Paris, a precious patrimony

Paris is a child of the Seine, and the Seine has remained its most beautiful avenue. The city's most precious monuments follow the Seine's royal way. " The Ile de la Cité is the head, the heart and the essence of Paris" (Victor Hugo).  It hosts one of Paris's oldest and most prestigious monuments : the Notre-Dame cathedral.

On the Ile de la Cité, the Law Courts and the Conciergerie, make it the seat of civil and judicial authority. In the heart of the city, those were the first royal residences. After the royal familly moved to the Louvre, the Conciergerie became the first prison in Paris.  Behind Notre-Dame, a bridge leads to the charming and peaceful Ile Saint Louis. Its provincial atmosphere and the quaint beauty of its quays, made it the natural setting for rich residences and private mansions during the XVIIth Century. Resulting from the unification of two very small islands, Ile Saint Louis was constructed during the reign of Louis XIIIth, by master-builder Christophe Marie.

Thirty-seven bridges cross the Seine and despite its name, the oldest one is called the Pont Neuf. Just opposite it, the frail Pont des Arts leads to the Louvre. It is the most famous museum and the largest Parisian building.

The  place de la Bastille is the earstern border of the Marais area. That is were the famous prison used to stand, symbol of royal absolutism, which was assaulted on July 14th 1789 by the Sans-Culottes. Its demolition was the beginning of the French Revolution.

The Pont Alexandre III offers a magnifiscent view of one of Paris's most famous monuments : the Eiffel Tower. For millions of tourists, it symbolizes Paris, to such an extent that it seems difficult to imagine one without thinking of the other.