Heritage

The Medici Column: a mysterious royal relic tied to astrology near the Bourse de Commerce

Set against the Bourse de Commerce, the Médicis column captivates with its lone silhouette. The sole surviving remnant of the former Hôtel de la Reine, built for Catherine de Médicis in the 16th century, this pillar is said to have served as her astrological observatory, reflecting the queen’s fascination with the esoteric.

Did you know? La Santé Prison is the last prison within the city limits of Paris.

In the 14th arrondissement of Paris, the Santé prison, the last large intramural detention center, tells the story of more than 150 years of prison history. From its origins in the 19th century to its recent renovation, this establishment has seen many famous inmates pass through its doors.

The Musée de Cluny, Paris' museum of the Middle Ages, its program and age-old treasures

Located in the heart of the Latin Quarter, the Musée de Cluny is housed in the 13th-century Hôtel des Abbés de Cluny, and is home to works of art even older than that! Come and visit this museum dedicated to the Middle Ages in Paris.

Maison Hetzel: the home of Jules Verne's publisher, an endangered heritage site in Sèvres (92)

In the heart of Sèvres, discover the Maison Hetzel! A small troupe struggles to bring to life the history of this place where the family of this renowned publisher, who published Jules Verne and his Voyages extraordinaires, lived.

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.

Reconstruction of the spire at Saint-Denis Basilica: our interview with a stonemason

On the occasion of the reconstruction of the spire of the Basilique Saint-Denis and the opening of the Fabrique de la Flèche, where visitors can tour the construction site, we met stonemason Albanne Cadennes to discuss this fascinating skill.

Auguste Comte's house, a memorial to the philosopher of positivism in Paris

In the heart of Paris' Latin Quarter, discover Auguste Comte's apartment-museum. A Maison des Illustres, it plunges us into the philosophy of the founder of French positivism.

The Parc des Princes, a soccer temple that has been home to Paris-Saint-Germain since 1974

After the Stade de France, the Parc des Princes is the largest soccer stadium in the Paris region, and has been home to Paris-Saint-Germain since the late 1970s. Accessible on guided tours, it is mainly used on match nights.

The Musée de l'Ordre de la Libération (Museum of the Order of the Liberation) retraces the history of the French Resistance at Les Invalides.

Located in the heart of the Invalides building, the Musée de l'Ordre de la Libération, founded in 1970, is dedicated to the order created by General de Gaulle, and traces the career of those who fought for a free France in the face of Nazi occupation.

Journées du Patrimoine 2025 : Chasse au trésor et démonstration à la Monnaie de Paris

Pour les Journées du Patrimoine 2025, la Monnaie de Paris vous attend pour vous faire profiter de ses trésors et de ses collections à travers un programme spécial. Rendez-vous le week-end des 20 et 21 septembre 2025 pour faire le plein de belles animations gratuites. Voici ce qui vous attend !

What religious treasures can you discover in the Pays de Fontainebleau?

Looking for a cultural and spiritual getaway near Paris? The Pays de Fontainebleau (77) reveals its little-known religious treasures through 3 original discovery trails. From the hermitage of Franchard to the churches along the Seine, explore chapels and steeples all year round.

Château de la Madeleine in Chevreuse, a Medieval Treasure in Ile-de-France

Available all year round, the Château de la Madeleine in Chevreuse, a medieval jewel in the Ile-de-France region, invites you to immerse yourself in history.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: history and significance of this monument beneath the Arc de Triomphe

In the center of Paris, a place magnetized by history attracts glances as well as silence. Just beneath the Arc de Triomphe, a discreet but powerful symbol links the living to those never seen again. Few really know its origins, yet every evening, a flame watches over it tirelessly ...

Did you know? Only one vestige of the former Halles de Paris remains in Nogent-sur-Marne.

The sole survivor of the twelve iron and glass pavilions designed by Victor Baltard to modernize the commercial heart of Paris, No. 8 now stands in Nogent-sur-Marne. A precious testimony to the industrial architecture of the Second Empire, it has been enjoying a second life since 1976.

Paris: Le Défenseur du Temps, an astonishing automaton clock in the Horloge district of Paris

Ever heard of Le Défenseur du Temps in Paris? This historic automaton clock, recently renovated, awaits you in the Horloge district which gives it its name. Discover its history right up to the present day.

In the footsteps of André Le Nôtre in Paris and the Île-de-France region: the legacy of the famous gardener

From Vaux-le-Vicomte to Versailles, landscape gardener André Le Nôtre is responsible for some of the most famous gardens in the Paris region. We take you along in the footsteps of this famous botanical architect, to discover the places to visit in Paris and the Île-de-France region. We conquer the art of the French garden.

Carve your own bas-relief at an introductory stone-cutting workshop in the Marais.

In a workshop in the heart of the Marais district, learn the art of stone carving from passionate craftsman Grégory Philippe. In just two hours, become a builder for a day and leave with your own hand-carved bas-relief.

Did you know? Sainte-Geneviève, patron saint of Paris, saved the capital from invasion by the Huns!

An emblematic but often overlooked figure of the capital, Sainte Geneviève saved Lutetia from Attila's invasion in the 5th century. A true heroine whose imprint still marks the heights of Paris's 5th arrondissement!

Did you know? Avenue de l'Opéra is one of the only tree-free streets in Paris.

Avenue de l'Opéra has been completely deserted by greenery, and it's impossible to find a single tree... Why, then, was nature cast aside overnight in the middle of the 19th century?

Where does the word Paname, the slang nickname for Paris, come from?

"Paname", the popular and affectionate nickname for Paris, has been intriguing people for over a century due to its widespread use, particularly in slang and artistic language. But what exactly is the origin of this surprising word, which is more reminiscent of Central America than of the French capital?