The Île de la Cité

The island where Paris was born

Welcome to the place where Paris began — a small, boat-shaped island in the Seine where Celtic fishermen built their huts two thousand years ago, where the Romans built a city on top of them, and where the kings of France built their palace on top of that. No guide walks besides you. Just the clues, the directions, and the city itself. Use your own knowledge. Ask a stranger. Ask a friend. Ask Paris.

Four stages. Two thousand years. One motto waiting for you at the end.

A note before you begin: this interactive experience starts on the square outside Notre-Dame and never requires you to go inside. If you'd like to visit the cathedral's interior, you're welcome to do so either before or after the interactive experience — it's entirely optional and not part of the stages themselves.

Inner Circle Paris' Interactive experiences are independent, self guided activities. Inner Circle Paris is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated on behalf of Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, the Conciergerie, the Palais de Justice, or the Centre des monuments nationaux. Entry requirements, ticketing, security screening, and visiting conditions at each site are set entirely by that site, not by this app.