Top 10 Historic Sites You Should See in Paris

If you love historical places, museums, and cafes, then Paris is the place for you. Paris is brimming with history, from the first Roman fortifications to remnants of the Napoleonic Wars.

When you visit, there are endless things to learn and experience. After your day exploring its historical gems, you can visit one of its famous cafes or parks. Below are the top 10 historical sites to visit in Paris so you can get the most out of this wonderful European capital.

At the heart of Paris’ historic center, known as Île de la Cité, La Conciergerie stood as a Roman palace and then as the residence of Frankish kings, beginning in the 10th century. For four centuries, it grew as a royal palace. In the 13th and 14th centuries, leaders such as Philip IV added new additions to the grandiose building.

In the 14th century, the palace became a royal prison, led by the royal concierge. Soon, the name La Conciergerie stuck. From the 15th to the 19th centuries, it was one of Europe’s most notorious prisons, housing famous prisoners such as the Marquise de Brinvilliers, the Countess de la Motte, and most famously, Marie Antoinette.

If you visit between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., you can enjoy a guided tour of the historical palace and prison. The tour takes you through the hidden chambers where Marie Antoinette and other historical figures once sat in isolation. You can also see the Guardroom, Gens d’Armes room, and the famous medieval kitchens.

9. The Louvre Museum

The Musée du Louvre is more than an art museum. Here, you can wander through thousands of year’s worth of artifacts that chronicle not only French history but that of the whole world.

The Louvre was once a medieval fortress in the 12th century, with massive walls and military quarters. In the 14th century, it was converted into a royal residence and it became the palace of the French King, Louis XIV. After the French Revolution in 1791, the palace became a museum.

The museum houses some of the world’s greatest collections of historic art and artifacts. You’ll not only get to see famous art such as the Mona Lisa, but observe artifacts that tell the story of human history. There are nine curated sections which include Egyptian relics, antiquities from Greece, Etruria, and Rome, and Islamic Art.

When you visit, you can easily spend a day exploring its halls. From its exhibits to the museum’s historical building itself, there are endless things to do and experience. Throughout the week, you can enjoy a tour from one of the museum’s expert guides.

Just across the 19th-century Pont Alexandre III bridge is the ornate complex known as Les Invalides. The buildings and courtyard are from the 17th century. It was built to house disabled veterans of France’s wars in Europe and overseas. Les Invalides was built under King Louis XIV. It consisted of several beautiful buildings and a central church, which came to be known as the domed church, or Église du Dôme. After the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, the domed church was made into a tomb for Napoleon Bonaparte. Today, the complex houses several incredible museums, such as the Army Museum, the Museum of the Order of the Liberation, and the Museum of Relief Maps. Walking throughout the complex is one of the most exciting things to do in Paris for anyone who enjoys learning about French military history.

7. Place de la Concorde

The French Revolution was one of Europe’s major turning points. Here at the Place de la Concorde, several French royals met their fate, most famously Queen Marie-Antoinette and King Louis XVI. The square was originally designed for Louis XV’s equestrian statue. After the revolution and several name changes, it was renamed Place de la Concorde in 1830. In 1836, a 75-foot-tall Luxor Obelisk, an original Egyptian obelisk, was erected in the center of the square, followed by two ornate fountains.

The Place de la Concorde is a unique space that has seen some of France’s most pivotal moments in history. At almost 20 acres, it is the city’s largest square. You can still enjoy events such as military processions and sports tournaments here.

No monument in Paris is as iconic as the Eiffel Tower. This 984-foot tower dominates the Parisian skyline. It was built in 1989 after only two years of construction. When it was built, the immense structure was unlike anything the world had ever seen, pushing architects around the world to design taller buildings.

The tower is supported by four wrought iron lattice-girder sections that form a single structure at the end. It was designed by and named after the famous bridge engineer Gustave Eiffel. The French government was looking for a monument to commemorate the Paris World’s Fair of 1889. Eiffel submitted his design. It was both economical and impactful so the French authorities decided it would be the perfect fit.

The tower is still a major international tourist destination, with millions of visitors annually. Still, for French and architectural history lovers, a visit is a must. On top of learning about its construction and significance up front, you’ll get one of the best views of the city from its observation deck.

5. Visit Paris’ Catacombs

During Paris’ expansion in the 18th century, the city’s cemeteries outgrew their boundaries and caused major health issues in the city. To solve this problem, the city created a new burial spot in the former Tombe-Issoire rock quarries south of the city center. Soon, authorities excavated some of Paris’ largest cemeteries, such as the Saints-Innocents cemetery. The bones were transported to the catacombs at night to avoid disrupting the public. They were then dumped inside the quarries where workers arranged them in organized piles. Visiting the catacombs is one of the most thrilling historical adventures you can have in the city. You’ll learn about the catacomb’s history, the city’s cemeteries, and the unique queries that were dug underneath the city.

In the center of Paris is Notre Dame de Paris, a massive cathedral that’s seen as one of the world’s great buildings. Construction lasted from 1160 until 1250, and when it opened, it was one of the largest buildings in Europe. On its site stood two former medieval churches and, during Roman times, the temple of Jupiter. The cathedral famously became the site where Napoleon crowned himself emperor in 1804.

Since then, it has seen plenty of history and undergone repairs. It’s now one of the most vivid examples of Gothic architecture in Europe. It’s also a major tourist attraction that draws millions of visitors to the city every year. In 2019, people around the world witnessed a massive fire engulfing Notre Dame de Paris. In 2024, the renovated cathedral is set to open to the public once again.

3. Sainte Chapelle

King Louis IX built this Gothic masterpiece in the middle of Ile de la Cité, Paris’ historic center. The Grand Chapel is one of the city’s oldest buildings and a prime example of early Gothic architecture. The chapel served several functions throughout its history. The most famous of its uses was to hold relics that were purchased and taken during France’s crusades in the Middle East. During the French Revolution, people stormed the chapel and ransacked it, converting it into a storehouse for goods. After years of neglect, in 1840, French writer Victor Hugo and other scholars led a restoration.

Today the chapel is a historical and architectural masterpiece worth visiting. Its stained glass windows, internal structure, facade, and artistic decorations make it a truly unique destination. The chapel offers daily tours which are a great way to learn about its history and the role it played in the city’s medieval culture.

After Napoleon Bonaparte conquered the frontiers of his new empire, he built a colossal arch in his thriving capital. The renowned architect Jean-François-Thérèse Chalgrin built this 164-foot-high and 148-foot-wide monument. The Arc de Triomphe is one one of the city’s most striking landmarks. From its roundabout are 12 major avenues that stretch out through the city. Since it was built, it has seen parades, celebrations, and even invasions, as in World War II’s somber occupation by Nazi Germany. When you visit, you’ll have the option of a self-guided tour or a guided tour. You can see the internal rooms and climb to the observation deck on top.

1. Café de Flore in Paris

Almost every literary center has its iconic meeting points, such as Buenos Aires’ Café Tortoni or Vienna’s Café Landtmann. Paris has Café de Flore. Here, Parisian and international literary greats such as Louis Aragon, Ernest Hemmingway, Charles Maurras, and Jacques Prévert worked on their internationally acclaimed masterpieces. It opened in 1887 and soon became a Parisian center for intellectuals and influential people. The cafe is a simple, sit-down establishment that specializes in serving croissants, drinks, and coffee. In addition to the famous writers, there were artists such as Pablo Picasso, actors such as Jack Nicholson, and major political figures throughout the last two centuries who also came here. It’s hard to find so much history in one establishment.