Ask any world traveler to name the most beautiful cities they’ve visited, and Paris is sure to make the top of their list. The perfectly imperfect cobblestone streets, ornate dwellings on every corner, and verdant gardens glimmer with elegance and charm that leave even locals stunned.
And while almost every arrondissement holds an astonishing monument, towering cathedral, or renowned museum, the true beauty of the city lies in its dedication to preserving its awe-inspiring history and art.
From a charming cafe that once held holy scriptures to a dramatic fortress with a dim past, these 12 fascinating landmarks and hidden treasures will not only take your breath away with their radiant design, but also amaze you with the incredible stories they hold.
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Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole
Hidden amongst the bustle of Île de la Cité, Au Vieux Paris’ d’Arcole offers a glimpse into Paris’s medieval past and embodies the quintessential French café.
The initial structure, constructed in 1512, was originally home to the old Canon of Notre Dame Cathedral. After being purchased from the church in the 18th century, the new owners transformed the space into the quaint bistro it is today.
Draped in fragrant wisteria during the springtime, Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole has become the coffee and wine go-to spot for travelers and locals alike.
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Pont Alexandre III
The Pont Alexandre III stands as an emblematic example of Beaux-Arts style with breathtaking views of the sparkling Seine River below.
Inaugurated on the occasion of the 1900 Universal Exhibition, the bridge commemorates the signing of the Franco-Russian Alliance of 1892 and connects the Invalides to the Grand Palais and Petit Palais. The ornate reliefs at the center of the bridge’s arches further reference Franco-Russian relations depicting the Nymphs of the Seine and Nymphs of the Neva.
Its most prominent features, the four gilt-bronze statues, represent the Greek Fames of arts, sciences, industry, and commerce while acting as counterweights to the arches.
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Bibliothèque Sainte Geneviève
Gutsy ironwork, soaring barrel vaults, and ornate decorative details convey a sense of grandeur throughout the reading room of the Bibliothèque Sainte Geneviève.
Built between 1838 and 1850, the historic library illustrates French architect Henri Labrouste’s revolutionary treatment of cast-iron and approach to modern architecture. His addition of handsome windows and gas light allowed for the library to be used during the evening, a new concept during that time.
Located across from the Panthéon, Bibliothèque Sainte Geneviève serves as the main research and reference library for the Universités de Paris with around 2 million documents.
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Jardin du Luxembourg
Located in the heart of the 6th arrondissement, the Jardin du Luxembourg fuses together Italian, French, and English landscape design over its nearly 60 acres of gardens. Marie de’ Medici, the former Queen of France, longed for a palace and garden that resembled those of her childhood in Florence, thus commissioning the grounds in 1612.
Throughout the years, the Jardin du Luxembourg has evolved into an inner-city oasis for Parisians to explore the wide apple orchards and manicured trails and watch children play with wooden sailboats in the Grand Bassin pond. The magnificent structure of the garden, Palais du Luxembourg, now houses the French Sénat, as well as the Musée du Luxembourg.
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La Conciergerie
Overlooking the Seine River on Île de la Cité, this Rayonnant-style marvel holds Europe’s largest surviving medieval hall, Salle des Gens d’Armes.
La Conciergerie’s imposing structure details the craftsmanship of Gothic architects through its vaulted ceilings and soaring towers. While its impressive structure exudes an air of nobility, its past reveals a much more brutal reality.
The former medieval fortress was used as a holding cell for nearly 2,800 prisoners, usually awaiting the guillotine, during the Reign of Terror. The most famous prisoner was the queen Marie-Antoinette, who spent her last few weeks at La Conciergerie.
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Sainte-Chapelle
A masterclass on Gothic style, the jaw-dropping Sainte-Chapelle roots connect back to the reign of King Louis IX. The chapel was commissioned in 1238 to hold the king’s collection of Passion relics, including Christ’s Crown of Thorns.
While the Crown of Thorns was later moved to its Île de la Cité neighbor, the chapel earned a new reputation for its stunning second floor windows. The renowned stained-glass windows depict over 1,100 scenes from the Bible to marvel and muse over. During the early morning hours, sunlight floods through the windows, casting a kaleidoscopic array of ruby reds and deep blues throughout the second floor.
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Grand Café Tortoni
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The allure of the Grand Café Tortoni goes back to the 19th century when Italian ice cream makers Tortoni opened their chic parlor in the heart of the Marais district. Socialites would flood to the swanky new shop to enjoy the new delectable treats and show off their latest fashions and gems.
Centuries later, the French cosmetics brand L’Officine Universelle Buly 1803 has restored the glamour of the Grand Café Tortoni by keeping the structure’s original pharmacy-like design and teleporting visitors to the past.
The endless oak cabinets are filled to the brim with luxurious body lotions, oils, and perfumes. Across the cosmetic counter is vintage café seating that pays homage to the shop’s sweet roots. The bistro serves some of the same desserts as it did years ago like decadent hot chocolate and a few new surprises like Japanese onigiri.
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Place du Trocadéro
If there’s one place in Paris you can unapologetically whip out that selfie stick, it’s the Place du Trocadéro. The wide promenade at the center of Palais de Chaillot offers sweeping views of the iconic Eiffel Tower and sloping Jardins du Trocadéro below.
The magic of the Place du Trocadéro doesn’t end at the photo op though. There are four museums, ranging from naval history to ethnology, housed across the two wings of the Palais de Chaillot.
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Cimetière du Père Lachaise
Only in Paris could a cemetery be considered an astonishing tourist attraction. With nearly 110 acres of cobblestone pathways, cascading trees, and commanding burial chambers, the Père-Lachaise Cemetery is one of the most famous and beautiful burial grounds in the world. However, the graveyard wasn’t as beloved when it opened in 1804.
Cemeteries throughout Paris were starting to overflow in the 19th century, causing new sites to be built further outside of the city’s limits. Because of Père-Lachaise’s far east location, it wasn’t considered a desirable place to be buried until the remains of fabulist Jean de la Fontaine and playwright Molière were moved there.
Since then, the site has become well known for its burial tombs for famous figures, such as Eugène Delacroix, Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, Gertrude Stein, and Jim Morrison.
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Panthéon
Designed by Jacques-Germain Soufflot in 1757, the Panthéon began as a replacement for the original Church of Sainte-Geneviève on the same site. The soaring dome and Corinthian columns of Soufflot’s neoclassical design pay homage to the original Roman Pantheon.
For years, the immaculate structure was seen as a religious site until the French Revolution when it was repurposed as a memorial site for French heroes. The Panthéon currently acts as the final resting place for notable French figures like Victor Hugo, Voltaire, and Marie Curie.
The monument also houses physicist Léon Foucault’s Pendulum, which traces the path of the Earth. The pendulum has been there since Foucault’s demonstration in 1815 and continues to change with the Earth’s rotation.
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The Basilique du Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre
Sitting on the highest hill in Paris, the Sacré-Coeur offers the most poignant views of the City of Light. The Montmartre basilica boasts an all-white façade, Romano-Byzantine design, and mosaic ceiling unlike any other religious structure in Paris.
With Montmartre’s reputation for being a neighborhood of artists, painters and streets performers can often be seen on the church’s 222 stairs, entertaining tourists with their talents.
The Sacré-Coeur is still an active place of worship, which means photography and filming is forbidden within the basilica’s walls.
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Palais Garnier
Covered in copper-gilded ornamentations and intricate sculptures, the Palais Garnier stands as an opulent symbol of Paris’s appreciation and respect towards the arts.
Emperor Napoleon III commissioned Charles Garnier to construct a theatre from the Paris Opera and Paris Ballet in 1861. The opera house’s lavish design includes the infamous Grand Staircase and gilded auditorium, where you may just catch a glimpse of the “Phantom of the Opera.”
The most stunning display of Napoleon III architecture and artwork lies in the Grand Foyer. Originally intended to act as a drawing room for Paris’s most elite, the hall features a series of ceiling frescoes depicting moments of music history by Paul-Jacques-Aimé Baudry.
