SIGHTSEEING IN PARIS
Tristan Sharman
Last month I embarked on a three-week interrailing trip around nine European cities, of which I had previously visited none. Accounting for the (often extensive) time travelling between them, I had 48 hours to make the most of each one, and to strike a balance between the quantity and quality of the attractions on offer. Paris was up first, so what did I do the first morning after my late-night arrival? I had a croissant for breakfast… and then I left.
The Château de Versailles sits just outside the city, and had lured me away with a rich display of culture, having been built for King Louis XIV, depicted in an equestrian statue by Pierre Cartellier just outside. Inside, I took a guided walking tour, the immersion and learning benefits from which prompted me to take many more tours throughout the following weeks. Feeling adequately briefed on French history and artwork, I returned to central Paris to visit the Louvre. Don’t be fooled by the empty glass pyramid on its doorstep. The Louvre is filled to the brim with artwork and artefacts with origins far beyond France’s borders today. The collection was extensive, and it took the rest of the day to take it all in.
So, the next morning, prior to my afternoon departure and wanting to see as much more as I could in such a short time, I hopped onto a boat tour along the Seine, a river running through the heart of Paris. We passed by the iconic Eiffel Tower, the Musée d’Orsay that I strive to visit next time, and lesser known yet nonetheless beautiful buildings such as the Institut de France. I balanced my Parisian sightseeing well, but I’m eager to return for more!
This article first appeared in PRISMA, Issue 6.