History

Why is Easter Monday a public holiday in France? History and origins

It's one of the most important dates in the Christian religious calendar, if not the most important. As you may have guessed, we're talking about Easter. By the way, do you know what Catholics and Protestants celebrate on this day? And do you know why Easter Monday, which this year falls on April 21, 2025, is a public holiday? We'll tell you.

Nuit des Musées 2025 at Boulogne-Billancourt Town Hall (92)

On the occasion of the Nuit des Musées, the Hôtel de Ville de Boulogne-Billancourt (92) invites you to an exceptional nocturnal tour of its Art Deco architecture and history, on May 17, 2025.

Plunge into the heart of Paris with Visites-Spectacles: dramatized tours with actors

(Re)discover Paris in a different way by exploring the emblematic neighborhoods of Montmartre, Passages Couverts and Père Lachaise cemetery, among others, through immersive, theatrical tours. Guided by talented costumed actors, you'll be immersed in Paris through interactive scenes, captivating dialogues and fascinating reconstructions. Actors who don't just tell you the story, they bring it to life!

La Hublotière, Hector Guimard's Art Nouveau villa to visit this summer 2025 in Le Vésinet (78)

Have you heard of La Hublotière? This Art Nouveau villa, designed by Hector Guimard, is hidden away in the heart of Le Vésinet, in the Yvelines department. Exceptionally, it's opening its doors to the public this summer - a golden opportunity to discover our heritage!

Did you know? Île-de-France isn't an island... but it's close!

Is Île-de-France really an island without a sea? Take an express dive into the history and mysteries of the name that shapes the identity of France's most effervescent region.

Easter vacations: Cross the centuries at the Louvre with the new virtual reality experience

Step back in time at the foot of the Louvre thanks to a never-before-seen virtual reality tour, available from April 5, 2025. An immersive journey, combining historical reconstructions, guided tours and sensory experiences, to (re)discover the Louvre like never before. For the Easter vacations, we've got a promo code for you!

April Fools' Day: why do we celebrate Joke Day on April 1? The origins

Every April 1, hoaxes of varying degrees of success make a comeback on April Fools' Day. But why do we celebrate this day and why do we make jokes every April 1? We reveal the history and origins of the April Fool's Day tradition.

Fêtes Galantes 2025, a sumptuous costumed evening at the Château de Versailles - SOLD OUT

The Fêtes Galantes return to the Château de Versailles! For one evening, Monday June 2, 2025, slip into the shoes of a marquis or princess, and take part in the dances and games of this wild celebration, culminating in a fireworks display!

International Women's Rights Day: why is it being celebrated on March 8?

International Women's Rights Day is celebrated around the world every year on March 8. Yet few know its history and origins. So why do we celebrate this struggle on March 8? How did this symbolic day come about? We tell you all about it.

Did you know? The Bièvre, a Parisian river, still flows beneath the cobblestones of the capital.

Once upon a time, a river flowed through the 5th and 13th arrondissements of Paris for all to see. It became too polluted in the 19th century, and is now buried beneath the cobblestones of the capital, but continues to flow beneath our feet, deeply hidden.

La Chapelle de La Sorbonne: the little-known architectural jewel of Parisian universities

Built in the 17th century in the Latin Quarter, the Sorbonne chapel embodies the elegance of French classicism, houses the tomb of Richelieu, and bears witness to the intellectual and architectural prestige of the ancient University of Paris. Inaccessible for over 25 years, it is due to reopen to the public in a few years' time.

The Louvre, an original guided tour: discover the hidden secrets of the museum's facades!

The Louvre is a veritable open-air history book. While everyone is familiar with its masterpieces, collections and paintings, its famous pyramid and the fabulous Tuileries Gardens, few visitors take the time to look up and decipher the mysteries etched into the stone facades of its pavilions, halls and galleries. Join Cultival on an unusual guided tour of the Louvre's facades, a fascinating journey through eight centuries of history and esoterica.

Did you know: which is the oldest museum in Paris?

Paris is home to over a hundred museums. But do you know which is the oldest? Here's the answer...

Did you know? There was a circus on the Champs-Elysées in the 19th century.

Everyone knows Cirque d'Hiver, but did you know that Cirque d'Été existed for a few decades on the Avenue des Champs-Elysées, before disappearing forever?

A historical reconstruction at the heart of the Belle Epoque 1900 at the Château de Breteuil

Château de Breteuil invites you to an unusual event on June 29, 2025: a historical reconstruction in the heart of the Belle Epoque. Travel back to the time of Henri de Breteuil and discover the estate in its heyday!

Did you know? A swimming pool has been hidden beneath the Cirque d'Hiver ring since the 1930s.

There's no shortage of swimming pools in the capital, but few people have ever been able to swim in the Cirque d'Hiver! Hidden beneath the floor of the ring, it was built in the 1930s for water shows.

Chandeleur: Why do we eat pancakes on February 2? History and origins of this festival

Candlemas is a time for eating pancakes. But do you know exactly why? And do you know the history and origins of this festival, celebrated every year on February 2? We tell you.

Meet the Bouglione family: flying trapeze at Cirque d'Hiver, our interview

On the occasion of their new show "Spectaculaire", we met up with Joseph and Louis-Sampion Bouglione to talk about flying trapeze, a skill born at the heart of the Cirque d'Hiver, one of the capital's most historic venues.

Women's Rights Day 2025: queens and princesses at Saint-Denis Basilica

To mark International Women's Rights Day, the Basilica of Saint-Denis opens its illustrious doors for an exceptional visit in the footsteps of the princesses and queens buried there, on March 8 and 9, 2025 at 2:30pm.

Did you know? Why is Avenue de l'Opéra one of the only streets without a single tree?

Avenue de l'Opéra has been completely deserted by greenery, and it's impossible to find a single tree... Why, then, was nature cast aside overnight in the middle of the 19th century?