1. The oldest house.
Reading the history of Paris we could think that the oldest house of the French capital is on the Ile de Cite – but no! The oldest house is actually in the third district at number 51, rue Montmorency. The house was built in 1407 by Nicolas Flamel – whose name you may know from the first part of the Harry Potter saga.
2. The oldest street.
Rue Saint Jacques is the oldest street in Paris, located in the 5th arrondissement it stretches along the Sorbonne and the observatory, up and down the hill from the Seine embankment to the Boulevard Saint-Jacques. It is also the quintessence of the Latin Quarter – apart from the Sorbonne, the street is surrounded by various other universities and it is here that students usually come to look for books in specialized bookstores.
3. The oldest garden.
The Tuileries, located between the Louvre Museum and the Place de la Concorde in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, is perfect place for morning walk and taking sunbath during summer. It was opened to the public in 1667 and became a public park after the French Revolution.Decorated with numerous sculptures and beautiful flowers it is a perfect place to spend an afternoon, and is a favorite of both art and nature lovers.
4. The oldest university.
Existing in a climate of study, the Sorbonne is the oldest university in France. Established unofficially in 1150 (it has been officially working since 1200), it owes its reputation to its history. Currently, the Sorbonne is a building in the 5th district, but the next three building of the University of Paris are called the Sorbonne too.
5. The oldest cafe.
If you are a connoisseur of coffee or just like to get your caffeine fix you should try one in Le Procope. Officially founded in 1686, opened its doors in 1689. This was a café for artists, intellectuals and politicians. It was frequented by Voltaire, Rousseau, Diderot and d’Alembert. And while you’re there you might run into some ghosts!
6. The oldest pastry.
Paris is the perfect place to have a treat with your coffee and if you are looking for something sweet why not to visit the oldest bakery in Paris! In 1725, Louis XV married Marie Leszczynska,daughter of King Stanislaus of Poland. And then, in 1730 Nicolas Stohrer king’s pastry chef follows her and opended his pastry at 51 rue Montorgueil in Paris’ second district.
7. The oldest candy shop.
A la Mère is a true original located at 35 rue du Faubourg-Montmartre in the 9th district for over 250 years. Created in 1761, this big old store, with its tiled floor à l’ancienne and its vintage pendant lights, is just across from the Peletier metro. Take a trip back in time and try one of their 1,200 products featuring candies from every French era and region.
8. The oldest shopping mall
In a city known for specialty shops the concept of a department store was met with some skepticism but ultimately created a sensation. The very first department store in the world is here in Paris built in the second half of the nineteenth century in 1872. Le Bon Marché is located at 24 Rue de Sèvres in Paris’ 7th district still enjoys great popularity and attracts fashion lovers. Even if we don’t have plans for shopping, it’s definitely a “must see” because of the interior of this unusual building.And guess who created the steel wall foundations? None other than Gustave Eiffel!
9. The oldest cinema.
If you want to feel like a local and slow down to visit the cinema this is a perfect place for you! This amazing pre-war building was created in 1920 by architect Henry Zipcy. Le Louxor Palais Du Cinema is the oldest movie palace of Paris and was beautifully restored in 2013. It continues to welcome visitors to enjoy a film and a piece of Parisian history.
10. The oldest restaurant.
Let’s finish our Paris time travel at one of it’s most romantic places, the oldest restaurant in Paris. La Tour d’Argent (15 Quai de la Tournelle, 75005 Paris) has a storied history of famous guests dating back to 1582. In addition to the beautiful view, we can find here traditional cuisine.Was even immortalized on the pages of Ernest Hemingway’s (A Moveable Feast) and Marcel Proust’s (In Search of Lost Time) books. Here’s also one of the places were icons like Marlene
If you are looking for more historical places in Paris, joining some Paris tours is a great way to visit them! Short on time? Check out our one day in Paris tour.