History & heritage

Contes et Histoires 2025: royal entertainment at the Château de Maisons in Maisons-Laffitte

The Château de Maisons in Maisons-Laffitte is offering workshops and fun activities for the whole family during this new edition of Contes et Histoires, running from December 20, 2025, to January 4, 2026. It's a program that's sure to delight families during the Christmas holidays!

Contes et Histoires 2025: a fun investigation and storytelling tour at the Villa Savoye in Poissy (78)

For the 2025 edition of Tales and Stories in National Monuments, head to the Villa Savoye in Poissy: this cultural venue offers wonderful family activities during the Christmas holidays! Take part on December 20 and 21, 2025, and January 2 and 4, 2026.

Contes et Histoires 2025 in Paris: tours, workshops, and Christmas shows for the whole family at the Hôtel de la Marine

Once again this year, the Hôtel de la Marine is participating in the Contes et Histoires event. From December 19, 2025, to January 4, 2026, the monument will be hosting a range of family activities during the Christmas holidays.

Contes et Histoires 2025: a theatrical candlelit tour at the Maison des Jardies in Sèvres

For the 2025 Christmas holidays, the Maison de Jardies, located in Sèvres (92), is offering original tours for families from January 2 to 4, 2026, as part of the new edition of the Contes et Histoires event, organized within the Monuments Nationaux.

The theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre Museum in 1911: here's the story

On August 22, 1911, Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa disappeared from the Musée du Louvre, under the noses of the guards. It was a shock. It would be another two years before Mona Lisa's smile could be seen again in sunny Florence.

Did you know? There is a huge open-air water reservoir between the rooftops in Passy.

Since 1866, the 16th arrondissement has been home to the Passy Reservoir, a vast hydraulic structure perched on the Chaillot hill. Designed by engineer Eugène Belgrand during the Second Empire, this discreet site still supplies non-drinking water to gardens and fountains in western 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.

Did you know that a sublime and unusual Parisian façade is hidden in Cité Malesherbes?

Among the most beautiful facades and buildings in Paris is the one designed by architect Anatole Jal, for and by painter Pierre-Jules Jollivet. Nestled in the peaceful, hidden Cité Malesherbes, this marvel of biblical scenes is well worth a visit. We tell you all about it.

Maisons des Illustres in Paris and the Ile-de-France region: where to find them, what they represent...

There are 37 Maisons des Illustres in Paris and the Île-de-France region, celebrating personalities who have left a lasting mark on the world of culture or science. Discover their history, and where to find them in the Paris region.

Did you know that the Tour Chicago was one of Paris's first skyscrapers?

It's a building with a fascinating history, and many special features... One of which is that it is totally invisible from the street! Discover the Tour Chicago, one of Paris's first skyscrapers.

Did you know? What are the 10 most unusual objects found in the Paris metro?

In the twists and turns of the Paris metro, agents discover much more than forgotten umbrellas. Between a funeral urn, a wooden leg and a Scottish bagpipe, these unusual objects bear witness to the mysterious lives of the 200,000 passengers who lose their belongings every year on Paris transport. We reveal the 10 most original objects, consciously (or not) forgotten.

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.

Ephemeris of August 19 in Paris: The Liberation of Paris, we tell you about it

From August 19 to 25, 1944, Paris was finally liberated from German occupation. It was the triumph of the Allies and fighting France, and the establishment of General de Gaulle as leader of a liberated and victorious France.

August 15 ephemeris: Laying the foundation stone for the Arc de Triomphe in Paris

On August 15, 1806, the foundation stone was laid for the Arc de Triomphe, built by order of Napoleon 1st to commemorate the victories of the French armies. We tell you the story of the moment that saw the birth of one of the symbols of Paris.

Do you know which Île-de-France town Paris-Brest comes from?

A gourmet creation par excellence, today the Paris-Brest can be found in most French bakeries and pastry shops. We tell you more about the history of this cake.

Domaine National de Port-Royal des Champs: A Historical and Cultural Journey in Yvelines

We're off to discover the Domaine National de Port-Royal des Champs in Magny-les-Hameaux, Yvelines, open all year round. This historic and cultural site, which bears witness to the history of Jansenism, offers a unique visiting experience and a wonderful discovery walk.

The Château de Monte-Cristo, Alexandre Dumas' hidden and unusual home

Discover the Château de Monte-Cristo, the residence imagined by the writer Alexandre Dumas. Set in an English garden on the Saint-Germain-en-Laye side of the Yvelines region, this exuberantly styled 19th-century château and its small Château d'If (Yew Castle) are waiting to be discovered. We take you on a tour of this hidden heritage, listed as a historic monument.

History of France: The Affair of the Necklace, the scandal that cost Marie-Antoinette dearly

The Affair of the Necklace is an episode that is regularly mentioned when discussing the life of Marie-Antoinette and the events leading up to the French Revolution. But what exactly is it all about? A look back at a famous swindle that left its mark on French history.

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...