Paris Overview

Paris was founded towards the end of the 3rd century BC on what is now the Ile de la Cite by a tribe of Celtic Gauls known as the Parisii. Centuries of conflict between the Gauls and Romans ended in 52 BC, when Julius Caesar's legions took control of the territory. Christianity was introduced in the 2nd century AD, and the Roman party was finally crashed in the 5th century by the arrival of the Franks. In 508 AD, Frankish king Clovis I united Gaul as a kingdom and made Paris his capital, naming it after the original Parisii tribe. more...

Paris Activities

Le Jardin Les Halles is built on the site of the old central market of Paris, memorialised in Émile Zola’s novel, Le Ventre de Paris (The Belly of Paris). The site is now an expansive park complete with a large scale trellis, sculptures, fountains and walking paths designed by Louis Arretche and François-Xavier Lalanne. There are also adventure games for children, which are organised on Wednesdays and Saturday mornings. The park is located at 105 Rue Rambuteau, right in the heart of Paris. more...

Paris Events and Festivals

New Year’s Day (1st) The city’s New Year’s Day parade - La Grande Parade - originates from the 1400s and takes place in various venues, especially the Grands Boulevards. more...

Paris Sightseeing

Constructed as the entrance arch to the 1889 World Fair, this colossal landmark, although initially detested by many Parisians, is now a famous symbol of French civic pride. Nicknamed La dame de fer (the iron lady) the Eiffel Tower is located on the Champ de Mars. The tallest building in Paris, it is the most visited monument with a ticket price in the world. Named after its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel it stands 324 metres tall, about the same height as an 81-storey building. It was the tallest building in the world until the completion of New York’s Chrysler Building in 1930. A lift whisks you to different levels to catch spectacular views of the city and the River Seine below. more...

Paris Transport

From April to October, the Batobus River Shuttle provides a scenic way of getting around the city. Boats depart every 25 minutes from 10am to 7pm (9pm June to September). Boats connect the following docks: Champs Elysees, Museum du Louvre, Hotel de Ville, Notre Dame, Saint Germain des Pres, Museum d'Orsay, Effeil Tower. more...

Paris Travel Tips

Sales: All taxes must be included in affixed prices in France. VAT (Value Added Tax): France's VAT is 19.6% on most goods except for food, medicine and books, for which it's 5.5%. It is as high as 33% on items such as watches, cameras and video cassettes. Prices that include VAT are often marked TTC (toutes taxes comprises, 'all taxes included'). If you're not an EU resident, you can get a refund of most of the VAT (TVA, or detaxe in French). more...