Paris is the most visited city in the world, famous for its romance and landmarks. However, the French capital hides strange secrets beneath its cobblestone streets. For instance, the Eiffel Tower was originally a temporary structure meant to be scrapped. Furthermore, the city once banned women from wearing trousers until very recently. Consequently, the real history of Paris is far more surprising than the guidebooks suggest. Therefore, take a stroll through the unknown side of the Seine. You will see the city differently.
Paris
The Romans originally named the city Lutetia. After they conquered the area, they called the settlement Lutetia Parisiorum before it eventually became Paris.
The government intended the Eiffel Tower to stand for only twenty years. However, Gustave Eiffel saved it by installing a radio antenna, making it indispensable for communication.
Officials built a “dummy Paris” nearby. During World War I, the military constructed a fake replica of the city to fool German bombers and protect the real monuments.
A strange condition called “Paris Syndrome” exists. Specifically, it affects tourists who suffer extreme shock and disappointment when the city does not match their romantic expectations.
The city has virtually no stop signs. Because the traffic laws rely on “priority to the right,” cars simply yield instead of stopping completely at intersections.
The shortest street is just a flight of stairs. Rue des Degrés in the 2nd arrondissement is only 5.75 meters long and contains no doors or windows.
Underneath the Opera Garnier lies a real lake. Just like in The Phantom of the Opera, a massive water tank sits beneath the building to stabilize the foundation.
An old law technically banned women from wearing trousers until 2013. Although authorities stopped enforcing it decades ago, the rule remained on the books for centuries.
The Catacombs hold the remains of six million people. Consequently, this underground “Empire of the Dead” is larger than the city of the living above it.
You can find multiple Statues of Liberty in Paris. In fact, a large replica stands on the Île aux Cygnes, while museums and gardens house smaller versions.
“Point Zero” marks the center of the country. A brass star outside Notre Dame Cathedral indicates the exact spot from which cartographers measure all distances in France.
The Louvre is too big to see in a day. Actually, if you spent thirty seconds looking at each object, it would take you nearly ten months to see everything.
Several “ghost stations” exist in the Metro. For example, directors use the closed Porte des Lilas-Cinéma station entirely for filming movies.
The oldest house dates back to 1407. It belonged to the famous alchemist Nicolas Flamel, who appears as a character in the Harry Potter series.
Finally, the “City of Light” nickname has two meanings. It refers to both its leading role in the Age of Enlightenment and its early adoption of gas streetlights.
