Anecdote paris

Did you know? The very first nightclub opened its doors in Paris, near the Palais-Royal.

Far from the traditional dance bands, a musical revolution took place after World War II near the Palais-Royal. It was there that Régine replaced the jukebox with turntables, giving birth to the discotheque!

Did you know? There is only one remaining milestone in Paris, and it's on rue de Vaugirard.

At the corner of Rue Littré and Rue de Vaugirard, a discreet granite milestone bears witness to the royal measurement system of the Ancien Régime. This historic vestige, freely accessible, is the last remaining milestone in Paris. But what is a milestone? We explain!

Following in the footsteps of the Aqueduc Médicis, where can you find the last remains in the 14th arrondissement?

Today, water flows easily beneath our feet, but there was a time when an aqueduct, the Médicis, carried water from Rungis with greater difficulty. Although it is less useful today than it was in the 17th century, there are still a few remnants to be discovered when strolling through the 14th arrondissement.

La Maison du Fontainier: one of the last underground remains of the Aqueduc Médicis in Paris

In the heart of the 14th arrondissement, the Maison du Fontainier is home to the last glimpse of the Médicis aqueduct. Listed as a historic monument, this underground vestige opens its doors only on guided tours, to discover the history of water in the capital.

Did you know? A giant poem by Arthur Rimbaud can be found copied onto a wall in Paris.

In some Parisian neighborhoods, literature is a raison d'être. Such is the case in the 6th arrondissement, and particularly on rue Férou, where literary street-art lurks, as a poem by Arthur Rimbaud can be read in its entirety on a wall!

La Main Jaune, the roller disco mecca of the 80's, reopens its doors for an exclusive evening.

Have you heard of the Yellow Hand? If so, you probably grew up in the 80s. Back then, the Main Jaune was a legendary discotheque in western Paris. Better still, the Main Jaune was France's first and best-known roller disco. Closed since the early 2000s, the Main Jaune is to be rehabilitated and transformed as part of the "Réinventer Paris" call for projects. Just prior to the major works, the Main Jaune will exceptionally reopen its doors this Thursday, September 11, 2025, for a unique evening, featuring Bob Sinclar, DJ Yellow and DJ Cam behind the decks.

Did you know? In Versailles, you can sit on Molière's lap

What a curiosity in Versailles! A statue of Molière, the city's playwright par excellence, invites you to sit on his lap (and it's totally allowed). The bronze statue, designed by Xavier Veihlan, is located in the new bosquet on Place Lyautey. Here's how it works...

Did you know? You can walk on rails in Bercy Village, a vestige of the winegrowing past.

There's more to Bercy Village than shopping... If you look down, you'll still discover rails embedded in the cobblestones, remnants that tell another story of the neighborhood: that of an immense wine center that made Paris the world capital of the wine trade in the XIXᵉ century.

Did you know? When the Seine had three islands: Île Louviers, the vanished Cité archipelago

Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis once had a third islet alongside them: Île Louviers. Discover its history before it was swallowed up by urbanization, a reminder that Paris was long a shifting archipelago along the river.

Did you know? Why is the Marais district in Paris called Le Marais?

Beneath its cobbled streets and private mansions, the Marais hides an unexpected past. Before it became one of Paris's most fashionable districts, it was a vast marshland crossed by ancient branches of the Seine ...

The Caserne Montmartre and its magnificent façade, where the tradition of the firemen's ball was born

On rue Carpeaux, in the heart of the 18th arrondissement, lies the Caserne Montmartre, responsible for the birth of the firemen's ball tradition. A memorable building, with striking architecture, whose façade you can admire!

Did you know? The Eiffel Tower changes size according to the weather.

What if the Eiffel Tower wasn't as immutable as we think? Well, it's not always the same size: its silhouette changes with the seasons. But how can this be?

Did you know? The inventor of the bra was a Parisian!

A visionary with a strong commitment, Herminie Cadolle transformed women's lives by freeing their bodies from the shackles of the corset. Her invention, born between Paris and Buenos Aires, paved the way for the modern bra and a fashion house that is still alive today.

This tomb in Montmartre Cemetery turns into a rainbow in the sun. Find out which one.

In a quiet corner of the Montmartre cemetery, a tomb attracts the curious as much as it moves fans: that of France Gall, Michel Berger and their daughter Pauline. A glass vault, bathed in light, where a rainbow dances on the stone when the sun reflects on it.

Did you know? The Jardin des Tuileries is open to the public thanks to... Charles Perrault!

Opened to the public thanks to the tenacity of a certain Charles Perrault, the Tuileries Gardens owe a great deal to this storyteller. Behind his work, he is also the defender of a Paris where art and nature are shared by all.

False trompe-l'œil building facades lurk around Paris - where can you find them?

Parisian building facades are charming, aren't they? However, some of them are false, hiding technical equipment cleverly concealed in the heart of the city. Can you find them?

Did you know? The Bois de Vincennes is home to Ile-de-France's only Tibetan temple, Kagyu-Dzong.

Nestled in the heart of the Bois de Vincennes, the Tibetan temple of Kaguy-Dzong, the only one of its kind in the region, is a colorful jewel that reveals the full richness of Tibetan sacred art. With its colorful architecture and soothing atmosphere, it invites you on a true spiritual journey without leaving Paris.

The day Napoleon had to retreat... in the face of an army of rabbits

In 1807, Napoleon was reportedly stormed by an army of rabbits. Two centuries later, a few hundred meters from his tomb, a colony of rabbits is camped on the lawns of the Invalides... History loves a wink.

Between huge market and shopping mall, do you know the history of the trou des Halles?

Some places have a destiny all their own. Les Halles, in the heart of the capital, has always been dedicated to commerce, from the Middle Ages to the present day, evolving from a giant market to a shopping mall, with a few twists and turns in between! Discover its history.

When aviation meets watchmaking in Paris, the unusual story of the Cartier wristwatch

Today, wristwatches have become the norm, but at the very beginning of the last century, gusset watches were the fashionable ones. It took a struggling aviator and the expertise of his friend Louis Cartier to invent this far more practical version! Discover the Parisian history of the wristwatch.