Paris, far beyond its reputation as the ‘City of Light’, is brimming with secrets and surprising anecdotes. Discover 34 little-known facts to explore another fascinating facet of the French capital.
1. There are no stop signs anywhere in Paris!
Crazy but true! Scouring the city for a stop sign would be a waste of time.
The last one was removed in 2016, in the 16th arrondissement, after construction work. What’s more, with its reputation as the city’s only stop sign, it’s been stolen on several occasions.
2. The Eiffel Tower was meant to be temporary
Built for the 1889 Universal Exhibition, the tower was to be demolished 20 years later.
But Gustave Eiffel thought of everything and described all the scientific advantages of his edifice, such as meteorological and astronomical observations, and antenna support for wireless transmission, radio, and television.
3. The Paris Catacombs house the bones of millions of people
Opened to the public in 1809, today millions of people visit one of the world’s largest ossuaries, housing the well-organized bones of millions of people.
4. The Louvre is the most visited art museum in the world
According to a published study and report, the Louvre is the most visited art museum in the world. It received over 8 million visits in 2023!
It’s easy to see why: thousands of artworks, including the most famous, the Mona Lisa, are on display.
5. Montmartre was once a village outside Paris
Originally a commune of the Seine department, the Montmartre district was annexed to Paris in 1860, but remained a small village on the outskirts of the capital.
In the 20th century, the district became a haven for artistic souls such as Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gogh.
6. Paris’ first café opened in 1686
The famous café-restaurant Le Procope, still open today, is the oldest café in Paris!
Drinks, sorbets, cakes… all in a chic Parisian decor. A guaranteed delight!
7. The Paris metro is one of the oldest in the world, opened in 1900
Following the success of the London and Budapest metros, Paris set about building its own underground rail network, with over 300 stations. The goal: to open to the public for the 1900 Universal Exhibition and Olympic Games!
8. The Eiffel Tower grows in summer
As the weather and temperature change during the winter and summer, the Eiffel Tower grows, gaining a few millimeters as the heat reacts with its iron structure.
It’s an incredible natural phenomenon, don’t you think?
9. The Louvre is so big that 100 days wouldn’t be enough to see all the artworks
With over 35,000 artworks on display at the Louvre, it’s hard to see them all!
It would take more than 4 months to complete the tour, provided you spend just one minute in front of each piece.
10. There are beehives on the roof of the Opéra Garnier; honey is even sold on site
Several beehives have been installed on the roof of the Opéra Garnier for over 30 years.
Even in the heart of Paris, bees produce honey that is sold in the Opéra boutiques.
11. The Champs-Élysées was once a marsh before becoming one of the world’s most famous avenues
Described in France as the most beautiful avenue in the world, the Champs-Élysées has undergone many changes and developments.
It’s hard to believe that the Champs-Élysées was originally a swamp!
12. Pont Neuf is ironically the oldest bridge in Paris
In 1578, Paris erected its very first bridge, adorned with over 380 mascarons and named Pont Neuf (New Bridge in French). An amusing anecdote, since the name has remained unchanged to this day.
13. The Arc de Triomphe has a twin brother in Romania
Is the Arc de Triomphe unique in the world? Well, no! A smaller Arc de Triomphe has also been present in Romania, in Bucharest, since 1936.
The first wooden Arc de Triomphe was erected in 1878, before being replaced by the one still standing today.
14. The Palais Garnier has an underground water reservoir that inspired the story of the Phantom of the Opera
A ‘lake’ beneath the Palais Garnier is said to be home to the legend of the Phantom of the Opera; Ernest, pianist and son of an Opera dancer, is said to still haunt the underground water reservoir where he took refuge to compose a work in memory of his beloved fiancée.
It’s truly a romantic legend for Paris.
15. The Sainte-Chapelle was built to house relics including Christ’s Crown of Thorns
In 1241, Saint-Louis had the Sainte-Chapelle built to house the various relics he had acquired.
Among them, the Crown of Thorns and a fragment of the True Cross!
16. Vines are cultivated in Montmartre, and they produce wine every year
Along the Butte Montmartre, you’ll find… vines! It’s true, Montmartre was home to several vineyards centuries ago.
Vines reappeared in the 1930s, and several hundred bottles are produced here every year.
17. The Louvre is the world’s largest art museum
Opened 230 years ago, the Louvre is home to works of art from different eras, natures, genres and more.
This museum is the largest in the world, with halls and galleries stretching over 17 acres!
18. The Bloody Mary was supposedly created in Paris
Several people claim to be behind the Bloody Mary. One of them is bartender Fernand Petiot. He is said to have spontaneously created the cocktail in 1921 at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris.
19. A competition for the best baguette in Paris is held every year in the capital
For 30 years now, bakers have been competing to produce the best baguette in Paris.
Each year, the winner supplies bread to the Élysée Palace and the President of the Republic until the next competition.
20. Over 500 parks and gardens in Paris
Paris has no shortage of greenery. More than 500 parks, squares and gardens gracefully occupy the French capital.
Each has its own decor and history, and these green spaces offer guaranteed moments of relaxation.
21. Paris has its own Statue of Liberty (and then some!)
Statue of Liberty means New York, right? Well, not necessarily!
6 replicas of the statue are on display throughout Paris. They are a demonstration of this French masterpiece.
22. The weight of “love padlocks” threatens to topple the lovers’ bridge
Ah, the famous Pont des Arts! Who doesn’t want to seal their love in Paris?
For years, lovers have come to hang a padlock on the bridges of Paris as a romantic symbol. Except that the accumulated weight threatened the structure and had to be removed in 2014.
23. The city has 20 arrondissements
Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements, each with its own town hall. They are delimited to form a numbered spiral, with the first arrondissement at the heart of the city. A bit like the board of the Game of the Goose!
24. There’s a cafe race in Paris
Armed with a tray containing a glass of water, a coffee and a croissant, waiters and waitresses must complete a 2km run around Paris as quickly as possible.
But be careful: don’t spill anything… and no running!
The first race in Paris was held in 1914!
25. Paris has 37 bridges
The Seine in Paris is as much a tourist attraction as any of the capital’s must-see sites.
Running through Paris, it would be impossible to bypass it. So the city has built bridges to link its banks, totalling 37 in all.
26. Paris is the cradle of cabaret
The first cabarets appeared in Paris in the 15th century. Since 1889, Montmartre has been home to one of the world’s most famous cabarets: the Moulin Rouge!
27. Paris sewers stretch 2,600 km beneath the city
Sewers aren’t exactly glamorous, you might say… Yet, the sewers of Paris, which stretch over almost 2,600 km of galleries, are an attraction in their own right. Part of it is open to visitors at the Paris Sewer Museum.
A little anecdote: the police regularly patrol the sewers to ensure safety!
28. The Louvre was once a castle
In 1190, the Louvre was a castle, before becoming a royal residence years later after numerous modifications.
But with Versailles having stolen its thunder, the Louvre took on a new career in 1793, that of a world-renowned museum.
29. The Eiffel Tower is repainted every seven years
The Eiffel Tower needs care! Its creator, Gustave Eiffel, demanded that his work be repainted every 7 years to maintain and protect it.
Tons and tons of paint are needed every time.
30. The smallest street in Paris is a staircase
The smallest street in Paris, rue des Degrés, is located in the 2nd arrondissement. It’s only 5.75 m long, so don’t miss it!
And it’s unlike any other street, because it’s all stairs. 14 steps to be precise.
31. The quays of the Seine are transformed into summer beaches
Sand, deckchairs, parasols, cold drinks… in Paris, you say? That’s right!
Since 2002, the city of Paris has been transforming its quays along the Seine into beaches, so that everyone can enjoy the summer.
32. Paris has over 130 museums
In Paris, culture is king! The city is overflowing with thousands of artworks, representing every era and genre.
It would take months to visit the hundreds of museums scattered across the capital.
33. The Sorbonne was founded in 1257
One of Paris’s most prestigious universities, the Sorbonne, was founded in 1257.
Since then, it has undergone many changes and reorganizations, but remains a renowned university, and is featured in a number of international rankings.
34. Paris was founded around an island in the Seine called the Île de la Cité
At the heart of Paris lies… an island. Île de la Cité, capital’s magnificent jewel, is home to must-see sites such as Sainte-Chapelle, Notre-Dame de Paris and Pont-Neuf.
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