Paris

Since 1986, the huge main hall of the former Orsay railway station has been the home of art collections covering the period 1848 to 1914. — Michelin Guide

Devout King Louis IX (St Louis, 1226-70) had a hobby of accumulating holy relics. — Time Out

The center’s functions are as varied as its colors; it serves as a cultural theme park of ultra-modern exhibition, performance, and research space. — Let's Go

Although it's one of Paris's most consistently popular tourist sites, this Gothic cathedral still has the power to stun. — Condé Nast Traveler

This cemetery is the largest in Paris. The uneven ground and the abundant willows, maples and cypress mitigate the funerary character of the place. — Michelin Guide

Highlights include the famous The Tennis Court Oath, Marcel Proust’s fully reconstructed bedroom, and a piece of the Bastille prison wall. — Let's Go

For eight centuries, the Louvre was the residence of kings and emperors. Successive expansion projects have created one of the world's largest palaces, along with the Vatican. — Michelin Guide

The stately Hôtel Biron, built in 1732, has been home to Musée Rodin since 1919. — Condé Nast Traveler

Situated at the top of the Champs-Élysées, this arch occupies the centre of the Place Charles-de-Gaulle, which opens out onto 12 wide avenues. — Michelin Guide

Dedicated to "emerging" art and artists, the Palais de Tokyo emphasizes edgy, contemporary art and ideas. — Frommer's

The Paris botanical garden - which contains more than 10,000 species and includes tropical greenhouses and rose, winter and Alpine gardens - is an enchanting place. — Time Out

Beyond Monet’s multipaneled and expansive Water Lilies ensemble, what makes this recently renovated space truly special is the regrouping of an exceptional collection of modern art. — Travel + Leisure

This major center for contemporary photography opened in the mid-1990s, and it features regularly changing photography exhibitions. — Frommer's

This beautiful square is one the city's oldest; set in Le Marais, it's surrounded by grand houses and an arched walkway lined with galleries and quaint cafés. — Afar Magazine

Containing collections from the Renaissance and the Napoleonic era, which have been enriched by a number of donations of impressionist works, in particular by Claude Monet. — Michelin Guide

Currently, “The Keys to a Passion,” packs a punch with major works of art by Edward Munch, Constantin Brancusi, and Matisse on loan from major institutions around the world. — goop

During the renovations of Paris in the late 1800s, few monuments constructed could equal the grandeur of the palatial Opera Garnier. — Travel + Leisure

Taken as a whole (along with the Musée de la Mode et du Textile and Musée de la Publicité), this is one of the world's major collections of design and the decorative arts. — Time Out

This small museum is dedicated to two artists active during the Romantic era: the writer George Sand and the painter Ary Scheffer. — Lonely Planet

It's hard to imagine just how avant-garde this tower of cast-iron girders was when it was built in 1889 to celebrate the World's Fair and the centenary of the French Revolution. — Concierge