tiqets blog
  • City Guides
    • All
    • Amsterdam
    • Barcelona
    • Berlin
    • London
    • Madrid
    • New York
    • Paris
    • Rome
    • Rotterdam
    The Best Things to Do in Miami for Couples, Singles and Families

    The Best Things to Do in Miami for Couples, Singles and Families

    9 Romantic Things to do in Berlin

    9 Romantic Things to do in Berlin

    Classic view of historic traditional Cable Cars riding on famous California Street in morning light at sunrise with retro vintage style cross processing filter effect, San Francisco, California, USA

    Your Itinerary for San Francisco: What to Do, See, Eat and More

    11 of the Best Black History Museums in the US and Where to Find Them

    11 of the Best Black History Museums in the US and Where to Find Them

    Orange bike on the canal

    A Guide to Alternative Amsterdam

    A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, Georges Seurat

    The 14 Best Modern Art Museums in the World

    Dreaming of La Vie en Rose? Donโ€™t Miss These Hidden Gems in Paris

    Panoramic view above at Charles Bridge Prague Castle and river Vltava Prague Czech Republic

    All That Glitters Is Prague: 48 Hours in the Czech Capital

    The Ultimate Guide to Navigating the Amsterdam Nightlife Like a Local

    The Ultimate Guide to Navigating the Amsterdam Nightlife Like a Local

  • Destinations
    • All
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • Middle East
    • North America
    • UK & Ireland
    Where & When to See Japanโ€™s Cherry Blossom Season 2021

    Where & When to See Japanโ€™s Cherry Blossom Season 2021

    Classic view of historic traditional Cable Cars riding on famous California Street in morning light at sunrise with retro vintage style cross processing filter effect, San Francisco, California, USA

    Your Itinerary for San Francisco: What to Do, See, Eat and More

    11 of the Best Black History Museums in the US and Where to Find Them

    11 of the Best Black History Museums in the US and Where to Find Them

    Dreaming of La Vie en Rose? Donโ€™t Miss These Hidden Gems in Paris

  • Culture
    • All
    • Architecture
    • Art
    • History
    • Museums
    • Venue Guides
    Photo by Laurie Byrne on Unsplash

    Museums & Attractions Need You: How to Support Local Tourism

    13 Famous Women Artists and Where to Find Their Work

    13 Famous Women Artists and Where to Find Their Work

    11 of the Best Black History Museums in the US and Where to Find Them

    11 of the Best Black History Museums in the US and Where to Find Them

    Hope the blue whale at the natural history museum London

    The Best Natural History Museums in the World: Bones, Stones, & Questionable Taxidermy

    One World Observatory: An Insider Guide

    One World Observatory: An Insider Guide

    gladiator

    Colosseum Gladiators: Roman History to Know Before You Visit

    Shrekโ€™s Adventure! London Answers All Your Shrek Questions

    Shrekโ€™s Adventure! London Answers All Your Shrek Questions

    the Roman forum in Rome

    An Archaeologist Breaks Down Historical Tourism โ€“ And How We Can Be Better at It

    Underground Rome: Vicus Caprarius and Other Subterranean Marvels

    Underground Rome: Vicus Caprarius and Other Subterranean Marvels

  • Travel tips
    the Roman forum in Rome

    An Archaeologist Breaks Down Historical Tourism โ€“ And How We Can Be Better at It

    Inside Xcaret: An Insiderโ€™s Guide to Mexico’s Most Exciting Ecotourism Development

    Inside Xcaret: An Insiderโ€™s Guide to Mexico’s Most Exciting Ecotourism Development

    Hikers at the Grand Canyon

    USA Bucket List: 37 Iconic Experiences and Hidden Gems

    Jellyfish at one of the best Aquariums in the world

    The Best Aquariums in the World and Where to Find Them

    Heading to Italy? Visit These Stunning Campania Destinations

    Heading to Italy? Visit These Stunning Campania Destinations

    10 Beautiful Places in England to Add to Your Bucket List

    10 Beautiful Places in England to Add to Your Bucket List

    Give It Up for the Top 10 Cities in France

    Give It Up for the Top 10 Cities in France

    Marina Sands Bay in Singapore

    6 Wanderlust-Worthy Short Trips From Singapore

    Go Beyond the Austrian Capital With These 5 Day Trips From Vienna

    Go Beyond the Austrian Capital With These 5 Day Trips From Vienna

  • Things to Do
    • All
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Halloween
    Easter bunny

    Eggs, Bunnies, and Ogres: How to Spend Easter in the UK

    Valentine's day at home on a rooftop with candles

    6 Stay at Home Date Ideas for Valentineโ€™s Day 2021

    European Easter eggs.

    Easter in Europe: The Most Eggcellent Easter Holiday Destinations & Traditions

    Flowers at Keukenhof park

    Keukenhof 2021: The Full Guide

    29 Unusual Christmas Traditions, New Year Rituals and Festive Activities

    12 Christmas City Breaks for Singles, Couples, and Families

    12 Christmas City Breaks for Singles, Couples, and Families

    40 Halloween Amusement Parks and Activities to Celebrate the Ghoul-est Day of the Year

    40 Halloween Amusement Parks and Activities to Celebrate the Ghoul-est Day of the Year

    How to Spend Halloween 2020 in Amsterdam: Attractions and More

    How to Spend Halloween 2020 in Amsterdam: Attractions and More

    The giraffe enclosure at London Zoo

    The Oldest Zoos in the World You Can Still Visit Today

No Result
View All Result
tiqets blog
  • City Guides
    • All
    • Amsterdam
    • Barcelona
    • Berlin
    • London
    • Madrid
    • New York
    • Paris
    • Rome
    • Rotterdam
    The Best Things to Do in Miami for Couples, Singles and Families

    The Best Things to Do in Miami for Couples, Singles and Families

    9 Romantic Things to do in Berlin

    9 Romantic Things to do in Berlin

    Classic view of historic traditional Cable Cars riding on famous California Street in morning light at sunrise with retro vintage style cross processing filter effect, San Francisco, California, USA

    Your Itinerary for San Francisco: What to Do, See, Eat and More

    11 of the Best Black History Museums in the US and Where to Find Them

    11 of the Best Black History Museums in the US and Where to Find Them

    Orange bike on the canal

    A Guide to Alternative Amsterdam

    A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, Georges Seurat

    The 14 Best Modern Art Museums in the World

    Dreaming of La Vie en Rose? Donโ€™t Miss These Hidden Gems in Paris

    Panoramic view above at Charles Bridge Prague Castle and river Vltava Prague Czech Republic

    All That Glitters Is Prague: 48 Hours in the Czech Capital

    The Ultimate Guide to Navigating the Amsterdam Nightlife Like a Local

    The Ultimate Guide to Navigating the Amsterdam Nightlife Like a Local

  • Destinations
    • All
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • Middle East
    • North America
    • UK & Ireland
    Where & When to See Japanโ€™s Cherry Blossom Season 2021

    Where & When to See Japanโ€™s Cherry Blossom Season 2021

    Classic view of historic traditional Cable Cars riding on famous California Street in morning light at sunrise with retro vintage style cross processing filter effect, San Francisco, California, USA

    Your Itinerary for San Francisco: What to Do, See, Eat and More

    11 of the Best Black History Museums in the US and Where to Find Them

    11 of the Best Black History Museums in the US and Where to Find Them

    Dreaming of La Vie en Rose? Donโ€™t Miss These Hidden Gems in Paris

  • Culture
    • All
    • Architecture
    • Art
    • History
    • Museums
    • Venue Guides
    Photo by Laurie Byrne on Unsplash

    Museums & Attractions Need You: How to Support Local Tourism

    13 Famous Women Artists and Where to Find Their Work

    13 Famous Women Artists and Where to Find Their Work

    11 of the Best Black History Museums in the US and Where to Find Them

    11 of the Best Black History Museums in the US and Where to Find Them

    Hope the blue whale at the natural history museum London

    The Best Natural History Museums in the World: Bones, Stones, & Questionable Taxidermy

    One World Observatory: An Insider Guide

    One World Observatory: An Insider Guide

    gladiator

    Colosseum Gladiators: Roman History to Know Before You Visit

    Shrekโ€™s Adventure! London Answers All Your Shrek Questions

    Shrekโ€™s Adventure! London Answers All Your Shrek Questions

    the Roman forum in Rome

    An Archaeologist Breaks Down Historical Tourism โ€“ And How We Can Be Better at It

    Underground Rome: Vicus Caprarius and Other Subterranean Marvels

    Underground Rome: Vicus Caprarius and Other Subterranean Marvels

  • Travel tips
    the Roman forum in Rome

    An Archaeologist Breaks Down Historical Tourism โ€“ And How We Can Be Better at It

    Inside Xcaret: An Insiderโ€™s Guide to Mexico’s Most Exciting Ecotourism Development

    Inside Xcaret: An Insiderโ€™s Guide to Mexico’s Most Exciting Ecotourism Development

    Hikers at the Grand Canyon

    USA Bucket List: 37 Iconic Experiences and Hidden Gems

    Jellyfish at one of the best Aquariums in the world

    The Best Aquariums in the World and Where to Find Them

    Heading to Italy? Visit These Stunning Campania Destinations

    Heading to Italy? Visit These Stunning Campania Destinations

    10 Beautiful Places in England to Add to Your Bucket List

    10 Beautiful Places in England to Add to Your Bucket List

    Give It Up for the Top 10 Cities in France

    Give It Up for the Top 10 Cities in France

    Marina Sands Bay in Singapore

    6 Wanderlust-Worthy Short Trips From Singapore

    Go Beyond the Austrian Capital With These 5 Day Trips From Vienna

    Go Beyond the Austrian Capital With These 5 Day Trips From Vienna

  • Things to Do
    • All
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Halloween
    Easter bunny

    Eggs, Bunnies, and Ogres: How to Spend Easter in the UK

    Valentine's day at home on a rooftop with candles

    6 Stay at Home Date Ideas for Valentineโ€™s Day 2021

    European Easter eggs.

    Easter in Europe: The Most Eggcellent Easter Holiday Destinations & Traditions

    Flowers at Keukenhof park

    Keukenhof 2021: The Full Guide

    29 Unusual Christmas Traditions, New Year Rituals and Festive Activities

    12 Christmas City Breaks for Singles, Couples, and Families

    12 Christmas City Breaks for Singles, Couples, and Families

    40 Halloween Amusement Parks and Activities to Celebrate the Ghoul-est Day of the Year

    40 Halloween Amusement Parks and Activities to Celebrate the Ghoul-est Day of the Year

    How to Spend Halloween 2020 in Amsterdam: Attractions and More

    How to Spend Halloween 2020 in Amsterdam: Attractions and More

    The giraffe enclosure at London Zoo

    The Oldest Zoos in the World You Can Still Visit Today

No Result
View All Result
tiqets blog
No Result
View All Result

5 Fascinating Facts About Famous French Locations

Mick Murray by Mick Murray
December 12, 2018 - Updated on February 4, 2020
in Destinations, Europe
Reading Time: 6min read

Paris. The sumptuous city of love, lights, and centuries of remarkable culture has a story on every street corner. Of course, youย may have walked right past a little nugget of hidden history or two while staring starry-eyed at the glowing Eiffel Tower. So hereโ€™s a selection of little-known facts about some of the cityโ€™s most famous locations (and beyond) that you can memorize in order to impress other people!

Skip to a section

  • 1. Scandal at the opera! Tutus were invented by a rogue ballerina at the Opรฉra Garnier
  • 2. Chรขteau de Versailles: Assassination, mirrors, and other reflections
  • 3. Abbaye du Mont Saint-Michel: Restored to its former glory by a benevolent Viking
  • 4. Sainte-Chapelle: No expense spared
  • 5. Chรขteau de Fontainebleau: Royal residence and papal prison

1. Scandal at the opera! Tutus were invented by a rogue ballerina at the Opรฉra Garnier

operagarnier paris

When you think of ballet, there are certain images that come to mind – the iconic white tutu being one of them. La Sylphide, created specifically for the Opรฉra Garnier in Paris by Philippe Taglioni, was the first ballet to be danced in white tutus all the way back in 1832. Star ballerina Marie Taglioni – Philippeโ€™s daughter – scandalized crowds by shortening her skirt in order to display her peerless pointe work, unwittingly (or perhaps deliberately) setting a trend that would continue for centuries.

While many artists go unrecognised during their lifetime, Taglioni was well-rewarded for her abilities. During her reign as one of the virtuoso ballerinas at the time, she was presented with jewels and gifts from various European monarchs, had sweets and hairstyles named after her in Russia, and following her final performance, a pair of her ballet shoes were sold for two hundred rubles in order to be put into a sauce and eaten by a group of devoted fans.

2. Chรขteau de Versailles: Assassination, mirrors, and other reflections

versailles paris

The Palace of Versailles is one of the most impressive buildings in the world, with one of its main attractions being the renowned Hall of Mirrors. Why did Louis XIV have hundreds of mirrors installed? It wasnโ€™t (entirely) out of vanity. Historically, the palace halls were dimly lit in order to prevent the elaborate walls and ceilings from smoke damage – the idea here being that mirrors would reflect the light, creating an illuminating effect. Kind of interesting, right? Thatโ€™s not all.

At the time, the merchant republic of Venice had a monopoly on the creation of mirrors, which werenโ€™t quite the ubiquitous household object they are today. The secrets of artisan mirror-making were jealously guarded, and the French government actually had to send an undercover envoy to entice Venetian craftsmen to share their skills. This was not looked upon favorably by the Venetian council, who reportedly responded with threats of blackmail, death, and the occasional assassination by poison. Reflect on that next time youโ€™re brushing your teeth in front of the bathroom mirror.

3. Abbaye du Mont Saint-Michel: Restored to its former glory by a benevolent Viking

abbaye paris

An invading Viking army captured the Mont in 847 as part of an ongoing series of raids, leading to the involuntary departure of its monks. This ended several consecutive centuries of religious history on the site – until an unlikely benefactor began restoring the damaged religious buildings and urged the local clergy to return to their previous post.

Rollo was the leader of the Viking siege of Paris around 885-886, whose military actions led to the signing of an official treaty with the French king in the year 911, granting Rollo control over Normandy in exchange for his loyalty to the monarch. Once the need for raiding subsided, Rollo proved to be a surprisingly generous benefactor to the local Christian community, using his own wealth to pay for the restorations that eventually restored the Mont to its original condition.

4. Sainte-Chapelle: No expense spared

Paris saint chapelle

The Sainte-Chapelle was created to be an architectural masterpiece and religious symbol, with its delicate foundations providing the perfect backdrop for spectacular stained glass windows – an opulent blast of colour that would have stunned 13th-century visitors in Paris even more than todayโ€™s awestruck guests. Commissioned by King Louis IX, it cost the monarch 40,000 livres tournois at the time. Itโ€™s difficult to provide an accurate modern day approximation of how much money this was, but rest assured that it was quite a lot, even for a medieval king.

But Louis wasnโ€™t finished. Thereโ€™s a reason he was later elevated to sainthood by the church, and it likely had something to do with his purchasing of 22 religious relics to be showcased in the new building. These didnโ€™t come cheap – a fragment of the cross, a nail, and the crown of thorns were among the holy items purchased by the king, at a total cost of 135,000 livres tournois. Records show that the cost of the relics roughly equalled 50% of the French royal domainโ€™s entire annual income.

5. Chรขteau de Fontainebleau: Royal residence and papal prison

Paris fontainebleau

Chรขteau de Fontainebleau is renowned for its stately elegance, and has been remodeled and renovated according to its inhabitantsโ€™ tastes for centuries. Arguably its most famous inhabitant was Napoleon Bonaparte, who described Fontainebleau as โ€œthe most comfortable and happily situated palace in Europe.โ€

As Napoleon prepared to ascend to the throne of Emperor, he picked Fontainebleau as the perfect location for his historic meeting with Pope Pius VII, who would be attending his coronation. Sparing no expense, Napoleon refurbished the apartments, and had an entire suite of rooms decorated in the style favoured at the time to impress the head of the papacy. This would turn out to be an appropriate move, as Napoleon later imprisoned Pope Pius VII in this exact location between 1812 and 1814, turning the palace into the worldโ€™s most elegant prison.


All five of these locations have been nominated for our 2019 Remarkable Venue Awardsย (RVA) in Paris- not just for their interesting history, but also for their ongoing commitment to providing visitors with a great experience.

Keep up-to-date with our Paris RVA awards on the Tiqets Press page and blog!
Tags: Paris
Mick Murray

Mick Murray

Mick is a writer and editor who has lived and worked across New Zealand, Japan, and the Netherlands. His hobbies include wildlife photography, writing, and contracting pneumonia.

Related Posts

Where & When to See Japanโ€™s Cherry Blossom Season 2021
Asia

Where & When to See Japanโ€™s Cherry Blossom Season 2021

Classic view of historic traditional Cable Cars riding on famous California Street in morning light at sunrise with retro vintage style cross processing filter effect, San Francisco, California, USA
City Guides

Your Itinerary for San Francisco: What to Do, See, Eat and More

11 of the Best Black History Museums in the US and Where to Find Them
City Guides

11 of the Best Black History Museums in the US and Where to Find Them

Paris

Dreaming of La Vie en Rose? Donโ€™t Miss These Hidden Gems in Paris

Panoramic view above at Charles Bridge Prague Castle and river Vltava Prague Czech Republic
City Guides

All That Glitters Is Prague: 48 Hours in the Czech Capital

32 Award-Winning Attractions, Hidden Gems and Experiences to Add to Your Italy Bucket List
Destinations

32 Award-Winning Attractions, Hidden Gems and Experiences to Add to Your Italy Bucket List

Next Post

Getting to know Business Development


Get featured on our Instagram

Follow us

  • Have you heard of #CircoMaximoExperience? An immersive visit in augmented and virtual reality to the Circus Maximus, the largest entertainment venue of antiquity. ๐ŸŽช

๐ŸฅฝA unique experience, to be done in complete safety, with viewers and earphones provided in compliance with anti Covid-19 prevention measures. 

๐Ÿ› The 8 stages with architectural and landscape reconstructions of the archaeological area by @sovrintendenzacapitolina make us travel and relive all the historical phases of #CircoMassimo: from the first wooden construction to the splendor of the imperial age, from the Middle Ages to the first decades of
  • If you like the thought of watching sharks in action, but prefer to stay dry with all your limbs intact, head to the Aquarium of Genoa (@acquariodigenova). ๐ŸŒŠ

Sharks, dolphins, penguins and more reside in Europe
  • Have you heard of this hidden gem? ๐Ÿ’Ž Parco Archeologico di Rudiae (@parcoarcheologicorudiae) ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น

๐Ÿ‘‰ Rudiae, is presently an archaeological park beside the Via San Pietro in Lama that runs south-west from the city of Lecce. The place was identified as the former home of the poet Ennius by the Renaissance Humanist, Antonio de Ferraris

๐Ÿ“ธ: @pugliamusei

๐Ÿ† Parco Archeologico di Rudiae won the Best Hidden Gem Award in Italy ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น during the @Tiqets #RemarkableVenueAwards.
  • Get back to nature with the buzzing of the bees and the songs of the birds in this slice of paradise in Verona โ€“ and winner of the World Tulip Award 2019: @parcosigurta. ๐ŸŒท

๐ŸŒณ Parco Giardino Sigurtaฬ€ lets you sniff your way through the Viale delle Rose โ€“ home to over 30,000 roses that bloom each spring. Walk around the lakes and spot water lilies, hibiscus, and Japanese koi. ๐ŸŽ It
  • Journey into some of Italy
  • Get immersed in the royal opulence and political intrigue of Venetian history with the Palazzo Ducale (@ducalevenezia). ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น

โญ๏ธ The Doge
  • Peggy Guggenheim Collection (@guggenheim_venice) is one of the most important museums for artworks of the 20th century. โœจ๐Ÿ›โœจ

๐Ÿ–ผ When it comes to European and American art from the first half of the 20th century, The #PeggyGuggenheimCollection is one of the most important in Italy.

๐ŸŽจ See masterpieces of Cubism, Metaphysical Painting, works of Futurism, European Abstractionism, avant-garde sculpture, Surrealism and American Abstract Expressionism. 

๐Ÿ“ธ: @guggenheim_venice

๐Ÿ†The Peggy Guggenheim Collection won the Best Museum Award in Italy ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น during the @Tiqets #RemarkableVenueAwards.
  • The ultimate Parisian cabaret ๐Ÿ’‚โ€โ™€๏ธGet crazy with @crazyhorseparis_official ๐Ÿ’‹

๐Ÿ‘ฏโ€โ™€๏ธThings have been crazy at this cabaret since 1951, so there
  • Get loved-up on a walk around Paris
  • Explore Puy du Fou (@puydufou) France
  • An anthropological journey around the world via art and artifacts. This is what you will get at Museฬe du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac (@quaibranly). 

๐ŸŽญ In the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, the Museฬe du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac is full of masks, musical instruments, weapons, ceremonial artifacts, paintings, tapestries and more. Outside the building is quite a sight to behold. Inside, discover art and artifacts from civilizations around the world.

๐ŸŒ From Vancouver to Vanuatu and Uluru to Uganda, the collection here brilliantly illustrates the richness of global cultural diversity. Foregoing the more well-known and studied European civilizations, the permanent collection at Museฬe du quai Branly spans Oceania, Asia, Africa and the America, and stretches all the way back to the Neolithic period.

๐Ÿ†Museฬe du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac won the Most Remarkable Venue Award in France ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท during the @Tiqets #RemarkableVenueAwards.
  • Enjoy a unique experience leafing through the origins of humanity and life with Museฬe des Confluences (@musee_des_confluences). ๐Ÿง ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท

๐Ÿ‘‰ In the spectacular structure of the Museฬe des Confluences, you can immerse your curiosity in the mysteries of human culture, natural science, and, of course, dinosaurs. This state-of-the-art museum is dedicated to anthropology, zoology, and palaeontology. It is not only the merging point of the Rhoฬ‚ne and Saoฬ‚ne, but also for that of art and science, by allowing visitors to meditatively reflect upon the various cultural and scientific offerings under one incredible roof.

๐Ÿ‘‰ The Museฬe des Confluences prides itself on being the confluence of knowledge, thanks to its multi-disciplinary approach in curating its exhibitions. It
Tiqets logo, more ways to culture

Culture at home

Virtual Museum Tours
Get Creative at Home with Social Media
Kew Gardens Video Tour

Video Games with Real-World Locations
Art Activities for Kids

Cities we're dreaming of

Barcelona
Paris

Amsterdam
London
New York City

Trending

Prado Museum Highlights
Gladiators and the Colosseum
Borghese Gallery Highlights
Famous Art in Advertisements
What to See at MoMA

No Result
View All Result
  • City Guides
  • Destinations
  • Culture
  • Travel tips
  • Things to Do

ยฉ 2020 Tiqets

en English
en Englishes Spanishit Italiannl Dutchpt Portuguesefr Frenchde Germanja Japanesezh-CN Chinese (Simplified)