Things to do in Chalons en Champagne

Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris

2.5k reviews

Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris stands on the Île de la Cité on the banks of the Seine, built approx. between 1163 and 1250, and has witnessed the historical changes of Paris. This Gothic-style cathedral is world-famous due to the poetic description by French writer Victor Hugo in his novel of the same name, "Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris". Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris stands on the Île de la Cité in the middle of the Seine, with construction beginning in 1163 and largely completed by the mid-13th century. It is a masterpiece of French Gothic architecture and widely known due to Victor Hugo's novel of the same name. A fire in 2019 destroyed its spire and wooden roof structure, but after years of restoration, the cathedral reopened to visitors in December 2024, with the bell tower's summit access resuming shortly after. This phoenix-like structure has regained its status as one of Paris's most popular destinations. The cathedral's façade features three portals adorned with reliefs and statues depicting biblical stories, along with a row of royal stone figures, showcasing Gothic sculptural artistry at its finest. Inside, the restored stone walls and vaulted ceilings, now free of centuries-old soot, appear strikingly bright, while the three rose windows dazzle with color—particularly the southern one. The grand organ, with nearly 8,000 pipes and restored over several years, is equally worth admiring. Climbing the bell tower is a highlight: visitors ascend over 400 steps, passing the fantastical "gallery of chimeras" added during 19th-century renovations, where stone carvings of beasts and mythical creatures perch at railings—including the famous pensive "Stryge" gazing over Paris. The 17th-century "Emmanuel" bell, weighing over ten tons and rarely rung except on major occasions, can also be seen. From the nearly 70 m-high rooftop terrace, panoramic views encompass both banks of the Seine, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Sacré-Cœur, while the restored wooden framework and rebuilt spire can be examined up close between the towers. Practical tips: The tower climb requires moderate physical fitness, with narrow stairs and some crouch-walking sections; advance reservations for time slots are recommended due to limited capacity. Beneath the square in front lies the Crypte Archéologique de l'Île de la Cité, displaying urban relics from Roman times onward, with its entrance on the square. As the cathedral remains an active place of worship, visitors are asked to maintain quiet during masses.

Louvre Museum

10.4k reviews

Experience the charm of the filming locations for movies like "The Louvre" and "The Da Vinci Code". • Appreciate the magnificent presentation of the treasures of ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian civilizations here. • Visit the giant glass pyramid that combines classical palace and modern architectural styles. The Louvre was founded in 1204. This castle underwent several expansions and was converted into a museum after the French Revolution. The museum's collection encompasses art treasures from ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, ancient Rome, and various periods of Europe. The collection is quantity, and only a small portion is usually on display, yet it already constitutes an art journey spanning thousands of years. The museum boasts numerous treasures, among which the "Three Treasures of the Louvre" are most famous: the Venus de Milo, the Mona Lisa, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. △The marble of the Venus de Milos is so pure and white, yet so moving. Is it Aphrodite? Or Amphitrite? When the Venus de Milo was brought to the museum, the art restorers' first thought was to restore Venus's missing arms. However, in order to avoid distorting the work's authenticity, they ultimately abandoned this idea. The missing arms pose a significant challenge to identifying the figure in the statue. In ancient Greek art, the identification of deities is typically based on the objects held or iconic elements. Initially, there were many questions regarding the goddess's identity. Could she be Amphitrite, the sea goddess particularly revered on the island of Milos? Or, as her semi-nude, sensual body suggests, could she be Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty? The fact that she wore jewelry tilts the scales of identification towards Aphrodite, the Venus of Roman mythology. Later, near the statue's excavation site, a hand holding an apple was discovered—an element in the artistic depiction of Venus, and moreover, the hand sculpted with the apple is made of the same Paros marble as the statue. △ For centuries, Mona Lisa's famous enigmatic smile has captivated and inspired countless sighs. Mona Lisa gazes upon the viewer with her legendary smile, behind her a beautiful natural landscape stretching into the distance. The Mona Lisa painting theft of the century On August 21, 1911, panic gripped the museum! The Mona Lisa had vanished! Newspapers across the country published reports and offered a reward for its discovery. For over two years, the Mona Lisa remained untraceable. Then one day, an Italian art dealer contacted the authorities, and someone had delivered the famous painting, sought by the entire world, to him! The visitor was Vincenzo Perugia, a glass craftsman who had previously worked at the museum. The Mona Lisa was recovered, and her fame soared even higher. △The Winged Victory of Samothrace appears to float in mid-air, its form light and graceful. Originally offered as a tribute to the gods, it stood high in a temple on the Greek island of Samothrace, just as it now stands atop the Daru Steps. The statue depicts the moment when the winged goddess Nike, the goddess of victory, descends upon the bow of a ship. "Clubbing Hall Star" When the Winged Victory of Samothrace was installed on the Daru Steps in 1883, the background decorations designed for it were far more elaborate than they are today, with the dome covered in glittering mosaic patterns. However, these decorations failed to win favor, with some critics even comparing the Winged Victory to a cabaret star. Finally, in 1934, faux stone wallpaper covered the original decorations, creating a solemn and elegant atmosphere.

Musee d'Orsay

4.8/5

5.1k reviews

The Musee d'Orsay, hailed as the "temple of Impressionism," offers visitors the chance to admire numerous Impressionist masterpieces by great artists and experience the magic of color and light. In the museum square, six bronze statues represent the six continents of the world; inside the museum, beneath the large glass dome, natural light pours through the glass onto each painting. Bathed in this natural light, one can more vividly experience the charm of the artworks and the creative passion of the artists. The palace of art, the holy land of "Impressionism" Across the river from the Louvre, the Musee d'Orsay houses a collection of approx. over 4,000 artworks, including a vast array of French art created between 1848 and 1914, spanning painting, sculpture, decorative arts, and photography. Its collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings enjoys worldwide renown—masterpieces such as Monet's "Gare Saint-Lazare," Renoir's "Bal du moulin de la Galette," Van Gogh's "Starry Night Over the Rhône," and Manet's "Olympia" are all displayed here. Locals often say that for art created before 1848, one should go to the Louvre, and for modern art after 1914, one should go to the Centre Pompidou—and this museum bridges the two periods perfectly. Stepping inside, traces of the former railway station are still faintly discernible. At the center of the ground-floor hall runs a sculpture promenade, with exhibition rooms on both sides mainly displaying paintings and sculptures from the mid-19th century. At the far end stands a large cutaway model of the Paris Opera (Palais Garnier), meticulously revealing the opera house's interior structure. Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings are concentrated on the top floor, converted from the hotel rooms on the upper level of the former railway station. The space feels more intimate, and the natural light from the south-facing skylights evokes the lighting conditions under which the painters created their works. Six bronze statues stand in the square, each representing one of the world's six continents—relics of the original 1878 Exposition Universelle. Get a close-up view of the iconic clock at Musee d'Orsay

Eiffel Tower

4.6/5

4.4k reviews

·Climb the Eiffel Tower-a cultural symbol of France and one of the landmark buildings in Paris ·Overlook the beautiful city scenery of Paris, the whole Paris is at your feet, like a huge map in front of you. ·Learn about the tower's more than 100-year history through objects, posters, photos, sculptures, paintings and videos at the observation deck on the ground floor △ A new cultural path(1st floor): Screens, touch screens, displays, digital albums, reproductions of items, etc. allow you to find out about all aspects of the Eiffel Tower, many little known. △ Your arrival on the 2nd floor is marked by amazement: Paris in all her splendour greets your incredulous eyes. You will enjoy clear views of all of the French capital's monuments: the Louvre, Gran Palais, the bends in the Seine, Montmartre, Invalides, Notre Dame, etc. △ After a spectacular ascent in glass-walled lifts, you're finally here. 276m up with only the antennae above you, Paris lies at your feet. The noise of the boulevards can't reach you here, but the wind catches you and your heart begins to race.

Palace of Versailles

3.8k reviews

·Admire the ornate and imaginative architectural design of the Palace of Versailles ·Step into one of Europe's beautiful palace gardens and encounter forests, flower-lined paths, greenhouses, colonnades, temples, a village, and numerous marble statues scattered throughout ·Don't miss the Hall of Abundance, the Hall of Mars, the Hall of Peace, the Chapel, the Theater, and the King's and Queen's State Apartments. The Palace of Versailles was built during the reign of Louis XIV of France (1643-1715) and consists of the main palace castle, the gardens, the Grand Trianon, the Petit Trianon, and the Queen's Hamlet of Marie Antoinette. On the first floor of the Palace of Versailles, there are the suites of the Dauphin and princesses, the chapel, and the palace history gallery. Its main views are concentrated on the second floor of the main building and in the gardens. Grand Trianon: Although it is much plainer than the main palace castle, it is the most elegant and refined of all the buildings in the Palace of Versailles. This palace, which is heavily influenced by Italian architectural styles, has only one floor. It is situated between courtyards and gardens, and is covered with a flat roof surrounded by a balustrade. Petit Trianon: This is a typical classical-style building, featuring a studio, bedroom, dressing room, and more. The Queen's Grove: The layout here reveals the Queen's wide-ranging interests and elegant taste, far from the extravagance of Versailles and not without traces of Enlightenment thought. △ The garden is bisected by a central east-west axis, with flowerbeds, tree-lined avenues, pools, and several fountains arranged on either side. Among them, the Latona Fountain and the Apollo Fountain lie on the central axis, featuring exquisite sculptures. △ The palace was decorated magnificently, with colorful marble walls dazzling to the eye and giant crystal chandeliers cascading down like waterfalls. △ The inner walls and dome are covered with murals, and the mythological stories depicted are so vivid that they seem to recount the glorious military achievements of the kings of the past.

France · Versailles

Seine River Cruise

9.9

2k reviews

· Board the Seine River cruise and enjoy the charming scenery of Paris · Enjoy delicious food while admiring the beautiful scenery of the Seine on a lunch/dinner cruise · Along the Seine River to Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Conciergerie, to the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay Embark on a Seine River cruise to experience Paris from a different perspective. △ Take a photo with the Eiffel Tower from a unique angle on the Seine River △ Take the cruise, pass by Notre Dame de Paris-the beautiful architecture written by Victor Hugo △ Enjoy a romantic dinner on the Seine River-the most famous street in Paris