Île de la Cité

This route explores the historic heart of Paris on the Île de la Cité, where the city was founded over two thousand years ago. Begin with a climb up the 424 steps of the Cathedral Towers of Notre-Dame for sweeping views across the rooftops, then step inside the newly restored cathedral itself, where cleaned stonework and medieval stained glass fill the nave with light. Beneath the parvis, the Archaeological Crypt reveals layers of Roman, medieval, and Haussmannian Paris in a 200-metre underground gallery. A short walk leads to Sainte-Chapelle, where 600 square metres of 13th-century stained glass create one of the most luminous interiors in Gothic architecture. The day ends at the Conciergerie, with its vast medieval hall and the reconstructed cell of Marie-Antoinette. Tower tickets must be reserved online in advance; the Archaeological Crypt is closed on Mondays.