10 interesting facts about Paris – the most romantic city in the world

Thomas Jefferson once said that “a walk in Paris will give lessons in history, beauty and the meaning of life“. Each city has its own secrets and facts that cannot be found in an ordinary guidebook.

Although Paris is the most visited capital in the world and has famous monuments and specialties, the city also has some well-preserved stories that may blow your mind.

Here is a list of 10 random, crazy or amazing facts about city ​​of lights – Paris, which even most Parisians ignore and which will allow you to look smart and cultured during your next family dinner.

10 The statues on the Place de la Concorde symbolize the 8 major cities of France

The Place de la Concorde is known for its dubious role in the French Revolution. Standing at the entrance to the Tuileries Garden, today it is better known for its bronze fountains and ancient obelisk.

Separating the elegant Champs Elysées from the beautiful Tuileries Gardens, the Place de la Concorde is a large public square. The square is built in the shape of an octagon and you will find a beautiful statue standing in each of the eight corners. These statues are part of the original 18th-century design of the square and represent eight cities in France: Brest, Rouen, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nantes, Lille and Strasbourg.

9. A XNUMX-year-old Acacia tree grows in the city

The tree was first planted in 1601, over 400 years ago. Jean Robin, a renowned botanist and physician, brought many exotic plants to Europe from his travels in the French American colonies. He was the King’s official gardener and was later commissioned to create the Jardin des Plantes botanical garden, where his son planted the second oldest tree in the city (same as the Acacia).

8. “Paris syndrome” is a real mental disorder

After reading most definitions of the “Paris Syndrome”, it is easy to assume that this is an urban myth, and a xenophobic one at that. Defined generally as a mental disorder that affects tourists who visit Paris and are disappointed by what they see.

There is also a chance that «paris syndrome” is a little more than “tourist syndrome». Culture shock is a recognized phenomenon and it is true that tourists can face a lot of language and cultural barriers with visitors from other European countries.

7. The French don’t like English

England and France are the closest neighbors, from the point of view of Europe. Standing on the shores of each country, you can see the other quite clearly in the choppy waters of the English Channel, especially on a clear day. At one time, French was the de facto official language of the English court, and the English nobility preferred to speak French.

As we all know, the importance of the English language grew steadily, and after the establishment of the British Empire, the language of England spread throughout the globe. If there is any French resentment, then it may be due to the fact that English has surpassed French in a global sense..

6. There are 450 parks and gardens in the city

The French capital is known for its urban spaces, but it also has 450 parks and gardens.spread over an area of ​​more than 500 hectares, which contribute to the biological diversity of the city.

The oldest of the French-style gardens in the city is the Tuileries Garden, stretching from the Louvre to Place de la Concorde. The Jardin des Plantes in the Natural History Museum houses thousands of plants and flowers, as well as four greenhouses in the 23-hectare botanical garden.

Another popular Parisian garden is the Luxembourg Garden with 106 statues and three fountains; it is a piece of heaven in the lively Latin Quarter.

In terms of parks, the Parc Buttes Chaumont in the east of Paris offers a variety of landscapes for people who want to relax in nature in the city center.

5. “New Bridge” is the oldest in Paris

Despite its name, New Bridge (literally New bridge) – the oldest permanent bridge in Paris. Being on the Seine between the right and left banks, it crosses the western edge of the Ile de la Cité.

The construction of the new bridge was decided in 1577 by King Henri III, who laid the first stone on 31 May 1578 in the presence of Queen Mother Catherine de Medici and Queen Louise of Lorraine.

Construction ended in 1607 during the reign of Henri IV. The delay was caused by the uprising of the people of Paris against the king (1588-1598).

In 1599, King Henry IV resumed work and entrusted its completion to Guillaume Marchand and François Petit, who changed the original plan. Instead of supporting houses like any other bridges in Paris, the new bridge was the first “without houses”.

4. The Louvre is the most visited museum in the world

The Louvre is rightfully the most visited museum in the world., because in 2018 it received more than ten million visitors – an unprecedented figure for an international museum, according to its management.

«For the first time in its history, and I think for the first time in the history of museums, over ten million visitors visited the Louvre in 2018Jean-Luc Martinez, President and CEO of the Louvre, said in a statement.

According to Martinez, the record “driven by the recovery of international tourism in Paris» after a 30 percent decline in attendance in recent years. This is also partly due to the work done over the past two years to increase the capacity of the museum.

3. The Eiffel Tower is one of the most disappointing sights

Topping the list of disappointing sights is the iconic Parisian tower, which nearly a quarter of the 1000 British tourists surveyed described as a failure..

Felice Hardy of Virgin Travel Insurance, who conducted the study, said holidaymakers looking for unexpected treats should opt for less popular destinations.

«It’s easy to be led by brochures that go mainstream and focus on tourist attractions around the world, but many of them are overpriced and disappointing.” – she said.

2. First place in the world in terms of the number of libraries

Parisian libraries are a huge source of history, art and beauty.. If you are a student living in Paris, libraries offer a warm and comfortable environment in which to work or do research.

If you’re a tourist visiting Paris, libraries are the perfect place to learn more about the rich history of Paris and take refuge in book-lined walls, sheltered from the bustling, constantly moving boulevards of Paris.

Moreover, Paris, being the leader in the number of libraries, undoubtedly has such a quiet romantic evening.

1. The most visited city in the world

Of course, the French capital attracts foreign visitors – more than 30 million tourists a year. Paris has it all: a romantic image of the city, stunning architecture, the Louvre Museum, the iconic Eiffel Tower, and the sheer pleasure of sitting on a café terrace and watching the world (not to mention stunning sunsets).

And don’t forget about Disneyland, which itself is a place of attraction for foreign visitors. The theme park, located to the east of the French capital, is visited annually by about 15 million people and is one of the main tourist destinations in Europe.