Flowers and landmarks at Île de la Cité

The Île de la Cité is the birthplace of Paris. The First settlement of the Parisii, Celtic hunters and fishermen, started on this island they called Lutecia around 300BC. The roman conquered the island in 52 BC and it is in 360 AD that the name Lutecia was changed for Paris. Today, the tiny island in the middle of the Seyne is the City's main attraction due to the remarkable landmarks it hosts. It is also considered the heart of France since this is where you will find Kilometre Zero, the location from which all distances in France are measured.

The most famous landmark of Île de la Cité is without a doubt Notre Dame de Paris whose construction begun in 1163 during the reign of Louis VII. It took more than 180 years to complete the construction of this magnificent cathedral dedicated to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Today, the cathedral is still viewed as one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture and is visited by approximately 13 million people every year, with an annual average of over 30,000 people per day (50,000 on peak days!). If you are interested in learning more about the history and the architecture details of Notre Dame, free-guided tours are available several times per week.

Notre Dame is also one of the few spots that provide a nice panorama over the city. To do so, you will need to queue outside the left entrance door and climb the 387 steps up the north tower. If the line is too long, as it may sometimes be during the holidays, you can walk around the cathedral and still get plenty of opportunities to admire the remarkable craftsmanship of Notre Dame de Paris.

Western Facade of Notre Dame de Paris

The Gallery of Kings and the Portal of Judgment

Chevet (east end) of the cathedral, with pinnacles and flying buttresses

South exterior and transept.

On a more romantic note, Île de la Cité host since 1808 the oldest and most famous Marché aux Fleurs (flower market) in Paris. This market is unfortunately one of last ones in Paris. Two other markets are located at Place de la Madeleine (8th) and Place des Ternes (17th). The different stalls offer a large collection of garden ornaments, as well as a large choice of exotic plants and orchids. On Sundays, the flowers market also hosts a colorful bird market. This market alone is worth the trip, especially in spring and summer time.

Flower Market - Place Louis Lépine


Beautiful Azalea


Hyacinths


Flower Market - Place Louis Lépine


Roses in a bucket (Flower Market Place de la Madeleine)


Tulips in a bucket (Flower Market Place de la Madeleine)


Ranunculus in a bucket (Flower Market Place de la Madeleine)


Beautiful hand-tied bouquet (Flower Market Place de la Madeleine)

For more information

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris
Open every day from 8:00am to 6:45pm
(There is no charge to enter the cathedral but donations are welcomed)
website

Marché aux Fleurs Île de la Cité
Place Louis Lepine
Open daily: 8:00am – 7:30pm
Also hosts a birds market on Sunday

Interactive map

Check out our interactive map of Paris to see where I took all the pictures featured in this article.