Pompidou CentreParisians call this

Pompidou Centre
Parisians call this amazing building the Beaubourg. It was designed by Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers and Gianfranco Franchini and opened in 1977. The building is like an inside-outside building, with all the pipes, lifts and escalators on the outside — green water pipes, yellow electricity cables, blue ventilation tubes, red escalators, lifts and walkways.
At the front of the building is a huge piazza where you can enjoy street performers. The building contains a museum, a library, exhibition areas and an unpretentious restaurant, which has a lovely view over the old buildings of the area.
Must see:
National Museum of Modern Art on the 5th floor. This museum has 30,000 works of art but only 800 on display at any one time. Works by Henri Matisse, Joan Miró, Rene Magritte, Salvador Dali — and an ever-changing display of surprising controversial modern art from Europe and America.
Opening times (Museum)
Mon, Wed — Fri noon — 22:00
Sat — Sun 10:00 — 22:00
Closed Tuesdays
The best time to visit is in the evening.
While you're in the area
Take a stroll around the area to see the historic buildings, and have a drink in one of the pavement cafes and watch the people walking past.
Visit the Picasso Museum nearby, which has an impressive display of works by Pablo Picasso housed in an old palace.
Notre Dame Cathedral
This Gothic cathedral was built in the heart of Paris between 1163 and 1330, on the site of a Roman temple. It dominates the He de la Cite, the island in the River Seine from which Paris expanded over the centuries. There are 387 steps to the top of the tower, but the climb is worth it.
Must see:
The interior, including the three beautiful rose windows.
The view from the tower (and the famous gargoyles at the top).
Opening times
Cathedral: 08:00 – 19:00
Tower: 10:00 – 17:00
The best time for a visit is early in the morning.
While you're in the area
Allow yourself plenty of time to stroll around He de la Cite and He St Louis to see the historic buildings, squares and gardens.
Walk around the island on the bank of the river.
Take a river cruise from near the Pont Neuf (the oldest and longest bridge in Paris).
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is the symbol of Paris but when it was built for the Universal Exhibition in 1889, it was meant to be a temporary building. It was designed by the engineer Gustave Eiffel. It was the world's tallest building until the Empire State Building was completed in New York in 1932.
There are lifts to take visitors to each of three levels, but if you feel energetic you can take the stairs to the First level (360 steps), Second level (700 steps) or even the Third level (1652 steps). At busy times it may take 2 hours to reach the top by lift because of the queues.
One of the best restaurants in Paris is the Jules Verne.
Restaurant (Second level), where you can enjoy panoramic views and eat excellent food.
Must see:
Cinemax museum — interesting film showing the history of the Tower and famous people visiting it, including Adolf Hitler and Charlie Chaplin.
The view from the Third level (274 m high).
Opening Times
Apr — Oct 09:00 — 23:00 (to midnight in July & August)
Nov – Mar 09:30 – 23:00
The best times to go up are early in the morning and before sunset.
While you f re in the area
Walk along the river to Les Invalides to see the Dome Church and the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Also visit the Rodin Museum nearby, which displays famous sculptures by Auguste Rodin including The Thinker and The Kiss.
Answer these tourists' questions about the places:
1. Is Tuesday evening a good time to go to the Pompidou Centre?
2. Is there a nice restaurant in the Pompidou Centre?
3. Where is the best place to see paintings by Picasso?
4. Where are the impressionist paintings?
5. What kind of building is the Musee d'Orsay?
6. What's the best time to go up the Tower of Notre Dame?
7. Where can I board a boat cruise on the River Seine?
8. Can I enjoy the view from the top floor of the Eiffel Tower in the evening?
9. How long does it take to get to the top of the Eiffel Tower?
10. What else is there to do near the Eiffel Tower?
Make a list of four of the most popular tourist attractions in your own region.
What does each have to offer?
Suggest a day's excursion to the guest.
Write a one-page description of your recommended day out including a paragraph about each place that will be visited.
Example: If you have a day to spare, and you’d like to find out more about our region you might like to try....