[custom_adv] You may probably know that Paris is also known as the “City of Lights”, but did you know why? We’ll tell you. Paris was one of the first European cities to adopt gas street lighting. In 1820, 56,000 gas lamps were placed to illuminate the streets and boulevards of Paris which presented a breathtaking night view and therefore gained the nick name “City of Lights”. 1. City of Lights [custom_adv] Hard to believe, but true! In the Fashion capital of the world, Paris, it was illegal for French women to wear trousers until the 214 year old law was abolished in 2012. Although, it was not enforced but still women could get arrested for it. 2. Weird Law [custom_adv] Pont Neuf (New Bridge) was named so to distinguish it from other older bridges at that time. Today, it is the oldest standing bridge on Seine River in Paris. It was the first bridge with pavements separating traffic and pedestrians and also the first bridge built without houses on it. 3. Pont Neuf- Oldest Bridge [custom_adv] Disney Land in Paris is the most visited theme park in all of Europe. Did you know that, Disney land, Paris runs at loss almost every year? Yes, the theme park loses more money than it makes and is under a huge debt 4. Paris Disney Land runs at Loss [custom_adv] There are around 500,000 trees in Paris and they are all referenced and measured. 5. 500,000 Trees [custom_adv] Yes, you heard it right! The most visited place in Paris is the historical Notre Dame Cathedral and not the Eiffel Tower. It is widely regarded as the finest example of French architecture. 6. Once Lutetia now Paris [custom_adv] The pyramid shaped museum Louvre is the most visited art museum in the world. It took around 666 years to build the Louvre. It was originally build as a palace. There are over 35,000 works of art and 380,000 objects in Louvre and you will have to spend ten months in the museum to look at every single item housed there. 7. 666 Years to Build the Louvre [custom_adv] Before the invasion of Paris by Nazi’s in World War II, the Louvre was emptied and its contents were circulated among rich French citizens, who hid them in their houses around the country. 8. Preserving Louvre’s Contents During Nazi Invasion [custom_adv] As the name suggests, plaster of Paris, used to make a cast when you fracture a bone, was invented in Paris. A large gypsum deposit were found in Montmartre in Paris led “calcined gypsum” to be known as “plaster of Paris”. In old times, sculptors used it to create miniature sculptures before casting their work of art in bronze. 9. Origin of Plaster of Paris [custom_adv] There are around 9,100 open terrace restaurants, bars and cafes in Paris and over 1,750 bakeries. Hard to choose with so many choices, huh? 10. Plenty of Open Terrace Restaurants [custom_adv] The most visited paid monument in the world Eiffel Tower weighs about 7000 tones. It is a very high maintenance building and requires painting every seven years to prevent the iron from rust. It uses around 50 – 60 tones of paint every time. Eiffel tower can expand up to 15cm in summers. 11. The Epic Eiffel Tower – A High Maintenance Monument [custom_adv] During World War II, when Nazis invaded Paris, the French cut the lift cables so that Hitler would have to climb the steps to reach the top. When faced with the situation of climbing over 1500 stairs, he chose to stay on ground. 12. Hitler Couldn’t Climb Eiffel Tower [custom_adv] There is a full-size copy of Statue of Liberty in Paris facing America as a symbol of friendship between the two nations. You will also witness the life size gilded model of the flame of liberty at the entrance of Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris. It was gifted by America to France as a thanks for the restoration work done on the Statue of Liberty for its centennial. However, it became the unofficial Princess Diana Memorial as she was killed in the accident occurred in Pont de l’Alma tunnel. People gathered at the place of her death and laid flowers at the bottom of the sculpture. 13. Replica of Statue of Liberty [custom_adv] Parisians are at low risk for getting a ticket on jumping a stop sign as there is only one Stop sign in the whole city of Paris. 14. One STOP Sign [custom_adv] The largest bell located inside the south tower in Notre dame Cathedral is called Emmanuel and it weighs more than 13,000 kilograms, that’s like the weight of 3 Indian elephants. 15. Emmanuel- The Bell inside the Notre Dame Cathedral [custom_adv] Yes, you heard it right! The most visited place in Paris is the historical Notre Dame Cathedral and not the Eiffel Tower. It is widely regarded as the finest example of French architecture. 16. Most Visited Attraction in Paris is not the Eiffel Tower [custom_adv] Hard to believe, but true! In the Fashion capital of the world, Paris, it was illegal for French women to wear trousers until the 214 year old law was abolished in 2012. Although, it was not enforced but still women could get arrested for it. The strong black coffee or Espresso is quite popular in Paris and there are over 200 places in Paris where you can get a cup of Espresso for less than one euro. 17. Paris Disney Land runs at Loss [custom_adv] Parisian government gives out medals to parents who have successfully “raised several children with dignity”. 18. Medals for Parents