63. Musée du Louvre

What is the Musée du Louvre?

The Louvre is the world's most visited art museum. It opened in 1793 during the French Revolution and today contains two of the best-known works of art; the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci and the Venus de Milo, an ancient Greek sculpture. The works within the museum cover 8 departments: Egyptian Antiquities, Near Eastern Antiquities, Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities, Islamic Art, Sculpture, Decorative Arts, Paintings, Prints and Drawings.

What's the Musée du Louvre like? 

It's big. There are 38,000 items on display in the Louvre (compared to just 3,000 down the road at the Musée d'Orsay (79), the home to Impressionist art). However, it's roomy and spacious and well-organised. 

Where is the Musée du Louvre? 

Paris, France

When did we go? 

March 2022

How did we get there? 

I flew to Charles de Gaulle airport and then caught the RER B train into central Paris. If you're going straight to the Louvre from CdG, then get off at Châtelet–Les Halles - it's a short walk from there. I also visited the Musée d'Orsay, which is very close by. The Eiffel Tower (148), which I had visited previously, is also walkable - it's about 40 minutes away along the Seine.

Worth noting: 

The entrance to the museum is via the large pyramid in the centre, which takes you down into an underground lobby. This was opened in 1989. It was part of a 10-year project called 'Grand Louvre', created by French President François Mitterrand. The French Finance Ministry was also moved from the Louvre to another location to allow the museum to be extended.

Where was the Musée du Louvre in the 2015 Lonely Planet Ultimate Travelist? 

It was at number 37 in 2020 - it dropped 26 places in the new edition.

Does the Musée du Louvre deserve its place in the 2020 Lonely Planet Top 500? 

Yes. 

79. Musée d'Orsay

What is the Musée d'Orsay?

The Musée d'Orsay is home to the largest collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces in the world, by painters including Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, Gauguin, and Van Gogh. It also houses other paintings as well as sculpture and photography by French artists from 1848 to 1914. The museum was created to bridge the gap between the Louvre and the National Museum of Modern Art.

What's the Musée d'Orsay like? 

It's much more down to earth than the nearby Louvre (63). It's a smaller collection (only 3,000 pieces on display) so you feel that everything in there is worth looking at, whereas the Louvre is a bit overwhelming. The 5th floor is dedicated to the Impressionists and post-Impressionists but there are also also exhibits (like Pompon the polar bear).

Where is the Musée d'Orsay? 

Paris, France

When did we go? 

March 2022

How did we get to the Musée d'Orsay? 

I flew to Charles de Gaulle airport and then caught the RER B train into central Paris. You can then take the RER C train to Musee 'd'Orsay but I got off B at Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame and walked the 20 minutes along the Seine instead. The Eiffel Tower (148), which I had visited previously, is also walkable - it's about 40 minutes away along the Seine.

Worth noting: 

The museum is housed in what was once the Gare d'Orsay, a Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898 and 1900. A new station was built and permission was granted to demolish the old one in 1970 but it was protected and eventually became a listed building in 1978.

Where was the Musée d'Orsay in the 2015 Lonely Planet Ultimate Travelist? 

1t was a new entry in 2020.

Does the Musée d'Orsay deserve its place in the 2020 Lonely Planet Top 500? 

It does deserve a place but I am surprised that it gets listed higher than the Eiffel Tower or the Pyramids of Giza and other similar sights.  

Pompon the polar bear, named after its sculptor. There are 12 marble versions of the 'Ours Blanc' (White Bear) and the Musee d'Orsay has one.

148. Eiffel Tower

What is the Eiffel Tower?

The Eiffel Tower was built as the entrance to the World Fair in 1889. It took two years to build and is named after the engineer, Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built it. Mr Eiffel had also helped build the Statue of Liberty (387) in 1881. The same height as an 81 storey building, the Eiffel Tower was the tallest man-made structure in the world until the Chrysler Building overtook it in 1930. 7 million people visit the Eiffel Tower each year.

What's the Eiffel Tower like?

It's far more beautiful up close than you expect. The lattice work looks almost delicate. There are three floors and you can either walk up 1700 steps or get lifts.

Where is the Eiffel Tower? 

Paris, France

When did we go?

April 2019

How did we get to the Eiffel Tower? 

I teamed up with my godsons, Sebastian (9) and Stefan (6), and their parents for a day trip to Paris on the Eurostar. I'm not sure I'd recommend the day trip idea - we spent a lot of time in queues and had no time for food - but a great time was had by all and the Eiffel Tower was well worth the effort. I went back at a later date to visit the Louvre (53) and Musée d'Orsay (79), which are about a 40 minute walk away.

Worth noting

I booked 'skip-the-line' tickets through a tour group but even then it took us over an hour to get into the Tower, due to the stringent security measures. The normal buy-a-ticket-on-the-day queues can take up to three hours apparently. 

Where was the Eiffel Tower in the 2015 edition of the Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List?

40

Does the Eiffel Tower deserve its lower place in the 2020 Lonely Planet Top 500?

I'm really surprised it dropped out of the Top 100. It's iconic and beautiful.

180. Mont Saint-Michel

What is Mont Saint-Michel?

Mont Saint-Michel is an island topped by a large abbey that is located just a few hundred metres from the north coast of France. The archangel Michael is said to have appeared in a dream to Bishop Aubert of Avranches in 708, instructing him to build a church. This was later extended to become a large abbey, which was then turned into a prison after the French Revolution, becoming the 'Bastille of the Seas'. The prison closed in 1863 and the island became a tourist destination, complete with a road and train service. Monks and nuns returned to Mont Saint-Michel in 2001, while the road was removed and replaced with a causeway, thus giving the islet back its remote character.

What is Mont Saint-Michel like? 

It's beautiful. The walk across the causeway is lovely (although you can also get a shuttle bus). You then walk up through the narrow streets filled with restaurants and shops until you get to the huge abbey.   

Where is Mont Saint-Michel?

Normandy, France

When did we go?

March 2023

How did we get there? 

We travelled from Portsmouth to Caen by ferry and then stayed in Bayeux, which is about a 70 mile drive from Mont Saint-Michel. We also visited the D-Day Beaches (280).

Worth noting:

Mont Saint-Michel appears in the Bayeux Tapestry. The islet with the abbey on top can be clearly seen between sections 16 and 17, with Harold rescuing two Norman soldiers from the quick sands. 

What was Mont Saint-Michel's position on the 2015 edition of the Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List?

201. It went up 21 places.

Does Mont Saint-Michel deserve its place in the 2020 top 500?

Yes, it's beautiful and unusual.

280. D-Day Beaches

What are the D-Day Beaches?

On June 6th 1944, 156,000 Allied soldiers journeyed across the English Channel to begin the process of liberating France and the rest of Europe during World War II. Unable to land at the heavily fortified ports of Calais or Cherbourg, the Allies used five landing beaches in Normandy that were code-named Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno and Sword. Thousands of soldiers and civilians died in the ensuing battles and so today a road-trip along the D-Day Beaches involves cemeteries and memorials as well as museums. 

What are the D-Day Beaches like? 

A visit to the beaches brings the experience to life. It's possible to try and imagine the terror for the soldiers and citizens of Normandy alike - the chaos, confusion and carnage of war. It's definitely best to join a tour or have use of a car when you go, as there's a lot to see along the 50 mile stretch of coast that the beaches cover.

Where are the D-Day Beaches?

Normandy, France

When did we go?

March 2023

How did we get there? 

We travelled from Portsmouth to Caen by ferry and then stayed in Bayeux. We also visited Mont Saint-Michel (180), which is about 70 miles away. 

Worth noting:

The Caen Memorial Museum is recommended as the biggest museum, but it was closed for the day when we went. The American Cemetery Museum was very good. 

What was the D-Day Beaches' position on the 2015 edition of the Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List?

340. They went up 60 places.

Do the D-Day Beaches deserve their place in the 2020 top 500?

Yes, undoubtedly so.

Notre-Dame

What is it: Notre-Dame de Paris is a cathedral built between 1160 and 1260. It is located on the Île de la Cité, a natural island in the Seine where medieval Paris was founded. In 1831, the cathedral was immortalised in the Victor Hugo novel Notre-Dame de Paris, better known to English audiences as The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. 12 million people visited Notre-Dame every year until it was ravaged by a terrible fire in 2019.
What's it like: It's one of the world's most recognisable cathedrals, famous for its bells, flying buttresses and rose windows.
Where: Paris, France
When: April 2019
How: I first went to Notre-Dame in 1997 and had waited 22 years to go back. I booked a trip for April 16th 2019. On April 15th, my travelling companion texted me to ask if I'd seen the news - I looked on the internet and Notre-Dame was in flames. We went to see it anyway (me, my godsons and their parents) and then made our way to the Eiffel Tower (148). It was a very sad sight indeed and the whole of Paris seemed to be in mourning.
Worth noting: Notre-Dame is home to a relic of the Crown of Thorns, which was given to Louis IX in 1238. It ended up at Notre-Dame after the French Revolution. It had been routinely displayed on the first Friday of every month until the fire. It was saved by the Paris Fire Brigade. 

Place in the 2015 edition: 55
Did it deserve to lose its place in the 2020 top 500: I hope it's been removed because it's closed - otherwise it should surely have been included. It's iconic.