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Paris Sightseeing: Exploring History and Mystery in Paris

Paris has stood at the heart of European and world history for at least a thousand years. Empires and artists have passed through, movements and schools and the most influential figures have influenced and been influenced by this huge capital city.

Paris is alive with history, it churns and bubbles with it. Every street and alley has a story to tell. Every palace and restaurant has a thousand.

To the first time visitor this sense of history can be almost overwhelming; where to start? How to begin to understand this complex metropolis? Luckily Paris has some very well thought out attractions dedicated to just this.

At the Explore Paris! Exhibition you will get a glimpse at the political, cultural and historical factors that have influenced the development of the city.

For more specifics: drop in at the Musée des Égouts de Paris to learn about the history of the Paris sewer system; at the Musée de la Monnaie to talk money; or at the Musée de l'Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris for the background on the French public health system.

Paris, like few other cities in the world, has museums dedicated to almost every aspect of it's history, making it - and the Paris Pass - ideal for any keen history buff.

The truly magnificent Parisian monuments transcend the esoteric exploration of just one subject. They hint at why history churned so fiercely here and are extraordinary places. Basilique Royale de Saint-Denis, for instance, is a haunting edifice full of dead kings and revolutionaries, boasting 500 years of history.

Saint Chapelle: the magical, slightly unreal chapel once considered the holiest place in the world - to walk through the upper hall is to walk inside a stunning jewel built to house the crown of thorns.

Bygone civilisations speak a myriad of mysteries in the Crypte Archéologique de Notre-Dame, an atmospheric time capsule which explores the lives and artifacts of the tribes and civiliations that dwelt in Paris long ago.

The Conciergerie teems with history and intrigue, with torture and revolution. Its ancient halls have seen countless games of power played out within them over the centuries. The Panthéon is spectacular and inspirational with its homage to the great intellectuals of France, men and women who shaped the world.

The history of Paris is endless and even now, in places like the Pompidou Centre, constantly unfolding. Embark on your own discovery of the history and mystery of Paris - you will not be disappointed.