Île de la Cité

The Île de la Cité, cradle of Paris

The Paris audio-guided tour invites you to walk along the Seine to admire the Île de la Cité, which here appears in all its splendour. Cradle of the city, formerly Lutetia, it is the oldest district of Paris, in the heart of the river.

The historic heart of the capital

It was on the Île de la Cité that Paris was born, around the old Gaulish then Roman settlement. The island concentrates some of the most emblematic monuments of the capital: Notre-Dame cathedral, the Sainte-Chapelle, the Conciergerie and the Pont au Change. Linked to both banks by many bridges, it remains the historic and symbolic heart of Paris.

What there is to see

From the Left Bank quays, the view of the Île de la Cité is splendid, with its monuments standing out above the Seine. To discover it more closely, you cross the island on foot to admire Notre-Dame, the Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie. It is an essential stop on any visit to Paris, along the water.

Practical information

The Île de la Cité is in the centre of Paris, on the Seine, linked to the banks by many bridges, straddling the 1st and 4th arrondissements. It can be walked freely at all hours and on the level; the monuments it houses keep their own visiting hours.

Why is the Île de la Cité important?

It is the cradle of Paris, the oldest district of the city, where the capital was born around ancient Lutetia. It houses Notre-Dame, the Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie.

What monuments are there on the Île de la Cité?

There are Notre-Dame cathedral, the Sainte-Chapelle, the Conciergerie and the Pont au Change, among the most emblematic monuments of Paris.