What site do you ALWAYS visit when in Paris?

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

I found St Denis fascinating for the history -- hundreds of years of French royalty buried there, and also various lists of the royal dynasties with dates etc. where known.

[luckyluc]

I could not agree more Saint-Denis is a gem. It is sad that a lot of first time visitors to Paris don't find the time to make it there. The site does bring history to life for me.

[Truffaut]

Make it another vote for Saint-Denis. Absolutely worth a visit, and be sure to spend some time in the center of town, where you might find that the dreaded banlieues aren't always so bad, after all.

[GitteK]

>>The vaulting of the ceiling is supposed to be breathtaking<<
Confirm that they truly are. It is the most aweinspiring church I've ever seen. Notre Dame is NOTHING compared to Basilique de Saint Denis. The reason why Notre Dame is "my" Paris icon is only sentimental.
And it's not very far , metro 13 (direction Saint Denis-Université) will take you directly to the place. Plus it is interesting to take a stroll afterwards down the "main street" to see the busy, lively and VERY colourful market stalls: cheap clothes, fruit, halal meat and all sorts of bric-a-brac. If you follow the Rue de la République down to its end, where there is a smaller parish church and then follow the tramway tracks to your left and cross over the canal, you'll come to the RER station St-Denis. You'll have to buy a ticket back to Gare du Nord (or Châtelet or St.Michel), because your Carte Orange is no good in zone 3. But it's worth it for you'll be quickly back in the city.

You should read the book "The Pillars of The Earth" by Ken Follett which takes places in the 12th century and is centered about the building of an English cathedral - and it also takes you to Paris to Basilique de Saint Denis:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pillars_of_the_Earth

[annettecinca]

Thanks for the pictures, Gitte. It looks so beautiful! I'm copying your directions into my "to do" list, because St. Denis has made the cut for our next visit.

[Shoesy]

Spectacular pictures!!!!!! O.K., O.K...........I'm going there too. ;D

[willow]

Beautiful pictures!

It turns out my art history class is a horrible ( ) influence on my itinerary! I've already added Chartres to my list, and now it looks like St.Denis may make it on too!

[Shoesy]

Why don't you extend your trip, willow?

[geordy]

I too enjoyed St. Denis and also walking about the area just watching people go about their lives. A trip out of 'Paris" without really leaving! Just a metro trip!

[luvparee]

What a gorgeous church! Frankly, I had never heard of that cathedral until I joined this board (at least not that I'm aware of). That will have to be added to my "list" also. I should just move to Paris and walk and sightsee all day!!! However, the bags of money haven't arrived yet .... I'm still waiting.

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

Gitte -- those are truly spectacular pictures! I take a lot, but I've never captured that effect inside a church, with the rainbows of light falling across the stones. Wow!

[willow]

Shoesy,
I would love nothing more than to extend my trip!
However I am pushing my budget and time already by taking two weeks off. My last day of work at my current job is Aug. 17, I have a wedding Aug. 18, my Birthday Aug. 20 and I fly out Aug. 21. I return on Sept. 5 and start training at my new job Sept. 10. So for about 3-4 weeks life will be a whirlwind for me, and I love it!

I will have to just go back another time for the things I miss on this trip. And I do want to make one trip to France to visit Reims and Amiens and maybe even Toulous!

[Shoesy]

Willow - You'll see that once you get back, you'll be planning your next trip. I realize that we can't go whenever we want, but we can surely dream.

[willow]

We sure can always dream! This trip has been my dream snce 7th grade...almost nine years ago!

[Shoesy]

luvparee - We're all waiting for those bags of money to arrive. Is there a postal strike? ;D

[sistereurope]

Wonderful pictures, Gitte. See THIS is the kind of priceless info that I'm so happy to be able to learn from all of you Paris pros...

Oh, and Joy and Shoesy...this former total non-gambler has taken to playing the lottery...that's how much I want to have my apartment in Paris (I will be happy to share my spoils with all of you

[GitteK]

becky - you flatter me........ All I am good at (picturewise) is to:
1. search for pics on internet
2. click righthand mousebutton and save as
3. move to photobucket
4. insert in post

I have taken a zillion photos of every stainedglass window I ever have come across with my little Kodak-for-dummies, and they ALL look completely nonsensical - background totally black, colours of glasswindows mixed into each other, angles to make your seasick, etc. etc. !!

[andi]

Willow, just to warn you that there is a down side to visiting Paris, everyone tends to get a depression on returning home but this is easily cured by planning a return visit!

[Happygoin]

Andi, I honestly think that the very worst part of any trip to Paris is the weeks immediately after. It must work something like post-partum depression, I think. And if I was completely honest, I can't even get as excited about other people's impending trips as I normally would in those first few weeks. It truly must be a mildly depressed state. I sound like a boo-hoo-er and I don't mean to. But I think most of us on this forum would recogize what I'm saying.

[geordy]

I think you are being a little hard on yourself Happy...you always seem to get up for and cheer other people's trips!

I love that "rainbow" stained glass effect on cathedral/church floors. walls. people ! So often in France it is a bit rainy/cloudy(no! ) so when you see it it really is spectacular!