Paris Insiders Guide
Paris Insiders Guide
  • What's On

    What's On in Paris

    June 2025 in Paris
    July 2025 in Paris
    August 2025 in Paris
    September 2025 in Paris
    Paris Activities Month by Month
    • What's On

      What's On in Paris

      June 2025 in Paris
      July 2025 in Paris
      August 2025 in Paris
      September 2025 in Paris
      Paris Activities Month by Month
      Paris Events Calendar
      Museum Exhibitions Calendar

      Performances

      Paris Ballet Calendar
      Paris Opera Calendar

      Holidays

      Christmas in Paris
      Christmas Day in Paris
      New Years Eve
      New Years Day in Paris
      Easter in Paris
      Valentines Day in Paris
      Bastille Day Celebrations
      Christmas in Paris

      Christmas in Paris

    • What to See

      The Eiffel Tower

      Skip-the-Lines at the Eiffel Tower
      Visiting The Eiffel Tower
      See all…

      Paris Attractions

      The Top 8 Tourist Attractions
      5 Paris Itineraries
      See all…

      Monuments in Paris

      The Arc de Triomphe
      The Panthéon
      See all…

      Landmarks

      Palais Garnier Opera House
      Hotel de Ville – The City Hall
      See all…

      History Museums

      Cluny Museum Paris
      Arts et Metiers
      See all…

      The Louvre Museum

      Louvre Art Museum Tours
      Mona Lisa In The Louvre
      See all…

      Musée d'Orsay

      Get the Most from Your Visit
      Top 10 Van Goghs at d'Orsay
      See all…

      The Top Paris Museums

      Musée de l'Orangerie
      Centre Pompidou
      See all…

      Artist Museums

      Musée Picasso
      Rodin Museum Paris
      See all…

      Unusual Paris Museums

      Guimet Asian Arts Museum
      Galliera Fashion Museum
      See all…
      Louvre Art Museum Tours

      Louvre Art Museum Tours

    • What to Do

      Visiting Versailles

      Skip-The-Line Tours
      Guided Versailles Tours
      Versailles Bike Tours

      The Essential Day Trips

      Visit the Champagne Region
      D-Day Landing Beaches
      Monet's Gardens at Giverny
      See all…

      More Iconic Day Tours

      Mont Saint-Michel
      Monet + Van Gogh
      VIP Private Day Trips
      See all…

      What to Do in Paris

      10 Ways to Skip the Paris Lines
      5 Top Activities In The Marais
      1st Time Visitors Guide
      See all…

      Seine River Cruises

      Top 6 Paris Dinner Cruises
      Lunch & Brunch Cruises
      Cruises with Extras!

      Paris Hidden Gems

      Les Halles Paris
      Impressionists In Paris
      Arcades of Paris
      See all…

      Night In The City of Light

      The 6 Best Evenings In Paris
      Moulin Rouge
      See all…

      Paris City Tours

      The 6 Best City Tours
      Hop-on, Open-Top Buses
      See all…

      Walking Tours

      Top 10 Walking Tours
      Mysterious Walking Tours
      See all…
      Romantic Dinner Cruises

      Romantic Dinner Cruises

    • Where to Stay
      The Top Left Bank Hotels

      Where to Stay in Paris

      Where to Stay in Paris

      Top-Rated Hotels in the Marais
      The Best Left Bank Hotels
      10 Affordable 4-Star Hotels
      See All …

      Preferred 5-Star Hotels

      Fouquet's Paris
      Hotel Napoleon Paris
      Hotel Le Burgundy
      See All…

      Top Hotels Near…

      Saint-Germain-des-Prés
      The Eiffel Tower

      Small Hotels of Paris

      Latin Quarter Hotels
      Top-Rated Montmartre Hotels
      Favorite Designer Hotels
      See All…

      The Palaces of Paris

      Shangri-La Paris
      Hotel George V Paris
      The Royal Monceau
      See All…

      Affordable Hotels

      Ibis Hotels
      Les Hotels de Paris
      Best Western Hotels
      See All…
    • Eat & Drink
      Food & Wine Tour in Montmartre

      The Foods of Montmartre

      Food & Wine Activities

      Top 10 Food Experiences
      Paris Wine Tastings
      Chocolate Tours
      See All…

      Most Popular Paris Food

      10 Best Cheese Shops
      The Best Baguette in Paris
      Food Markets of Paris
      See All…

      Memorable Paris Dining

      L'Assaggio
      Best Paris Terraces
      Seine Dinner Cruise

      Best Paris Restaurants

      Le Jules Verne
      Astrance Paris
      Il Carpaccio
      See All…

      Paris Restaurant Guide

      How to Choose a Restaurant
      Bistros & Brasseries
      The Best Paris Bars
      See All…

      Bistros & Brasseries

      In the Marais
      On the Left Bank
      Historic Brasseries of Paris
      See All…

      Top-Rated Restaurants

      Michelin 3-Star Restaurants
      6 Michelin-Star Restaurants
      See All…
    • More Paris Fun
      Visit the Champagne Region

      Visit the Champagne Region

      Historic Churches

      Notre Dame Cathedral
      La Sainte Chapelle
      See all…

      Paris Miscellanea

      Napoleon's Paris
      Hemingway's Paris
      Medieval Paris
      See All…

      Visiting Burgundy

      VIP Burgundy Wine Tour
      Burgundy Hotels
      See all…

      You Ask, We Answer

      Paris Hotels for Christmas?
      Best Restaurants in the 8th?
      Best Way To Visit Versailles?
      See All…

      Paris Gardens & Parks

      Jardin des Tuileries
      Jardin des Plantes
      Palais Royal
      See all…

      Unusual Paris Sights

      Pere Lachaise Cemetery
      The Catacombs
      See all…

      Top Ten Lists

      10 Tips For Visiting Paris
      7 Vestiges of Roman Paris
      13 Hidden Places In Paris
      See All…

      Your Own Private Paris

      Private Tours of Paris
      Champagne & Shows
      See all…
    • Essentials
      Things to do in Paris

      What's On When You're Here

      Airports & Transfers

      Airport Transfers
      Paris Airports
      Airport Taxis

      Getting Around Paris

      The Paris Metro
      Paris Metro Tickets
      Paris Taxis
      See All…

      Paris Travel Guide

      Where To Stay In Paris
      Top 10 Tips For Travelers
      Choose The Perfect Hotel
      What to Pack for Paris
      See All…

      Paris Essentials

      What's On When You're Here
      Where to Stay in Paris
      Seine River Dinner Cruises
      Paris Restaurant Guide
      Visiting Versailles
      The Eiffel Tower
      The Louvre Museum

      Train Travel

      Train Travel From Paris
      Eurostar: London & Paris
      See All…

      Paris Arrondissements

      The Marais
      The Latin Quarter
      Saint-Germain-des-Pres
      See All…

    A Capsule History of Paris, Paris II – The Middle Ages To Napoleon

    In the History of Paris Part I we learned how a Celtic tribe came to settle at the river crossing, in a place called Lutetia, and why the Romans thought the spot was important enough to occupy. Paris, we discovered, was prized not only by the Romans, but by the Huns and the Vikings (neither of who managed to occupy the city) and the Franks (who did).

    The wave of invaders and would-be conquerers lessened after that early period of the history of Paris and nothing like it would be seen again until the 19th and 20th centuries. But we're getting ahead of ourselves, let's first go back to the history of Paris during the Middle Ages.

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    The Eiffel Tower and the Seine River seen from a dinner cruise boat

    Paris Dinner Cruises on the Seine

    Dine in style as you glide past the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, and the Louvre on a magical Seine River cruise. Gourmet food, champagne, and Paris lit up at night – it’s unforgettable.

    Reserve your table…

    Paris Dinner Cruises on the Seine

    Dine in style as you glide past the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, and the Louvre on a magical Seine River cruise. Gourmet food, champagne, and Paris lit up at night – it’s unforgettable.

    Reserve your table…

    The Middle Ages

    The Middle Ages The Map of Paris in 1500, north is left, as was the convention of the time

    During the Middle Ages and well into modern times, France was ruled by monarchs of the Capetian dynasty, kings named Louis or Henry of Charles. Under them Paris expanded into an important commercial center. In the 12th century the city's merchants were awarded exclusive control of all river traffic, which strengthened the commercial importance of Paris.

    With the founding of the first university in France — the Sorbonne, in what is now the 5th Arrondissement — Paris cemented a claim to also being the intellectual and cultural center of the kingdom.

    As Paris continued to grow, the city's fortified walls were torn down and re-built further out, again and again, in a succession of rings. The last set of walls formed a large circle around what is now the twenty arrondissements. Today's highway ring around Paris (the 20th-century péréphrique) follows the lines of those final walls.

    The Renaissance in Paris

    The Renaissance Statue of Henry IV on Pont Neuf, photo by Mark Craft

    Some of the biggest and most visible impacts of the Renaissance on Paris were completed by Henry IV (r. 1589-1610), the first Bourbon king (a sort of subset of the Capetians) at the beginning of the 17th century.

    Henry continued the beautification of Paris begun by previous kings — including work on the Louvre started by Catherine de Medici, and the now-destroyed Palais des Tuileries, as Paris transformed from a medieval city. This was an important time in the development of Paris.

    It was during this era that the city began to take the early form of what it looks like today. Also built in this period were the Pont Neuf (the "New Bridge", today the oldest bridge crossing the Seine), where an equestrian statue of Henry can still be found; Place des Vosges; the Jardin des Plantes in eastern Paris; and the beautiful triangle of Place Dauphine on Île de la Cité.

    5 Highlights Of Henry IV's Paris

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    Visitors marveling at the splendor of one of the grand rooms at Versailles

    Versailles Guided Day Tours

    Trade Paris bustle for royal grandeur on a guided Versailles tour. Skip the lines, wander the gardens, and peek inside Marie Antoinette’s private estate. History never looked this good.

    Plan Your Palace Day…

    Versailles Guided Day Tours

    Trade Paris bustle for royal grandeur on a guided Versailles tour. Skip the lines, wander the gardens, and peek inside Marie Antoinette’s private estate. History never looked this good.

    Plan Your Palace Day…

    Royal Paris

    Royal Paris Louis XIV and family, posed as Roman gods, 1670, by Jean Nocret

    France reached its royal peak (and Paris, as its capital, saw the most benefit) after the Renaissance, under the last of the kings named Louis. Louis XIII, who succeeded Henry IV in 1610, gave Paris room to grow by expanding the city's Right Bank fortifications out to what are now the Grands Boulevards.

    Louis XIV, the Sun King — the longest-reigning monarch in French history (r. 1643-1715), and one who considered himself to be god-like — had an immense influence on the modern country. He also continued to beautify and glorify Paris, even though he moved his court out of the city to the new royal estate at Versailles.

    5 Highlights Of Louis XIV's Paris

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    The Louvre Colonnade The Louvre Colonnade (1667-1674)

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    In this period — the seventy years that spanned the 16th and 17th centuries — were built Place Vendôme; the Louvre colonnade (the easternmost facade of the palace); Les Invalides, a home for wounded and aged soldiers, whose dome inspired the United States Capitol building; and the Jardin des Tuileries.

    Louis XV (XIV's great-grandson) and Louis XVI (XV's grandson) continued with wars and grandiose schemes and massive spending until France was nearly broke and it all came to a head in the most important upheaval in French history.

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    KW

    Paris Hotel Deals

    Browse our hand-picked Paris hotel deals with real-time discounts of up to 20%. Stay in the Marais, Saint Germain, the Latin Quarter, the Left Bank near the Eiffel Tower… every arrondissement is on the list.

    Search for your hotel…

    Paris Hotel Deals

    Browse our hand-picked Paris hotel deals with real-time discounts of up to 20%. Stay in the Marais, Saint Germain, the Latin Quarter, the Left Bank near the Eiffel Tower… every arrondissement is on the list.

    Search for your hotel…

    The French Revolution

    Storming of the Bastille The storming of the Bastille, kicking off the French Revolution

    The French Revolution started on July 14, 1789. From the distance of a couple of centuries that period can seem confusing and messy, with all that fighting, with governments coming and going, heads rolling. It's hard to keep it all straight. Especially with all those heads rolling.

    What's important to know is that, today, the French Revolution is an almost mythic period to the French people and has been critically significant in the shaping of the modern country. But, unlike other some of the other eras we've covered, it didn't add very much to the physical aspect of the capitol city and so has a smaller role to play in this current survey of how Paris became Paris.

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    The execution of Louis XVI on January 21, 1793 The execution of Louis XVI on January 21, 1793

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    Of course, there are sites of note from this period. The infamous guillotine was set up in what is today called the Place de la Concorde but was known at the time as Place Louis XV and then renamed by the revolutionaries Place de la Revolution. (What else would it be?) It was where Louis XVI and 1,300 others met their end. Another significant site is the Conciergerie, where Marie Antoinette and hundreds more were imprisoned.

    It was a brief (1789-1799), but very intense and complicated time. Once it was over, France ended up with Napoleon.

    9 Sites of Marie Antoinette's Paris

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    In the vineyards of Champagne a guide explains the making of the bubbly

    Champagne Day Trip from Paris

    Escape to the Land of Bubbly on a small-group day tour from Paris. Taste at top Champagne houses, meet boutique producers, enjoy a leisurely lunch, and toast to a perfectly sparkling day.

    More Information…

    Champagne Day Trip from Paris

    Escape to the Land of Bubbly on a small-group day tour from Paris. Taste at top Champagne houses, meet boutique producers, enjoy a leisurely lunch, and toast to a perfectly sparkling day.

    More Information…

    The Age of Napoleon

    The Age of Napoleon The Coronation of Napoleon, by Jacques-Louis David, 1807

    Some historians have argued that Napoleon Bonaparte saved France from the French Revolution. But, whatever he did for France, he certainly set Paris on a path towards the modern era.

    Napoleon was crowned emperor at Notre Dame in 1804 and began a program of building grand monuments and streets that he thought befitted the capital of an empire, not to mention glorifying himself. The work he started includes the Arc de Triomphe de l'Etoile (the big one), Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel (the smaller one found next to the Jardin des Tuileries), Rue de Rivoli, and the revamping of Place de la Concorde.

    Napoleon's Paris: In The Emperor's Footsteps

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    Napoleon on horseback Napoleon on horseback, by Jacques-Louis David

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    Despite his many contributions to France and to Paris — including the Napoleonic law code and the Metric System — Napoleon's reign was short, and by 1815 he was gone.

    Paris itself grew rapidly in the 19th Century, post-Napoleon, despite further revolutions and other disruptions. But, for the biggest changes in its history, Paris had to wait for Napoleon's nephew, Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte (later known as Napoleon III), who was elected the country's president in 1848. A few years later he, too, made himself emperor (it runs in the family) and that's when immense changes to the very body of Paris began.

    More Paris, More History


    Part I – The Celts To The Vikings
    Part III – Haussmann to the 20th Century

    Paris Planning Guides

    Loire Valley Tours Visiting the Loire Valley Paris Latin Quarter Hotels Latin Quarter Hotels Learn about Day Trips to Champagne VIP to Champagne The Top Seine Dinner Cruises Glorious Dinner Cruises

    Paris Miscellanea

    • Napoleon's Paris…
    • Hemingway's Paris…
    • Highlights of Medieval Paris…
    • Henry IV's Paris…
    • Louis XIV's Paris…
    • Marie Antoinette's Paris…
    • Van Gogh's Paris…
    • Paris Exposition 1900…
    • Healthiest City to Visit…
    • Superlative Bridges of Paris…
    • The History of Paris…
    • The Paris Commune of 1871…
    • The 16 Mayors of Paris…
    • An Unsung Hero of Paris…
    • Tour Montparnasse…
    • Historic Paris Expositions…
    • Paris Movies…
    • Books About Paris…
    • The History of Paris Buses…
    • Herbin Fine Writing Ink…
    • Population of Paris…
    • Canadian & US Embassies…
    • Climate in Paris…

    Discover What's On When You're Here

    • July 2025 Things to Do in Paris…
    • Bastille Day Celebrations…
    • August 2025 Things to Do…
    • September 2025 Things to Do…
    • October 2025 Things to Do…
    • November 2025 Things to Do…
    • December 2025 Things to Do…
    • Month-by-Month Calendar…

    Paris Essential #1:
    Romantic Dinner Cruise

    Marais Food Tour
    Evening Seine River Cruise +
    A Classic French Meal

    Paris Essential #2:
    Chateau de Versailles

    Visit Chateau de Versailles
    Visit the Magnificent Chateau & Gardens of the Royal Estate

    Paris Essential #3:
    The Louvre Museum

    Visit The Louvre Museum
    Take in the Best of the Louvre,
    Bypass the Long Lines

    Paris Essential #4:
    The Eiffel Tower

    The Eiffel Tower
    Skip the Line and Enjoy the Views of Paris from Above

    Paris Essential #5:
    The D-Day Beaches

    The D-Day Beaches
    Visit the Historic That
    Changed the Course of WWII

    Paris Essential #6:
    Delectable Food Tours

    Marais Food Tour
    Discover the Best
    Food & Wine of Paris
    Plus d'Info

    Vacations in France
    Free Paris Planning Guides
    411

    French for Travelers
    Ask Your Paris Questions
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    Copyright © 2010-2025 Voconces Culinary Ltd, all rights reserved. Original photos © Mark Craft, all rights reserved.

        • June 2025 in Paris
        • July 2025 in Paris
        • August 2025 in Paris
        • September 2025 in Paris
        • Paris Activities Month by Month
        • Paris Events Calendar
        • Museum Exhibitions Calendar
        • Paris Ballet Calendar
        • Paris Opera Calendar
        • Christmas in Paris
        • Christmas Day in Paris
        • New Years Eve
        • New Years Day in Paris
        • Easter in Paris
        • Valentines Day in Paris
        • Bastille Day Celebrations
        • Skip-the-Lines at the Eiffel Tower
        • Visiting The Eiffel Tower
        • Eiffel Tower Information
        • See all…
        • The Top 8 Tourist Attractions
        • 5 Paris Itineraries
        • Gardens & Parks
        • See all…
        • The Arc de Triomphe
        • The Panthéon
        • The Bastille
        • See all…
        • Chateau de Versailles
        • Palais Garnier Opera House
        • Hotel de Ville – The City Hall
        • See all…
        • Get the Most from Your Visit
        • Masterpieces of the Louvre
        • Paintings of the Louvre
        • See all…
        • Get the Most from Your Visit
        • Top 10 Van Goghs at d'Orsay
        • See all…
        • Musée de l'Orangerie
        • Centre Pompidou
        • See all…
        • Musée d'Orsay
        • Musée Picasso
        • Rodin Museum Paris
        • See all…
        • Cluny Museum Paris
        • Arts et Metiers
        • See all…
        • Guimet Asian Arts Museum
        • Galliera Fashion Museum
        • See all…
        • Skip-The-Line Tours
        • Guided Versailles Tours
        • Versailles Bike Tours
        • Visit the Champagne Region
        • D-Day Landing Beaches
        • Monet's Gardens at Giverny
        • See all…
        • Mont Saint-Michel
        • Monet + Van Gogh
        • VIP Private Day Trips
        • See all…
        • 10 Ways to Skip the Lines
        • 9 Most Romantic Things to Do
        • 5 Top Activities In The Marais
        • See all…
        • Romantic Dinner Cruises
        • Lunch & Brunch Cruises
        • Cruises with Extras!
        • See all…
        • The 6 Best Evenings In Paris
        • Moulin Rouge
        • Paris at Night
        • See all…
        • Hop-on, Open-Top Buses
        • The 6 Best City Tours
        • See all…
        • Private Tours of Paris
        • Champagne & Shows
        • See all…
        • Top 10 Walking Tours
        • Mysterious Walking Tours
        • See all…
        • Top-Rated Hotels in the Marais
        • The Best Left Bank Hotels
        • 10 Affordable 4-Star Hotels
        • See all …
        • Latin Quarter Hotels
        • Left Bank Hotels
        • Top-Rated Montmartre Hotels
        • Favorite Designer Hotels
        • See all …
        • Shangri-La Paris
        • Hotel George V Paris
        • The Royal Monceau
        • See all…
        • Fouquet's Paris
        • Hotel Napoleon Paris
        • Hotel Le Burgundy
        • See all …
        • Ibis Hotels
        • Les Hotels de Paris
        • Best Western Hotels
        • See all …
        • Saint-Germain-des-Prés
        • The Eiffel Tower
        • Top 10 Food Experiences
        • Paris Wine Tastings
        • Chocolate Tours
        • See all …
        • 10 Best Cheese Shops
        • The Best Baguette in Paris
        • Food Markets of Paris
        • See all …
        • Le Jules Verne
        • Astrance Paris
        • Il Carpaccio
        • See all …
        • How to Choose a Restaurant
        • Bistros & Brasseries
        • The Best Paris Bars
        • See all …
        • In the Marais
        • On the Left Bank
        • Historic Brasseries of Paris
        • See all …
        • Michelin 3-Star Restaurants
        • 6 Michelin-Star Restaurants
        • See All…
        • L'Assaggio
        • Best Paris Terraces
        • Seine Dinner Cruise
        • Notre Dame Cathedral
        • La Sainte Chapelle
        • Sacre-Coeur Paris
        • See all…
        • Les Halles Paris
        • Impressionists In Paris
        • Arcades of Paris
        • See all…
        • Napoleon's Paris
        • Hemingway's Paris
        • Medieval Paris
        • See all…
        • Hidden Landmarks
        • The Catacombs
        • Pere Lachaise Cemetery
        • See all…
        • Jardin des Tuileries
        • Jardin des Plantes
        • Palais Royal
        • See all…
        • VIP Burgundy Wine Tour
        • Burgundy Hotels
        • See all…
        • 10 Tips For Visiting Paris
        • 7 Vestiges of Roman Paris
        • 13 Hidden Places In Paris
        • See all…
        • Paris Hotels for Christmas?
        • Best Restaurants in the 8th?
        • Best Way To Visit Versailles?
        • See all…
        • Airport Transfers
        • Paris Airports
        • Airport Taxis
        • Train Travel From Paris
        • Eurostar: London & Paris
        • Paris Train Stations
        • See all…
        • The Marais
        • The Latin Quarter
        • Saint-Germain-des-Pres
        • See all…
        • Where To Stay In Paris
        • Top 10 Tips For Travelers
        • Choose The Perfect Hotel
        • What to Pack for Paris
        • See all…
        • The Paris Metro
        • Paris Metro Tickets
        • Paris Taxis
        • See all…
        • What's On When You're Here
        • Where To Stay In Paris
        • Seine River Dinner Cruises
        • Paris Restaurant Guide
        • Visiting Versailles
        • The Eiffel Tower
        • The Louvre Museum