"Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir ?"
Who hasn’t heard these words in their head when thinking of Paris? 

It's probably one of the most popular French sentences known in the world. "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir" is the first sentence a lot of people learn in French, popularized by a song about the Moulin Rouge cabaret in Paris. 
As you could guess this sentence is connected with the lusty entreaty conjures images of the cabaret entertainment, the 20^th century French dance named Cancan and the movie "Moulin Rouge".

The Moulin Rouge Paris was built in 1889 during the euphoric period called "belle époque" characterized by industrial economic and cultural growth.
Le Moulin Rouge was the entertaining place of "belle époque" where you can have fun, live your life freely and let your problem goes. 

Created as a hotspot for the Parisian Bourgeoisie this place has been described as "just a bit kitsch".
In the garden at the Moulin Rouge you would be able to see an Elephant.
And during Moulin Rouge cabaret shows there were monkeys playing music.
The guests of the Cabaret would enjoy a night of merriment. Glass after glass of champagne, it was never ending unless they found themselves on the floor in drunken stupor. 

So what about the naked girls, the French Cancan and the words "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir"?
Hold on, I’m getting there!

As you can imagine, in 1889 people weren't going on holiday to the beach to watch girls in their bikinis.
It may be hard to imagine but even the "lazy French" didn't have holidays at that time!

Women wore long dresses with tons of fabric and giant grandma panties.
I can only agree with what you are thinking, this is totally unsexy.

But as it was the flourishing period called the "Belle Epoque" artist's become richer. And I'm sure you've noticed that you always have naked chicks somewhere in artist's paintings, statues, books…
So the silhouette of women's body was in all artists' conversations.

Founders of Moulin Rouge saw an opportunity to profit and decided to put on a show that would be the first palace of the woman’s body.
French Cancan, black stockings, garters, petticoats and other sexy fashions made these shows a huge success.

As for a quick notice, the provocative "sexy side" of the French Cancan has its origin in the French revolution.
Girls who wanted to defy authority would perform the Cancan dance and showing their knees and legs to show that they were free from royal power and religious rules.
When the dance was invented it was called only the "Cancan". It was the foreigners who started to call it the "French Cancan".

But the Moulin Rouge is not only a striptease dance show. Many artists and musicians performed on the Moulin Rouge stage.

To mention the most famous:

• the emblematic figure of the Moulin Rouge Mistinguett and her music hall
• Edith Piaf
• Yves Montand
• Charles Trenet
• Charles Aznavour
• Bourvil
• Fernand Raynaut ….

 Now it's time to grab your camera and get your picture there.

And girls remember that you are in France, as Pitbull said "let's enjoy life" so don't be surprised if you got proposed for some "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?!!!" ;D

How to get to le Moulin Rouge: Le Moulin Rouge 82 Boulevard de Clichy, 75018 Paris

• M2 Blanche
  Bus: 74-81-95
  Vélib': 18043 Bvd de Clichy
  Noctilien (Night Bus): N01 - N02 Blanche Paris Circulaire

• Maps:
  
  

• More info about Moulin Rouge and the Official Store
  

Inaugurated for the Exposition Universelle of 1900, such as the Eiffel Tower, Orsay Museum was in the former a train station who connected Paris to Orléans, Bordeaux and other southern city to Paris.

That's why when you enter Orsay museum; it feels as though you should be boarding the train.

Because the platforms of Orsay Train station were unsuitable for modern train, the traffic stopped in 1940.

In the year 1977, the Orsay train station got the vocation to become a museum.

Inside Orsay Museum you will see:

• The massive clock in the glass roof of the central alley
• Academic's painting: Ingres, Delacroix….
• Impressionist painting: Manet, Renoir, Degas…
• Neo-Impressionists: Van Gogh, Seurat…
• Central, Northern Europeans and USA painting
• The view over Seine's River, Louvre Museum and Sacré-Cœur Basilica from the 5^th floor

A sample of Musée d'Orsay Paris:

How to get to Orsay Museum: Musée d'Orsay – 5 Quai Anatole France, 75007 Paris

• RER C Musée d'Orsay, M12 Solférino or Assemblée Nationale
  Bus: 24-63-68-69-73-83-84-94
  Vélib' (City Bike): 7007 62 rue de Lille – 7008 Solférino
  Noctilien (Night Bus): N01 Musée d'Orsay, N02 Solférino-Bellechasse

• Maps: http://goo.gl/maps/IJeBZ

• Opening hours and prices of Orsay Museum
  

The delightful stone houses of Bercy Village are part of Paris history.
In the former those houses where used to store the wine for Paris who was delivered using the river by all French region.

In our time those cheerful stone houses will make you think that you are in 1900 Market Town.

You can enjoy Bercy Village in a sunny afternoon to relax and grab a coffee in the terrace of restaurants located there. Or take your time to do some shopping:

• Fashion Clothing shop: Agnès B, Boardriders…
• Theatre: UGC CinéCité
• House Equipment: Coté Maison, Nature et Découvertes…
• Beauty Shop: Sephora…
• Culture-Megastore: Fnac…
• Coffee and Restaurants: La chaise longue, hippopotamus, starbucks…
• Grocery and wine shop: La cure gourmande, Nicolas…
• Supermarket: Monop' store
• Other Services: Post Office, Banks

Because Bercy Village is quite small, you will probably find the time to watch a movie in the big theatre. Or you can also go in Bercy Park if you are in a mood for a walk ;)

How to get to Bercy Village: Bercy Village Cour Saint-Emilion, 75012 Paris

• M14 Cour Saint-Emilion
  Bus: 24-64-109-111
  Vélib': 12033 François Truffaut – 12034 Pirogues de Bercy
  Noctilien (Night Bus): N32-N130 Terroirs de France Cinécité

• Maps: http://goo.gl/maps/tgwj4

• Bercy Village Shopping Mall Opening Hours
  

Inaugurated in 1875, L'Opéra Garnier is the best testament to the work of Haussmann and Napoleon III. Their renovation of the city created the Parisian atmosphere shaped by luxury during the delightful period of "Belle Époque" which is encapsulated in L’Opéra Garnier.

Inspired by Greek art, but not really Greek… Inspired by Italian art, but not so Italian, L'Opéra Garnier is typical of 2^nd empire period (1850-1880) with its distinctive mix of Baroque style with Neo-Renaissance architecture.

The construction of L’Opéra Garnier was an enormous undertaking. When they wanted to make the foundations, workers discovered that there was a secret underground part of the River Seine beneath.
In order to construct the Opera and regulate the pressure of water, they created a giant subterranean lake directly under Opéra Garnier's building.

Not only is there water swilling under the floor of Opéra Garnier, but above, the roof makes honey! Thousands of bees live on Opera Garnier's roof in two beautiful hives, gathering pollen from Tuilerie's Garden and Palais Royal's flowers ;)

But Opéra Garnier is not only both historical building and a honey factory.
You can go to Opéra Garnier to visit the Opera or to watch a ballet.
For more information about which shows are played in the Opera, refer to the schedule of Paris Opera: Opéra Garnier and Opéra Bastille.

What to see outside the Opéra Garnier:

• The golden statues
• The typical frontage of the 2^nd Empire in the Baroque and Neo-Renaissance style
• The green roof

What to see inside the Opéra Garnier:

• The Grand Staircase built in marble of various colours
• The red velvet seats of the auditorium
• The Italian style Chagall's ceiling of the auditorium
• The Grand Foyer: where the public used to go during ballet intermission for a gentleman talk with ladies, a dance and a glass of Champagne.
  The Opéra Garnier Grand Foyer is as astonishing as the Galleries des Glaces of Versailles's castle.
• The library that preserves a record of 300 years of the Opera's past.

 A sample of Opéra Garnier Paris:

How to Get to Opéra Garnier: Opéra Garnier 8 Rue Scribe, 75009 Paris

• M 3-7-8 Opéra, RER A Auber-Opéra, M9 Chaussée d'Antin-La Fayette
  Bus: 20-21-22-27-29-42-52-53-66-68-81-95
  Vélib'(City Bike): 2014 Daunou – 2015 Louis le Grand – 9116 Auber
  Noctilien (Night Bus): N15-N16 Opéra

• Maps:
  
  

• Opening hours and prices for Opéra Garnier entrance

La Movida beach club will bring you in a tropical atmosphere. Palm trees, beach chair, beach houses… everything here are made for you to make you believe that you are on the beach!
Funnier than a simple beach, here you are in the middle of la Movida caliente dance floor. So let's shake your booty on latino and electro song all night long =)

Special discount with Erasmus of Paris card:

• Erasmus Party every Monday – entrance 3€ with Erasmus Card, 6€ for the others
• Ladies Night every Tuesday – free entrance for girls all night long, one drink offer to girls with Erasmus of Paris card, 6€ entrance for men's.

How to get to la Movida: La Movida Beach Club Avenida Fontes Pereira de Melo 447, 4450 Porto

• M A-B-C-E-F Viso
  Bus: 201-503 IMTT
  Night Bus: 9M Ruela -13M Man.P Azevedo

• Maps: http://goo.gl/maps/bc22L

• Opening hour and Price of la Movida: Monday to Saturday 23:30 – 6:30. Entrance price without drinks.
  -  Monday Erasmus Night: 6€ entrance, special entrance for 3€ with Erasmus of Paris
  -  Tuesday Ladies' Night: 6€ entrance, free entrance for girls, one drink offer with Erasmus of Paris Card
  -  Wednesday: Reggaeton Fever, 6€ entrance
  -  Thursday: Brazilian Night, 6€ entrance
  -  Friday: Noche Caliente, 8€ entrance
  -  Saturday: La Movida DJ Set, 8€ entrance

Before becoming what is now considered one of the most important museums in the world, Le Louvre was the official Royal Palace before Louis XIV decision to construct Versailles in 1674.

Le Louvre is also the biggest palace in Europe.

Le Louvre is recognized as one of the most important museums of our time.

It took approximately 800 years to build Palais du Louvre (as you may know, French people are always in strike and like to take their time at work ;D).

If you want to know more about the construction of the Louvre you should have a look here.

The history of the Louvre palace is fascinating, in its history it has been:

• A medieval fortress from 1180 to 1364
• The Royal French palace from 1364 to 1674
• A deserted building only rarely used for receptions from 1674 to 1699
• An hotel for artists painters, sculptor... and exhibition place since 1699
• Louvre became a museum after the French Revolution in 1789

Today The Louvre is a museum, a commercial centre and an art school.

Inside Louvre's museum you will find art collections divided in several departments:

• Painting from middle Ages to 1848: Ingres, Leonard da Vinci, Nicolas Poussin, Véronèse, Jacques Louis David…
• Collections of Oriental artefacts
• Egyptian, Greek and Roman art: Ramses II statue, Venus de Milo, Victory of Samothrace…
• Sculptures: Antonio Canova…
• Islamic art
• Artefacts: Napoleon III apartments, Crown of Louis XV…

A Sample of Louvre Museum:

How to get to Louvre Museum: Musée du Louvre, 75001 Paris

• M1 Louvre-Rivoli, M1-7 Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre
  Bus: 21-24-27-39-48-68-69-72-76-81-95
  Vélib': 1025 Oratoire – 1013, 1023 Saint Honoré
  Noctilien (Night Bus): N11-N24 Palais Royal Musée du Louvre - Louvre Rivoli or Quai François Mittérand - Pont des Arts, N15-N16 Louvre Rivoli

• Maps: http://goo.gl/maps/gqcwu

• Opening hour and price of Louvre Museum
  

Paris Pantheon is a temple dedicated to commemorate important people of the Nation.

History:

Before its civic vocation, the Pantheon in Paris was a church built by the King Louis XV. The Pantheon as a church was dedicated by Louis XV to Sainte Genevieve after his recovery from a serious illness in 1744.  

The construction of the Pantheon was directed by architect Jacques-Germain Soufflot.

If you hadn't guessed, Jacques-Germain Soufflot inspiration came from the Pantheon in Rome, Italy – and by inspiration we pretty much mean "a nice copy the Pantheon in Rome"!

That's why Paris Pantheon is a mix between Greek-Roman style (look at the columns in the front) and French Gothic style (see the arched curved wall from the inside).

Main things to see and know about Paris Pantheon:

In 1791, two years after the French Revolution, the Pantheon became a civilian monument to honor very important people for the Nation.

Important figures you will find in Pantheon crypt:  

• Republican defenders:
• Voltaire, Rousseau, Mirabeau (popular writer & philosopher during the Age of Enlightenment)

• Politicians:
• André Malraux, Jean Moulin, René Cassin (famous for resistance against Nazism during WW2)
• Félix Eboué (fight against slavery & colonialism)
• Jean Monet (founder of the European Economic Community)

• Writers – Novelists (with important political influence):
• Victor Hugo – Victor Hugo fought for women's rights, free education, and abolition of the death penalty…
• Alexandre Dumas – author of the "Three Musketeers" story which is a political and historical novel about 3 Musketeers of the King Louis XIII and his minister Richelieu who wanted to seize power.
• Emile Zola –  Emile Zola wanted equal rights and justice for all people, whatever their origins or religion (see Dreyfus affair for more info)

• Scientist – Physicians:
• Pierre & Marie (Maria Skłodowska) Curie discovered radium and polonium. Two nuclear elements which are used today, either as medicinal radiotherapy treatment for cancer, or as a resource for nuclear energy. 

On the main floor you will see paintings and sculptures dedicated to the church and to the Republic.

Under the cupola you will see Leon Foucault'sscientific demonstration that proves the earth is rotating.
This crazy shit is demonstrated by the constantly swinging motion of a pendulum. The pendulum never remains on the same level of the scale because its response to the Earth's rotation.

Paris Pantheon is definitely worth seeing ;).

A sample of Paris Pantheon:

How to get to the Pantheon: Place du Panthéon, 75005 Paris   

• RER B Luxembourg (exit n°2 towards Jardin du Luxembourg, Rue Gay Lussac)
  Bus: 21-27-38-82-84-85-89
  Velib' (City Bike): 5032 Valette – 5012 Estrapade – 5006 Saint Jacques
  Noctilien (Night Bus): N14-N21-N122 Luxembourg

• Maps:
  
  

• Opening hours and ticket fares for Paris Pantheon

The Sacré-Cœur basilica is the 2^nd most important religious monument in Paris, after Notre Dame de Paris cathedral.

The construction of Sacré-Cœur was governed by the state in 1871.
Sacré-Cœur construction was more of a tactical and political strategy, than a spiritual devotion for the French government.

In fact, the French government decided to build the basilica just after the defeat of France against Germany during the war of 1870.
The French government saw this defeat as god's punishment; not as due to unsuccessful military tactics.
The construction of Sacré-Cœur was ordered to ask the forgiveness of god, for mistakes the French citizens had made.

From the square in front of Sacré-Cœur basilica you have an amazing view over Paris.

You can admire:

• The view over Paris
• Paris buildings' rooftops
• The Pantheon
• Montparnasse Tower
• And other breath-taking sites!

 You can also rest in the park of Sacré-Cœur, talk with your friends, have some drinks and watch street artists perform.

For those who are not afraid with taking a short walk around the hill, we recommend you to walk around le Sacré-Cœur for a promenade in Montmartre's district.
You will discover souvenirs shops, restaurants, artistic products everywhere, painters, vineyard and other spots that tourist frequent and enjoy browsing.

Montmartre district is all what makes this lovely Parisian typical atmosphere ;)

How to get to Sacré-Cœur basilica: Basilique du Sacré-Cœur - 35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, 75018 Paris

• M2 Anvers – M12 Abesses
  Bus: 30-31-54-80-85-Montmartrobus
  Velib' (City Bike): Get redy to climb the hill, 18005 Tardieu – 18006 Place Saint Pierre
  Noctilien (Night Bus): N01-N02 Anvers Sacré Cœur, N14-N44 Château Rouge

• Maps:
  
  

• Other info about Sacré-Cœur basilica: Price: Free entrance for Basilica, Fares entrance for the cupola. Refer on the Sacré-Cœur website for opening hours and prices.

Place de la Concorde is the largest square in Paris. Concorde Square typical style is inherited from the "Age of Enlightenments".

Place de la Concorde was also called "Place de la Révolution" due to the fact that the Guillotine was located in the middle of Concorde Square during the French Revolution executions of the Aristocracy.
Place de la Concorde is the place in which the French King Louis XVI, his wife Marie-Antoinette, and leading figures of the French Revolution such as Danton and Robespierre, but also thousands of citizens lost their heads while fighting for their ideologies.

On Concorde Square you will see:

• The Luxor Obelisk which is an Egyptian gift to thanks the French man Champollion due to his work about hieroglyph translation.
• Two beautiful fountains
• 8 statues representing France provincial cities located in the corner of the place (Brest, Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Rouen, Strasbourg)
• Hotel Crillon (Luxury private hotel where you can spend the night if you have 700€) and Hôtel de la Marine (Sailing headquarter)

Close to Concorde Square you have:

• The view on the Eiffel tower
• The Champs Elysées Avenue consider as one of the most prestigious avenue of the world
• Palais de l'Elysée (the House of the French President)
• Palais Bourbon: National Embassy for French Parliament
• Musée du Louvre and Jardin des Tuileries

 

How to get to Place de la Concorde: Place de la Concorde, 75008 Paris

• M1-8-12 Concorde
  Bus: 24-42-52-72-73-84-94
  Vélib'(City Bike): 1020 Rivoli Cambon
  Noctilien (Night Bus): N11-N24 Concorde Cours la Reine, N01-N02 Assemblée Nationale  

• Maps:
  
  

The construction of the Notre Dame Cathedral began in 1163.
The Notre Dame is considering as the heart of the country of France in terms of travel distances. Look, for the bronze star in the cathedral square, this is the point that is used to make road sign travelling distances ;)

After a century of glory by being the French Kings cathedral (look for the French Kings emblem, the lily flower, inside the cathedral and the royal gallery above the doors from the exterior) The Notre Dame was deserted and become destroyed after the French Revolution.

It was the French writer Victor Hugo with his famous novel published in 1831, the Hunchback of Notre Dame,that saved the cathedral from being forgotten.

Things to see inside and outside the Notre Dame:

• The Cathedral's Gothic architecture
• The Bronze Star centre point of the country in terms of travel distances on the cathedral square
• Bible scene over the doors
• French Kings symbol and representation
• Louis XIII and Louis XIV Statue (near the altar of ND cathedral)
• Notre Dame stained glass
• Creepy atmosphere when you are inside :D

Things to see from Notre Dame's Towers:

• Gargoyles (used as a gutter to evacuate water and as the devil symbol for the last judgement in order to keep the believer on the right track and make them follow the church if they don't want to finish their day as one of those gargoyles).
• Sublime view over Paris

A sample of the Notre Dame Paris: 

How to get to Notre Dame: Cathédrale Notre-Dame - 6 Place du Parvis Notre-Dame, 75004 Paris

• M4, RER B-C Saint Michel Notre Dame
  M4 Cité
  M1-11 Hôtel de Ville
  Bus: 21-24-27-38-47-85-96
  Vélib' (City Bike): 4001 Arcole – 4003 Quai aux Fleurs
  Noctilien (Night Bus): N14-N21 Cité Palais de Justice, N15-N22 Cité Palais de Justice or Cité Parvis Notre Dame, N11-N12-N13-N14-N15-N16-N21-N22-N23-N24-N122-N144-N145 Châtelet

• Maps:
  
  

• Opening hours of the Notre Dame Cathedral, Price Free entrance

• Opening hours of Notre Dame Towers and Prices