The real reason Paris is called the city of lights

“A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of Life.” – Thomas Jefferson

Most folks think that Paris is called the City of Lights because of its sparkling highway and bridges, and with 20,000 light bulbs charged with the task of illuminating up Paris‘most recognized landmark, there’s good logic to think so. 

However, the name actually emanates from its intellectual heritage. Paris is a brilliant city that gleams every night. There are over 296 lighted spots if you count everything from hotels and churches, statues and fountains, national buildings and monuments. Out of 37 dominant bridges in Paris, thrillingly 33 of them are illuminated to full grandeur each sunset.

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Of course, it’s the glinting Eiffel Tower that’s to accuse of the misinterpretation behind the famous nickname, ‘City of Lights’. The masterpiece sparkles like a lantern each night with 40km of lighted garlands made up of 20,000 light bulbs.

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The Champs-Elysées is also all irradiate, especially during Christmas time. The world’s most amorous boulevard lights up during the celebratory season with over 2.4km of lights elongated from the Place de la Concorde right down to the Arc de Triomphe. It’s made even blazing with its 450 brighten trees along the avenue and on the sidewalk.

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However, putting the lane lighting aside, Paris’ stature as the ‘City of Lights’ is actually due to its historical legacy. It used to be dubbed ‘La Ville-Lumière’ because Paris was the native place of the Age of Enlightenment and was known as a center of education and ideas throughout entire Europe. 

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The city motivated poets and philosophers, engineers and scientists galore. For example, the stethoscope, hairdryer, and the calculator are just some of the wonders invented by the hands of the French?

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Certainly, Paris adopted street lighting much earlier than other cities probably did help the tag of ‘City of Lights’ stick. But it’s less to do with service and more to do intellectual prowess. 

So, the next time when you visit the city and find yourself marveling in front of the Grands Boulevards, whose 2,000 square meters of lights inspires you during the festive season, with some 250,000 light bulbs, don’t forget that the legacy of Paris is much more than just glimmer and shine. 

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