2 bd du Palais (1st).M Cité.o 01 53 40 60 80. Daily: 9.30am-6pm, except 1 May and 25 Dec. Full rate: €9. Joint ticket with the Sainte- Chapelle/full rate: €15. www.paris-conciergerie.fr 3Pont Neuf Considered to be one of the oldest stone bridges in Paris, the Pont Neuf is recogniz- able by its twelve semi-circular arches, its series of 381 ‘mascarons’ and its equestrian statue of Henri IV. Built in two parts, it con- nects the Right Bank to the Left Bank via the Île de la Cité. Below the bridge, at the tip of Musée the island, the Square du Vert Galant, a pop- ular spot for courting couples, offers lovely views of the Seine.across the Place Dauphine with its numer-Continue your strolldu Louvre ous restaurants. And finish on the Quai des Every trip to the capital deserves a visit to the Orfèvres, the former headquarters of the Louvre to discover the wealth of treasures it famous judicial police. contains. The museum houses western works 1st. M Pont Neuf.o of art dating from the Middle Ages to 1848, in addition to collections of ancient oriental, Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan and Roman civili- zations, as well as graphic and Islamic arts. From room to room, the former royal palace reveals its masterpieces to the public: the MonaLisa, The Raft of the Medusa, the Venus de Milo and, The Winged Victory of Samo- thrace. In total, some 35,000 works! With its eight-hundred-year-old history, the Louvre has been influenced by numerous archi- plus… tectural trends, from the medieval fortress of the 12th century to the glass pyramid by Île Saint-Louis Pei (1989). The latest addition, housing the The smaller of the two islands in the heart Islamic Art Department, was designed by of Paris is worth a short visit. A stroll along architects Mario Bellini and Rudy Ricciotti. the main street (Saint-Louis-en-l’Île) The undulating glass canopy covers the Vis- or conti courtyard, flooding the 2,800 m wing2 the quays provides breathtaking views of with light. A visit to the museum is particu- magnificent hôtels particuliers (mansion larly pleasant during evening open hours: the houses) dating from the 17th and 18th cen- Louvre is less crowded and visitors can enjoy turies. A stop at Berthillon’s for one of their stunning night-time views of Pei’s glass pyr- delicious ice creams is a must. amid, the Cour Carrée and the Seine. 4th. M Pont Marie.o Main entrance via the Pyramid (1st). M Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre.o DID YOU KNOW? 01 40 20 53 17. Daily: 9am-6pm, except Tues, 1 Jan, 1 May and 25 Dec. Wed, Fri and 1st Sat of The ‘Parc Rives de Seine’ includes the the month: open until 9.45pm. Full rate pedestrianized areas of the Left Bank (permanent collections + temporary exhibitions + (see p.31) … in addition to a 4.5-km ticket for Musée Eugène Delacroix valid 48hrs): stretch on the Right Bank of the Seine, €15. www.louvre.fr from the Quai des Tuileries to the Port de l’Arsenal! 18 HISTORIC HEART