Whether you’re strolling down the Champs-Élysées or window-shopping on the Avenue Montaigne, it seems like every good Parisienne is toting around a Louis Vuitton handbag.

Louis Vuitton opened his first store in Paris in 1854 and was one of the first luggage companies in the world at a time when an interest in travel became more popular. Vuitton began to design innovative flat-topped luggage that was lightweight, airtight and could be stacked in railway cars. Even more desirable than the configuration of the luggage was the elegant cover, the signature gray “Trianon” canvas.

Rival luggage manufacturers and counterfeiters began to duplicate Vuitton’s patterns thus leading the company to create its famous logo and classic “Monogram Canvas” design, inspired by Asian and Oriental designs and their participation in the International Exhibitions.

Louis Vuitton went from a family business to a worldwide corporation and later expanded their market by designing and selling gloves, wallets and their signature bags.  Today the brand is one of the most profitable in the world and is estimated to be worth about 19 billion U.S. dollars. Unfortunately, just like in the early days, counterfeiting is a serious problem, and fake bags are flying off the shelves faster than the real things. In a $1 billion a year counterfeiting industry, faux Louis Vuitton products amounted to 18%.

The company is defending itself by only selling in Louis Vuitton shops and rare exceptions in department stores and airports. They have a network of private investigators looking for those making the fake bags, selling them and also those buying them. Getting caught doing either has severe financial punishments as well as jail time.

So, just spend the money and get the bag. Besides, it’s always nicer to have the real thing!

Impressionism was pioneered by a group of radical artists in Paris during the 19th century and is the most well known artistic movement to come out of La Belle Époque (The Golden Age). The term, “Impressionism” was coined by an art critic after seeing Claude Monet’s, Impression, sunrise (Impression, soleil levant.) The artist chose this title because of the impression one has while looking at something that is obscure or lacks detail – in this case, a sunrise at the port of Le Havre. Impressionist paintings are characterized by short, visible brush strokes of bright colors that give the impression of reflected light. Prominent artists to emerge from this movement were: Manet, Renoir, Degas, Boudin and Pissarro.

These impressionist masterpieces can now be admired in Paris museums such as the Musée d’Orsay, Musée Marmottan and the Musée de l’Orangerie.

Paris still remains the Capital of Art and is home to one of the most recognizable street art stunts in the last decade: Space Invaders. An anonymous, urban artist, who simply refers to himself as “Invader,” was inspired by Tomohiro Nishikado's video game by the same name and began mounting mosaic tiles of these aliens in Paris. Space Invaders can be seen all around the world; however, there are over 1,000 in Paris alone, making it the most invaded city to date. Learn more about the Impressionists, street art and Space Invaders on our Montmartre District Tour!

Going to the Louvre can be a challenging feat, and visitors leave overwhelmed by the size of the museum and its vast collection. Whether you're admiring the medieval foundations, Egyptian antiquities or the French classics, there was once a time when these galleries were empty. At the start of the Second World War, curators at the Louvre wasted no time when their collection was in danger and began to pack, crate and hide these treasures all around France. When the Nazis marched into Paris in 1940 and descended the Champs-Élysées, they later arrived at the Louvre and were surprised to see that a very large percentage of the museum had been emptied. The Venus de Milo was shipped out in a wooden crate, Veronese's Wedding Feast at Cana was rolled up and the Mona Lisa was sent to a private château and hung in a man's bedroom. The Nazis filled the Louvre with stolen artwork from Jewish families and paintings thought to have little artistic or commercial value were shredded and burned. After the war, the artwork that was removed started to make its way back to the Louvre and many of the stolen pieces were later returned; however, there are still unclaimed pieces in the custody of the French government today.

The Artist, directed by Michel Hazanavicius, swept the Academy Awards and walked away with four prizes – including best picture. It is the first silent film to triumph at the Oscars since the original ceremony in 1929 and the first French film to ever be awarded this title. But it’s only one of many French films that are honored in cinematic history. The Lumière Brothers are known as the pioneers of cinema, and they screened their first short film in 1895 in Paris, lasting 46 seconds. In 1902, George Méliès produced, Le Voyage dans la Lune (A Trip to the Moon) which is the first science fiction film and one of the greatest films of the 20th century. This 14-minute film is about a group of astronomers who travel to the moon by being shot in a capsule from a giant cannon. They are captured by moon-men, escape and later return to earth. The most iconic scene in the film is when the spaceship lands in the eye of the moon and Méliès’ fantasy film is one of the first to implement animation and special effects.

Hot chocolate is one of many culinary favorites enjoyed amongst common people and the very rich. This drink was introduced in France for the first time in 1615 at the wedding of Louis XIII and his bride, Anne of Austria. The drink was a big hit and became very popular during the reign of Louis XV, who insisted on making his own hot chocolate for himself and his lovers. The King would add more chocolate than recommended because of its energy-boosting qualities and its role as an aphrodisiac. Even Marie-Antoinette enjoyed a particular type of this drink that was infused with orange blossom or sweet almond. Today you can enjoy variations of hot chocolate in Paris. Whether you’re craving milk chocolate, thick African dark chocolate or spicy chocolate, Angelina is the most famous spot in town, located on the very chic Rue de Rivoli. There is also another Angelina tearoom inside the Palace of Versailles, so anyone can drink like a King or Queen! 

In addition to his reputation as a military genius, Napoleon Bonaparte is also known for his famous hat, his hand tucked in his waistcoat and for being a man of short stature. Napoleon conquered most of Europe during the beginning of the 19th century and was the first ruler of France whose rise to power was not because of his name, family or marriage, but because of his abilities. The Bonapartes no longer rule France but family members carry royal titles and there are descendants of Napoleon still living today. Jean-Christophe Napoleon (right) is the great-great-great-grand-nephew of the former Emperor and a descendant of King Louis XV. He is the rightful heir to the Imperial House of France, which means that Jean-Christophe will become the Emperor in the very small likelihood that the imperialist regime is reestablished. In the meantime, Jean-Christophe lives in New York and is single!

Napoleon Bonaparte commissioned the Arc de Triomphe in 1806 to celebrate the victories of his Grande Armée. The first stone was laid on Napoleon’s birthday, but construction did not advance as quickly as he had hoped. For his wedding to the archduchess, Marie-Louise of Austria, a trompe l’œil of wood and painted material was completed just in time for the ceremony. Construction stopped in 1814 when Napoleon was exiled, and the Arc de Triomphe was not completed until 1836. Napoleon’s body was returned to France from Saint Helena in 1840 and passed underneath the Arc de Triomphe before going to the Invalides. A scene like this was not seen again in the streets of Paris until Victor Hugo died in 1885. Hugo was accorded posthumous honors under the monument, which was converted into an imposing catafalque (left). Today, the Arc de Triomphe is one of the most famous monuments in Paris and in the center of one of the most chaotic roundabouts in Europe! Learn more about the Arc de Triomphe on our City Center Walking Tour.

Paris is one of the most stylish cities on the planet, and this association dates largely to the reign of King Louis XIV. From a young age until his death, the king was a fashionista in every sense of the word. He had an outstanding sense of style, 1,000 wigs, diamond encrusted suits, his own label and even sported high-heeled shoes. Black and white were colors worn by the poor, and gray was banned at Versailles. The king took great pleasure in examining everyone’s outfits, and everything around him needed to live up to his aesthetic standards. Today, the French prefer to spend more on less and prefer to buy classic pieces that can be worn for years. In Paris, the color of choice is black, black and…black!

Before departing for the crusades in 1190, Philippe Auguste wanted Paris to be properly defended during his absence. He ordered the construction of a city wall and a fortress, known as the Louvre (the original foundations can still be seen in the archeological crypt.) As the city began to grow, Charles V made the Louvre his place of residence and it became the royal palace until 1682, when Louis XIV moved to Versailles. In 1793, the Central Museum of Arts was opened at the Louvre and boasted an impressive range of royal collections. From its days as a fortress, the Louvre had been under permanent construction for 800 years as each successive ruler added to its size and splendor. Today the Louvre has 300,000 works, 35,000 of which are displayed over an area covering 199,000 square feet (60,600 square meters.) Learn more about the Louvre on our City Center Walking Tour

The Place de la Concorde was not always an extravagant square and chaotic roundabout between the Avenue des Champs-Elysées and the Tuileries Gardens. It was originally named the Place Louis XV and was intended as the setting for a statue of King Louis XV, which stood there for only thirty years. During the French Revolution, the statue was destroyed (as were all statues of royal figures in Paris) and the square was renamed the Place de la Révolution and became the home to the guillotine. King Louis XVI, Queen Marie-Antoinette, Danton, Robespierre and many others were executed here by the "National Razor." Following the Revolution and the Reign of Terror, the square was transformed and renamed the Place de la Concorde, symbolizing the end of a troubled era and the beginning of a better future. Learn more about the Place de la Concorde on our City Center Walking Tour.