Île de la Cité, the cradle of Paris (« le berceau de Paris » in French), is a 22.5-hectare island located in the middle of the Seine river. It is one of the only 2 remaining natural islands in Paris (the other is the lesser-known ‘Île Saint-Louis’).
The western part of the island belongs to the 1st arrondissement and the center and eastern parts belong to the 4th arrondissement of Paris.
Île de la Cité is where it all began, the island that gave birth to Paris. It is difficult to date exactly the city’s origins but historians think it all began approximately 2,300 years ago. In the 3rd century BC, a Celtic tribe, the ‘Parisii’, lived on the island. In 52 BC, the Parisii were invaded and defeated by the Romans, who then established Lutetia (Paris’ former name). Romans reshaped the island by expanding and heightening it, and Lutetia flourished as a major Roman town.
In 508, Clovis, the King of Francs, made the island the capital of his kingdom. The Palais de la Cité (now occupied by the ‘Palais de Justice’) became the official residence of the Kings of France for approximately 400 years. However, the island was weakened considerably after the Vikings attacks. With Charlemagne, the city lost its status of French’s capital city. In 1112, King Louis Le Gros decided to install his residence back on the island, with his household and the Parliament. But the Palais de la Cité was abandoned by King Charles V who choose to make the Louvre palace his royal residence, and Charles VII decided to leave definitely the Palais de la Cité and house the Parliament inside the Palais instead.
The island remained relatively unchanged during the next centuries, until Baron Haussmann’s massive urban renovation plans. Only 3 major medieval monuments remain from the Middle Ages: Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral, Sainte Chapelle and La Conciergerie.
On Île de la Cité, you’ll find some of the most important historical monuments that have made Paris so iconic in the world. There is the magnificent Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral of course (which is unfortunately under reconstruction after the terrible fire that struck the cathedral on April 15th 2019), but you’ll also find the incredibly stunning Sainte-Chapelle, the infamous Conciergerie and the beautiful flower market. Île de la Cité is a remarkable microcosm not to be missed. A must-see in Paris!
Table of Contents
Sainte-Chapelle
Sainte-Chapelle is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful monuments in Paris. Located on the grounds of the Palais de Justice, Sainte-Chapelle is one of Paris’ most precious gems and a true masterpiece of architecture. It is an absolute must see for first time visitors in Paris.
Sainte-Chapelle was built on the initiative of King Saint Louis to house the relics of the Passion of the Christ, including the crown of thorns, a piece of the True Cross and other relics of Jesus Christ. The acquisition of the relics costed more than the construction of the chapel itself. Those relics are now kept inside the Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris (the relics were moved to the City Hall after the devastating Notre Dame Cathedral fire in April 2019).
The chapel was built in only 7 years (1241-1248). The Royal chapel was built inside the Royal palace (Palais de la Cité) and was used almost exclusively by the King. With the Conciergerie, Saint Chapelle is one of the last vestiges of the former Royal palace.
There are 2 different chapels superposed on each other inside Sainte-Chapelle: the “lower chapel” and the “upper chapel”. The visit begins with the lower chapel, which was reserved for the nobility and the King’s household. Then, you have to climb up to the upper chapel, which was reserved for the King and his family. The lower chapel is only 6.6m high, and the upper chapel is 20.5m high.
What makes Sainte-Chapelle truly unique is its 15 stained glass windows, each 15 meters high, depicting 1,113 scenes from the Old and New Testaments. There are no walls; Sainte-Chapelle is almost entirely made of stained glass! It is a true masterpiece of gothic architecture. And until today, we still don’t know who was the architect of Sainte-Chapelle.
Tips
- Be sure to go there on a sunny day when the lights are shining through the windows.
- Buy your ticket online in advance to avoid the queue (same price but you’ll get the priority entrance).
- If you plan to visit the Conciergerie, it is well worth it to combine your visit with Sainte-Chapelle. Begin your visit with the Conciergerie as most of the time, there is little or no queue to get in and you’ll get the fast access queue for Sainte Chapelle!
Where? 8, boulevard du Palais.
Access? La Cité station (Metro Line 4) or Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame station (RER B or C).
When? Open every day from 9am to 5pm (from April to September, open until 7pm).
La Conciergerie
There are many amazing sites to discover in Paris and Ile de la Cite is definitely one of them. For those who don’t know the place, the Conciergerie is the beautiful building located on the western part of the Ile de la Cité in the 1st arrondissement. With the Saint Chapelle, it is one of the last vestiges of the former royal palace of the Merovingian dynasty. The towered facade of the Conciergerie on the Seine river side is a very famous sight among tourists and many of them crowd in front of it to take a picture; but in fact, not many visit the Conciergerie. La Conciergerie has been on our bucket list for quite some time but we eventually visited the monument.
Little History
La Conciergerie is well known as Marie Antoinette’s prison; it was the antechamber of death during the Reign of Terror. Many prisoners, including Queen Marie-Antoinette and Robespierre, were imprisoned in the Conciergerie before being executed by guillotine. But the Conciergerie wasn’t always a prison, it was originally a royal palace and the residence of the medieval kings of France. In the 14th century, after King Charles V abandoned the palace and relocated his residence to the Louvre palace, the Conciergerie housed the Parliament of Paris, then was used as the main state’s Prison and later, served as a courthouse, before becoming a national historical monument open to the public in 1914.
Did you know?
The origin of the name “Conciergerie” comes from its concierge, a person appointed by the king to handle all the household of the place (approximately 2,000 employees).
The Experience
The visit begins with the room “Salle des Gens d’Armes”, the largest remaining medieval room in Europe. It is usually here that you’ll find the latest temporary exhibition. During our visit, there was a very interesting exhibition about Marie Antoinette.
The visit continues with the kitchens dating back from the 14th century and the room “Salle des gardes”, the refectory for the employees of the Palace which became a men’s prison and a revolutionary tribunal later on.
Then, you’ll continue your visit with the “prisoners’ corridor”. Prisoners had to pay their own detention themselves; while the rich paid for getting the largest cells, the poor had to stay together in crowded tiny cells and slept on the floor.
After, you’ll find the “Name room”, a room with the names of 4,000 prisoners judged by the Revolutionary Tribunal between 1793 and 1795. The names in red are the persons who were executed and the names in black acquitted.
You’ll finish your visit with the women’s courtyard and since 1815, “the expiatory Chapel” that replaces the cell of Marie Antoinette.
We advise getting the HistoPad during your visit; it will allow you to ‘step back in time’ with its advanced reality tool and you will be able to see what the rooms looked like at that time. The HistoPad is available in French, English, Spanish, German, Italian and Chinese.
Where? 2, boulevard du Palais on the Ile de la Cité.
Access? La Cité station (Metro Line 4) or Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame station (RER B or C).
When? Open every day from 9:30am to 6pm.
Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral
It is a symbol of Paris and one of the jewels of the French heritage. It is where Napoleon was crowned Emperor of the French in 1804. It is also where the “crown of thorn” (wreath of thorns that the Christ worn the day of his crucifixion) is (was) kept.
The construction of the magnificent gothic Cathedral Notre-Dame de Paris (‘Our Lady of Paris’ Cathedral), one of France’s most famous landmarks, began in 1163 and lasted for almost two centuries.
The cathedral is 127m long, the towers are 69m high and the spire was 96m high (the spire was destroyed during the fire on April 15th, 2019).
The Cathedral became internationally famous after Victor Hugo published his novel ‘The Hunchback of Notre-Dame’. In fact, Victor Hugo wrote ‘The Hunchback of Notre-Dame’ partly to save the Cathedral!
The most beautiful features of Notre-Dame de Paris
- The sublime (and huge) stained-glass rose windows (luckily, the rose windows were saved from the fire).
- The large parvis of Notre-Dame, where you can find Paris Point Zero (from which all French road distances are measured).
- The iconic gargoyles and chimeras. They became famous after the publication of Victor Hugo’s novel and are definitely Notre-Dame’s most famous feature. In reality, while the chimeras are only decorative, the gargoyles have a practical utility, they are the rain spouts of the Cathedral.
- The treasure of Notre-Dame. The treasure of Notre-Dame includes “the crown of thorns” and a piece of the “True Cross” (luckily, the treasure of Notre-Dame windows was saved from the fire).
- The archeological crypt, a real step back in time to understand the story of the island (the archeological crypt of Notre-Dame was saved from the fire).
- The organ. It is the second largest pipe organ of the country after the organ of Saint-Eustache of Paris. It has 8,000 pipes (the organ was saved from the fire).
- The 2 towers of 69m high (saved from the fire).
- The 96m high spire (unfortunately, the spire was tragically destroyed by the fire).
Before the fire on April 15th, 2019, Notre Dame Cathedral was the most visited monument in Europe (before the Eiffel Tower!). Before the terrible accident, you could visit the cathedral, but also the treasure of Notre-Dame, the archeological cryptand the Towers.
Notre-Dame Cathedral is one of the most magnificent cathedrals in the world. The Cathedral is deeply rooted in the history of France and holds a very special place in the heart of French citizens. The Cathedral, even after the terrible fire, cannot be missed. The fire on April 15th, 2019 was devastating. I visited this cathedral’s interior more than a dozen times and every single time, was always in awe. Krishna and I were extremely lucky to have been able to visit the Cathedral before the fire. We will surely visit her again after the reconstruction. For now, we can only admire her from the outside. But Notre Dame still stands in its glory!
Where? Eastern part of the Ile de la Cité.
Access? La Cité station (Metro Line 4) or Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame station (Metro Line 4, RER B, RER C).
When? Note that the monument is closed since the terrible fire that struck the Cathedral on April 15th, 2019. The Cathedral is currently under reconstruction (supposedly a 5-year reconstruction).
Mémorial des Martyrs de la Déportation
The Memorial to the Martyrs of the Deportation is a monument dedicated to the 200,000 people who were deported to the Nazi concentration camps between 1941 and 1944. The Memorial’s architecture was arranged in a way that makes the visitor understand the pain of the people who were deported. The Memorial was built by architect Georges-Henri Pingusson and inaugurated in 1962 by French President Charles de Gaulle.
The monument appears at first like a bunker. You have to descend the narrow stairs to enter inside the Memorial. You’ll find a long hallway with 200,000 glass crystals as a symbol of the 200,000 victims deported to the concentration camps. At the entrance, there is a tomb with the remains of an unknown deportee who died at the Neustadt camp.
It isn’t easy to find this Memorial if you don’t know it is there. Inside, most of the information is displayed in French (some are in English though). The visit is quick (30 minutes max) and free so it is definitely worth it to take the 30 minutes and add it to your Île de la Cité itinerary.
Where? At the eastern tip of Île de la Cité, inside the Square de l’Île de France, behind Notre-Dame Cathedral.
Access? La Cité station (Metro Line 4) or Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame station (RER B or C).
When? Open every day, except Mondays. From October to March: 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm. From April to September: 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 7pm.
L’Hôtel-Dieu
Ok, let’s be clear: What we commonly call “Hôtel-Dieu” isn’t a hotel AT ALL but a hospital. The hospital was built between 1867 and 1878 at its present location. However, Hôtel-Dieu was founded in 651 and was originally located on the other side of the Parvis de Notre-Dame. It is the oldest hospital in Paris and the oldest hospital still in operation in the world.
Not many people know that we can visit the courtyard of the historic Hôtel-Dieu. It is off-the-beaten-path and well worth the visit.
Where? Parvis Notre-Dame – Place Jean-Paul II.
Access? La Cité station (Metro Line 4) or Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame station (RER B or C).
Marché aux fleurs (Flower market)
The Flower Market of Île de la Cité (« Marché aux fleurs Reine Elizabeth II ») exists since 1809. It is a real haven of tranquility and we highly recommend to visit it! The atmosphere is really authentic and charming. A green oasis in the middle of the island.
Where? Place Louis Lépine and Quai de la Corse.
Access? La Cité station (Metro Line 4) or Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame station (RER B or C).
The oldest bridge in Paris: Pont Neuf
The Pont Neuf (‘New Bridge’ in French) is, contrary to its name, the oldest bridge in Paris. The bridge was built between 1578 and 1607. It was the first Parisian bridge without houses and with the first sidewalks. The bridge is 238 meters long and 20 meters large. The bridge has semicircular alcoves where you can sit and enjoy the views of the Seine. These alcoves used to provide space for vendors to sell their goods without impeding pedestrian sidewalks.
Where? At the western tip of the island, the bridge is connecting the right bank to the left bank through Ile de la Cité.
Access? Pont Neuf station (Metro Line 7).
The Oldest Public Clock in Paris
The oldest public clock in Paris is located on the corner of Quai de l’Horloge and Boulevard du Palais. It was erected in 1370 and still ticking! Never forget to look up. It’s crazy how much we can miss by never looking up, especially in Paris.
Where?
Access? La Cité station (Metro Line 4).
The squares
Place Dauphine
The hidden square ‘Place Dauphine’ is located at the western end of the Île de la Cité. It is named after Louis XIII, the son (the « Dauphin of France») of King Henri IV. The square is one of the most romantic places in Paris and a well-kept secret among locals. It’s true that it isn’t easy to find the place without knowing about it, you have to walk on Pont Neuf and turn at Rue Henri Robert to reach the square. The atmosphere is great there and way more intimate than the rest of the island. It is definitely the best square on the island. Do not miss it!
Square du Vert-Galant
The square du Vert-Galant is located at the western tip of the Île de la Cité. It is named after Henri IV, who was nicknamed ‘Vert-Galant’ because of its numerous mistresses. It is a pretty little square offering nice views on the Seine river. Nice place for a picnic.
Square Jean XXIII
The square Jean XXIII is located behind Notre-Dame cathedral. It is named after the Pope Jean XXIII. You will find a statue of the Pope Jean-Paul II inside the square.
Square de l’Ile de France
It is the square where is located the Memorial to the Martyrs of the deportation.
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