Begin your journey Paris, the world famous City of Light, made famous in countless books, movies, and poetry works. Start at the top, literally: the legendary Eiffel Tower. Designed by Gustave-Alexandre Eiffel and built for the Universal Exhibition of 1889, the tower stands 1,056 feet tall. There are several ways to ascend the tower. The first is to bypass the elevator lines and hike two floors by stairs. If you want a more exciting view, travel by elevator to one of three increasing high levels (tickets are more expensive the higher you go).

 

After gazing at the city from above, you will be ready to hit the pavement and start exploring. Make your way over a few streets to Paris’ other famous monument, the Arc de Triomphe. It stands 163 feet high and 147 feet wide, and was commissioned by Napoleon in 1806, though it was completed in 1836 under a different ruler. It is decorated with sculptures and engraved with the names of generals who commanded troops in Napoleon’s armies.

 

Because the Arc de Triomphe stands at the head of one of the most famous streets in the world, you are in perfect position to spend the afternoon strolling down the Champs-Elysees on your way to Place de la Concorde. The Champs-Elysees is Paris’ commercial heart and soul. It is lined with shops, boutiques, restaurants, and cafes. Choose a lovely sidewalk café or bistro, and order a traditional Parisian lunch of croque monsieur (a decadently French ham and cheese sandwich).

 

When you have had your fill, continue your stroll. Finish at the Place de la Concorde, one of Paris’ major squares, marked by a giant Egyptian obelisk. It was the site of many of the beheadings during the French Revolution including King Louie XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette.

 

You might want to opt for a 90-minute guided tour (given in English) to get you started. It gives you a great overview of the facility, allows you to see the major sights, and provides you with an idea of what you want to come back to. The most famous site, of course, is Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. After a major facility renovation, she is now situated in her own private room, encased behind protective glass. Two other pieces most tourists try to catch are the famous classical Greek sculptures, the Venus de Milo and Winged Victory of Samothrace (also called Nike of Samothrace).

 

The Richelieu Wing houses French paintings, decorative arts, French sculptures, and Asian antiquities. There are also fragments of the Parthenon’s frieze. The Grand Galerie is dedicated to Italian paintings, mostly from the Renaissance years, with works from Raphael and da Vinci. Other collections include Greek, Etruscan, and Roman antiquities.

 

When you are ready for a lunch break, try either Café Richelieu or Café Marly. Take a break from the beauty and nourish yourself with lovely sandwiches and pastries. When you are finished, continue your journey through this massive collection of treasures, aiming to finish in the late afternoon.

 

When you finally tear yourself away from the Louvre, make your way over to the Left Bank for an evening stroll through St-Germain-des-Pres and place St-Michel. If you have time, continue your stroll on down to the Latin Quarter, home of the famous Sorbonne.

 

When you are finished, you are only a handful of blocks from the Hotel des Invalides, more commonly referred to as Napoleon’s Tomb. You can tour the Musee de l’Armee to view weaponry through the ages and see the Emperor’s burial place in the Napoleon Chapel.

 

Take a break for lunch and make your way to Montmarte for a great view of Paris from Basilique du Sacre-Coeur. When you are finished exploring, make your way back down the hill to Paris’ most famous church, Notre Dame. Appreciate the cathedral’s gothic splendor as you say goodbye to the tremendous City of Light.

The castle’s most famous room is the Hall of Mirrors. Begun in 1678 in the Louis XIV style, it was decorated by Le Brun with 17 arched windows faced by beveled mirrors. On June 28, 1919, the treaty ending World War I was signed in the corridor.

 

Versailles boasts a luxurious Library, with intricately carved panels. The Clock Room contains a gilded bronze encased astronomical clock. Mozart played for the Louie’s court in this room when he was only seven years old. Louis XVI married Marie Antoinette in the Royal Chapel in 1770. Covering some 250 acres, the Gardens of Versailles had 1,400 running fountains at one point.

 

A few of the most interesting castles include the Chateau d’Azay-le-Rideau, which was commissioned by Francois I’s finance minister, and Chateau d’Amboise, the first castle in France to reflect the Italian Renaissance style. Also in the village of Amboise is Clos-Luce, a 15^th century manor containing a museum dedicated Leonardo da Vinci. Da Vinci actually lived in the manor for three years, dying there in 1519.

 

Thanks to early Greek and Roman settlements in the area, there are plenty of ruins to explore. Some of the most interesting towns are Avignon, Les Baux, and Arles. Plan on dining in a local bistro, and savor the homey French countryside before you hit the glamorous beaches of the French Riviera tomorrow.

 

For an over-the-top evening, cap off your week in France at the gambling tables in Monte Carlo, Monoco, France’s gloriously chic, tiny next-door-neighbor. Visiting provides a tremendous way to end your time in France and bid adieu to this treasure trove of art and history.

 

Begin your journey in the City of Light, the glorious and romantic Paris. Famed from literature, movies, and history, Paris is everything you expect her to be. From strolling the Champs-Elysees to marveling at the Louvre’s massive collection of art, you will not be disappointed.

 

Start day one of your quick tour of France at the world famous Eiffel Tower. Designed by Gustave-Alexandre Eiffel and built for the Universal Exhibition of 1889, the tower stands 1,056 feet tall. You will be one of 5.5 million visitors that trek to the tower each year. As for ascending the tower, you have a few options. The first is to bypass the elevator lines and hike two floors by stairs. You can get a pretty good view and move on with your day. If you want a more exciting view, travel by elevator to one of three increasing high levels (tickets are more expensive the higher you go).

 

When you are finished marveling at the ancestor of the skyscraper, make your way over a few streets to Paris’ other famous monument, the Arc de Triomphe. It stands 163 feet high and 147 feet wide, and it is the largest triumphal arch in the world. It was commissioned by Napoleon in 1806, though it was completed in 1836 under a different ruler. It is decorated with famous sculptures and engraved with the names of hundreds of generals who commanded troops in Napoleon’s armies.

 

Because the Arc de Triomphe stands at the head of one of the most famous streets in the world, you are in perfect position to spend the afternoon strolling down the Champs-Elysees on your way to Place de la Concorde. The street’s beauty can be credited to Marie de Medici, who decided to extend the garden axis of the Palais des Tuileries with an avenue of trees. The result is a gorgeous boulevard that serves as the commercial heart and soul of Paris. It is lined with shops, boutiques, restaurants, and cafes. Find one that appeals to you, order a croque monsieur (French ham and cheese sandwich) for lunch, and settle in for some of the world’s best people watching.

 

When you have had your fill, finish your journey down the Champs-Elysees at the Place de la Concorde, one of Paris’ major squares, marked by a giant Egyptian obelisk. As pleasant as it is today, this place has a bloody history: it was the site of many of the French Revolution beheadings, including King Louie XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette.

 

Splurge on a decadent, multi-course French meal for dinner and anticipate a magnificent day at the Louvre tomorrow.

 

If you would like to take a guided tour, there are some available in English lasting about 90 minutes. They give you a great overview of the museum and allow you to see the major sights. The most famous, of course, is Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. After a major facility renovation, she is now situated in her own private room, encased behind protective glass. The painting was actually stolen in 1911 and lost for two years before it was reclaimed in 1913. Today’s security measures all but ensure that will never happen again.

 

Two other pieces most tourists try to catch are the famous classical Greek sculptures, the Venus de Milo and Winged Victory of Samothrace (also called Nike of Samothrace). Even in their broken states, the statues are an amazing site to behold, given their ancient origin.  

 

The Richelieu Wing houses French paintings, decorative arts, French sculptures, and Asian antiquities. There are also fragments of the Parthenon’s frieze. The Grand Galerie is dedicated to Italian paintings, mostly from the Renaissance years, with works from Raphael and da Vinci. Other collections include Greek, Etruscan, and Roman antiquities.

 

When you are ready for a lunch break, try either Café Richelieu or Café Marly. Fuel up on the lovely sandwiches and pastries and continue your journey through this massive collection of treasures.

 

Try to tear yourself away from the Louvre and make your way over to the Left Bank for an evening stroll. St-Germain-des-Pres and place St-Michel are wonderful for experiencing the old world Rive Gauche Parisian spirit.

 

Louis XIV’s monument to wealth and excess, Chateau de Versailles is one of France’s most popular tourist attractions. It is located about 10 miles from the center of Paris, and was built out of Louie’s desire to flaunt his vast power to the rest of the world. Construction began in 1661 and involved over 45,000 workers, many of whom died during the building process. There are six Grands Appartements done in the Louis XIV style, and each is named after the allegorical paintings on the ceilings. The largest and most prominent is the Hercules Salon, with a ceiling depicting the Apotheosis of Hercules. After his death, Louis XIV’s body was put on display in the Mercury Salon.

The castle’s most famous room is the Hall of Mirrors. Begun in 1678 in the Louis XIV style, it was decorated by Le Brun with 17 arched windows faced by beveled mirrors. On June 28, 1919, the treaty ending World War I was signed in the corridor.

 

Versailles boasts a luxurious Library, with intricately carved panels. The Clock Room contains a gilded, bronze-encased astronomical clock. Mozart played for Louie’s court in this room when he was only seven years old. Louis XVI married Marie Antoinette in the Royal Chapel in 1770. Covering some 250 acres, the Gardens of Versailles were laid out by landscape artist André Le Nôtre. There were 1,400 running fountains at one point.

 

If you choose to forgo Versailles in favor of hitting the open road, rent a car and make your way to the beautiful Loire Valley. When the Black Plague took over Paris in the 1300s, the royals and nobles escaped the city and built castles in this lush area. As a result, there are some 300 amazing castles in the area today. Many of them operate as hotels and bed-and-breakfasts, and you might choose to stay the night in one of them and experience life like the royals for yourself. Toursis the main city in the area, and it is a good place to anchor if you want to do some sightseeing.

 

A few of the most interesting castles include the Chateau d’Azay-le-Rideau, which was commissioned by Francois I’s finance minister, and Chateau d’Amboise, the first castle in France to reflect the Italian Renaissance style. Chateau de Chenonceau in the village of Chenonceaux was once home to Henry II’s mistress, Diane de Poiters, a fact that naturally angered his wife, Catherine de Medici. The powerful Catherine forced her out when Henry died.

 

Also in the village of Amboise is Clos-Luce, a 15^th century manor containing a museum dedicated Leonardo da Vinci. Da Vinci actually lived in the manor for three years, dying there in 1519.