Everyone knows Paris. Some might call that an exaggeration—or even a cliché—but there’s no denying that the French capital has become a universal concept. We’ve all imagined it: its cafés, its rich history, its world-renowned museums, its romantic rain-soaked streets. When someone says “The City of Light,” we instantly know what they mean. And now, in the spirit of the month of love, it’s time to revisit the origin of this iconic nickname: La Ville Lumière.

A Beautiful but Mistaken Assumption

Historically, Paris has stood as a major cultural, scientific, and academic hub since the Middle Ages. By 1500, it was already considered one of the great centers of Gothic and Renaissance life, second only to Constantinople, with a population nearing 185,000—a remarkable figure for the time.

As home to La Sorbonne, one of the oldest universities in Europe, Paris attracted some of the world’s most influential thinkers, from Thomas Aquinas to Descartes and Voltaire. Because of this intellectual legacy, many assume that Paris earned the nickname “City of Light” during the Renaissance or the Enlightenment, symbolizing its role in shaping Western thought.

That explanation fits the city’s intellectual stature—but it’s not quite true.

A Dark and Dangerous Past

To understand the real origin, we need to travel back to a time when cities looked very different. There were no drainage systems, no paved roads, and definitely no electricity. Parisian streets were narrow, muddy, and treacherous after dark. Once the sun set, danger took over. Crime and violence flourished in the pitch-black streets.

In 1667, the city took a bold step toward safety and transformation. Gilbert Nicolas de la Reynie, the head of the Paris police, introduced a groundbreaking initiative: the first urban public lighting system. Nearly 2,700 lanterns were installed across 900 streets, casting light into the shadows for the very first time.

This pragmatic move not only curbed criminal activity but also inspired other European cities to follow suit. And just like that, Paris became the first city to light up the night—not metaphorically, but quite literally.

From Practical to Poetic

Centuries later, that simple act of illumination continues to shape how we see Paris. Walk its boulevards after sunset, and you’ll feel it: the glow of lanterns, the shimmer on the Seine, the soft radiance that has become a symbol of romance itself.

Perhaps it’s no coincidence that lovers from around the world come here to get lost in the light. Because thanks to a practical idea born in the 17th century, Paris at night became not just safer—but unforgettable.