Paris: Icons of the City


Jan 16 2008 3 mins   12
The Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral top tourists' lists as the great icons of Paris. Built in 1889 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution, the Eiffel Tower is a marvel of the Industrial Age and trumpets progress and man's ingenuity. Meanwhile, centered on the Isle de la Cite, Notre Dame sits atop what centuries ago was a Roman temple. Construction began in 1163 and lasted 200 years, resulting in one of the city's most notable sites. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.