Today the green spaces in Paris are the equal of those in any European city. Many once-run-down industrial sites have been converted into parks and there is a wealth of more traditional parks that were constructed in 18th and 19th centuries.

Parc André Citroën, Paris, France by FaceMePLS

Parc André Citroën on the banks of the Seine was once occupied by the Citroën car factory. It covers 35 acres laid out in a modern style and in the centre is a concrete plateau surrounded by water jets which are computer controlled.

The Parc des Buttes Chaumont was once a quarry though it was converted into a park in the 1860s. The designer was Baron Haussman who was also responsible for much of the design of central Paris. There are lakes and waterfalls, sculptured hills and grottoes, and woodland from where you can enjoy great views of the city.

Parc des Buttes Chaumont, Paris, France by Ahmad Tarek

Two parks flank the city. These are the Bois de Boulogne to the west and the Bois de Vincennes to the east. In the former you will find vistas over the rolling countryside and you can enjoy activities such as cycling, horse-riding and boating on the various lakes, and the latter contains the Parc Zoologique de Paris, the beautiful Parc Floral de Paris and the Château de Vincennes which dates back to medieval times.

Bois de Boulogne, Paris, France by Olaf2

The Jardin du Luxembourg is one of the most elegant of Paris parks. It combines attractive paths with green lawns, beautiful flowerbeds, and trees which surround the Luxembourg palace which was built in the 17th century. The Jardin des Tuileries with its tree-lined paths and ponds lies between the Place de la Concorde and the Louvre is similarly elegant.

Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris, France by Anna Fox

And finally, as evening falls, enjoy the fading light by taking a stroll along Canal Saint Martin and head to the Parc de la Villette where you can watch for free an outdoor movie projected onto a huge inflatable screen. Both English and French movies are shown and most people bring along a blanket or chair and basket with some cheese, bread and wine and share a communal picnic.

Walking is the best way to get round Paris, but to get so some of the more outlying regions you might prefer to travel by bus; busses in Paris are frequent and inexpensive.  And when it’s time to return from Paris to London you can reflect on all that time that you spent in the great outdoors

Byline: This is a guest post by Claire Chat a new Londoner, travel passionate and animal lover. She blogs about Pets and Travelling in Europe. If you want Claire to write you specific content, you can find email her here or contact her on Twitter (Claire_Chat).

The post Paris – The Great Outdoors appeared first on Europe Explored.

Once you will be in Paris, you should visit the following top sights in Paris.

1.) The Eiffel tower

The Eiffel tower (French: La Tour Eiffel) is a symbol of Paris and a global icon of France. It is steel tower located on the Champ de Mars, in the walking distance from the river Seine.

The Eiffel tower was built between 1887 and 1889, it is 324 meters high (and its weight is approximately 10,000 tonnes). The tower was built to celebrate the French Revolution. Architect of the tower was Alexandre Gustave Eiffel – a French structural engineer who was also responsible for the design of the armature for the Statue of Liberty. The Eiffel Tower is, with about 6 million visitors per year, the world’s most visited attraction (2nd one is Empire State Building with more than 3.6 million visitors and the Tokyo Tower with 3 million. The tower was the highest structure in the world until Chrysler Building (319m) was completed in New York City. However, due to the addition in 1957 of the antenna, the tower is now taller than the Chrysler Building.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by joel kabahit

2.) Arc de Triomphe

At the end of Champs-Élysées there is Arc de Triomphe – one of the most famous monuments in Paris, which is in the middle of large road junction Place Charles de Gaulle. It was built in 1806-1808 followed the model of Arch of Constantine in Rome. It honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars.

There is a statue of horse at the top of the monument which is extracted from St. Marco in Venice. The names of the generals who were in charge of French forces under Napoleon, was included in the Arc. It is decorated with many reliefs which commemorate the Battle of the emperor. The best known is the product of volunteers in 1972, also known as La Marseillaise. A Number of shields are situated at the top of the monument in which the names of the successful battles of Napoleon are embossed.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Konstantinos Dafalias

3.) The Louvre

The Louvre is the largest palace complex in the world, the most important public building in Paris and one of the richest and most visited art galleries of the world. The Louvre is one of the landmarks of Paris. It is located on the right bank of the river Seine, between the street of Rivoli and the famous Place de la Concorde. The building is memorable not only for its origins and its architecture, but especially for a rare collections of art which contains. Together with other monuments on the banks of the Seine, it is under the protection of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Mariana Schwab

4.) Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world and it is also the most famous Gothic cathedral in Paris. Its construction was ordered by Bishop Maurice de Sully in 1163 and lasted for 182 years during which about 160,000 workers participated on its completion. Notre Dame Cathedral is located on the island of Ile de la Cité.

In addition to a number of valuable works of art, there is also one rare treasure. It is the organ with nearly 8000 pipes. The job as organist at Notre Dame Cathedral is considered the most prestigious job in France at all.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Oh Paris

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5.) Musée d’Orsay

One of the most beautiful and most visited museums of Paris – Musée d’Orsay, is located on the left bank of the River Seine. Every year thousands of tourists come to admire one of the most comprehensive collections of impressionist works in the world.

Like the famous Eiffel Tower, the building which now houses a museum, was built during the World Exhibition in Paris in 1890. The expected high attendance was a good excuse for the emergence of a new station, which was at that time the very first electrified railway station in the world. In the Musée d’Orsay there are primarily works from the 19th century.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Carles Tomás Martí

6.) The Sorbonne and the Latin Quarter

Sorbonne is a monumental complex in the Latin Quarter of Paris. It is a part of the University of Paris which is France’s oldest university established around the year of 1160. It is therefore one of the first universities in Europe.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Rudi Riet

7.) Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris

Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris is located at the summit of the highest point in the city – Montmartre, so this snow-white building is practically visible from almost any place in Paris. Similar to Notre Dame it is the combination of two different styles, the Romanesque and Byzantine.

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8.) Père Lachaise Cemetery

Père Lachaise Cemetery is the largest cemetery in Paris, located in the eastern part of the city. It is also one of the world’s most famous and most-visited cemeteries. The name originated from the name of Father François d’Aix de Lachaise, who lived in the Jesuit house rebuilt in 1682 on the site of the chapel. The cemetery was declared a national monument on 26 June 1993. There are about 70,000 graves, and includes around 5300 trees.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Olivier Bruchez

9.) Champs-Elysées

Champs-Élysées, also known as the Avenue of the Elysian Fields, is one of the most famous boulevards in Paris. It is sometimes referred as the most famous avenue in the world. It is flanked by prestige and luxury shops. Champs-Élysées is probably the most photogenic part of Paris, and one of the most expensive in the world – for the shop with an area 100m2 you would pay approximately $ 1,500,000 per year.

The street is surrounded with the best Paris hotels (such as the Hôtel de Crillon), restaurants (Fouquet’s), or shops.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Cayetano

10.) Place de la Concorde

Place de la Concorde is the largest square and also the heart of Paris. It belongs to the most beautiful squares in the world. In the middle of the square there is a huge obelisk, which is decorated with several fountains and statues symbolizing big French cities. Place de la Concorde was built in honor of King Louis XV. designed by the architect Jacques-Ange Gabriel. Its construction began in 1754 and was completed in 1763.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by ChrisYunker

11.) Jardin du Luxembourg

Luxembourg Gardens are the second largest (after Le Bois de Boulogne park) and probably the most popular public park in Paris. Luxembourg Palace, which is located here, is a home to the French Senate. There are lots of chairs available for visitors to sit and relax. Some parts of the grass are directly reserved for the rest, so you can spread the blanket here or just lie down. You can listen to the live music here as well. If you are looking for the perfect place to relax after many kilometers walking through Paris, the Jardin du Luxembourg is the right place.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Anna Fox

12.) Panthéon

Pantheon (Panthéon de Paris) is a historic building in Paris’ Latin Quarter. In the underground crypt are retained major French artists, thinkers and scholars such as Alexandre Dumas senior, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire, Victor Hugo, Pierre Curie and Marie Curie-Sklodowska as the only woman.

The building stands on the site of the basilica, that was built in the 6th century and dedicated to the saint patron of the city – St. Genevieve. The church was during the French Revolution transformed into a sanctuary and in 1806 back to the church. In 1885 the museum was founded here.

Pantheon is considered one of the most important architectural achievements of its time and the first great neoclassical monument

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13.) Jardin des Tuileries

Jardin des Tuileries is one of the most popular and oldest public gardens in Paris. The biggest mall of Paris covers an area of ​​approximately 28 hectares. It is an ideal place to relax in the city center and ideal place to escape after sightseeing.

Jardin des Tuileries is located between the Louvre Museum and the Place de la Concorde.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Edwin Lee

14.) Pont Neuf

Pont Neuf is the oldest bridge in Paris. It is situated in the historic centre, on the River Seine. Its construction began in 1578 and was completed in the 1607. Thus it became the first bridge in Paris that connected the two shores of the island Cité. Its name Pont Neuf, which means “New Bridge”, was derived from the fact that it was the first stone bridge in the city. There were also constructed walkways on the bridge, the first ever in Paris. Since 1889, the bridge is a national historic monument. A major reconstruction of the bridge was completed in 2007.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Jean-François Gornet

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