DK Travel : Paris

From Notre-Dame to the Eiffel Tower, Paris holds some of the world's most famous sights and these highlights should be top of the list for any first-time visitor. With the exception of the overtly modern Pompidou Centre, they have been landmarks of this elegant and romantic capital for centuries and remain awe-inspiring sights, no matter how often you visit the city.

More on guided tours in Paris

Folies Pigalle

This former strip club is now a leading dance venue and popular among the gay community.
Folies-Bergère

The epitome of Parisian cabaret, the Folies were, for a time, no more than a troupe of high-kicking, bare-breasted dancers. Today, the musical shows have largely returned to the nostalgic days when Maurice Chevalier and Josephine Baker performed here.
Fondation Cartier

Famous architect Jean Nouvel's magnificent glass building is definitely worth a visit. As well as the impressive structure of the building, there is also an opportunity to enjoy the wild-flower garden and 200 year old, Lebonese Cedar (planted by Chateaubriand (1768-1848), which grows alongside it.

The Foundation Cartier is also a gallery for modern art, housing various exhibitions within a peaceful and elegant setting.
Fontaine de Stravinsky

Birds squirt water from this colourful fountain.
Fontaine des Innocents

The Square des Innocents is a Les Halles crossroads and a hang-out for street performers and students. It was built atop a cemetery in the 18th century, and two million remains were transferred to the Catacombs at Denfert-Rochereau. The splendid Renaissance fountain, the last of its era built in the city, was designed by Pierre Lescot and carved by sculptor Jean Goujon in 1547. It originally stood against a wall on rue St-Denis, and was later moved to the new square, when the fourth side was added.
Fontaine des Innocents

Carved by Jean Goujon in 1547, this is Paris’s only Renaissance fountain.
Football

France’s football team has many young imitators in parks, gardens and streets.
Football Cup Final

The biggest club event in French soccer.
Forum des Halles

Ten years after the original market was demolished, the so-called “largest urban hole in Europe” was filled with this con- troversial shopping complex. This largely underground maze caters to the young, with music shops and boutiques selling trendy fashions. Outside, buskers, students and tourists mill about the steps and gardens. Separate metal and glass buildings house the Pavillion des Arts and the Maison de la Poésie, cultural centres for art and poetry respectively. Today, it’s more of a sore spot than a hotspot and French architect David Mangin has been brought in to revamp the area during 2007–8.
Founding of France

Roman rule weakened under Barbarian attacks. In 450 the prayers of a young nun, Geneviève, were credited with saving the city from invasion by Attila the Hun and she became patron saint of Paris. But in 476 the Franks captured the city. They converted it to Christianity and made Paris the capital of their new kingdom, France.