Paris has a lot of must-see sights – from historical buildings and beautiful paintings to amazing art of engineering and architecture.

You can easily spend a whole week in Paris. But if you are busy, there are five sights you must not miss.

Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is the mark of Paris – and probably also the most famous tower in the world.

The tower was build for the world exhibition in 1889. Originally it should only have been there temporarily.

The Eiffel Tower is 319 meters (1,047 feet) – which made it the tallest building in the world until 1931, where Empire State Building was build.

A visit will test your patience. In the high season the queue can be long because the limited capacity of the elevators. If you are fit, you can use the 1,665 stairs instead.

But it is worth the trouble. From the top you have a fantastic view of Paris. On a clear day you can see 70 kilometers (43 miles).

The Louvre

Probably the best known painting in the world, "Mona Lisa" painted by Leonardo da Vinci can be seen in the famous Louvre Museum. The same applies to the Greek statue "Venus de Milo" from 1st Century BC.

Those two treasures are only a little part of the many fantastic pieces in the museum – from art of the ancient Greece and Egypt to European paintings and fashion.

The history of Louvre goes way back to the Middle Ages. Originally the museum was a fortress; build in 1190 by King Philippe II as a protection of Paris from the Vikings. In 1793 the castle opened as a museum for the public.

The latest addition is the glass pyramid made famous by Dan Brown in the "Da Vinci Code".

Notre Dame Cathedral

The first stone was laid for the Notre Dame Cathedral in 1163, but it should take 170 years to finish it.

When you walk around in the cathedral, you can almost sense the presence of history, because many historical events have taken place right there. For instance Napoleon was crowned here.

It is possible to get all the way to the top of the 69 meters (226 feet) tower, where there is an amazing view of the roof of Paris.

The square in front of the cathedral is defined as the center of Paris. Here is Point Zéro, which the distance to Paris is measured from.

Champs-Elysées

The Champs-Elysées Boulevard was constructed back in 1667, and in 1709 it got the present name.

Along the boulevard are some of Paris’ most exclusive shops together with some nice cafés. The president of France does also live here.

Champs-Elysées is also known as the finish of the Tour de France – the famous cycle race.

Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe is a 50 meters (164 feet) high sign of Napoleons’ megalomania.

He started the construction in 1805, but it should take 31 years before the building was finally finished.

The reliefs show Napoleon’s victories and impressions from the French revolution. Below the arch is the monument for the Unknown Warrior.

The Arc de Triomphe is the starting point of 12 avenues.