This is the place where the city is believed to have been founded. It lies between the distritos 1st and 4th arrondissements of Paris.

Historians debate whether a Gallic settlement known as Lutetia may have existed on the island as far back as the 3rd century BC. This has yet to be confirmed, but what is certain is that during the Edad Media the city already had a significant population and became the political, religious, and cultural center of France.

The island still preserves gems you must visit, such as the Sainte-Chapelle built by Louis IX between 1242 and 1248. And the Notre-Dame Cathedralfrom the same period.

In the centuries that followed, the island always retained its importance as the administrative center of Paris, housing places such as the Conciergerie, which served as the seat of judicial offices and royal prisons. It was here that Marie Antoinette was held before her execution.

Here you will find, as mentioned above, the Notre-Dame Cathedral and others important tourist attractions such as the Sainte-Chapelle and La Conciergerie, as well as pleasant open spaces, shops and restaurants where you can enjoy the older part of the city.

It is an ideal place to start discovering Paris. You can do so without spending too much by joining the Free Tour of Paris, the most popular and highest-rated of the free tours in Paris in English.

It is also the perfect starting point for exploring Paris and hopping on any of the boats that cruise the sights along the Seine River.

It is undoubtedly one of the most charming neighborhoods in Paris.