Discover Paris on Your Seine River Cruise

River cruising is a holiday choice which has dramatically risen in popularity; it's an experience far more peaceful than your standard package holiday, offering complete peace of mind and the height of relaxation as you are taken to a number of the finest towns and cities which lie on the banks of the world's waterways. One of the most popular rivers to explore is the Seine, a river which carves through the city of Paris. Here are some of the great sights of the city of love you can become acquainted with during a river cruise.

We begin with the Eiffel Tower, the tallest structure in the city and one which dominates the landscape. Designed by engineer Gustave Eiffel, it quickly became a cultural icon of France after it was erected in 1889. It is among the most-visited paid monuments in the world, with over 7.1 million people climbing to the observation deck during 2011 alone. While it has been documented in so many forms of media over the years, seeing it up close always promises to amaze and astound. While there is a lift service to three levels, there is the opportunity to walk to the first level - although the 300-odd steps usually puts people off!

Another popular sight is the Cathedral Notre Dame, regarded as one of the finest examples of French-Gothic architecture and as among the most iconic church buildings in the world. Boasting a history dating back hundreds of years, it was the inspiration behind The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, the famous novel published by Victor Hugo back in 1831. It is known for its treasury, which holds some of Catholicism's most important relics, including the supposed crown of thorns, a fragment from the True Cross, and one of the Holy Nails.

The Arc de Triomphe is also a popular location for visitors, among the most famous monuments in the city and one which always serves as the perfect postcard. Standing proudly at the Western edge of the Champs-Élysées, it was designed as a monument to all those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars, with the names of all France's victories and generals inscribed on the outer surfaces. Construction originally began in 1806, with the project finally completed in 1836 after progress was halted during the Bourbon restoration (1814-1830).

Those are three superb landmarks to be discovered in Paris, but this guide hardly scratches the surface of the wealth of interesting sights which can be found in this fantastic city

This article was put together by Thom Sanders for River Cruise Line, who are specialists in offering fantastic deals on Seine river cruises.

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