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Champ-de-Mars et Tour Eiffel
The vast park laid out below the famous tower has nothing warlike about it, and even boasts a Wall of Peace! Its name, borrowed from the god of war, relates to the early history of the “champ” as an exercise area for the young cadets of the military school. Later, as the centre point of the Expositions universelles, it was chosen as the site of the biggest attraction of 1889, the Eiffel Tower. Stop to gaze up at all of its 324 metres! The tower was saved from demolition after twenty years because of its scientific utility. A few more figures: 10,100 tons, 2,500,000 rivets, 1,665 steps, two years of relentless work for the 50 engineers and 132 workers directed by Gustave Eiffel, and approximately 230 million visitors since its construction. The tower is a special landmark symbolizing Paris and France throughout the world and it sparkles every evening until 1am (in winter) or 2am (in summer).
Champ-de-Mars (7th). M° Bir-Hakeim. Tél. : 01 44 11 23 23. Daily: 9.30am-11pm. From 12 June to 29 Aug: 9am to midnight. Lifts: €8 – RR: €4/€6.40. Stairs: €4.50 – RR: €3/€3.50. Summit by lift: €13 – RR: €7.50/€9.90. Under 4s: free.
www.tour-eiffel.fr


Trocadéro
The elevated “Troca” has a privileged viewpoint of the Eiffel Tower on the opposite bank of the Seine. Between the curved wings of the vast Palais de Chaillot – emblem of the 1930s – are gently sloping terraces and gardens, bordered by century-old Caucasian wingnut and hazel trees, and dotted with gilded bronze statues. Skaters and rollerbladers weave alongside the fountains beneath the gaze of Apollo and Hercules, sculpted on the pediment of the pavilions.





Invalides
In 1671, Louis XIV decided to build “a royal hostel that would be large and spacious enough to house all officers, crippled, old and retired alike”. The “pensioners” began arriving in 1674. The Eglise Saint-Louis – or “Soldiers Church” – and the Eglise du Dôme (transformed into a military pantheon) were built afterwards. This magnificent ensemble, with its wonderful green lawn, today houses canons, the Ministry of Defence and the Musée de l’Ordre de la Libération, Musée des Plans et Reliefs and Musée de l’Armée. The Musée de l’Armée houses the tomb of Napoléon, the department of arms and ancient armoury and that of the two world wars.
Hôtel national des Invalides
129, rue de Grenelle (7th). M° La-Tour-Maubourg, Invalides. Tél. : 0 810 11 33 99 (price of a local call) 7.30am-7pm.
Musée de l’Ordre de la Libération
51 bis, bd de La-Tour-Maubourg (7th). M° La-Tour-Maubourg, Invalides. Tél. : 01 47 05 04 10. For prices, opening hours, see Musée de l’Armée.
www.ordredelaliberation.fr
Musée des Plans-Reliefs
129, rue de Grenelle (7th). M° La-Tour-Maubourg, Invalides. Tél. : 01 45 51 95 05. For prices, opening hours, see Musée de l’Armée.
www.museedesplansreliefs.culture.fr
Musée de l’Armée Tombeau de Napoléon Ier Hôtel national des Invalides
129, rue de Grenelle (7th). M° La-Tour-Maubourg, Invalides. Tél. : 0 810 11 33 99 (price of a local call) Summer: 10am-6pm. Winter: 10am-5pm. Closed 1 Jan, 1 May, 1 Nov, 25 Dec and 1 Mon of the month (except from July to Sept). Tue (Apr to Sep): open until 9pm. Audioguides. €8.50 – RR: €6.50; under 18s: free.
www.invalides.org


Musée du Quai-Branly
Not a place to visit, but a place to explore. Perched on piles, this long building, constructed partly in wood, is sheltered from the road by a high glass palisade and half-hidden by a richly-planted garden. Inside, a walkway spirals up from the reception hall to the four continents collections: Oceania, Asia, Africa and America. The visitor follows a fluid itinerary through the collections, taking in artefacts like Aboriginal earrings or shaman costumes and discovering the major crossroads between civilisations. Admire one of the eight large format multimedia installations, including a projection of holograms.
37, quai Branly (7th). M° Alma-Marceau. Tél. : 01 56 61 70 00. Tue, Wed, Sun: 11am-7pm. Thu, Fri, Sat: 11am-9pm. €8.50 – RR: €6.
www.quaibranly.fr


Musée national Rodin
Auguste Rodin took up residence here in 1908, surrounded by a park teeming with brambles and rabbits. The museum opened in 1919, two years after his death. Sculptures in marble, bronze, and terracotta alternate with drawings by the master, works by Camille Claudel (his muse), paintings by his friends Carrières, Monet, Van Gogh and others. In the garden, roses and statues have replaced the rabbits, but the charm remains unique.
Hôtel Biron. 79, rue de Varenne (7th). M° Varenne. Tél. : 01 44 18 61 10. Daily from Apr to Sept: 9.30am- 5.45pm and Oct to Mar: 9.30am-4.45pm. Mon: closed. €9/€6 – RR: €7/€4. Park only: €1. Under 18s and 1st Sun of the month: free (except temporary exhibitions).
www.musee-rodin.fr