Having lived in Paris for over a decade, I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I only went up to the Eiffel Tower once: during a family visit where I agreed to go for a walk. If my family members hadn’t been interested, I certainly wouldn’t have minded quitting. Perhaps because that particular tower is synonymous with the French capital, at least in the minds of filmmakers and tour guides who inevitably rely on it as a set designer, I have always felt a bit indifferent to it, or at least to the idea of visit it closely. I tend to prefer it from a distance, shining attractively on the horizon; More symbol than real place. Other towers in the city hold my interest much longer, but are generally ignored by tourists. Here are the four that I recommend you check out, once you’ve removed Old Gustave’s most famous “walk-through” from your bucket list.
Tour Saint-Jacques: a recently renovated masterpiece
During the first eight years I lived in Paris, the city center was ruined by a building with scaffolding many assumed it was some kind of a skyscraper under construction low rise. Then one day, heading downtown, I was dazzled by the top of a gleaming and sumptuously decorated tower peeking out from under the scaffolding. That’s when I found out about the Tour St-Jacques – all that remains of a 16th-century church that once stood here in the bustling Chatelet-les-Halles district. When it was first reopened it could only be admired from below, but since 2013 a few visits to the top have been allowed. If you’re not afraid of heights, enjoy the panoramic views of the city from a visit to the top.
Tour Montparnasse: for great panoramic views
It is true that it is not the prettiest building, but as the tallest and only skyscraper in Paris, a visit to the top of the Montparnasse Tower (also known as 56 for its number of floors) is well worth it for the impressive views. panoramic views over the entire city. There is also a lovely restaurant at the top. Visit the tour during an exploration of cosmopolitan Montparnasse, a veritable hotbed of artists and intellectuals in decades past.
Related reading: Where to find the best panoramic views of Paris?
Tour Jean Sans Peur: una torre medieval curiosamente vista en el centro de París
Not far from Les Halles and in the trendy area around Rue Montorgueil and Etienne Marcel Metro, packed with concept stores and high-end boutiques, is a tower that most people never see, let alone visit. : hides in plain sight. This tower, named for the Duke of Burgundy or “Fearless Jean,” is infamous as the site of a notorious murder – Jean’s murder of his cousin, the Duke of Orleans, in the early 15th century.
If you’re interested in medieval history, this is a must-see: the Jean Sans Peur Tour is the only remaining fortified medieval tower in Paris; and it is also all that remains of the sprawling palace that once belonged to the Dukes of Burgundy and was previously here.
Read related :
- All about the Rue Montorgueil district
- 10 strange and disturbing facts about Paris
Grande Arche de la Défense (Ok, it’s not really a tower …)
I include the strangest and most imposing of the Parisian arches because it is a truly impressive architectural feat and makes Napoleon’s Arc de Triomphe look truly insignificant. Located in the vast business district also known as “La Défense,” the 110-meter-high Grande Arche de la Défense was erected in 1989 to celebrate the bicentennial of the French Revolution of 1789. It looms futuristic over the district, and is you can see from miles away, ending the long “triumphal road” that leads from the Louvre, past the Place de la Concorde, down the Champs Elysees and under the Arc de Triomphe.
Visiting the top: the roof reopens in April 2017
Despite the architectural feat it represents, the stone and steel building actually houses dozens of offices in its hollow cube structure, some serious structural problems have been identified, and the rooftops are not currently open to visitors. Renovation projects are in the works and the rooftop observation deck is scheduled to reopen on April 1, 2017, according to this local municipal website.
