Fun Facts About Paris You Probably Didn't Know

Fun Facts About Paris,France

That's blow your mind 

1) Paris is known as “The City of Lights”. This is not only due to its historical enlightenment period, but also the fact that it was one of the first cities in the world to install street lights. 

2) Camouflage clothing in the military was first used by the French. The word “camouflage” roughly translates to “make up for the stage”. 

3) The oldest house in Paris is located at 51, rue de Montmorency, 3. Arrondissement. It was built in 1407!

4) If you’re a cheese fiend, head to Paris to sample just a few of France’s 1000 distinct types of cheese. 

5) The globally renowned cabaret, The Moulin Rouge, has been operating since 1899 in the heart of Paris’ Red Light District. You can still enjoy a night here, with dinner and a burlesque or even magic show on offer. In fact, the theatre has 80 performers on rotation year-round.

6) In Paris, becoming a taxi driver is an expensive business venture. Drivers have to pay up to 200,000 Euros to attain a taxi license. I guess you have to really love what you do! 

7) The Pont Neuf is the oldest bridge in Paris, standing since 1604. But perhaps the most popular bridge is the Pont des Arts, famous for its thousands of “love locks”, locks visitors secure to the bridge and decorated with love notes.

8) Under the Roman Empire around 300BC , the city of Paris was named “Lutetia”.

9) Paris is divided into 20 distinct “arrondissements”, which start at the centre and work their way out. For context, the Louvre is located in the 1st arrondissement.

10) Paris is ten times older than many countries, and the oldest café in the city, Le Procope, has been in operation since 1686.

11) New York’s iconic Statue of Liberty was a gift from the French. But that doesn’t mean that France didn’t make a few for themselves. There are currently ten Statues of Liberty in France, with five in Paris alone.