WHY IS PARIS CALLED THE CITY OF LIGHTS?

Have you possibly asked about Paris being the ‘City of Lights’. It can often happen while you are enjoying the view of the Eiffel Tower lit and sparkling after dark. The charming assumption is that it is about literal light illumination. The real origin is intellectual, not electrical.

THE NAME STARTED WITH THE ENLIGHTENMENT

The nickname, La Ville Lumiere, dates to the 17th and 18th centuries. It originally honored Paris as a center of the Enlightenment, the Age of Lights. Thinkers like Voltaire and Rousseau worked out of Parisian salons. The city’s universities made it a symbol of intellectual light spreading across Europe. Light was not only candles and electricity back then, but a sign of real knowledge and deep understanding.

THEN PARIS EARNED THE NAME LITERALLY

In 1828, Paris became one of the first cities to widely adopt gas street lighting. That made its boulevards visibly safer and more glamorous after dark than almost anywhere else. The phrase grew stronger when the Eiffel Tower was fitted with electric lights for the 1889 World’s Fair. As Paris grew, so did the lights, making it shine so brightly for those who enjoyed the city on their “Grand Tour” of Europe. It was a right of passage for many people, and continues to this day!

BOTH MEANINGS STILL HOLD TODAY

The city’s monuments are illuminated nightly, turning an evening walk into its own attraction. Its museums, universities, and literary cafes keep the intellectual half of the name just as relevant. It is a rare nickname a city has actually kept earning for three centuries. And it is a benefit to us travelers in this golden age of travel. Nothing makes it so golden as beautiful golden light cascading on wide boulevards over the wine shop we visit just before we go to bed.

The Answer to the Question:

Paris earned the name City of Lights first as the center of the Age of Enlightenment in the 1700s. It reinforced the name by becoming one of Europe’s earliest cities with widespread street lighting. Today, it still stands true, as the Eiffel Tower shimmers in sparkling light on the hour at night time. We hope you enjoy the benefits of travel on your next trip and the many more to come!

Additional Resources:

Paris was my very first urban city of the Big Four which includes New York City, Paris, Rome and London. Paris was my very first experience, and I hope you explore more of Paris, or maybe look into a River Cruise on the Seine and beyond. And if you are comparing European capitals, read “Why Is London Always Cloudy“. If you are ready to plan your trip, schedule your complimentary consultation with CARTE ATLAS to design your luxury trip to Paris.