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Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 75 general entries. We are selecting 30 for display.
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 Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
 Paris
| If you want to go shopping in Paris and you don't want to spend your whole fortune, you should know this: what does 'soldes' mean? | It's All in Paris
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Sales. Indeed, soldes are sales. Watch for these soldes as they can save you a lot of money. Even Hermes and Lancome and a few other of the most exclusive couturiers open their doors each spring for a few hours for bargain basement sales.
| In France, the two last numbers on the car's license plates indicate the region where the car has been registered. What is the number for Paris? | It's All in Paris
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75. The whole of France is subdivided in regions. Every region has its number, and in Paris, it's 75.
| Close to the Hotel de Ville in the Beaubourg-quarter, an art center was constructed in the 1970s. Its name is _________ ? | It's All in Paris
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Centre Pompidou. After five years of construction, the Centre national d'art et de culture Georges Pompidou was inaugurated by the French president, Valery Giscard d'Estaing, on January 31, 1977. Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers and Gianfranco Franchini, the architects of the Centre Georges Pompidou, designed this building to be an 'expandable spatial diagram'. The building is very colorful because of the utility shafts that are attached to the outside of the building, which are painted in four colors (blue: air {conditioning;} green: water {circuits;} yellow: electrical {conduits;} red: circulation and security)
| In front of the Louvre museum, a rather contemporary construction can be seen. What is it exactly? | It's All in Paris
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A pyramid. Since the late 18th century, when the Louvre was first opened to the public, this world-famous museum has ranked high on most visitors' lists of 'things to see in Paris.' Recent renovations, coupled with I. M. Pei's impressive glass pyramid have given the Louvre a more contemporary look. Parisians and visitors from around the world flocked in record numbers to the grand inauguration ceremonies in December 1993 of the 'New Louvre'.
Notre Dame . Initiated by Bishop Maurice de Sully in 1160, it was not completed until the fourteenth century. It was constructed on the site of a basilica dating from the fourth century, which was itself built on the site of a Roman temple dedicated to Jupiter. Its gothic gargoyles, facade, and carved portals make it one of the best examples of the metamorphosis from Roman to gothic style in European architectural history as the original plans for Notre-Dame followed the location's proceeding edifices. Before the renovation in the nineteenth century, Notre-Dame had become so dilapidated that animals were sheltered there by nearby inhabitants, something hard to imagine today. You must climb 386 steps to reach the top of the tower of Notre-Dame but the view is worth it. The last stairs are wooden, and they take you to the massive bronze bell in the tower.
| Why was the bridge 'Pont Neuf' so popular when it was inaugurated in 1604? | It's All in Paris
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People could see the Seine flowing underneath. The Pont Neuf was the first modern bridge in Paris. Not only was its design and size very different from the previous bridges in Paris, but it was also the first bridge without shops and markets. Before the Pont Neuf, people in Paris were never able to really see the Seine flowing underneath a bridge because of the various sheds and shops on the bridges. That's why the inhabitants of Paris liked to come to the Pont Neuf: to watch their beloved Seine. The Pont Neuf still remains one of Paris' most famous bridges. The artist Christo for example, completely wrapped it in 1985.
| The best known cemetery in Paris is called Pere Lachaise. A rather famous singer is buried here. His name is _____ ? | It's All in Paris
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Jim Morrison. Pere Lachaise already existed in 1804. Many famous people chose to be buried here (the composer Chopin or the great writer Oscar Wilde for example), but the most popular grave is still the resting place of the Doors' lead singer.
| The Eiffel Tower is probably one of the most famous landmarks in the world. Do you know how high it is? | It's All in Paris
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between 300 and 350m. The official height of the Eiffel Tower is debatable. Figures range between 312 and 330m. The Eiffel Tower was constructed in 1889 for the World Expo. It has three levels with shops and a restaurant, not to mention the beautiful view over Paris.
| If you were in Paris in the summer of 2002, what special (temporary) feature could you have enjoyed on the banks of the River Seine? | Enjoy Your Trip to Paris
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beach. Paris did have a large ferris wheel, but it was not on the banks of the river, and it had been in place since 1999. For one month only, between July and August 2002, a 3km sandy beach was created on the banks of the Seine. It didn't stretch quite to the water, which is just as well, as nobody would want to swim in the Seine! Still, you could build a sandcastle and sunbathe under the palm trees, while gazing at the Eiffel Tower and the beautiful buildings of wonderful Paris.
| This department store is a Parisian classic. It is named after a statue which features on the nearby Pont Neuf, and now occupies four buildings. What is its name? | Enjoy Your Trip to Paris
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Samaritaine. The Pont Neuf is in two sections, linking the Left and Right Banks, via the Ile de la Cité. There is a pump under one of the arches, used to provide water to the Louvre until 1813, and this is decorated with a figure of a woman of Samaria giving water to Jesus. She became known as La Samaritaine, and gave her name to the store. For one of the best views of Paris, go to the roof terrace on top of Samaritaine Building 2.
| You may not think of a cemetery as a top destination on your romantic vacation, but Paris has some fascinating and beautiful graveyards. This particular one was the site of a major Communard uprising in 1871; 147 rebels were shot and executed at the back of the cemetery, and buried where they fell. This is also where you will find the graves of Jim Morrison, Sarah Bernhardt, Oscar Wilde, Isadora Duncan and Edith Piaf. Where is this? | Enjoy Your Trip to Paris
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Pere-Lachaise Cemetery. It is a fascinating place, with huge stone tombs and over 1 million graves, including those of Chopin, Molière, Proust, Modigliani and Balzac. Just be careful to be out well before closing time, or you may be face being locked in overnight!
| This centre houses galleries and a huge library. It is distinctive because all the pipes and cables are on the outside of the building. Which French president gave his name to this building? | Enjoy Your Trip to Paris
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Pompidou. The Centre Pompidou was built in the 1970s. It is a strange and fascinating site. In the square in front of the centre you will find street performers, tacky tourist souvenir stalls and pickpockets.
| The Louvre Museum was once a royal palace, and now houses some of the world's greatest treasures. What type of structures were constructed in the main central courtyard in the 1980s? | Enjoy Your Trip to Paris
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pyramid . The main glass pyramid serves as an entrance to the museum. When it first opened, it faced criticism, but most people now acknowledge that it is an interesting contrast to the classical beauty of the original buildings.
| Can you identify this particular area of Paris? It was once the haunt of artists, and is the location of theatres including the Moulin Rouge, the Moulin de la Galette, and the Chat Noir. It is the highest land in the city, and commands spectacular panoramic views over the rest of Paris. | Enjoy Your Trip to Paris
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Montmartre. Literally the name Montmartre means 'martyr's mound'. St Denis was supposedly tortured and decapitated in the centre of Paris, and then picked up his bloody head, and walked to the spot now known as St. Denis.
| You find yourself at the top of a hill, with fantastic views over the city. There are narrow, steep streets leading downhill, many with steps, and behind you is a huge, white building with several domes. What is this building called? | Enjoy Your Trip to Paris
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Sacre-Coeur. The Sacre-Coeur basilica looks rather like an elaborate wedding cake! It was begun in 1876, completed in 1914 and consecrated in 1919.
| A little known gem amongst the many fascinating places in Paris, is the Cluny Museum. Here you can see the stunning medieval work of art known as "The Lady and the Unicorn". What is this? | Enjoy Your Trip to Paris
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a tapestry. In fact, "The Lady and the Unicorn" is a sequence of six huge tapestries, that have been beautifully preserved. They were woven in Flanders around 1500. You will not regret a visit to Cluny; as well as the tapestries you can see ancient Roman baths, medieval illuminated manuscripts and other art from the Middle Ages. Incidentally, look very carefully at the Gryffindor common room in the Harry Potter films - they have the Lady and the Unicorn tapestry there! (Or perhaps a copy...)
| You decide to wander off and explore, and you end up in a very wide street, with several lanes of traffic, wide pavements, lines of trees, and lots of shops. At one end of the street you can see a large, open square with an obelisk, and at the other end you can see a large marble arch in the centre of a roundabout. Where are you? | Enjoy Your Trip to Paris
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Champs Elysees . The arch is of course the famous Arc de Triomphe, completed in 1836. It is in the centre of a circle, from which 12 wide avenues radiate outwards. The other end of the Champs Elysees is the lovely Place de la Concorde. This was once the Place de la Revolution, where Louis XVI, Robespierre, Danton, Marie Antoinette, Charlotte Corday and over a thousand others were executed by guillotine, but it is now a beautiful square.
| You would like to see the Bastille Prison, where famous scenes of the Revolution took place. Where do you go? | Enjoy Your Trip to Paris
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Nowhere - they demolished it. You can still see the square where the Bastille once stood, but the actual prison was demolished in July 1789. It was on the right bank of the River, near the Faubourg St Antoine.
| You probably want to do some major sightseeing while you're there. You decide to head out to the Eiffel Tower first. Where will you find it? | Enjoy Your Trip to Paris
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To the South-West of the city, on the Left Bank. For the best views of the Eiffel Tower, head to the other side of the river Seine, and take photos from the Trocadero Gardens, while you admire the teenagers skateboarding and rollerblading there. If you feel like seeing the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower, be prepared for the 1652 steps! (or take the lift!)
| Ok, so you've arrived safely, you've got some money, now you need to head to your hotel. How will you recognise a Parisian taxi? | Enjoy Your Trip to Paris
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They all have a roof sign saying 'Taxi Parisien'. You had better have nerves of steel! Be prepared to be driven very quickly, without much attention to such things as traffic lights or pedestrians. It's all part of the fun though.
Charles de Gaulle. John Lennon Airport is the new name for Liverpool Airport. Paris is also served by Orly Airport, but Charles de Gaulle (also known as Roissy) is more popular. 71 million passengers travel through every year.
poisonous powder. Paris green is a very poisonous, bright green powder that was formerly used as a pigment (e.g. in wallpaper); it is sometimes used as an insecticide or to kill plant fungi.
| A distinguished Polish film director, who won "Palme d'Or" at the Cannes International Film Festival this year (2002), was born in Paris. Do you know who I am talking about? | All About Paris
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Roman Polanski. Roman Polanski won the Critics Prize at the Venice Film Festival to begin with. His "Knife in the Water" was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Foreign Language Film. He made his English-language debut with "Repulsion" (1964), starring Catherine Deneuve, and then made "Cul-de-Sac" (1965), which won the Best Picture prize at the Berlin Film Festival. His "Chinatown" won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, and was nominated for eleven Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director. His latest film, "Pianist", won "Palme d´Or" at the Cannes International Film Festival in 2002.
| Paris is the seat of an important international organisation - which one? | All About Paris
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OECD. OECD is an acronym for Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. It was founded in 1961 and succeeded the Organization for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC), which had been set up in 1948 to coordinate the Marshall Plan for European economic recovery after World War II.
| Who starred as Jeanne in the notorious movie "Last Tango in Paris"? | All About Paris
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Maria Schneider. The movie was directed by Bernardo Bertolucci. The part of Paul was played by Marlon Brando.
| The famous French actress Catherine Deneuve recorded a song called "Paris, Paris" together with whom? | All About Paris
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Malcolm McLaren. The song was recorded in 1994. Malcolm McLaren was the one time manager of the famous punk group "Sex Pistols".
marguerite. The word "marguerite" is of French origin. Marguerite is also a female name, French form of Margaret.
| The Paris Treaty was a treaty establishing one of the European Communities. Which one? | All About Paris
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European Coal and Steel Community. The Paris Treaty entered into force in 1952. The ECSC was the first of the three European Communities. The European Defence Community was never realised.
| Who was the director of the famous musical "An American in Paris"? | All About Paris
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Vincente Minnelli. Vincente Minelli, who married the actress Judy Garland, is the father of Liza Minelli.
| We really are hoofing it now as we near the end of the walk. We rush through the Hotel des Invalides, which houses Napoleon's tomb and his stuffed horse, through the left bank and the Boulevard St. Germain de Pres, and have an afternoon coffee in the world's first coffeehouse (so they claim) at La Precope. Which famous philosopher of the Enlightenment who drank 40 cups of coffee per day was a patron here? | A Walking Tour of Paris
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Voltaire. Thanks for accompanying me on this quick tour of Paris. Before going shopping to stuff our luggage with cheeses and wines we can't get at home, we write our last postcards and watch the sun set over the Seine.
| We climb to the top of the Arc de Triomphe and look northwest down the Avenue de la Grand Armee to a strange looking building in the shape of a square with a huge hole in the middle, making it look somewhat like a picture frame. This futuristic area of Paris was begun in 1958 and accommodates over 30,000 workers. What is it called? | A Walking Tour of Paris
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La Defense. This development includes the "Grand Arche". the building mentioned above, which is taller and wider than the cathedral of Notre Dame.
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