Paris has a lot to offer. So much so that you can go back again and again and have a different experience each time you visit. One of the best things about a trip to Paris, however, is the history and culture you’ll find around almost every corner. If you want to get to know Paris in a way that goes beyond the surface, read on for our guide to getting a cultural experience in the City of Love and Light.
Some important dates in Paris history
The history of Paris dates back more than 2,000 years. To give you a better sense of this sweeping history there are a few key dates to think about that correspond with important events in the city and many of the most popular landmarks and monuments in Paris today.
1248: Saint Louis consecrates Sainte Chapelle.
1257: The University of the Sorbonne is founded by Robert de Sorbon.
1345: The construction of Notre Dame is completed.
1364 – 1380: The Bastille was built. It no longer exists, but the area where it once stood is one of the most historic spots Paris thanks to its role in the revolution.
1715 – 1789: The Age of Enlightenment begins, wherein philosophers such as Montesquieu, Voltaire, Rousseau and Diderot debate, share and spread their ideas in salons across the city.
1789: The taking of the Bastille occured on July 14, which marked the start of the French Revolution.
1793: The execution of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette on the Place de la Concorde and the opening the Louvre.
1804: Napoleon is crowned emperor in Notre Dame and the first stone is laid of the Arch of Triumph.
1836: Work on the Arch of Triumph is completed and the Obelisk is erected in the middle of the Place de la Concorde.
1852 – 1870: The Louvre is completed, Charles Garnier begins construction of the Opera and Paris is divided into twenty arrondissements (neighbourhoods).
1914 – 1918: The basilica of Sacré Coeur, which begun in 1876, is finished.
A brief history of some popular Paris attractions
There is no shortage of must-see attractions in Paris, but do you know the history behind the top spots on your itinerary?
Eiffel Tower: Believe it or not, the Eiffel Tower was only meant to be a temporary exhibit. Gustave-Alexandre Eiffel designed the now-iconic structure for the 1889 World’s Fair and was only intended to last 20 years. The construction of the tower took a little more than two years and now gets more than seven million visitors a year from around the world.
La Sorbonne: What is now both a landmark and an important university in Paris was once a small college for poor students created at the request of Louis IX. La Sorbonne dates back to 1257 and the Sorbonne that exists today is located on the original medieval foundations.
The Louvre: You might know the Louvre as the biggest museum in Paris and one of the biggest museums in the world, but it wasn’t always the home of Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. The Louvre spent two centuries as a royal palace before becoming a museum in 1793.
Arc de Triomphe: The Arc de Triomphe is the largest arch in the world and was commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 to celebrate his victory at Austerlitz. Make sure to head to the top for photo-worthy panoramic views of the city. If you’re interested in learning more, there’s a museum on site that retraces the Arc’s history.
Notre Dame: Work on what is the most visited monument in France began in the 13th century and was completed in the 15th century. Notre Dame was damaged during the French Revolution, but was restored in the 19th century. In 2013, this important piece of Paris history celebrated its 850th anniversary.
Sacré-Cœur: Built between 1875 and 1914 and consecrated in 1919, Sacré-Coeur is located at the top of the Butte Montmartre. A climb up the many steps affords beautiful views of the city. When you go inside, don’t forget to look up – way up. The ceiling is covered with the largest mosaic in France.
Where to get even more history in Paris
If you want to dig even deeper into the Paris of the past there are many more museums, monuments and landmarks to add to your itinerary. Here are a few of our favourites.
The Conciergerie: This important bit of Paris history is the oldest remaining part of the Palais de la Cité, which was the first royal palace in Paris. It was used as a prison during the French Revolution and if you visit you can see where Marie Antoinette was held.
Paris Catacombs: This haunting series of tunnels beneath Paris is spread out over 1.7 kilometres and houses six million bones from various Parisian cemeteries. The bones were transferred there beginning in the 18th century because cemeteries had to close down as they became a public health risk.
Hôtel National des Invalides: One of the most important monuments in Paris, Hôtel National des Invalides, was built in 1676 as a place for wounded and homeless veterans who had fought for France to stay. The grounds also house several museums and two churches, one of which holds the remains of Napoleon.
La Sainte-Chapelle: The Sainte-Chapelle chapel was built in the 12th century and is well worth a visit. The upper chapel is covered in an astounding 600 square metres of stained glass windows, two-thirds of which are authentic.
Place de la Concorde: Place de la Concorde is located at the end of the Champs-Elysées and was created in 1772. It is historically known as the place where Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette were guillotined. Place de la Concorde is also home to the Luxor Obelisk.
Featured image: Roberto Ventre, Paris Landscape via Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0
