Le saviez vous guide

You pass them every day in Paris without noticing: these little bollards and posts hide a royal history.

In Paris, bollards, posts and wheel guards lining the sidewalks have protected façades, pedestrians and terraces for centuries. From carriages to scooters, a retrospective on the history of these urban sentinels we pass by without really seeing.

Tour de France 2026: the offbeat little tales from the Grande Boucle to discover

In more than a century of existence, the Tour de France has been the stage for countless feats and remarkable stories. Here are a few anecdotes to know about the Grand Boucle to help you shine in social settings!

Tour de France 2026: why don’t the riders have any leg hair?

You may have noticed: elite cyclists have completely smooth legs. Aesthetic effect or real athletic advantage? We explain why Tour de France riders go hair-free. Here’s an unusual anecdote!

This Pompadour-era château in the Yvelines hides a superb estate and a Japanese garden.

Few people know the Château de La Celle-Saint-Cloud, in Yvelines, which hosts a 23-hectare estate featuring a Japanese garden, contemporary sculptures, and a classified park. For Rendez-vous aux Jardins 2026, we headed out to discover this hidden historical treasure that’s well worth a stroll.

World Cup 2026: why is the French national team’s jersey green? A symbolic tribute

Don’t be surprised if you don’t see the French team clad in blue on the pitch at the 2026 World Cup. This time, the jersey will be light green, a choice with a highly symbolic nod to the United States.

This historic monument on Île de la Cité was Paris’s greatest medieval castle.

Behind the gilded façades of today’s judiciary, the foundations of the era’s most majestic royal fortress lie hidden. Long before the monarchy moved its seat to other Parisian residences, Île de la Cité housed a colossal fortified complex.

Some drinking-water fountains in Paris now dispense sparkling water. Where can you find them?

Are you on Team Sparkling Water? Believe it or not, the city’s drinking fountains offer more than just still water. All year round, take advantage of the effervescent fountains that dot Paris to fill your bottle with this cool water—bubbles included.

Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines: the surprising origin of its name

The name of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, this vast agglomeration in the Yvelines about 20 km southwest of Paris, derives from a small medieval chapel dedicated to a 3rd‑century Roman martyr. A story that few Île-de-France residents know. Here's the story.

Why is the Pont-Neuf called that, even though it’s Paris’ oldest bridge?

In light of its name, how can the Pont-Neuf be Paris’s oldest bridge? We explain its history and the reason for this sobriquet.

And what if the vineyards of Montmartre weren’t actually the oldest in Paris after all?

Far from Montmartre, the capital’s true viticultural elder leads a quiet, protected life in the 5th arrondissement. This solitary vine, planted in 1874, holds Paris’s longevity record, tucked away in a courtyard at the Collège de France. Discover its astonishing story!

Visit La Hublotière, Hector Guimard's Art Nouveau villa, this summer 2026 in the Yvelines.

Do you know Hublotière? This Art Nouveau villa, designed by Hector Guimard, hides in the heart of Le Vésinet in the Yvelines. Although it is inhabited year-round, it opens its doors to the public each summer, for just a few euros.

The château of Louis XIV’s secret wife, and where Vauban left his only unfinished aqueduct.

Less than an hour from Paris, the Château de Maintenon in Eure-et-Loir reveals the astonishing rise of Madame de Maintenon and the remnants of Vauban’s only civil project. We set off to explore this sublime château and its gardens, and we’ll tell you everything about this heritage treasure.

The Frochot House, a cursed and enigmatic mansion with a neo-Gothic façade, near Pigalle

There’s no shortage of chilling stories in Paris! Discover the secrets that dwell at No. 1 Avenue Frochot, in the Pigalle district, where a mysterious house—almost haunted—seems to stand.

Did you know? You can take free courses at the Collège de France, opposite the Sorbonne.

If you suddenly feel like sitting in on a course at the Collège de France, it’s possible! Since 1530, teaching there has been free and open to everyone, making knowledge more accessible. So, ready to explore the mysteries of the atom or the Mesopotamian civilization?

Did you know? There used to be another geode, just like the one at La Villette, in La Défense.

Have you ever noticed the spherical silhouette on the La Défense esplanade? From 1992 to 2000, this Dome housed the world’s largest IMAX theater, delivering total immersion for film buffs. A chapter that would not last more than eight years...

Did you know? The oldest basketball court in the world is in Paris.

In the 9th arrondissement of Paris, at the heart of the YMCA’s historic site, the gym on Rue de Trévise houses the oldest basketball court in the world kept in its original condition. Opened in 1893, this heritage site chronicles the beginnings of basketball in Europe.

These remains of a Gallo-Roman sanctuary concealed a nymphaeum in the Yvelines.

At the heart of the Vaucouleurs valley, the village of Septeuil conceals a rare relic from Roman Gaul: a monumental nymphaeum. Erected to honor a sacred spring, this ancient sanctuary offers an exceptional testimony to water-related devotional rites in Île-de-France.

Why did the Liège station on Line 13 change its name after the war?

Liège station stands apart from any other. With its asymmetric platforms and murals celebrating Belgium, this stop on Line 13 hides a turbulent history, a symbol of a heroic resistance that operated part-time for years.

Did you know? You can acquire a genuine Paris paving stone for about ten euros.

What if you left Paris with a real piece of the City of Light tucked into your suitcase? It’s possible!

This secret royal chapel is a true hidden gem tucked away in a château in Seine-et-Marne.

At the Château de Fontainebleau, in Seine-et-Marne, a royal chapel remains hidden from most visitors. The Lower Chapel of Saint-Saturnin, built under Francis I, only reveals itself on rare occasions — we tell you everything.