History of Paris
This article about the history of Paris describes the key events that you need to know to appreciate the French capital and its main historical sights during your next trip to Paris.
The history of Paris dates back to its foundation by the Parisii in the third century BC. Throughout the centuries, Paris has witnessed countless riots and revolutions but also moments to celebrate, and I’ve summarized the main events for you to read in five minutes or less.
Below are some interesting bits about the history of Paris.
Are You Planning a Trip to Paris Last Minute?
If you are booking a last-minute trip to Paris, I’ve got you covered! Below are our must guides, top tours, hotels, and more:
» Plan: Paris Travel Planner; Paris Arrondissements Guide; Check out the best Paris Metro tickets for tourists
» Book your flight tickets with Omio; book your train tickets with Omio
Book your transfer from the airport to the city with Welcome Pickups.
» Where to Stay: Best Districts to Stay in Paris
- Le Pavillon de la Reine (historical 5-star hotel in Le Marais)
- Hotel La Comtesse (mid-range hotel with Eiffel Tower view from all the rooms!)
- Hotel Ducs de Bourgogne (super central 4-star hotel near the Louvre)
» Top-Rated Paris Tours & Tickets:
- Louvre Museum Skip-the-Line Ticket
- Eiffel Tower Summit Access Ticket
- Seine River Night Cruise
- Château de Versailles and Gardens
- Catacombs Skip-the-line tour with VIP access to restricted areas
Want skip-the-line access at museums & attractions in Paris? Get your hands on a Paris Museum Pass!
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The Foundation of Lutetia
We don’t know much about the history of Paris before the Gauls. In 52 BC, this area was inhabited by the Parisii, one of the 98 Gaul peoples.
The Romans defeated the Gauls in 52 BC. The Romans settled in the current Ile de la Cité (and part of the current Latin Quarter), and they named the city Lutetia (which is translated into French as Lutèce).
There are still Roman sites in Paris to visit, including the Arènes de Lutèce (a Roman amphitheater), which is the oldest site built in Paris. You can learn more about this period in my article about Lutetia – Roman Paris.
Paris in Medieval Times
In Medieval times, the French territory was a kingdom. The first king was Charles the Bald, who had the titles of King of the Franks and Emperor of the Romans (875–77).
The Frank Kingdom was not much more than Paris and the current region of Ile-de-France. Thanks to marriages, alliances, and won or lost wars, France’s country took its current shape.
The first king who called himself “Roi de France” (King of France) was Philippe II (1165-1223) in 1190. Philippe Auguste transformed France into the most prosperous and powerful country in Europe. With Paris as his capital, he built the central market of Les Halles, continued the construction of Notre Dame de Paris, constructed the fortress of the Louvre (which would later become the Royal Palace), and gave a charter to the University of Paris in 1200.
If you want to know more about this period, here’s my article about Paris in Medieval times.
Other French Kings to remember are Louis IX “Saint-Louis” (he commissioned the Sainte-Chapelle to host the saint relics), Philippe IV “Le Bel,” also known as the Iron King and the first of the “accursed kings” (this series of short novels by Maurice Druon is excellent!), Francis I (the “Father of Letters” and Leonardo da Vinci’s patron in France), Henri IV (the first monarch from the house of Bourbon), and Louis XIV (the “Sun King,” who built the Château of Versailles).
Paris During the French Revolution
The monarchy in France ended with the French Revolution (at least for a while) when the guillotine beheaded King Louis XVI and his wife, Queen Marie-Antoinette.
This self-guided French Revolution walking tour provides more information and visits the main sites related to this key period in the history of Paris and France.
Two important events in the history of Paris occurred on a 14th of July in Paris: on 14 July 1789, there was the storming of the Bastille prison, the symbol of the end of absolute monarchy, while on 14 July 1790, Paris celebrated the Fête de la Fédération, the symbol of the union of the French Nation. It is not clear what event is the origin of France’s National holiday on the 14th of July.
Napoleon in Paris
France also had two Emperors, Napoléon I and Napoléon III. Napoléon I crowned himself Emperor in 1804 after performing a coup d’état in 1799. As Emperor of France, Napoléon implemented various positive reforms, many of which still survive today. But he also re-established slavery, and his military successes came at the cost of immense destruction and countless deaths.
You can find the main sites related to him in this article about Napoleon in Paris.
Napoléon III was Napoléon’s III’s nephew. First, he was president of France from 1848 to 1852 and he became Emperor of the French in 1852 until his defeat in the Battle of Sedan and capitulation (1870). Napoléon III was at the origin of the Haussmannian works, which transformed the French capital into the City of Light. He also commissioned the Opéra Garnier.
WW1 and WW2 in Paris
Parisians entered the First World War (1914-1918) in August 1914. Compared to cities in northern France, Paris emerged from the war relatively unscathed, at least in terms of its streets and buildings. Two good places to learn more about WW1 in France in Paris and nearby are Les Invalides and the Musée de la Grand Guerre in the town of Meaux.
The city of Paris started mobilizing for war in September 1939 when Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union attacked Poland. In 1940, the Germans attacked France and quickly defeated the French army. The French government moved to Vichy on 10 June, and the Germans occupied the city on 14 June. During WW2, Paris was part of the German Occupation Zone and wasn’t liberated until 25 August 1944.
Check out my article about the WW2 sites in Paris.
The Fifth Republic
Currently, France is a French Republic, and it has a President and a Prime Minister. Right now, we are in the 5th Republic. The first president of the 5th Republic was Charles de Gaulle (1959-1969), and the current president is Emmanuel Macron (since 2017). He lives in the Elysée Palace, which is located in the 8th Arrondissement of Paris.
Further Readings and Three Must-Visit Sites about History in Paris
I have many articles that cover parts of the history of Paris. Americans visiting the French capital can find bits of their history in Paris too.
When in Paris, don’t miss the Musée de Carnavalet (23 Rue de Sevigné in Paris 4, closed on Mondays), which is free to visit and details the history of Paris. The section about the French Revolution is very good.
In the outskirts of Paris, the Basilica of Saint-Denis is the burial place of the Kings of France, while the Pantheon in Paris (Place du Panthéon, Paris 5) is the Republican equivalent, the burial place of many illustrious French men and women.
Other great places to visit to learn more about the history of Paris are the medieval Château de Vincennes (an easy metro ride), Versailles, and Château de Fontainebleau, nicknamed “the true home of the Kings of France.”
