Deep dives
Was Notre-Dame Painted in Colour?
In the Middle Ages, Notre-Dame's portals were painted and gilded. The evidence, what we really know, and what it changes when you reconstruct the past.
August 17, 2026
The Timescope blog
Stories, anecdotes & things to do
Articles by the team that has reconstructed the history of Paris with historians for 10 years. History told properly, anecdotes, and ideas to (re)discover the capital.
Things to do
Louvre Too Crowded? The Best Alternatives in Paris
The best alternatives to the Louvre: the Petit Palais, Carnavalet, Cluny, the Orangerie, and the open-air history museum along the banks of the Seine.
August 6, 2026
Things to do
The Best Things to Do in Paris with Teenagers
Paris with teens, minus the sighing: VR time travel at the Eiffel Tower, the Catacombs, rooftops, street art and the tricks that keep everyone happy.
August 4, 2026
Paris history
Why Is a Strike Called a "Grève" in French?
The French word for strike comes from a Paris square, today's place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville. A sandy riverbank, day labourers, and a word that flipped meaning.
July 28, 2026
Things to do
Your First Trip to Paris: An Authentic 3-Day Itinerary
An authentic 3-day Paris itinerary for first-time visitors: icons in the morning, neighbourhoods at night, and the city's real story where it happened.
July 24, 2026
Deep dives
Can You Trust AI With History?
AI-generated "historical" videos, viral anachronisms, errors that stick: a deep dive, studies included, into what a real historical method changes.
July 22, 2026
Paris history
Why Was the Eiffel Tower Built?
The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 World's Fair, marking the centenary of the French Revolution. Competition, outrage, construction: the full story.
July 19, 2026
Things to do
Underground Paris: What Can You Really Visit Beneath the City?
The reopened Catacombs, the crypt of ancient Lutetia, the sewers, quarries and ghost metro stations: what you can really visit under Paris.
July 17, 2026
Paris history
Why Were There Houses on the Bridges of Paris?
For six centuries, Parisians lived and traded on the city's bridges. Why the houses, what did they look like, and why did they disappear?
July 7, 2026
News
The Origins of Paris Turns One: 35,000 Time Travellers
Twelve months after launching on the banks of the Seine, The Origins of Paris passes 35,000 visitors with a steady 4.9/5 rating. A first look back.
June 25, 2026
Deep dives
Virtual Reality vs Augmented Reality: What's the Difference?
VR, AR, immersion, metaverse… We untangle virtual reality from augmented reality, with concrete examples and what it changes when you visit Paris.
April 8, 2026
Paris history
What Did Paris Look Like in the Middle Ages?
What did medieval Paris look like? From the Île de la Cité to Place de Grève, the city's medieval geography, and where to see its traces today.
February 19, 2026
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