, offers views of the breathtaking Parisian sunsets). From here you can go down to the edge of the Ile de la Cité in Vert-Galant public garden . Where to go next is up to you to decide)

TWO ROOFS AND THREE PASSAGES

Let's start right from the terrace art center Pompidou . Come here early, before opening, to avoid the line (there is almost always a long line). Regardless of how you feel about modern art, the Pompidou terraces are worth both the time and the entry fee (€6). From here you can see Montmartre and the roofs of the entire right bank. It’s especially great to come here in the first half of the day. In general, Paris in the morning is a delicacy.

Next we head along rue Rambuteau towards the updated shopping center Forum des Halles , which has already become the object of criticism local residents(but it's in their blood). Architectural solution in the form of a huge openwork pavilion it looks very contrasting among the old four-five-story buildings in the area Chatelet . But that's the beauty of it. Passing through the pavilion, we come to Church of Saint-Eustache , which houses the largest organ in France. There are also heart-shaped stained glass windows. We walk past the church to the side rue du Louvre and turn to rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau (everything is very simple on the map). On the right along the street awaits us the gate to an incredible gallery Vero-Dodat (pictured above). We admire, take pictures and leave with reverse side on rue Montesquieu .

She leads us to a small closed Place Valois , and there it’s just a stone’s throw away columns Buren (striped black and white columns) and magnificent Palais Royal garden (pictured above). Here you can drink coffee in Cafe Kitsune or just hang out for an hour on one of the chairs by the fountain.

On the opposite side of the Palais Royal there is access to rue de Beaujolais - we need to turn right and go up the stairs to Passage des 2 Pavillons - he will lead us straight to the entrance to Galerie Vivienne (on the picture). There's a great wine bar, a couple of restaurants and... just a lot of beauty. Take your time - rummage through old postcards from a bookstore, look at a mosaic, sit on a wooden bench. Stay here and now)

From Vivienne's gallery we go to rue Vivienne which leads us to Exchange , and behind it - rue Saint-Marc , which rests on rue Montmartre . Here is the time to turn left and on the left side you will see a gate - the entrance to Passage des Panoramas . Dark, cool, filled with shops and restaurants. Here you can buy collectible stamps or just look in the windows. If you find yourself here at lunchtime, great: grab a table at Canard & Champagne and order plat du jour.

We leave from Passage des Panoramas on boulevard Montmatrte and go straight to the shopping center Galeries Lafayette or Printemps , which is right here. We go up to the roof. I prefer Printemps - the view from it in the photo.

Here are three walks for you. I personally like trips in which there is no clear plan, but only a desire to see new things. Then you get the most wonderful routes. But at the same time, in a city like Paris, where your eyes are filled with variety and number of opportunities, sometimes you want to focus on something specific. And the main thing is not to make a mistake. I hope my tips help you have a great holiday :)

Photo: taken from my blog about life in Paris -

Some time ago I sent out a letter to our blog subscribers offering help in organizing independent travel to the country of their dreams. Of course, the help offered was not material :)). I was interested in simply providing information based on which you can safely begin planning your vacation. In one of the letters that I received in response, reader Natalya asked for help in organizing a trip to - the specific place and season were not important. In this article we decided to tell you how to go to Paris on your own.

In my deep conviction, you should start getting acquainted with France from Paris. Impressions of Paris can be completely different - someone falls in love with this city forever, while others remember only the many tourists and emigrants on the city streets. Be that as it may, it’s worth trying to get to know this city at least a little.

Since I myself was also wondering how much it costs to go to Paris on my own, and not through a travel agency, I was happy to sketch out a small plan.

So, let's go to Paris!

Let's start with air tickets. I found great flight options to Paris in less than 9 thousand rubles(round trip from November 6 to November 13) per person with one transfer.

two air tickets to Paris for 16.5 thousand with one transfer in Amsterdam

This, I think, is just a great price! Even with one transfer, but fly with the National Airlines of the Netherlands to Paris and back for 8.5 thousand rubles- simply fantastic!

Yes, and another important note - do not buy tickets with a transfer if the connection time is less than 2 hours— there is a big risk of not catching the second plane! Do not forget that it is in the Netherlands that you will need to go through customs control, and not in Paris. Just in case, you need to print out and take with you the map of Schiphol airport so as not to get lost when transferring.

Where to live in Paris

Now let's decide on housing. First of all, I started looking for hotels in Paris on my favorite booking.com. But here he let me down... Of course, I know that Paris is not cheap, but not so much! Having set quite acceptable criteria - a 3-star hotel at a price up to 4 4oo rubles per day I did not receive a single offer... The minimum hotel cost for the entire trip of 8 days (and even then with a big discount) was about 35 thousand rubles.

Of course, if you reduce your requirements to two stars and the rating is not particularly good, then you can find offers for 18-20 thousand rubles (8 days), but when reading reviews about these hotels, any desire to go anywhere disappears, even to Paris!

I continued my search on my second favorite site, Airbnb (we wrote about it, and I wrote about our experience). What great options I found here!

And apartments with a view of Montmartre, and a 10-minute drive from the Eiffel Tower, and even a barge on the Seine River (fully suitable for a comfortable stay), but my choice was this amazing apartment with its own garden.

I imagined that in the evening, after a walk around Paris, I could sit in this courtyard with a bottle of French wine and cheese and macarons from Laduree... mmmmm.... Just a delight! Moreover, for the same period this wonderful apartment costs only 25 thousand rubles, which for Paris is simply cheap.

By the way, when you register on Airbnb, you will receive a €28 discount on your first booking!

Medical insurance

required to be presented when applying for a Schengen visa. Everything is very simple here - you can buy insurance online, and voila - the cost of insurance from the Zurich insurance company for two people is only 1,240 rubles. And you don’t have to go anywhere!

Visa to France on your own

Now you can submit documents for a visa (confirmation of air tickets, accommodation and insurance are required when applying for a visa. The official website of the French Embassy is.

List of required documents, rules for filling them out and submitting them -.

That's it, the visa documents have been submitted, the next stage is

Paris itinerary planning

and study transport communication in Paris. The Internet helps us all, information about this sea, these are just a few resources.

 

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