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7th Arrondissement Guide
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Streets
Rue Bonaparte and Rue Visconti
L'Ecole des Beaux-Arts on Rue Bonaparte is France's most acclaimed art school. It was founded in 1811 by Napoleon who lived on the street when young. On rue Visconti once lived Racine, and Balzac had his print shop at #17. Parallel to rue Visconti at #5 rue des Beaux-Arts, Edouard Manet was born in 1835. At #13 rue des Beaux-Arts is "L'Hotel", the garret hotel of Oscar Wilde fame and where he died, now luxuriously refurbished with 'themed rooms'. It is worth a visit if you are in the area.
Rue du Cherche-Midi
Was an ancient Roman road and now this narrow street has chic designer boutiques, galleries and cafes. The world-famous baker, Poilane, is at No. 8. Nearby is the first Parisian Department Store which belies it name, Bon Marche. It has a fabulous food market 'Le Grand Epicerie'
Rue du Bac
Rue du Bac has many historic connections. It was built in 1564 and named after the bac (ferry) that used to transport quarry stone across the Seine to the construction site of the Tuileries Palace, which was actually burnt down by the Communards in 1871. On the 6th arron. side of rue du Bac were the barracks that housed the Musketeers - of 'The Three Musketeers' fame. On the 7th arron. side of rue du Bac is Deyrolle, a 150 years old taxidermy shop open to the public, which besides the stuffed animals, is like a grand 'Cabinet des Curiosities' with shells, minerals, insects, butterflies, pictures all on view.
rue de Babylone
In rue de Babylone stands a Japanese Pagoda built in 1895 by the founder of the Bon Marche department store as a gift for his wife. In 1931 it became a cinema and cafe where silent screen stars such as Gloria Swanson would like to go. In 1998 it closed due to a lack of fund to maintain it, but happily it has been renovated and re-opened as a cinema, still with its cafe.
Gardens
The Champs de Mars was the site in 53 BC that Julius Caesar finally conquered the rebellious Parisii tribe and later, in 886, the Parisians beat back the invadingVikings. However, it acquired its name during the time of Napoleon I when it was used as a drill ground for the adjacent Ecole Militaire (Military School). Louis XV and his mistress Madame de Pompadour commissioned the Ecole Militaire, and it was here young Napoleon, aged 15, arrived from Corsica and enrolled in the Military Academy.
Districts Map
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Paris 7th Arrondissement - Eiffel Tower • Invalides • rue Cler
The 7th arrondissement runs from Rue du Bac to the Eiffel Tower. The area around rue de Grenelle and rue St-Dominique was the aristrocratic Faubourg Saint-Germain where the aristocracy moved from the Marais in the 18th century. They built grand 'hotels' which today are the home of embassies and ministries. The Hotel Matignon, at No. 57 rue de Varenne, is the residence of the Prime Minister and The Hotel de Biron at No. 77 is now the Musee Rodin, which has a lovely garden and is open to the public
What to See
Sites, Covered Passages, Museums and more
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Places of Interest
Eiffel Tower
The worldwide symbol of Paris. It was built for the World Fair of 1889, held to commemorate the centenary of the French Revolution. Named after its designer, Gustave Eiffel, it stands 320m (1050ft) high and held the record as the world's tallest structure until 1930. There are three viewing platforms you can reach by elevator (or you can walk to the first two levels) and from the top you'll find absolutely breathtaking views. The restaurant at the top of the Eiffel Tower, the 'Jules Verne', is an expensive but memorable treat, though one has to book well in advance. On the stage below with the same view and less expensive is the 'Altitude 95', which has a Belle Epoque setting.
Invalides & Napolean's Tomb
The group of buildings 'Hotel des Invalides' was ordered by Louis XIV the ('Sun King') to house the king's old soldiers. A year later he commissioned the Eglise du Dome, a magnificent Baroque church with its beautiful gold-leafed dome, which holds the impressive tomb of Napoleon. Napoleon was brought here from his grave in St. Helena where he was exiled, to fulfill his last wish to be buried 'on the banks of the Seine among the people of France whom I have loved so much. In the complex is the Army Museum with the largest collection of militia in the world. Leading from the impressive forecourt of the Invalids with its captured canons runs the tree-lined Esplanade des Invalides to the grand Pont Alexandre III a gift from Czar Alexander to commemorate the 1892 French-Russian alliance.
Museums
Pont des Arts
Built in 1803, the first iron bridge in Paris. It was built for pedestrian use and has benches along its length. The bridge stretches from the Institut de France to the Louvre, and has one of the loveliest views in Paris.
Musee d'Orsay
Across the river from the Louvre, was originally a Beaux-Arts train station but by the 1950's its platforms became too short and it was up for demolition. An innovative restoration transformed the train station into a museum spanning art from 1830 to 1914. Its sky-lit Impressionist Gallery holds the jewels of Impressionist Art with masterpieces by Monet, Degas, Renoir, Pissaro and Van Gogh. Next to the gallery there is a cafe built to incorporate one of the two original giant clocks of the station, with a balcony (open in the summer) and lovely view over the Seine. The other restaurant is the more formal Restaurant du Musee d'Orsay , which was the dining room of the old hotel in the station and is an ornately gilded period piece. Its buffet brunch or prix-fixe menu is good value. Museum closed on Mondays. National Museums as the 'Louvre' are closed on Tuesdays and Paris Museums as the 'd'Orsay' are closed on Mondays.
Musee Rodin
Musee Rodin housed in the magnificent Hotel Biron. August Rodin originally rented rooms in the Hotel for living and as a studio. There were plans to destroy the house but in 1916 the French government agreed to convert it into a museum for him. The museum now houses his sculptures, academic paintings and sketches. There are also several works by Camille Claudel, the talented sculptor who became Rodin's muse, model, and lover at the age of 17. He was nearly 50. The lovely garden is a setting for some of Rodin's best known works including 'The Thinker', 'The Burghers of Calais', and 'The Gates of Hell'.
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What to Do
City Tours, Cooking, Wine Promenades, Photo Adventures, Private Guides & More
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In Napoleon's Footsteps Tours
If you're interested in Napoleon and in the ancient world, Paris is the place to go. Napoleon's ambition was to overcome as much land as Alexander the Great, though he never went much further than the country's around the Mediterranean, such as Italy and Egypt.
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Bike and Segway Tours
Explore centuries-old Paris on a comfortable bike with a fantastic guide! Our bike and segway tours follow carefully planned routes in which we ride in the street less than 3% of the time - instead we prefer parks, bike lanes and large sidewalks. Additionally, the small streets we use are one way and one lane. You won't have to worry about traf-fic when riding with us!
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Dinner Cruises on the Bateaux Parisiens
In the evening, the captain orders the moorings to be cast off and the magic of the illuminations sparkles through the glass top of the boat. A singer and three musicians entertain you on this cruise with a variety of French and international music for listening to or dancing. The chef prepares a menu with a choice of five starters (including a vegetarian dish), six main dishes (including one for vegetarians) and five desserts.
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Postcards from Paris - Watercoloring under the Eiffel Tower
Surprise your friends and family with a Postcard of Paris painted by YOU. Each session meets at the artist's atelier accross form the Champs de Mars for tea or coffee (unless otherwise arranged) to discuss you morning tour. Afterwards, you will work individually or in semi private groups "en plein air".
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Where to Eat
The Procope : 13 rue de l'Ancienne Comedie
The Procope, the oldest restaurant in Paris and the first café, opened in 1686. In 1689, the Comédie-Française moved to opposite the Procope and, between shows, the café became THE café for theatre-goers and actors. Voltaire, Rousseau and Diderot were loyal regulars. During the revolution, Danton, Marat could all be found here.
