"A real journey into the past! The vestiges of the Middle Ages that make up Paris

Haussmann worked like a bulldozer to give us the flamboyant capital we know today. But in order to draw up his star-shaped plans and the magnificent alignments that have become his signature, he had to consign the vestiges of the past to oblivion, starting with those of the Middle Ages. Fortunately, he didn't touch Notre-Dame. A national pride that the whole world comes to admire more than 9 centuries after its construction.

This monument to the Middle Ages is a major landmark. Built in pure Gothic style, the cathedral is adored for its unmistakable gargoyles and the modernity of Viollet-Le-Duc's spire. Unfortunately, in April 2019, a terrible fire reduced it to rubble, along with most of its 13th-century framework. We will have to wait until at least 2024 to visit it again.

The Sainte-Chapelle is a marvel. If there was only one place to see in Paris, this would be it, because it's impossible to dream of such a place. Also located on the Ile de la Cité, it is remarkable for its long, purplish stained glass windows that line the entire perimeter of the tall chapel like walls of unlocatable light. It's a pretty crazy achievement when you consider that it was designed and built in the middle of the Middle Ages!

In addition to this marvellous dimension, the church also has an exceptional purpose: to house Christ's actual crown of thorns and a piece of the cross on which he was crucified! These relics were brought here by Saint-Louis in the first half of the 13th century.

More than one concierge would love to be able to enjoy such a residence! Situated in the heart of theIle de la Cité, this vast building was once part of the Palais de la Cité, the official residence of the kings of France since the 3rd century. Of course, it was the residence of the palace's concierge, hence its name. He was responsible for the management of the palace and the security of the kings, and had the royal guard at his disposal. Fortunately, the kitchens, the Guards' room and the Gens d'Armes room are some of the oldest and best-preserved parts of the Conciergerie.

During the French Revolution, the Conciergerie was transformed into a prison for political prisoners. From 1793 to 1795, the darkest period of the Terror, Queen Marie Antoinette was imprisoned there before being executed on the Place de la Concorde (then known as the Place de la Révolution). She was not the only one.

A seminal work of the quattrocento, the Mona Lisa tells us a great deal about the creative power of the late Middle Ages. A veritable monument in its own right, the work, painted probably between 1503 and 1506, says everything about its creator, Leonardo da Vinci, his talent, daring and inventiveness: elusive expression, the creation of pigments and hues, fantastical landscapes. The painting can be seen at the Louvre, housed in the former royal palace!

The most famous painting in the world, it is also the most frequently seen, with 20,000 visitors flocking to the Louvre every day to see it for themselves.

The Tour Saint-Jacques stands proudly in the middle of a square on the way out of the Ile de la Cité to Châtelet. Once again, this white stone campanile, flanked by gargoyles and saints, takes you back in time to the heart of the Middle Ages. It is the only surviving vestige of the former Saint-Jacques la Boucherie church, which was built between 1509 and 1523 and then destroyed in 1797 during the French Revolution.

You can climb the many steps to the top and enjoy a rare panoramic view of our capital. The Tower guided parishioners and was once the traditional starting point for pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

In the heart of the Latin Quarter of Paris, just a stone's throw from theIle de la Cité, lies the historic gem that is theHôtel de Cluny. Dating back to the 15th century, this mansion was once the residence of the abbots of the Order of Cluny, and since 1843 has housed the Musée national du Moyen-Âge.

You can admire the famous Lady and the Unicorn tapestry and stained glass windows from the Sainte Chapelle, including "The Devil and a Woman", as well as many other rarities such as the "Adam de Notre-Dame de Paris", also dating from the 13th century. The museum also exhibits the ancient remains of the Lutetia thermal baths. During the Roman era, the Gallo-Roman thermal baths covered an area of 6,000 m² stretching as far as the Seine. The vaulted room known as the frigidarium is the most remarkable vestige of this era.

In Paris's 2nd arrondissement, the Tour Jean-sans-Peur is what remains of the 15th-century palace of the Dukes of Burgundy. This late medieval keep can be visited on guided tours. You can discover not only the throne room of John the Fearless, but also the remarkable ceiling of the spiral staircase vault decorated with sculptures of oak and hawthorn branches enhanced with hops. Its central axis was designed like a tree.