PARIS - The Complete Travel Companion

The most beautiful and most beloved of cities, explored with the depth it deserves. This complete companion takes the reader through every face of Paris: the Gothic heart on the Seine, where the city was born; the grand monuments of the west; the artists' hill of Montmartre and the literary cafés of the Left Bank; the great museums and the quiet churches; the formal gardens and the romantic parks; the markets, the bistros, and the famous art of living. A full chapter recounts the long history of the city, from the Roman town to the present day. Others trace the painters and writers who made Paris the capital of art and letters, the sacred buildings that punctuate its skyline, and the green spaces where the city pauses and breathes. Suggested itineraries, day trips to Versailles and beyond, and a practical guide from A to Z complete the journey. Written in an elegant, unhurried voice, this guide concentrates on the enduring character and pleasures of Paris rather than details that quickly date — a companion that will serve on a first visit and for years to come.