Paris, the city of lovers or the city of lights, is one of the most visited cities in the world. Many things have been written and drawn about Paris, and you have probably heard many things about it, too. But Paris is full of surprises waiting to be discovered, and they are all on this list.
The Golden Dome of Les Invalides
Les Invalides in Paris, also known as the Hôtel national des Invalides, is a monument to France’s military history. Its construction started in 1670. The golden dome of this building, which is among the places to visit in Paris, was returned to its former glittering state by using 12.65 kg of gold leaf in the 200th year of the French Revolution. It continues to shine in the city of Paris.
The Great Clock of the Place de la Concorde Obelisk
Place de la Concorde is one of Paris’s biggest and most important squares. As the name suggests, the Luxor obelisk, which has hieroglyphs and was brought from Egypt, is the oldest monument in Paris and a sundial that shows international time (not Paris time ).
Old Pont Neuf Bridge
One of Paris’s famous bridges, Pont Neuf, means “New Bridge,” but it is the oldest bridge in the city. It is also a bridge of firsts for Paris. It was the first road to the town to separate pavement and traffic and the first bridge to be built without any buildings.
A Bell Tower without a Church
Typically, churches have bell towers, but Paris is home to an exception. The Saint Jacques Tower was once part of the Church of Saint Jacques de la Boucherie. Built in the 16th century in the Gothic style, this tower was the starting point for pilgrims travelling to Paris on their way to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. In 1802, the church was dismantled, but the tower was preserved.
A Former Prison: Conciergerie Clock Tower
The Conciergerie is a former prison west of the Île de la Cité, the old city of Paris, now used for courts. This building houses a colourful clock built in 1370: the Tour de l’Horloge (Tower Clock), the first public clock in Paris.
The King’s Fame in the Square du Vert-Galant
Down the steps of the Pont Neuf bridge, at the western end of the Île de la Cité, is a green area called Square du Vert-Galant. The name comes from a nickname given to King Henri IV. Despite his advanced age, the king used to flirt around here.
Fire of the Statue of Liberty
On the south side of the Square at the head of Paris New York Avenue, there is a fire the same size as the one held by the Statue of Liberty in New York. This fire was a gift to Paris for the 100th anniversary of the International Herald Tribune. Lady Diana’s car crashed in the tunnel that runs under this flame, and flowers aren’t of the flame in her honour.
The Mystery of Martyr’s Hill Montmartre
In Roman times, two temples on Montmartre Hill were dedicated to Mars and Mercury. After ancient times, in the 2nd century AD, when St. Denis, the first bishop of Lutetia, was beheaded, it became known as Martyr’s Hill. According to legend, Saint Deniz took his severed head and walked to what is today called the Basilica of Saint-Denis.
Eiffel Tower Statistics
The Eiffel Tower, one of the symbols of the city of Paris, weighs about 7,000 tons and is painted with 50 tons of paint every seven years. In 1999, during a 240 km/h storm, the tower shook by 13 cm, but Gustave Eiffel had already calculated this variation as a maximum of 70 cm. The 18 cm shift during a heat wave in 1976 is a record for the symbol of the city of Paris.
Half-timbered houses in the city of Paris
There are many wooden houses in Paris, but half-timbered houses are rare. Only a few of these medieval houses exist, and two can be seen on Rue François Miron in the Marais. They date back to the 15th century and were extensively restored in the 1970s.
The Bell of Notre Dame Cathedral
Notre Dame Cathedral in the old city of Paris is also the primary setting of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Quasimodo is even the bell ringer here. Apart from Paris’s view, the church’s most interesting element is this bell. It weighs 13 tons, and its name is Emmanuel.
