7- Bastille
A 10 mn walk from Place des Vosges will take you to the former location of the famous Bastille
prison. The fortress assaulted by the angry mob had to surrender on the 14 th of July 1789.
A clever constructor hired every bum roaming the streets he could find to dismantle the fortress and sell the stones for building monuments in various provinces and the Pont de la Concorde in Paris. This bridge is still standing strong but one can't tell the same of the Bastille Opera built on the very spot where stood the prison. Less than ten years after its opening it already had to be restored!...

8- Versailles Palace
Transport : Versailles is equipped with 3 train stations, the closest one to the "Chateau" being "Versailles Rive Gauche" on the R.E.R. C Direction "Versailles Rive Gauche". To enjoy your day, leave Paris early to be there at the opening time.

The "Sun-King" Palace, one of the most visited monuments in France. After the visit of the royal appartments a stroll in the Jardins à la française of the terrace is a must. Return to Paris by "Versailles Rive Gauche" line R.E.R. C all trains are going to Paris: Get off at "Invalides".

9- Invalides
Métro/train : "Invalides" line R.E.R. C . Louis the XIV ordered the Hotel des Invalides to take care of his wounded soldiers who had no other means of surviving than begging or stealing. This was the second major architectural project of his reign after Versailles. On July 14 th 1789 the revolutionnaries got hold of 23 000 fire weapons stocked in the basement with the help of the veterans before marching towards la Bastille. Under the golden coupole lies Napoleon ashes. The Army museum, in the main building, grew out of the reunion of the Artillery Museum (opened in 1797) and the Army Historical Museum (opened in 1897). To cross over to the right bank take Pont ALexandre III and walk straight towards the Avenue des Champs Elysées. On your way up the Champs Elysées you will find a variety of restaurants and fast foods , before reaching the Arc de Triomphe.

10- The Arc de Triomphe
Métro : "Charles de Gaulle-Etoile" line 1 Direction "Grande Arche de la Défense".

Ordered by Napoléon in 1806 this monument to the glory of the Great Army will be inaugurated in 1836. From the top, you can see the Sacré Coeur Basilica in Montmartre overlooking the North of Paris, it will be our next stop.

11- Montmartre
Métro : "Anvers" line 2 Direction "Nation". Then catch the funicular to take you up to the Basilique du Sacré Coeur erected after the Commune Revolution of 1871 as the expression of popular remorse after the atrocities which occured during the bloodiest revolt of French history. Montmartre remains before all an artist district made famous by the Impressionists and the Cubists. The artists of the Place du Tertre will draw your portrait on request, be sure they won't wait for it!...

12- Pigalle
Going down from Montmartre, near the Place Pigalle you will find the famous cabaret "Le Moulin Rouge", birthplace of the French Cancan, where the painter Toulouse-Lautrec used to select his models.