A Walking Tour Paris

This is one of the most spectacular parts of Paris, home to the iconic
Eiffel Tower, the Ecole Militaire and the Champ-de-Mars, the beautiful
park that connects them. The area takes its name from the impressive
Hôtel des Invalides, which was built by Louis XIV for wounded soldiers,
and has at its focal point the magnificent gilded Dôme, the Sun King’s
personal church, which also houses the tomb of Napoleon. Invalides is
full of excellent museums, including the Musée Rodin, Musée Maillol and
the Musée du Quai Branly. This has long been one of the smartest parts
of the city and home to aristocratic town houses, many of which are
now embassies, with one in particular, the beautiful Hôtel Matignon, the
official residence of French prime ministers. The area has a more down-
to-earth side as well, with the lively street market on rue Cler and the
Paris sewers (Les Égouts), the entrance to which is on Quai d’Orsay.