Saint-Mande Day Trip: Eiffel Tower & Louvre Museum Adventure

·Climb the Eiffel Tower-a cultural symbol of France and one of the landmark buildings in Paris

·Overlook the beautiful city scenery of Paris, the whole Paris is at your feet, like a huge map in front of you

·Learn about the tower’s more than 100-year history through objects, posters, photos, sculptures, paintings and videos at the observation deck on the ground floor

△ A new cultural path(1st floor): Screens, touch screens, displays, digital albums, reproductions of items, etc. allow you to find out about all aspects of the Eiffel Tower, many little known.

△ Your arrival on the 2nd floor is marked by amazement: Paris in all her splendour greets your incredulous eyes. You will enjoy clear views of all of the French capital's monuments: the Louvre, Gran Palais, the bends in the Seine, Montmartre, Invalides, Notre Dame, etc.

△ After a spectacular ascent in glass-walled lifts, you're finally here. 276m up with only the antennae above you, Paris lies at your feet. The noise of the boulevards can't reach you here, but the wind catches you and your heart begins to race.

·Enjoy the charm of the locations where the movies "Phantom of the Louvre" and "The Da Vinci Code" were filmed

·Appreciate the gorgeous treasures of ancient Greece, ancient Rome, ancient Egypt and other civilizations

·Visit the giant glass pyramid that combines classical palaces with modern architectural styles

The Louvre Museum was founded in 1204. The castle has undergone many expansions and was converted into a museum after the French Revolution. It is also known as the three major museums in the world together with the British Museum in London and the Metropolitan Museum in New York. Today, the Louvre Museum has a collection of 400,000 items spanning more than 1,500 years. The Louvre Museum usually displays 10% of its total collection which will feast your eyes.

"Three Treasures of the Louvre": "Venus de Milo", "Mona Lisa" and " The Winged Victory of Samothrace".

△ The Louvre’s gallery of antiquities, which replaced the royal apartments, displays masterpieces of Greek sculpture – including the famous Venus de Milo. You would need a heart of stone not to be moved by her grace!

Aphrodite or Amphitrite?

When she first arrived at the Louvre, it was suggested that her missing arms should be restored, but the idea was eventually abandoned for fear of changing the nature of the work.

The lack of arms made it hard to identify the statue. Many depictions of Greek gods and goddesses contain clues to their identity in the form of ‘attributes’ (objects or natural elements) held in their hands, so this sculpture poses a problem: is she the sea goddess Amphitrite, particularly worshipped on the island of Melos? Or is she Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty, as might be suggested by her sensual, half-naked body? This second argument, and the jewellery she once wore, tipped the scales in favour of Aphrodite (‘Venus’ for the Romans). Another possible clue was found near the statue: a hand holding an apple – an attribute of Aphrodite – carved from the same Parian marble.

△ This is the most famous portrait in the world. It shows Lisa Gherardini, wife of the Florentine silk merchant Francesco del Giocondo – hence her Italian name La Gioconda and her French name La Joconde. Painted against a distant landscape, she stares out at us with her famously enigmatic smile...

The theft of the century

On 21 August 1911, panic broke out at the Louvre…the Mona Lisa had disappeared! The news spread like wildfire and generous rewards were promised for her return – but all in vain. Nothing was heard of the painting for over two years. Then one day, Vincenzo Peruggia, a glazier who had worked at the Louvre, tried to sell the world’s most famous painting to an Italian art dealer...who alerted the authorities. So the Mona Lisa was recovered – and her fame was all the greater.

△ She seems to float through the air! Placed at a height, people could see her from afar. It was made as an offering to the gods for a sanctuary on the Greek island of Samothrace. Placed at a height, people could see her from afar. That is why, in a nod to her original lofty home, she now adorns the top of the Daru staircase. Nike, the winged goddess who heralds victory, is seen just as she is about to alight on a ship.

A monumental staircase

The Daru staircase is the perfect setting for this extraordinary display. It is one of six grand staircases built during the Second Empire in the 19th century by the architect Hector Lefuel.

During the 1850s and 1860s, major works were underway to expand the Louvre and make it more modern. The former palace had already been partially transformed into a museum. The emperor Napoleon III had a new wing built to make more room to showcase more art. The old staircase built by his uncle Napoleon I was no longer adequate to access all the galleries. The only things left from that time are the ceilings leading to the Italian painting collections and the name Daru, a minister under Napoleon I.

Hector Lefuel took up the challenge to design a new monumental space on three levels leading in four different directions. Visitors could choose themselves which way to go!

The Winged Victory of Samothrace was placed in her new home on the upper landing in 1883, some 20 years after the statue was discovered.

·In the "Palace of Impressionism", appreciate the Impressionist masterpieces of many art masters

·Visit the noble and elegant architecture of the Orsay Museum and the six bronze statues representing the six continents in the Museum Square

·Admire paintings in natural light under the large glass dome of the Musée d'Orsay

The Musée d'Orsay, located on the left bank of the Seine, has a large collection of Impressionist works and is known as the "Palace of Impressionism". Here you can admire the masterpieces of many masters of art. The palace of art, the "Impressionist" Holy Land Orsay Museum is across the river from the Louvre Museum. There are more than 4,000 art collections, which have been displayed for nearly half a century from 1848 to the beginning of the rise of Cubism (1848-1912). works of art, including paintings, sculptures, furnishings, etc. Locals often say that if you want to appreciate the art treasures before 1848, go to the Louvre; if you are interested in modern art after 1912, go to the Pompidou National Cultural and Art Center; and Orsay The museum is the transition between the two. Europe's most beautiful museums may wish to take a good look at the architecture and museum square of the Orsay Museum. It is one of the most beautiful museums in Europe. Its predecessor was the Orsay train station built by a well-known Italian architect for the Paris World Expo in 1900. Converted to National Museum. The exterior wall of the museum is decorated with white marble, which is noble and elegant. Some exquisite sculptures are also displayed on the square in front of the museum, among which the six bronze statues representing six continents are not to be missed. The gorgeous golden bell used in the railway station has also been well preserved and is still in use today, which is worth seeing. Entering the museum, you will find that there are still traces of the railway station. The railway tracks on the first floor of the railway station, the VIP lounge on the second floor, and the hotel on the third floor have been converted into exhibition halls. The large glass dome of the Musée d'Orsay is also impressive, so visitors can admire the paintings in natural light. At present, the Musée d'Orsay has more than 80 exhibition halls on five floors, open to the public on three floors. The three floors display the treasures of the collection in chronological order. The first floor hall mainly exhibits paintings, sculptures and decorative arts from 1850 to 1870, including many masterpieces by masters. When visiting, you may start from the sculpture avenue in the center of the hall, stop by the exhibition halls on both sides of the avenue, and then visit the famous model of the Paris Opera House. #Don't Miss# LaSource in Hall 1, Desglaneuses in Hall 4, Bergèreavecsontroupeau in Hall 4, Gypsy Camping Caravan in Hall 9, Olympia in Hall 14 and more. Visit the Middle Floor The middle floor displays works from 1870 to 1914, including official art from the Third Republic period, symbolism, academic paintings, and decorative arts from the Art Nouveau period. Works can be viewed in chronological order. #Don't Miss# Hall 71 displays many masterpieces, such as "Self-Portrait" (Portrait del'artiste), "Lanuitétoilée" (Lanuitétoilée), "L'églised' Auvers-sur- Oise, vueduchevet), etc. In addition, at the end of the corridor on the 2nd floor, you can also see the "Gate of Hell" (Portedel'Enfer). Visit the upper floor The upper floor mainly displays the works of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painters, known as the "Palace of Impressionism". #unmissable# "Ledéjeunersurl'herbe" (Ledéjeunersurl'herbe), "Blue Water Lotus" (Nymphéasbleues), "Larousseàl'ombrelle" (Larousseàl'ombrelle), "Danseàlacampagne", "Pancake Mill" The Ball" (Baldumulindela Galette), "Bronze Age" (L'Aged'airin), etc. DRINK COFFEE IN THE MUSEUM After your visit to the upper floors, sit down for a drink at The Café Campana, at the end of the Impressionist Gallery, where you can get a close-up view of the Musée d'Orsay's iconic clock, as well as a panoramic view of Paris City views and authentic Parisian cuisine. In addition, the museum has also set up restaurants and cafes on the second floor and the first floor halls, which are convenient for visitors to rest. The restaurant on the second floor has been in business since 1900, focusing on traditional French cuisine, which is very sentimental. In addition, there are bookstores and sales points at the entrance of the Musée d'Orsay and along the tour route. There are a series of books such as guidebooks and picture books, items based on the museum's collection, and postcards.

△ Entering the museum, you will find that the traces of the train station remains here. The tracks on the first floor of the train station, the VIP lounge on the second floor, and the hotel on the third floor have all been converted into exhibition halls.

△ Take a close look at the iconic clock of the Musée d’Orsay

△ The numerous Impressionist paintings are dizzying