St. Jacques Tower, Paris

This monument is a perfect example of Parisian Gothic architecture. Although the 50-meter (164-foot) high tower is all that remains of Saint-Jacques-La-Boucherie church (which was built in the 16th Century and destroyed just after the French Revolution), it's still an impressive sight. At the time, scientist and philosopher Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) carried out important atmospheric pressure experiments here. His statue and the addition of a small meteorological station in a part of the tower honor his memory. The tower is closed to the public.