Set out on your Paris holiday in the footsteps of the Kings of France

Take advantage of your holiday in Paris to follow in the footsteps of the Kings of France, with the itinerary suggested by your hotel in Paris’ 10th arrondissement, and discover a capital that’s rich in history!

The Kings of France fashioned the city down the ages, and it abounds in palaces, mansions and statues. The Provinces Opéra invites you to enjoy these architectural gems during your next visit to the capital.

The visit begins right next to your hotel in the 10th arrondissement at the Porte Saint-Denis, at the crossroads of the Grands Boulevards, where rue Saint-Denis meets rue du Faubourg-Saint-Denis. The arch was built in 1672 to the glory of Louis XIV by the architect François Blondel.

The treasures of the 1st arrondissement

Head next to the Louvre, a must-visit part of any Paris holiday! The architecture evolved over the centuries and several kings lived there (François I, Charles IX, Henri IV…) until Louis XIV chose Versailles as his seat of power in 1678. And don’t miss the nearby:

  • Jardin des Tuileries,
  • Palais Royal built by Richelieu, which became the centre of political life during the Regency (1715 to 1723),
  • Comédie française, which brought together the two only acting troupes of the capital following a royal ordinance by Louis XIV in 1680,
  • Place des Victoires, inaugurated in 1686, dedicated to the triumphs of the Sun King.

From île de la Cité to Versailles

On the left bank, the Provinces Opéra team recommends stopping off for a while at the Jardin du Luxembourg, the main gardens of the Sun King in 1635, and at the Palais de la Cité on the island of the same name – the oldest royal residence in the capital.

And above all, spend at least half a day (if not a full day) exploring Versailles, where Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI lived until 1789.

The information desk at your 10th arrondissement hotel will help you organise your excursions and reservations. There’s so much to see at Château de Versailles: the hall of mirrors, the King’s chamber, the gardens, Marie-Antoinette’s estate, amongst many other highlights.

If you extend your holiday in Paris

And if you still have some time left over after all that, take a detour to place de la Bastille, to admire what remains of the prison: two commemorative plaques (one at the corner of rue Saint-Antoine and rue Jacques-Cœur, the other at no. 3 on the square). And the remains of the Bastille are found on the little Henri Galli square.

Finally, to the north of Paris, the basilica of Saint-Denis is home to the necropolis of the Kings of France (from Dagobert I to Louis XVIII). This is also where the country’s Queens were crowned…

For other ideas, consult our list of recommended excursions.