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So you’ve been to Paris and seen the sights – walked down the Champs-Élysées, visited the Notre Dame, discovered that the Mona Lisa is smaller than what you expected, travelled to the top of the Eiffel Tower and marveled at the Sacre Coeur. Think you’ve seen it all? Try something extravagant next and see a side of Paris you have not experienced before. Warning: you’ll need cash, and lots of it.

A rich assortment of artwork from different parts of the world adorns the Musée du Louvre, Paris. Works from a broad span of time, Prehistoric Period to mid-nineteenth century, enhance diversity of the permanent collection. The erstwhile fortress and the home of royalty the Louvre was transformed into a museum in the late eighteenth century. And, the building has been renovated many times and improvements are on going.

Looking for a hotel in Paris to stay during your visit of the “city of love”? The following five hotels are definitely good choices.

Have you always dreamed about visiting a real medieval castle? Well, Carcassone is the perfect place to make your dream come true. Nearly three million people visit every year this fortified medieval hilltop where the entire city is a castle. UNESCO declared La Cite, the fortified upper city, as World Heritage Site in 1997.

If there is one aspect of the French culture that they are famous for, it is the wines that they produce.  The following is a listing of the top wine regions in France and the best wineries in each.

photo by derekGavey

Home to the great Champagne houses of the world, this quiet town shares its name with the best sparkling wine ever made. The region’s celebrated vineyards produce the finest grapes in all of France, and as many will swear to, the whole world. Yet, this picturesque town, with medieval chateaus and villages nestled in virgin Mediterranean forest, is far more than the wine that has made its name famous. The region of Champagne is said to be a representation of the nobility and elegance of France’s natural beauty, culture, art, architecture, religion and importantly, its food and wine.

It’s simply the most beautiful city of the world, what else can we say about Paris?! When planning a visit to France’s capital, you may want to consider some of these tips to help you enjoy your trip.

The Palais Garnier, also known as the Paris Opera, Opera Garnier or Opera de Paris, is an architectural masterpiece of the 19^th century, where ballet and opera have been entertaining and evoking overwhelming emotions of a diverse range for years. It took one and a half decades to build the opera house designed by Charles Garnier. The house in the ninth arrondissement of Paris, France can seat more than 2,000 people. The opulent structure boasts a colossal crystal chandelier, weighing about eight tons, in a gold and red horseshow-shaped auditorium; and a roomy stage to accommodate as much as 450 performers. The building is embellished with statuary, columns and vibrant marble friezes. Statues of noted composers- Beethoven, Mozart and Rossini- share space with that of Greek gods. Use of gold leaf, cherubic nymphs and shinny velvet is characteristic to the Baroque style of artwork. It has inspired designs of many other buildings located across the world: the Juliusz Slowacki Theatre in Krakow, Poland, the Amazon Theatre in Manaus, Brazil and the Hanoi Opera House in Vietnam.

Sumptuous ambience of some hotels tells stories that guests cherish forever. Jays Paris, Hotel Luxembourg Parc, Hotel des Academies et des Arts, One by The Five and Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris belong to the same league. All the five upscale hotels, located close to one or the other famous landmark of Paris, France, host uber the rich. A fine collection of work of arts, antique furniture and tapestries, and state-of-the-art gizmos complement contemporary designs. However, natural light-filled bathrooms and regal bedrooms are privilege of travelers with very deep pockets only.

If you are looking for inspiration to book a trip to Paris, France, then watching one of the most charming and sumptuous films every made, Amelie, would certainly seal the deal. It is what La Dolce Vita was for Rome and most Woody Allen films are for New York. Here are some of the best locations to include on your trip around Paris with the film Amelie.

Filled with all the glamour and glitz that any tourist could desire, the French Riviera is situated on the French coast of the Mediterranean Sea and is famous for events and places such as the Cannes Film Festival, Monaco, and St. Tropez. However, it is a gambling Mecca for many as well and one of the more favorite tourist shopping venues in southern Europe. The biggest problem with visiting the French Riviera is the fact that there are rarely times during the year when it isn’t crowded with international visitors.

Two words say it best whenever you are talking about Paris – c’est magnifique! The city is not only the capital and largest city in France, it is considered by many worldwide as the cosmopolitan capital of Europe. Paris is literally brimming with art, cuisine, culture, fashion and history as well as having the reputation of being one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world. As a result, Paris is still one of the top tourist destinations in the world.

If there’s one thing the French are proud of, it is their cuisine. The birth of the diverse French cuisine started in the middle-ages – the time of the aristocratic bourgeois and the working-class peasants, just before the French Revolution. Each of France’s regions that time has a distinctive cuisine which is acceptable to both classes. As history progressed and geographically speaking, these regional cuisines are destined to meet up in the middle of France which is in Paris.

Paris, France abounds with museums. A diverse range of themes is covered in the museum; drawings, furniture, literature, music, painting, photography, stamps, sculptures, and tapestries, to name but a few. If you are a culture vulture, invest in Paris Museum Pass. The pass will give you complimentary access to more than sixty museums and several monuments located in the Paris region, including the city. For instance, Musée du Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Cité des Sciences et de l’industrie, Tours Notre Dame, Conciergerie, Arc de Triomphe, Domaine de Versailles, Château de Vincennes, and Maison d’Auguste Rodin. However, free access is limited to permanent collections only.

Come and rub shoulders with the rich and famous this summer in the pristine French Riviera! Warm sunny days, elegant resorts and gambling through the night, this long stretch is found along the beautiful Mediterranean Sea from the town of Cassis in France till the border between France and Italy and includes many well-known cities in France like Nice, Cannes, Monaco, and Saint Tropez.