Did you know? - activities

Did you know? Passage Jouffroy hides a gold ingot and Paris's first fast-food restaurant!

The Passage Jouffroy, located between the Grands Boulevards and rue de la Grange-Batelière, is a place rich in surprises and historical anecdotes. Built in 1846, it is famous for its metal architecture and glass roof, which have inspired many other Parisian passages. This emblematic site is home to unique boutiques and an unusual story revolving around a mysterious gold ingot that caused a sensation in the 19th century. To get there, you can enter either from Boulevard Montmartre at the Musée Grévin, or from Rue de la Grange-Batelière, each entrance offering a different perspective on this space steeped in history.

Did you know? The Palais de l'Elysée houses an hourglass that will take a thousand years to run down.

It's an original and fascinating work of art, created by French artist Benoît Pype: the millennial hourglass should take 1,000 years to run down. It is installed in the office of the French President.

Did you know? There are a dozen ghost stations in Paris. Do you know them?

While many Parisians take the metro every day, few are aware that the capital is home to a dozen ghost stations. Operated then finally abandoned or never opened... what are these ghost stations and where are they located in Paris? We tell you all about them.

Did you know? The RER A could have been named MERDE (SHIT)

Did you know? In 1970, the iconic RER A, a fixture of Parisian transport, narrowly missed being christened "MERDE". A surprising anecdote thanks to the RATP and a vigilant painter.

Did you know? Where does the name Champs-Elysées come from?

Do you know the origin of the name of the Champs-Elysées, the famous Parisian avenue? Created in 1674 by André le Nôtre and officially named in 1698, this royal thoroughfare takes its name from Greek mythology, we tell you.

Paris : the Time Defender, the clock with automatons, reinstalled in the Horloge district

Do you know the Defender of Time, in Paris? This automaton clock gave you the time with its globe clock and its soldier fighting a chimera with his sword and shield movements... But that was before it was removed from the clock district, near the Pompidou Center, in 2003, because of its condition and the city's refusal to restore it, due to its high cost. A clock that has just returned to the neighborhood, this February 6, 2023. Discover its history!

Paris-Saint-Germain: why is the Parc des Princes named that way? Origins of the PSG stadium's name

The Parc des Princes is the iconic stadium of Paris soccer club Paris-Saint-Germain. But why does it sound so royal?