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:
Versailles is the most beautiful palace in the world and is a must-see at least once in a lifetime. With 63,000 square meters and over 2,300 rooms in the palace and 800 hectares of grounds, it is immense, yet even this vast space is not enough to accommodate over 7,000,000 visitors per year.
For the best possible visit to the Palace of Versailles, explore the Grand Apartments, the Trianons, the majestic gardens and much more. Check out our practical advice, opening hours and itineraries, as well as our tips, for an unforgettable royal experience.
article updated on November 28, 2025
French history
Paris and Ile de France
Who imagined the gardens of Versailles ? André Le Nôtre
Jérôme Prod'homme
One of the beauties of France is its art of gardens. In Versailles, but also in Paris in the Jardin des Tuileries or the Jardin du Luxembourg, or even in Vaux le Vicomte, in Chantilly and in many castles, the gardens are, in themselves, a reason to come. So much beauty that we owe, for the most famous parks in France, to André Le Nôtre: the gardener of the Sun King.
When you arrive in Paris, your gaze always rises to the unique metal silhouette of the Eiffel Tower. Built for the World's Fair in 1889, it was initially an architectural challenge and the subject of criticism before becoming the global icon of the capital. Behind its iron exterior lies the audacity of Gustave Eiffel, technical innovations, and fascinating stories on each floor.
Every day, thousands of passersby stop in front of the tomb of the Unknown Soldier under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. They see the flame, still burning, but do they know who chose this anonymous coffin in 1920? The story leads to Auguste Thin, a young 21-year-old soldier, scarred by war and chosen to represent an entire sacrificed generation.
Among the figures who shaped French cuisine, Antonin Carême occupies a unique place. Nicknamed the “king of chefs and chef of kings,” he rose from being an abandoned child in Paris to become the chef of the greatest European sovereigns. Inventor of pièce montée, codifier of sauces, author of major works, he made cooking a recognized and respected art.
Tourism
Paris and Ile de France
"Les invalides" in Paris: what to see? Which history?
Jérôme Prod'homme
In the heart of the 7th arrondissement, Les Invalides is both a masterpiece commissioned by Louis XIV and a major national memorial site. Behind its facades lie the tomb of Napoleon I, the Army Museum, the Church of Saint Louis, and the impressive Golden Dome. A place where royal grandeur, military history, and the memory of French heroes intersect.
Article updated on 26 November 2025.
