After arriving at our hotel in Paris, having dinner and settling in for a restful night, we were ready for our day exploring Paris.
Our Driving Tour of Paris
Our first stop was the Dôme des Invalides, part of the Hotel des Invalides complex, which was commissioned by Louis XIV for retired soldiers. It currently houses the tomb of Napoleon and several military museums.
The Eiffel Tower
Of course, they brought us to the Eiffel Tower. We were there just long enough for a few photos. Can you ever REALLY spend enough time at the Eiffel Tower?
Gustave Eiffel created the Eiffel Tower between 1887 and 1889. It was the centerpiece of the 1889 World’s Fair.
The Arc de Triomphe
Our next photo op was the Arc de Triomphe. Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806, it honors those who fought for France.
Heading through Paris, we made our way to our next and final destination, passing many beautiful sights.
The Musée d’Orsay, a masterpiece, celebrates Beaux-Arts architecture.
Sitting on the banks of the Seine River, opposite the Louver, this iconic Institut de France, known for its dome, clock, and weather vane, was built between 1662 and 1688. Originally constructed as the Collège des Quatre-Nations, it is now the seat of five French academies.
Our tour bus offered the option of dropping us off at Luxembourg Gardens to explore on our own or return to the hotel.
We opted for a stroll in the gardens and lunch before a tour we had booked for the afternoon.
Luxembourg Garden
The Luxembourg Garden, also known as the Senate Garden, is located in the 6th Arrondissement began in 1612 when Marie de Medici, the widow of King Henry IV, constructed the Luxembourg Palace as her new residence.
The garden is owned by the French Senate, which meets in the palace. The gardens are a little over 56 acres and feature formal gardens, statues of former queens and saints, orchards, and a beautiful fountain.
We had a wonderful stroll before heading for lunch.
Lunch at Le Corner Saint-Germain
92 Bd Saint-Germain
75005 Paris, France
Leaving Luxembourg Garden and walking to our next destination, we wandered into this quaint brasserie serving incredible traditional French dishes.Â
The outdoor seating was packed, so we gladly accepted a small table inside with views of the kitchen. Mark sat amazed at the tiny size of the kitchen and the volume of food they were creating.
Chuck ordered the Le Croissant Gourmand (€14), a flaky Croissant served with sliced Chicken Breast, Roasted Peppers, Caramelized Onions, Bacon, and melted Mozzarella Cheese.
Mark tried the Pâté de Cochon (€12,5). This Basque-style pork pâté was made with Espelette Pepper and Turmeric and served with Whole-grain Mustard and Cornichons. It was AMAZING!
This is a wonderful location for lunch, and just across the river from Notre Dame Cathedral.
Visiting The Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris
One of the top things for us in Paris was to visit the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Our April trip was ideal as the cathedral had just reopened the previous December.Â
Admission is free; however, you will need to reserve a timed admission spot on the cathedral’s website.Â
Just know that even with a timed ticket, there is always a short line waiting for their time to be called. Watch the signs and guards closely as people are all trying to get in before their time and block the entrance.
The cathedral’s hours are:
Monday- Friday: 7:50 M – 7:00 PM with closing on Thursdays extended until 10:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday: 8:15 AM – 7:30 PM
The last entry each day is 30 minutes before closing.
The History of Notre Dame
The cathedral is closely linked to the history of France. It was built in the 12th century after the Norman invasions, when Paris grew prosperous, becoming a place of artistic and intellectual exchanges, the founding of colleges and universities of philosophy and theology.
As the city grew, the cathedral expanded in the 18th century and was restored in the 19th century after damage from weather and the Revolution. It became very popular after Victor Hugo’s book, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, and was later classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.
The most recent major restoration happened after the tragic fire on April 15, 2019.Â
Artwork of Notre-Dame
You could easily spend all day in the cathedral and not see all of the incredible artwork. Between the expansive collection and the crowds, it’s just not practical to see everything in one visit.
Here are a few of the more iconic pieces.
One of many paintings offered to the cathedral by the goldsmiths’ guild. The painter chose to depict the moment when the apostle is seized to be tied to the cross for his martyrdom.
The Grand Organ is renowned as one of the world’s most complex organs. The organ survived the 2019 fire but was disassembled and restored. Behind the organ is the Western Rose Window over the cathedral’s main entrance
The Grand Organ is renowned as one of the world’s most complex organs. The organ survived the 2019 fire but was disassembled and restored. Behind the organ is the Western Rose Window over the cathedral’s main entrance
Adding To Our Collection
Some of you may know that we started collecting religious pieces from all over the world as we travel. This rosary is from the Cathedral of Note-Dame.
Random Weird Stuff:
Leaving the Cathedral, we bumped into another couple we had met on our trip who were walking back to the hotel. Without anywhere else to be, we thought it would be a great way to see what life in Paris is really like. Nearly five miles later, we arrived back at the hotel, a little sweaty but having seen many Parisians going about their day.
Dinner at Cocotte
After returning to our hotel to chill a bit, we headed in a different direction and enjoyed dinner and some wine.
Cocotte
165 Avenue du Maine
75014 Paris, France
Another local cafe with a great 4.5-star Google rating with nearly 1500 reviews. And aside from a bit of drama at the bar between staff and a customer, the food and service were excellent.
On this night, we both started with Onion Soup (€11,00). It was excellent and very flavorful. We’d highly recommend it.
Chuck ordered their Poulet Crispy (€18,00). It was delicious: thin, breaded, and fried Chicken Breast cutlets with a side of Barbecue Sauce and Frites with Cheddar and Bacon.
Mark opted for the Tartine Monseur (€15,00), toasted Ham and Emmenthal cheese with a refreshing side Salad. Perfect with the Onion Soup.
With just a short walk back to the hotel, we watched a little TV and got some sleep. Tomorrow will keep us busy; we’re visiting the Palace of Versailles.Â
