24 interesting facts about Paris

Paris is known as the City of Love, but it’s also a city with a rich history and culture. From its stunning architecture to its delicious cuisine, Paris is a city that captures the hearts of millions of people around the world. In this article, we’ll explore 24 interesting facts about Paris.

1. The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 as the entrance to the World’s Fair, and was almost torn down in 1909.
2. The Louvre Museum is the largest art museum in the world, with over 380,000 objects and 35,000 works of art.
3. The Arc de Triomphe was commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1806 to honor the French soldiers who fought in the Napoleonic Wars.
4. The Champs-Élysées is one of the most famous avenues in the world, with luxury stores and historic sites lining its wide sidewalks.
5. The Seine River runs through the heart of Paris and is a popular spot for boat tours and romantic walks.
6. The Notre-Dame Cathedral is over 850 years old and is one of the most famous Gothic cathedrals in the world.
7. Paris is home to over 400 parks and gardens, including the famous Jardin des Tuileries and Luxembourg Gardens.
8. The Palace of Versailles, located just outside of Paris, was the primary residence of French kings from Louis XIV to Louis XVI.
9. The Moulin Rouge, famous for its can-can dancers and extravagant shows, opened in Paris in 1889.
10. Paris was liberated from Nazi occupation on August 25, 1944, after four years of occupation.
11. The Paris Catacombs hold the remains of over six million people and stretch for over 300 kilometers beneath the city.
12. The city of Paris was originally a Roman city called Lutetia.
13. The Palais Garnier is an ornate opera house that served as the inspiration for Gaston Leroux’s “The Phantom of the Opera.”
14. The Eiffel Tower was painted red when it was first built, and was later changed to its current color, a warm bronze.
15. The iconic clock in the Musée d’Orsay was originally installed in the Gare d’Orsay train station in 1900.
16. The Pantheon in Paris was originally built as a church, but now serves as a mausoleum for famous French citizens, including Voltaire and Victor Hugo.
17. Paris has been called the “City of Light” since the Age of Enlightenment, when it was a center for education and intellectualism.
18. The Parisian sewer system, built in the 19th century, is over 2,100 kilometers long and is considered one of the most advanced in the world.
19. The famous French pastry, the croissant, was actually invented in Vienna, Austria.
20. The Parisian streetlights were designed by Gabriel Davioud in the 19th century and are now considered a symbol of the city.
21. The first public movie screening in history took place in Paris in 1895, thanks to the Lumière brothers.
22. Paris was originally built on an island in the Seine River called the Île de la Cité.
23. The Parisian suburb of Montmartre was once the home of many famous artists, including Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gogh.
24. The Paris Air Show, one of the largest aviation events in the world, takes place every two years at the Le Bourget Airport in Paris.