15 Quirky Facts About Paris That’ll Make You Say ‘Ooh La La!’

 Ah, Paris—the City of Light, Love, and… Wait, Did You Know They Once Tried to Ban Smiling in Passport Photos? Let’s skip the clichés and dive into the weird, wonderful, and downright hilarious secrets of Paris. Perfect for trivia nights, first dates, or justifying your croissant addiction. 

 

 1. The Eiffel Tower Grows in Summer (Like a Baguette in the Oven) 

Yep, Paris’s iconic iron lady isn’t just photogenic—she’s a metallurgical drama queen. When temperatures rise, the Eiffel Tower expands by up to 6 inches (15 cm) due to thermal expansion. That’s taller than the average Parisian poodle.

The Eiffel Tower

Pro tip: Visit in winter if you’re intimidated by towering landmarks. 

 2. Parisian Bridges Are Lovers’ Heavyweight Champions 

The Pont des Arts bridge became so weighed down by “love locks” (over 700,000!) that a section collapsed in 2015. Authorities now ban locks, but lovebirds still sneak them onto lesser-known bridges. Moral of the story: Love is heavy. And expensive (fines start at €135). 

The Pont des Arts bridge

 3. Paris Wasn’t Always Called Paris 

Before it was Paris, the city went by Lutetia—a name that sounds like a rejected Harry Potter spell. The Romans founded it in 52 BC, and honestly, we’re all grateful they didn’t stick with “Mudville” (the literal translation of Lutetia). 

 4. There’s a Phantom Metro Station… for Ghosts? 

Deep beneath the Seine lies Porte Molitor, an abandoned metro station that’s never been used. Rumor has it, it’s now home to phantom commuters and the ghosts of unfinished croissants. (Or maybe just storage. But ghosts are more fun.) 

5. The World’s Shortest Street Is Here (And It’s Very French) 

There are over 6000 streets in Paris, Rue des Degrés in the 2nd arrondissement is just 5.75 meters long—shorter than a baguette. It has two whole addresses and zero cafés. Perfect for indecisive tourists who want to “see all of Paris” in 10 seconds. 

 7. The City Has More Dogs than Children 

Paris is home to 300,000 dogs vs. 200,000 kids. Stroll through Luxembourg Gardens, and you’ll see more poodles than toddlers. Bonus fun fact: Dog poop cleanup is a €183-million-a-year industry. Sacré-bleurgh.

8. Parisians Invented the “Selfie” in 1839 

Sort of. The first-ever photographic self-portrait was taken in Paris by chemist Robert Cornelius in 1839. It took 15 minutes of sitting still—so no duck lips.

9. The Louvre is the Largest Art Gallery in the World

The world’s most famous museum is The Louvre, in Paris, right on the river Seine. It is also, perhaps not surprisingly, the largest art gallery in the world. It houses more than 35,000 pieces of art for the public. The museum’s expanded collection is said to number over 450,000 pieces.

The Louvre, Paris

10. The Fashion Capital of the World?

Most of the world's finest fashion houses reside in Paris. The city dominating so many of the industry's major shows is sufficient enough to make brands like Chanel, Christian Louboutin, Dior, Givenchy, Lacroix, Lancôme, and Louis Vuitton its favorite children.

11. The Louvre Was Originally a Fortress (With a Moat!) 

Before housing the Mona Lisa’s smirk, the Louvre was a 12th-century fortress built to repel invaders. Today, the only invaders are tourists trying to take selfies with Venus de Milo. 

12. The City Has Its Own “Wall of Love” 

Located in Montmartre, the Le mur des je t’aime features “I love you” written in over 250 languages. Perfect for proposals, selfies, or dramatically staring at it while listening to French jazz.

The " I love you " wall - Montmartre

13. You Can Rent a Book—From a Vending Machine 

Parisian metro stations have book vending machines. Why scroll your phone when you can casually read Sartre underground like a true intellectual?

14. There’s a Law That Every Baguette Must Be Made a Certain Way 

No joke—since 1993, French law dictates what ingredients go into a traditional baguette. That’s how serious France is about bread. If only everything in life were that dependable.

French Baguette

15. Every Single Tree in Paris Is Measured and Numbered 

That’s right—more than 470,000 trees are cataloged by the city. So technically, Paris is not only romantic, but extremely organized.

From expanding towers to phantom metros, Paris proves that history doesn’t have to be boring. Whether you’re planning a trip or just need to one-up your know-it-all cousin, these facts are magnifique.