Paris, the Heart of French Art and Culture
Paris is more than a destination — it’s an experience.
Wander through the Marais, admire the Eiffel Tower at sunset, or sip coffee in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Our articles help you see the real Paris, where every corner tells a story.
What You’ll Find Here
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2- and 3-day itineraries for first-time visitors
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Walking tours through Montmartre, the Latin Quarter, and the Seine
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Cultural highlights: the Louvre, Orsay, Versailles
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Parisian lifestyle tips: cafés, bakeries, and local markets
Paris and the Île-de-France region here on the map of France:
Tourism
Paris and Ile de France
Visit Sainte-Chapelle in Paris: Stained Glass, Hours & Tips
Jérôme Prod'homme
In the heart of Paris, the Sainte-Chapelle sparkles with eight centuries of history. Built by Saint Louis, it transforms daylight into a concert of colors through its 13th-century stained glass windows. A unique place, combining art, spirituality, and Gothic beauty.
article updated on December 14, 2025
Tourism
Paris and Ile de France
Visiting the Eiffel Tower: history and visitor tips
Jérôme Prod'homme
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 by Gustave Eiffel and his teams, it embodies both a technical feat and an extraordinary human adventure. Even today, visiting the Eiffel Tower remains one of the most memorable experiences in the capital, both for its history and for the unique views it offers of Paris. From the forecourt to the upper floors, to the summit and its champagne bar, each level reveals a different facet of the Iron Lady. This page will help you understand the history of the Eiffel Tower, know what to see on each floor, choose the right time to visit, and enjoy practical advice to make the most of this unmissable experience.
Tourism
Paris and Ile de France
Visiting Versailles: what to see and do at the palace?
Jérôme Prod'homme
Just a few miles from Paris, the Palace of Versailles stands out as one of the most iconic places in French history. Formerly a hunting lodge that became the seat of absolute power under Louis XIV, Versailles is much more than a monument: it is a complete universe combining architecture, gardens, art, music, and political theater. Visiting Versailles means exploring the Grand Apartments, walking through the Hall of Mirrors, strolling through gardens designed as an open-air theater, and then discovering a more intimate Versailles at the Trianons and the Queen's Hamlet. This page guides you on what to see and do in Versailles, combining the must-see attractions, more intimate experiences, and practical advice to help you enjoy the estate to the fullest, without rushing and without missing anything essential.
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
In 1816, the shipwreck of the frigate La Méduse caused one of the greatest scandals in 19th-century France. The incompetence of a captain appointed through favoritism led to more than a hundred men being abandoned, then tragically adrift on a makeshift raft in the Atlantic Ocean. Hunger, thirst, violence, and extreme survival marked these thirteen days of wandering, before a belated rescue that left only a few survivors. A few years later, this drama became the subject of a monumental painting: The Raft of the Medusa, painted by Théodore Géricault. Combining brutal realism, political commitment, and artistic power, the work transformed a maritime disaster into a manifesto of Romanticism. This page looks back at the history of the shipwreck, survival on the raft, the creation of the painting, and its symbolic significance, before indicating where you can admire this masterpiece today at the Louvre Museum.
Paris has not always been the city we know today. At the beginning of the 19th century, the wide avenues, iconic monuments, and monumental vistas were still in the making. It was in this context that a project as spectacular as it was unexpected came into being: that of a giant elephant on the Champs-Élysées. Conceived during the Empire, this monument was intended to embody Napoleon's power, military memory, and urban ambition. Long forgotten, this astonishing idea reveals a time when Paris dreamed of itself through monumental, sometimes excessive symbols. This page recounts the origin of this project, the reasons behind its conception, what it was meant to represent, and why it never saw the light of day, shedding light on a little-known facet of Parisian history.
Article updated on December 28, 2025
Tourism
Paris and Ile de France
10 incredible facts about the Palace of Versailles
Jérôme Prod'homme
The Palace of Versailles is the ultimate symbol of French excess and influence around the world. However, behind the gilded woodwork and the symmetry of Le Nôtre's gardens lie much more surprising and sometimes less glorious everyday realities. Did you know that Louis XIV lived there amid perpetual construction work, or that hygiene at court was far from our current standards? Did you imagine that Louis XV had a cat that he adored? In this article, we have selected 10 unusual facts about Versailles that will radically change your view of life in the time of the Sun King. Get ready to discover what went on behind the scenes at the most prestigious royal residence in Europe.
Tourism
Paris and Ile de France
Visit Paris in 3 Days: Weekend Itinerary & Versailles
Jérôme Prod'homme
Visiting Paris in three days is perfectly possible if the itinerary is well organised. A long weekend allows you to discover the city’s major landmarks, enjoy its neighbourhoods and even include a visit to Versailles, one of the most famous royal palaces in the world. This itinerary is designed to make the most of every day without rushing.
Article updated on December 28, 2025
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.
