Le saviez vous guide

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.

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.

The Collège des Bernardins: one of the oldest medieval buildings in Paris to visit free of charge

Let's discover the Collège des Bernardins - one of the oldest medieval buildings in Paris. Be sure to visit this 13th-century gem, located in the heart of the Latin Quarter and open to the public free of charge. Open all year round, this cultural space offers a variety of exhibitions and events, and even a café-restaurant.

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.

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.

3 original anecdotes about the tombs of the kings and queens of France at the Basilique-Saint-Denis

Between original or touching anecdotes and French history, Noémie Nunes, in charge of communications at CMN, reveals the treasures of the Basilique Saint-Denis, whose spire is about to be reborn thanks to an extraordinary worksite.

Why has Romanesque architecture almost entirely disappeared in Paris, and where can you find it?

While the capital is a proud exponent of Gothic architecture, it also had many Romanesque buildings before that. With the passage of time, however, the vast majority have disappeared... except for a few die-hards!

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? 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!

Did you know? PSG: the grass at the Parc des Princes is protected by falcons!

How does the Parc des Princes pitch manage to be voted Ligue 1's most beautiful? It's thanks to falcons, who protect the Parisian pitch from pigeons and other vermin!

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...

The day the legendary Deligny floating pool sank in the Seine in just 40 minutes

Do you know the story of the Deligny floating pool, a veritable aquatic jewel that for two centuries offered Parisians a place to relax on the Seine... and ended up sinking in the same river in just 40 minutes? Discover the fascinating story of the Deligny swimming pool, and its disastrous demise.

Did you know? A swimming pool in Paris is heated by heat from... sewage!

In Paris, a municipal swimming pool in the 14ᵉ arrondissement hides a well-kept secret: it's heated using heat... from the sewers! An ingenious example of urban ecology to discover without plugging your nose.

Did you know? There used to be a morgue on the Ile de la Cité, and it was a real public attraction.

In the 19th century, the morgue on Quai de l'Archevêché became a morbid and popular showcase, where anonymous corpses in search of identity attracted thousands of curious onlookers behind glass. A place as astonishing as it is disturbing, when death was a showcase on Paris's Île de la Cité.

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.

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? 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.