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The Eiffel Tower:
The Eiffel Tower is
named after its engineer, Gustav Eiffel. The iconic Parisian landmark was constructed
between 1887-89 for the 1889 World's Fair. Originally intended as a temporary structure
the iron construction stands at 310m tall and is adorned with a 24m antennae, taking the
total height to 324m. When the tower was completed it was the world's tallest building, a
record it retained for forty-one years until the completion of New York's Chrysler
building. In 1986 a new lighting system was installed to illuminate the landmark at night;
for anyone planning a trip to Paris a sight of or from
the Eiffel Tower at night is a particularly special experience.
The Louvre:
The Louvre houses one of the world's best known and most visited collections of fine art;
including 35,000 works drawn from eight departments, displayed in over 60,000 square
metres of exhibition space. Yet the building of the Louvre is equally
spectacular as some of its most famous residents, such as Da Vinci's masterpiece the Mona
Lisa. The building began life, in its central position on the right bank of the Seine, as a fortress constructed
in the 12th century. Over the centuries the fortress went through a series of
metamorphoses; from fortress, to palace, to royal art gallery and in a post revolutionary
France to the home of the nation's greatest art works, a role it continues to fulfil to
this day. The most famous recent addition to the Louvre is the both famous, and infamous,
"pyramid" structure in the central courtyard, for some it is an abomination, for
others a proud signal of the egalitarian spirit of modern France, only the individual can
decide.
Paris is a wonderful city to enjoy and explore, its rich heritage and culture ensure that
whether it is a weekend break or a two-week excursion there is something for everyone.
Furthermore it need not cost the Earth; the city has a range of cheap hotels available from
companies such as lastminute.com, who offer hotels at a price to suit every
wallet.
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