There are fun facts about Paris which you should know because if you undertake a trip to France, you can visit these wonderful places that have great significance for the history of this country, which is a worldwide reference. That is why we are going to present some of these pieces of information below:
We begin by saying that France is the most visited country in the world, receiving approximately 80 million tourists each year, of which 40 million visit Paris. In addition, 20% of the French live in Paris and its periphery, where there is a large number of museums that are mostly free on the first Sunday of the month.
The world famous “Eiffel Tower” is an icon of Paris and all of France, but what not everyone knows is that this structure constantly changes measures, enlarging approximately eight centimeters in the summer season due to thermal expansion. Also, if you are interested in knowing it, you can go to the top, but prepare yourself to climb 1,665 steps.
Another fun fact about the Eiffel Tower is that for 41 years it was the highest building in the world, but it was surpassed in 1930 by the Chrysler building in New York, which is 319 meters high. However, this place is currently occupied by the Burj Khalifa building in Dubai, which is 828 meters high.
Although it could be thought that the most visited place in Paris and France is the Eiffel Tower, the truth is that it is not so, since the place that people visit most is Disneyland Paris, doubling the number of visitors to this iconic tower, approximately 14.8 million people a year.
In Paris, it is also the largest bell in France, exactly in the famous and spectacular Basilica of the Sacré Coeur. It weighs 26 tons and is known as “La Savoyarde”. In addition, there is a giant thumb, which weighs 18 tons and measures 14 meters, located in the area of “La Defense”.
Did you know that the point from which all the different French roads are calculated is “Le Point Zéro”, the zero km of Paris, which is located in front of the Notre Dame Cathedral? It has always been surrounded by stories and mysteries, especially in relation to the famous gargoyles, which are said many things about, but really they are just there to evacuate the water from the roof during the rainy season.
Surely many of us know Paris as The City of Light, but do you know why is it called that way? Well, it is known for being a standard city of arts and sciences, as well as being the first city in Europe to illuminate its streets with electric light; although an ancient tradition says that in the 17th century there were many robberies, and apparently the prefect of the Paris police was the first in the world to illuminate its streets with gas lanterns at night to stop criminals.
Another fun fact about Paris is that the pyramid that is in the Louvre Museum has the same measures and proportions as the Cheops pyramid, located in Egypt; so do not forget to visit it if you go to this city, and if you do it in June, it is good that you know that on June 21 Music Day is celebrated and free concerts are held throughout the city.
On the other hand, if you visit Paris, you must go to the Montparnasse Tower, which is 210 meters high and is the second tallest in Paris; so when you go there, you will be able to enjoy spectacular views and charming sunsets.
And if we go to the Montmartre Wall of Love, we will read the word “I love you” in more than 300 languages; and you can also visit the only vineyard in this city, which produces about 300 bottles of wine a year. In this place, we can also see the only mills left, the Mouline Rouge and the Radet or Galette.
One of the most important places in Paris is the beautiful Avenue of the Champs Elysees, which is the largest in the city, with a length of 1880 meters, and covers from the Place de la Concorde until the Arc de Triomphe. In addition, it is very interesting to visit the place where the catacombs of Paris are, which are made up of a network of more than 300 kilometers.
In Paris, it is also the Paris Mosque, where a large number of Jews took refuge during World War II, and although the Nazi leader (Hitler) gave the order to destroy the most important monuments of this city, the general in charge of doing so (Dietrich von Choltitz) ignored his order.
On the other hand, Paris has been the scene of events of worldwide importance, such as the Olympic Games, being celebrated the II Olympic Games of the Modern Era there in 1900. For these and many other reasons, Paris is and will be a city loved and visited by millions of people around the world.
ALFA