A symbol of Paris and France as a whole, the Eiffel Tower has fascinated visitors for over a century. Built for the 1889 World's Fair, it attracts millions of visitors every year. Climbing the Eiffel Tower is the most iconic experience in the capital: a unique view of Paris and its history.
Tourism
Paris and Ile de France
Versailles: the palace and gardens of the Sun King
Jérôme Prod'homme
Twenty kilometers from Paris, Versailles dazzles. An immense palace, endless gardens, traces of the Sun King everywhere: power, beauty, and grandeur come together here. Memories of Marie Antoinette, the early hours of the French Revolution... In fact, visiting Versailles is like discovering a dream and walking through the heart of France's great history.
French culture
Paris and Ile de France
Traffic jams in Paris? A thousand-year-old story!
Jérôme Prod'homme
We tend to think of traffic jams as a 21st-century problem. However, traffic issues in Paris have existed for centuries. From the Middle Ages to Napoleon III, including Henri IV, who was assassinated because his carriage was stuck in traffic, let's take a look back at the surprising history of Parisian traffic jams.
French history
Paris and Ile de France
The Raft of the Medusa: a tragedy and a masterpiece
Jérôme Prod'homme
The sinking of the frigate La Méduse in 1816 remains one of the greatest French maritime tragedies. This disaster, caused by the incompetence of a commander, cost the lives of more than 140 men and inspired one of the most poignant paintings of the Romantic period: Géricault's The Raft of the Medusa.
French history
Paris and Ile de France
A giant elephant: the forgotten Champs-Élysées project
Jérôme Prod'homme
It has almost been forgotten, but Paris almost welcomed a giant elephant on the Champs-Élysées instead of the Arc de Triomphe we know today. With indoor salons, a fountain spouting from its trunk, and a panoramic view, the project even won over Napoleon, who wanted it on the Place de la Bastille. Let's take a look back at a monument that never saw the light of day.
The palace of Versailles is one of the most visited places in the world. But behind the gilding and gardens lie some amazing stories: first visitors, exotic animals, cold dinners and even the first flight of a human being... Here are 10 incredible anecdotes to discover.
Tourism
Paris and Ile de France
Paris and Versailles in three days: a royal weekend
Jérôme Prod'homme
Treat yourself to a weekend in Paris and Versailles. Three days to admire Notre Dame, Montmartre, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and the sumptuous palace of the Sun King. I have prepared a smooth, optimized itinerary rich in discoveries.
Tourism
Paris and Ile de France
Paris in 3 days: the ideal itinerary for a weekend
Jérôme Prod'homme
Discover Paris over a long weekend. Notre-Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Montmartre, and Saint-Germain-des-Prés: I've put together an optimized itinerary for you to enjoy the monuments, museums, and legendary neighborhoods of the French capital in just three days. For each location, I've included the nearest metro station or Batobus stop, allowing you to travel along the Seine and enjoy Paris even more. Only have three days in Paris? They'll be unforgettable!
French history
Paris and Ile de France
The world-famous Mona Lisa painting was stolen
Jérôme Prod'homme
Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece, the Mona Lisa is undoubtedly the most famous painting in the world. It seems as if it has always been there, in the middle of the museum, and yet it hasn't. It has traveled to be protected, as when it went to Brest or to the châteaux of the Loire Valley to escape the bombs that were falling or could have fallen on Paris. It has even traveled against its will, as in 1911 when it was stolen.
Discover the 10 iconic works not to be missed during your visit to the Louvre: from the Mona Lisa to the Winged Victory of Samothrace, via Delacroix, Géricault and Canova, immerse yourself in the treasures of an extraordinary museum.
