In the Top 10 of most visited places in France, 9 are located in Paris region! Paris occupies the top of the world ranking of the most visited cities just behind London and Bangkok and just ahead Dubai. Indeed, more than 15 million tourists are coming every year to visit the Capital and its numerous attractions.
Let’s have a closer look to the top of most visited tourist sites :
1 – Disneyland Paris
With over 15 million visitors, Disneyland has been for many years the most visited place in France. The famous theme park is a tourist destination on its own. Located in Marne-La-Vallee, approximately 30 minutes from Paris by car, Disneyland offers many attractions for children and adults.
2 – The Louvre Museum
With more than 9 million visitors, the Louvre Museum is the most visited museum in the world. His art collections have more than 450.000 artworks including the famous Mona Lisa and also the Venus de Milo. The Louvre Museum is located between the Seine river and the rue de Rivoli.
3 – The Château de Versailles
Located 30 minutes away from Paris to the West, the Château de Versailles welcomes each year more than 7 million tourists. This historic building was the residence of the kings of France including Louis XIV, the Sun King. The Castle has no less than 2.300 rooms. It is also well known for its French gardens designed by André Le Nôtre. The Trianon Palace is next to the Château de Versailles park.
Versailles Castle Statue
4 – The Eiffel Tower
Standing 324 meters high, the famous Eiffel Tower dominates Paris. It is the most visited paid monument in the World with more than 7 million tourists each year. The Eiffel Tower was built by Gustave Eiffel for the Universal Exhibition of 1889. It overlooks the Champs de Mars on one side and the Trocadero and Seine river on the other side. Several hotels such as Shangri-La Paris, the Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel and the Novotel Paris Tour Eiffel offer a direct and close view over the Eiffel Tower.
Eiffel Tower
5 – The Centre Pompidou
Fifth most visited place in France, the Centre Pompidou welcomes a little more than 5 million modern art lovers each year. Its contemporary art collection is one of the largest in the world. It is located in the city center of Paris, in the Beaubourg district. The Centre Pompidou project was initiated by French President Georges Pompidou in the late 1960s and opened in 1977.
6 – The Orsay Museum
There are more than three million visitors each year discovering the largest collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist art works in the world at the Orsay Museum. The Orsay Museum was opened in 1986 on the site of the former Orsay railway station, along the Seine on the left bank of Paris in the 7th district.
7 – The Cité des Sciences at la Vilette
Located in the 19th district of Paris, near the Porte de la Villette, the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie was opened in 1986. More than 3 million visitors a year come there to discover its permanent exhibitions devoted to sciences.
8 – The National Museum of Natural History
Located within the Jardin des Plantes of Paris, the National Museum of Natural History is discovered each year by more than 2 million spectators coming there to enjoy the diversity offered by large greenhouses, the menagerie, the great gallery of the evolution or the gallery of mineralogy and geology. In addition to the dissemination of history, the Museum also has the duties to preserve collections of millions of items and conduct research.
9 – The Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe built was initiated by Napoleon 1st during the 19th century. It is located on the Place de l’Etoile at the top of the Champs Elysees which it dominates. With its 50 meters height, it offers nearly 2 million tourists a wonderful view on the Champs Elysees up to the Place de la Concorde. Originally planned to celebrate the victory in the battle of Austerlitz, it is now the place of commemoration of the First World War. One can see down the tomb of the Unknown Soldier as well as the eternal flame of remembrance revived every night for decades.
10 – The Futuroscope
This is the only site of this ranking not located in the Paris region. The Futuroscope is located in the Vienne region, near Poitiers, in western France. This theme park welcomes nearly 2 million tourists each year who come to discover the attractions and experiences based on the theme of the image including 3D and 4D movies.
