2 bd du Palais (1st).M Cité.o 01 53 40 60 80. Daily: 10.30am-6.30pm, except 1 May and 25 Dec. Full rate: €9.50. Joint ticket with the Sainte-Chapelle/full rate: €17. 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 MUSÉE Île de la Cité. Below the bridge, at the tip of the island, the Square du Vert Galant, a pop- DU LOUVRE ular spot for courting couples, offers lovely views of the Seine. Continue your stroll across the Place Dauphine with its numer- 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 Pei (1989). The latest addition, housing the SAMARITAINE PARIS PONT-NEUF Islamic Art Department, was designed by The iconic Samaritaine, with art deco and architects Mario Bellini and Rudy Ricciotti. art nouveau facades, and which is due to The undulating glass canopy covers the Vis- conti courtyard, flooding the 2,800 m wing2 open in 2021, will house, among other things, with light. A visit to the museum is particu- a department store (20,000 m²) and a luxury larly pleasant during evening open hours: the hotel. Louvre is less crowded and visitors can enjoy 19 rue de la Monnaie (1st). M Pont Neuf.o stunning night-time views of Pei’s glass pyr- www.samaritaine.com amid, the Cour Carrée and the Seine. ÎLE SAINT-LOUIS Main entrance via the Pyramid (1st). The smaller of the two islands in the heart M Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre.o of Paris is worth a short visit. A stroll along 01 40 20 53 17. Daily: 9am-6pm, except the main street (Saint-Louis-en-l’Île) Tues, 1 Jan, 1 May and 25 Dec. 1st Sat of the or month: open until 9.45pm. Full rate the quays provides breathtaking views of (permanent collections + temporary exhibitions magnificent hôtels particuliers (mansion + ticket for Musée Eugène Delacroix valid houses) dating from the 17th and 18th cen- 48hrs): €17. Booking of a time slot on turies. A stop at Berthillon’s for one of their www.ticketlouvre.fr is necessary to guarantee delicious ice creams is a must. entry to the Museum. www.louvre.fr 4th. M Pont Marie.o 18|HISTORIC HEART