Paris is one of the world's most fascinating and beautiful cities. With its cobbled streets, quaint cafés and iconic monuments, the city is a historical and cultural gem that can be explored for days on end without ever getting bored. But what also makes Paris so special are its stories, anecdotes and unusual places.
Behind its streets, its historic buildings, its relics, its basements and even its hotels, lie facts and unusual stories and anecdotes that fascinate us. We invite you to discover the secrets of the most emblematic objects and places, as well as the surprising spots that make up Parisian heritage. We warn you, you're about to see the capital in a whole new light!
Did you know, for example, that the Eiffel Tower was originally scheduled to be dismantled after the 1889 Universal Exhibition, but that its transformation into a radio antenna saved it from destruction? Or that the Père-Lachaise cemetery is home to the graves of such luminaries as Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf and Jim Morrison? Why is the Sacré Coeur so white, and where does the story of the Phantom of the Opera come from?
Are you familiar with this little-known covered passage that’s getting a major facelift, located near the Galerie Vivienne?
In Paris’s 2nd arrondissement, the Galerie Colbert has just completed a three-year restoration project spanning from 2022 to 2025. Join us as we revisit this cultural jewel and delve into the fascinating story behind its unique heritage. [Read more]
What secrets lie behind this Art Nouveau façade and its stunning cork-shaped roof?
At 140 Rue de Rennes in Paris stands a striking building, its corner turret unlike any other. Celebrating the heyday of department stores and the Art Nouveau movement, the former Félix Potin commercial building is a testament to innovation and bold design. [Read more]
Did you know? The very first nightclub opened its doors in Paris, near the Palais-Royal.
Far from the traditional dance bands, a musical revolution took place after World War II near the Palais-Royal. It was there that Régine replaced the jukebox with turntables, giving birth to the discotheque! [Read more]
Did you know? Who was Max Linder, after whom the cinema in the 9th arrondissement is named?
A symbol of auteur cinema in Paris, the Max Linder Panorama perpetuates the memory of its founder, a pioneer of silent film. Behind this legendary theater lies the tragic story of a visionary artist who left his mark on the history of cinema. But who was Max Linder? Let us tell you. [Read more]
Good deal: get discounts by keeping your admission ticket for another museum
Here's a little-known but very useful tip: some Parisian museums offer discounts to visitors who present their admission ticket to another museum. [Read more]
The last 13 Christmas trees at Galeries Lafayette from 2025 to 2013
Discovering the huge Christmas tree at Galeries Lafayette has become a real tradition in Paris. Every year since 1976, it has adorned the center of the dome of the famous Parisian department store. Like every year, everyone has their say on whether it was better or worse than last year. So we thought a little falsh back of the photos from the last 12 years would give you a better opportunity to compare. [Read more]
MONA, COHI... what do these acronyms displayed at the front of RER trains mean?
If you regularly take the RER, then you have most likely seen these four-letter names at the front of trains and on display screens. COHI, HOVE, or TAVA on the RER E, or GOTA, MONA, VICK, and SARA on the RER C... But do you know what these acronyms, nicknamed "mission codes," mean? We'll explain. [Read more]
Did you know? France's roads start at ground zero, in front of Notre-Dame de Paris.
Paris' long history gives it a number of advantages, not least that of being the starting point for all the roads in France. It has been the country's capital for centuries, and is home to ground zero, located on the forecourt of Notre-Dame Cathedral. [Read more]
Did you know? There is only one remaining milestone in Paris, and it's on rue de Vaugirard.
At the corner of Rue Littré and Rue de Vaugirard, a discreet granite milestone bears witness to the royal measurement system of the Ancien Régime. This historic vestige, freely accessible, is the last remaining milestone in Paris. But what is a milestone? We explain! [Read more]
Square René-Viviani, an unusual garden home to the oldest tree in Paris
Square René-Viviani is undoubtedly one of the most unusual parks in Paris. Located near the banks of the Seine, this garden is a green spot dotted with historical remains and offering views of Notre-Dame. It is even home to the oldest tree in Paris! [Read more]
Did you know? The winner of the Prix Goncourt receives a check for €10.
The 2025 Prix Goncourt was just awarded to Laurent Mauvignier for his novel La maison vide on Tuesday, November 4, in Paris. Did you know that this prestigious literary award has offered the winner a symbolic check for €10 since 1903? Let us tell you all about it! [Read more]
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. [Read more]
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. [Read more]
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. [Read more]
Historic flooding of the Seine in Paris: shocking images of the worst flooding
Do you know the worst flood ever to hit Paris? A look back at the flood of January 1910, a historic event that left its mark on the capital. [Read more]
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. [Read more]
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. [Read more]
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. [Read more]
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. [Read more]
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. [Read more]
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! [Read more]
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. [Read more]
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! [Read more]
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! [Read more]
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... [Read more]
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. [Read more]
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. [Read more]
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. [Read more]
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. [Read more]
All you have to do is take your science out for a stroll around Paris with your friends or family!
Dates and Opening Time
From November 7, 2023 to December 31, 2028
