The City of Light:

PARIS!

 

 


             

               The Arch of Triumph                                                                                                        The Eiffel Tower

   

     

     Today we are going on a virtual class field trip to one of the most beautiful cities on the world:  PARIS!  Paris, a city of 2,107,600 people, is the capital of France, and French is spoken there.  Here is a map of France, showing its various regions, and the location of Paris: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paris is divided into 20 sections know as arrondissements.  Here is a map of Paris showing the locations of the 20 arrondissements:

 

 

 

                                                                                             Right Bank

                                                                                                                                                                     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                        Left Bank

 

     Traditionally, Paris is also spoken of as being divided by the Seine River (in blue on the above map) into The Left Bank and The Right Bank.  Locations to the left of the river are said to be located on the Left Bank, and locations on the right side of the river are said to be on the Right Bank.

 

     To begin our virtual field trip, we are going to visit a site that provides an overview of Paris.  Here we can find out how the city looks and feels, and learn something about its history.  Allons y a Paris!

 

 

 

 

 


                                   Click on the picture to begin

                                   your trip!

 

 

 

 

 

The Paris Metro is the best way to get around the city.

 

 

     Next, through the courtesy of the French Tourist Office, we can virtually tour Paris by NIGHT! 

 

     Did anything surprise you about the city?  What did you notice about how the city looks?  Where in particular would you like to visit for real?

 

     Now that we have gotten a general overview of the city, let’s visit some of the city’s most celebrated attractions:  The Louvre Museum, the Palace of Versailles, The Sainte Chappelle and Notre Dame Cathedral.  As if by magic, the four sites listed below will whisk us away to these exciting locations in the City of Light!

 

One of the most famous and important art museums in the world, the Louvre Museum was once a palace of the Kings and Queens of France.  It has been in existence for over 800 years, and became a museum in 1793.  It currently houses such famous art works as the Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci, and the Venus de Milo.                              

           Click on the picture to visit

          The Louvre Museum.

          Once you reach the first page you

          can navigate the site, and take a virtual

         tour.

 

 

Beginning in 1661, King LouisXIV of France turned a hunting lodge/chateaux built by this father into the Palace of Versailles, one of the most famous and beautiful palaces in the world.  In 1682 in became the official residence of the French Court.  The Sun King, as Louis XIV was known, ruled France from 1643 to 1715, and is considered to be one of the   

                                      greatest rulers of France.

   Click on the picture to visit

         the Palace of Versailles located                                                                               

         right outside of Paris.

 

 


Gothic in style and Famous for its beautiful stained glass windows, the Sainte-Chappelle was built on the orders of St. Louis (King Louis IX of France) beginning in 1242, and is now part of the Palais de Justice in Paris. 

 

 

     
 
Click on the picture to

visit the Sainte-Chappelle.

 

 

The Cathedral of Notre Dame of Paris (Our Lady Of Paris) is constructed in the Gothic manner.  Construction on the Cathedral began in 1163, and it was completed in about 1345.  The Roman Catholic Cathedral fell into disrepair after it was ransacked during the French Revolution, and a 23-year program to restore it began in 1845.  Among many historic events to take place within its walls, here Napoleon crowned himself and his wife Josephine, Emperor and Empress, of France.

Click on the picture to visit

the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris.

 

     There are also many exciting places to visit near Paris.  These sites showcase wonderful places that can be visited on daytrips from Paris.  Fortunately for us, we can visit them from the comfort of our desk chairs!  

 

 

 

 


                                                                                      

 

                                                                                                          

  Click on the picture to visit the                    Click on the picture to visit Giverny,                      Click on the picture to

  Chateaux de Chantilly.                          where Monet painted, and the town of Vernon.              visit Disneyland,Paris.

 

 

We have come to the end of our virtual tour of Paris.  Let us say to Paris - a bientot (see you soon) rather than - au revoir (goodbye)!

 

If you would like more information on how to visit Paris and the rest of France, you can take a trip to the French Tourist Office.

 

Laurie Lewis

SLM-521 green group 2

For Grs. 8-12

French Language, History, or Social Studies

Classes