Paris City Views

I listed panoramic view sites, but maybe we should expand it to include all strong visual impressions like down a particular street or across a square, park, or fountain, inside a church or a public building or looking at a monument.

I'm partial to the view out of the large glass clocks in the d'Orsay. Somethng transporting about it, for me.

I also like the view from the Pont des Arts foot bridge near the Louvre.

Both are great choices. The d'Orsay view often runs through my mind at odd times.

Another is the view at the end of Rue des Envierges in the 20th, above the Parc de Belleville.

I think the lampposts and sculptures on the Pont Alexandre III make it the most beautiful bridge in Paris. I especially like the view from the right bank looking across the bridge to the golden dome of the Hôtel des Invalides on the left bank.

The Parc des Buttes-Chaumont offers some lovely views.

RE: St.Cirq & RonZ

I know this is subjective, but is a visit to the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont or Parc de Belleville best done on a 2nd or 3rd time visit to Paris? Does it take long to get to them and is there something nearby that you can combine on the same visit?

Degas:

I didn't get to the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont until about my 35th trip to Paris, so to answer your question I guess I'd have to say I wouldn't put it on the list for a first-timer, or for someone who still hasn't been to the major sites. On the other hand, it's truly lovely, and even a first-timer wouldn't be sorry to have been there.
I took maybe a half-hour to get there (I think I was coming from the 7me). I didn't combine it with any other sites, but it could easily be combined with a visit to Parc La Villette or Cité de la Musique.

StCirq - I did a quick google search and turned up lots of Parc des Buttes-Chaumont photos. You were right about the city view - the look at Sacre Coeur was superb. Loved the idea of it having lots of hills and bridges and even caves. One poster said it is a legendary place where heart-broken lovers go to commit suicide and it is also a favorite haunt of Surrealists.

The Parc des Buttes-Chaumont was a monumental effort of Baron Haussman's in the 1860s.It was formerly a rubbish dump and quarry, and the site of one of the old Paris gallows.

If you can stand the hordes of tourists and bad artists, the view from Butte Montmartre at the Sacre Coeur is great from all directions. Take the metro up to Abbessess and walk up to the Funiculaire.

Any sidewalk cafe/bistro for an hour or so on a nice day just watching the world go by.

Beside those you have listed, I like going to Luxemburg Gardens & watching the people there, including the kids & others sailing the boats on the ponds. One thing that intrigues me from the Arc de Triomphe is looking at all the rooftop gardens on the buildings.

There's a very nice view of Notre Dame from the garden behind St. Julien Le Pauvre across the river on the left bank.

I always try to climb to the top of the Arc de Triomphe and watch the sun set and the lights come on across the city. The view from up there always makes me appreciate Baron Haussman's grand vision.

The view from the Montparnasse Tower is the best in Paris because it's the only place in the city that you can't see it.

As for ground-level views, standing at the northeast corner of the Tuileries so that the Place de la Concorde, the Obelisque, the Assemblee National and the Eiffel Tower are all in sight is priceless, day or night.

There is an extremely interesting view from the third or fourth floor of La Samaritaine looking east almost directly into and onto the roof of the church almost next door. Extremely dramatic, the church looks old ( maybe it isn't) and this is from a department store. ( at least a 20th century invention).

I'd have to second the Parc de Belleville recommendation. I don't remember how to get there by métro because I walked. In any case, walking up next to the Maison de l'Air on a clear -- or even mildly cloudy -- day offers a wonderful view of the city. I also like sunsets as viewed through one of the arches of Pont Royal, beneath Quai Voltaire.

However, my favorite this summer has been the nighttime view from the ferris wheel (5 EUR) in the Tuileries. (This is easy to get to; get off at the Tuileries stop on Line No 1 La Défense/Châteaux de Vincennes. You won't miss it.)

My favorite view time is at daybreak.When visiting Paris I'm up before dawn to run. Each day I leave my hotel and take a different route to explore Paris. Running through empty streets and past monuments with little traffic and few people allows me to feel like I'm alone in the city. Whether running around the Ile D'Cite or down the Champs-Elysees the view is very different without people to distract you. I take my carte orange with me to ride back if I get to far off the beaten path. I like the views from the Quays along the Seine particularly the Iles as they come into view from either direction.

ttt

The best high view of Paris is from the top of the Tour Montparnasse, since it's the only place which doesn't include the Tour Montparnasse! Drollery aside, the view is great and, if you go just before closing (say 11PM), you'll see illuminations of all the sights with a rather spectacular view of the Eifel Tower. You have a choice of the roof outdoors or a glassed viewing floor. They charge admission.

As for ground level views, I would list those from the various bridges across the Seine that include the Isle St Louis. There is one place that includes a great view of the back of Notre Dame. It is part of my three great Views of The Backs of Paris: The back of Notre Dame, the back of the Venus de Milo, and the backs of people looking at Mona Lisa (Miss Giaconda not visible).

No one has mentioned the view from the arch at Defense -- quite spectacular where you get a perspective of virtually the whole city at once.

This is a little different... The very 1st time we went to Europe was on an escorted tour. We'd already traveled from London thru Germany, Switzerland, Italy and France, ending up in Paris. As the bus began to navigate into the heart of Paris, we turned onto a street, and Voila! the Eiffel Tower stood before us off in the distance. Half the passengers jumped up from their seats, craning, straining to get their first glimpse of the Iron Lady... It was actually exciting, and now amusing, as if it were going to be the only view of the tower over the next 2 days!

Some of my favorites:

night time, on bridge (trying to remember if it is Change or Notre-Dame bridge) between right bank and Notre Dame island, spotlights on bridges and Conciergerie, can see Eiffel tower in background, bateaux mouches going by..I try to make this my last night's visit before going home next day

I like views on Ile St Louis, especially on "right bank side". I have a 30's black and white poster at home of lamposts lit up along here and I like the timelessness of it all

coming out of metro at Trocadero and seeing the Eiffel tower across the river

and more....

walking along above Seine, left bank, south of Notre Dame and coming across
memorial plaque with soldier's name who died at that spot liberating Paris in 1944

some of the old buidings and narrow streets in Village St Paul in the Marais

view out of my window at Hotel Notre Dame, in the rooftop room, looking out my window and seeing sun rise over Notre Dame cathedral.

sitting on a bench in Place Des Vosges, the old buildings, kids playing.

rue de l'Ancienne Comedie, left bank, off of St Germain, alleyway with the ancien Le Procope restaurant where Robespierre, Ben Franklin, Voltaire ate, paved in old stones, and then walk out into Buci marketplace

standing beside St Sulpice church, early January morning, dark day...bit dark and rainy, dull lighting from nearby stores, and seeing one bistro table with a couple of chairs and remaining chairs stacked on patio of small cafe (poor description,you had to be there!)

and more...

Mike

Thank you all for these inputs - you have identified some great spots.

The view from the tower of Notre Dame is my favorite.

I think this one needs an update.

And one update is : Samaritaine closed two years ago !

Good point norween - but it was a good look out spot and free to boot.

I have many fav views in Paris but my best of all is sitting at the end of Square Du Vert-Galant watching the Vedettes & Bateaux-Mouches gliding(downstream?) and then appearing sometime later going upstream(?).
I had my favourite willow tree to lean against but thats now gone and a new vibrant little sapling has taken it's place.

LVSue - the park next to St.-Julien-le-Pauvre is called Square Rene` Viviani and has one of the oldest trees in Paris right next to the church.
I once stayed at the "Bohemian" Hotel Esmeralda across from the Square and had the wonderful view of Notre Dame every morning then lit up in all it's glory every night!

Seine river cruise, passing under Pont Alexander III, the Grand Palais glass domes glowing and their searchlights scouring the night sky. Very festive and beautiful.

Parc Monceau in the afternoon with children playing and elegant older ladies sitting on their park bench soaking up the sun. The beautiful statuary there was a surprise. Well worth a visit, especially if you're going to the Musee Jacquemart-Andres which isn't far away.

As someone said above, though, my favorite mental images of Paris come from my pre-dawn walks. Softly lit monuments and store windows reflected in sidewalks gleaming from their early morning wash. Cafes setting up tables and chairs for the day ahead. Aromas wafting out of already busy patisseries. Ah, Paris. Sigh.

Thanks for asking, Degas. Just reading the replies takes me to a more beautiful place. For big veiws, I am partial to the one across the Seine from the terrace at Musee D'Orsay, up by the clock. Galerie Lafayette rooftop terrace has a cool view of the back of the Opera.

tod, JeanneB, Stokebailey - I love to hear from you incurable romantics.

Add to my To Do List: cool view of the back of the Opera from the Galerie Lafayette rooftop terrace.

Regarding Samaritaine (the dept store), I so enjoyed its roof with a 360° view of all paris, as you stood within a ring of enameled tiles depicting the buildings in all directions (an amazing "ring" portrait of Paris done in the 1920s and amazingly still quite accurate). Ever since I heard that the Dept store had closed (reportedly because Mgt. wanted to break intransigent union of employees) I have wondered what happened to that circle of tiles. Any ideas of how to find out??

There is a roof deck and cafe atop the "Maison" Au Printemps store [the one to the west]. Good for pictures in the AM with the Eiffel Tower in the background.

Also head to the roof deck of BHV department store (at the Hotel de Ville metro stop). On rainy days, you won't see anyone there, on other days, you'll still have a chance to get a glimpse.

Also, if you're tooling around out in the suburbs, go to St. Germain-en-Laye via RER, exit the station, head into the park, walk all the way to the end of the big lawn-like area, and there is a fantastic view from there! Not to mention that the park is a lovely one to bike or hike through, plus you can hit the museum in the castle if you have kids who like prehistoric man type of exhibits.

I live near the Grande Arche in La Defense, but I must admit I've never been to the top! It's that elevator out in the middle that puts me off... The Tour Montparnasse has the best view in Paris: because for once you can avoid seeing the Tour Montparnasse!

Inside Ste. Chappelle-esp. if sun is out.