The Most Photographed Sites in Paris
Sure, when a list like this is usually published, the information is based on a survey, info gleaned from a native, or even just an educated guess. But this list… oh this one is special. A recent study was done of Flickr. A super computer was used to figure out what (according to Flickr) were the most photographed places on earth. As a city, Paris ranked fourth. Below, you’ll find the photographed sites within the city itself (and they’re not necessarily obvious). So pull up a chair, sit back, and enjoy!
Eiffel Tower
Honestly… if anyone is surprised that this is the most photographed site in Paris then they need to climb out from under the rock where they’ve been living. In fact, all on it’s own, the Eiffel Tower is the most photographed location in the entire world. Heck, when Hitler conquered France, what did he want to be photographed with? You got it. Small wonder why it’s so popular (not because of Hitler). The structure is breathtaking. Other buildings might be taller, but the Eiffel Tower has a massive, romantic, awe inspiring feel to it when seen in person. It makes sense that people would try to capture that feeling and bring it home with them.
Notre Dame
It took over 180 years to build, so yes, it better as heck be toward the top of this list. 180 years… Let’s stop and think about that for a second. If the Notre Dame cathedral were started the year the United States was created… it would have been completed in the 1950’s. Construction began in 1163 and was finished in 1345. With such a history, you’d think the site was universally revered, yet throughout the ages numerous zealots have attempted to burn it down. In modern times, the cathedral is most famous for the story of the fictional hunchback who lived there. The cathedral is currently being put through an in-depth restoration that has been going on for almost 20 years.
Louvre
It is the most visited museum in the world. The Venus de Milo and Mona Lisa both find their homes there. 15,000 people visit the museum everyday, 65% of which are tourists. The Louvre began as a fortress in the middle ages, but has since been altered extensively throughout the centuries. The museum itself was established in 1793, shortly after the French Revolution. Today, the museum contains over 380,000 pieces of art, with about 35,000 on display. So yes, as amazing as this museum is, what one sees is less than 10% of what the museum is actually holding.
Basilique du Sacre Coeur
Or… as it’s known in English, The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Paris. No, “basilique” does not translate to Basilisk, and if you thought it did, you’re reading too much Harry Potter. After the French Revolution, a number of opposing factions emerged. One of them was the Paris Commune (and it actually ruled the city for a couple months). The first insurrection by this commune happened on a hill. When the Army of Versailles showed up, these “communards” retreated into an old gypsum mine beneath the hill. The army promptly blew up the entrance, permanently trapping everyone inside. Done deal. So why is this relevant? The Basilique du Sacre Coeur is a Roman Catholic minor basilica built upon that same hill, above the mine. It’s spiritual purpose? To expiate the crimes of the communards. Oh, and it’s also very photogenic.
Arc de Triomphe
Alright, let’s just cut to it. Yes, for the rest of us it’s almost humorous that the French should have an Arch of Triumph. What, being as they spent most of the 20th Century waving white flags at the Germans. But can you fault them? Look at the Americans who love pointing at World War II as a high point of their nation’s might. And in that same vein, the Parisian Arc de Triomphe (finished in the 1830’s) honors those who fought for France, especially during the Napoleonic Wars when the French were the ones everybody was afraid of. That said, the landmark pretty much serves as something for invading or liberating armies to march under when they take Paris (the Germans in 1871, the French in 1918, the Germans in 1940, the Allies in 1944/1945 with the French riding up front during that one to save face).
Center Georges Pompidou
This site is an unusual entry on this list, because it is so modern. This complex was built in the 1970’s and houses a vast library, the largest museum of modern art in Europe, and a center for music and acoustic research. The complex features staggered exterior escalators that have inspired copycats throughout the world, including the Beverly Center in Los Angeles.
Trocadero
Across the Seine River from the Eiffel Tower, there is a hill. And on this hill there is a palace, the “Palais de Chaillot”. So why is there a palace here? Because what else do you expect the French (especially Parisians) to build when there’s a World’s Fair? Some people build space needles, others create buildings of ice. The French? They erect palaces, which is what they did in 1878. So what happened in 1937 when they hosted a new international exposition? Simple. They tore down the original palace and built a new one. Why? Well, apparently because they can. Today the palace serves as the home for a number of museums. The structure is obviously very photogenic. It’s also a great place to have your picture taken with the Eiffel Tower in the background, or at least Hitler thought so, since this is where he was standing in that famous picture of him in France.
With so many beautiful sites, it’s a small wonder that Paris is one of the most photographed cities in the world… or at least home to a lot of people who like to use Flickr.
Photo Credits: Al Lannai, xelcixe, problemkind, zehawk, guilluame, ricardo martin,
The Most Photographed Sites in Paris
