History

Why is May 1st a public holiday in France? Origins and history of Labor Day

May 1st is a public holiday in France, and on this occasion we celebrate Labor Day. But do you know exactly why? And do you know the history of May 1st? We tell you.

Why is Easter Monday a public holiday in France? History and origins

It's one of the most important dates in the Christian religious calendar, if not the most important. As you may have guessed, we're talking about Easter. By the way, do you know what Catholics and Protestants celebrate on this day? And do you know why Easter Monday, which this year falls on April 21, 2025, is a public holiday? We'll tell you.

Did you know? Île-de-France isn't an island... but it's close!

Is Île-de-France really an island without a sea? Take an express dive into the history and mysteries of the name that shapes the identity of France's most effervescent region.

La Hublotière, Hector Guimard's Art Nouveau villa to visit this summer 2025 in Le Vésinet (78)

Have you heard of La Hublotière? This Art Nouveau villa, designed by Hector Guimard, is hidden away in the heart of Le Vésinet, in the Yvelines department. Exceptionally, it's opening its doors to the public this summer - a golden opportunity to discover our heritage!

April Fools' Day: why do we celebrate Joke Day on April 1? The origins

Every April 1, hoaxes of varying degrees of success make a comeback on April Fools' Day. But why do we celebrate this day and why do we make jokes every April 1? We reveal the history and origins of the April Fool's Day tradition.

International Women's Rights Day: why is it being celebrated on March 8?

International Women's Rights Day is celebrated around the world every year on March 8. Yet few know its history and origins. So why do we celebrate this struggle on March 8? How did this symbolic day come about? We tell you all about it.

Did you know? The Bièvre, a Parisian river, still flows beneath the cobblestones of the capital.

Once upon a time, a river flowed through the 5th and 13th arrondissements of Paris for all to see. It became too polluted in the 19th century, and is now buried beneath the cobblestones of the capital, but continues to flow beneath our feet, deeply hidden.

La Chapelle de La Sorbonne: the little-known architectural jewel of Parisian universities

Built in the 17th century in the Latin Quarter, the Sorbonne chapel embodies the elegance of French classicism, houses the tomb of Richelieu, and bears witness to the intellectual and architectural prestige of the ancient University of Paris. Inaccessible for over 25 years, it is due to reopen to the public in a few years' time.

Did you know: which is the oldest museum in Paris?

Paris is home to over a hundred museums. But do you know which is the oldest? Here's the answer...

Did you know? There was a circus on the Champs-Elysées in the 19th century.

Everyone knows Cirque d'Hiver, but did you know that Cirque d'Été existed for a few decades on the Avenue des Champs-Elysées, before disappearing forever?

Did you know? A swimming pool has been hidden beneath the Cirque d'Hiver ring since the 1930s.

There's no shortage of swimming pools in the capital, but few people have ever been able to swim in the Cirque d'Hiver! Hidden beneath the floor of the ring, it was built in the 1930s for water shows.

Meet the Bouglione family: flying trapeze at Cirque d'Hiver, our interview

On the occasion of their new show "Spectaculaire", we met up with Joseph and Louis-Sampion Bouglione to talk about flying trapeze, a skill born at the heart of the Cirque d'Hiver, one of the capital's most historic venues.

Women's Rights Day 2025: queens and princesses at Saint-Denis Basilica

To mark International Women's Rights Day, the Basilica of Saint-Denis opens its illustrious doors for an exceptional visit in the footsteps of the princesses and queens buried there, on March 8 and 9, 2025 at 2:30pm.

La Cité de l'Histoire, our test of the immersive French History experience at La Défense

Ready to plunge into the great History of France? The first Cité de l'Histoire is opening its doors in La Défense's Grande Arche, with a fun, immersive tour of our shared past.

Did you know? Why are the Champs-Elysées so named?

Do you know the origin of the name of the Champs-Elysées, the famous Parisian avenue? Created in 1674 by André le Nôtre and officially named in 1698, this royal thoroughfare takes its name from Greek mythology, we tell you.

The Musée de la Grande Guerre recreates an 800 m² open-air educational trench!

Strolling through an 800m2 trench is now possible in Ile de France, at the Musée de la Grande Guerre. The tour will give visitors a better understanding of this emblematic element of the First World War: the complex system of trenches!

Did you know? This is the oldest clock in Paris and its fascinating history.

Do you know the oldest public clock in Paris, still in operation? Mounted on the walls of the Conciergerie in the heart of the Ïle de la Cité, this clock has been telling the time since 1371. Commissioned by Charles V, the clock marks the king's time. This public clock, still in operation today, embodies six centuries of history and impressive mechanics, we tell you.

Did you know? The ring road, once inhabited by the poorest of the poor, was called the Zone.

Before it became a huge thoroughfare around the capital for motorists, the Paris ring road had a less than glorious past. At the edge of the city, between Paris and the suburbs, this space was long nicknamed the Zone, the only place where the poorest could find housing.

Ephemeris of September 28 in Paris: Fire at Le Printemps department store

On the morning of September 28, 1921, 40 years after the first fire, Le Printemps department store was the scene of a fire that ravaged the interior of the second building under construction.

Ephemeris of September 23 in Paris: The first flight of the balloon Le Neptune during the Siege of Paris

On September 23, 1870, with Paris under siege from the Prussian army, the first balloon took off from Place Saint-Pierre. Christened Le Neptune, the aircraft took off carrying 125 kilos of official dispatches for members of the government who had retreated to Tours.