http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16367
The internal courtyards, lined with Andalusian mosaics, are offset by dark eucalyptus and cedar trim. The mosque's adjoining cafe and restaurant, serves excellent north African cuisine such as couscous, tajine and sweet mint tea to all.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16367 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16220
It is in a poor district, but the church is superb, and not well-known. It is where the Gothic style was invented by the Abbe Suger from 1138 to 1144 (the East end), while the nave and transepts are even more spectacular.

It has some of the most beautiful stained glass in France, some of it at eye level, far easier to appreciate than Chartres, and it was the burial place of the French royal family: 46 kings, 32 queens, and 63 royal children were buried there, including Marie Antoinetee and Louis XVI, and there are many superb effigies, though the bodies were thrown out at the Revolution.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16220 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12718 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12718 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12391 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12391 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2763
The castle itself is quite small, with a few rooms to visit, but the beauty of Vaux is in its gardens "a la Francaise", designed by Andre Le Notre. They are absolutely breathtaking, and well worth the detour if you are in Paris. The history behind Vaux is also incredible (mainly Fouquet's demise following his construction of Vaux).

Vaux also hosts specular candle-lit evenings in the summer, when the castle and gardens are illuminated with over 2,000 candles.

To access Vaux, you take the train (Grandes Lignes) from Gare de Lyon to Melun (journey 25min) or the RER D from Le Chatelet to Melun. From there, there is a Chateaubus that can take you to Vaux. Please check the website for details of openings, etc.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2763 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2430
It's a bit of a hike to get to but well worth a visit if you're tired of seeing more obvious sites like the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur etc.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2430 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2378 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2378 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2214 gained enormous acclaim for being the first ever building to use so much glass in its structure. People expected it to collapse. yet almost a millenium later it remains one of the most grandiose establishments imaginable. As well as its own merits it gains ironic value for being placed within the police headquarters
of Paris. Providing an interesting juxtaposition of state and church within a secular country.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2214 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4807
After many years of visiting Paris I would rate the Petit Palace as the place I would most wish to return to.

This is going to be one of the most popular places to visit in Paris so go there now before the news gets around and the queues form.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4807 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/1776 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/1776