![Pont Alexandre III, Paris - City of Light Paris the City of Light](https://i0.wp.com/www.afrenchcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Paris-Lamp-post-Pont-Alexandre-III-statue-filtered-1024-x-695.jpg?resize=910%2C618&ssl=1)
Paris has the endearing nickname of The City of Light. Some say it's because of the inhabitants' enlightened thinking in terms of culture and learning. Others argue that it's because of the city's early adaption of street lighting.
Ville Lumière or City of Enlightenment
The French translation of City of Light is Ville Lumière, meaning "city of enlightenment". This blog post pays homage to the most beautiful lighting in the world, the Parisian lamp posts. Many lamp posts are a story themselves heralding to a person, historical event or place and wandering the city, there is no shortage of their beauty.
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![Lamp post at Place Louis-Lépine Paris the City of Light](https://i0.wp.com/www.afrenchcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Paris-lamp-post-Place-Louis-Lépine-scaled.jpg?resize=290%2C435&ssl=1)
![Lamp post at Sacré Coeur Paris the City of Light](https://i0.wp.com/www.afrenchcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Paris-Lamp-post-Sacre-Couer-filtered-pigeon-bird-scaled.jpg?resize=290%2C435&ssl=1)
![Lamp post at Palais Royal Paris the City of Light](https://i0.wp.com/www.afrenchcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Paris-lamp-post-Palais-Royal-filtered-scaled.jpg?resize=290%2C435&ssl=1)
The city "turned on the switch" in a major way during the Exposition Universelle of 1900, the world's fair hosted by Paris. The Palace of Electricity was illuminated with over five hundred lights and wowed the world. Soon after this, many major cities of the world adopted citywide electric lighting.
![Pont Alexandre III bridge lamp Paris the City of Light](https://i0.wp.com/www.afrenchcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Paris-Lamp-post-Pont-Alexandre-III-statue-filtered-scaled.jpg?resize=290%2C435&ssl=1)
![Paris the City of Light Paris lamp](https://i0.wp.com/www.afrenchcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Paris-Lamp-post-Opera-Garnier-filtered-scaled.jpg?resize=290%2C435&ssl=1)
![Opera Garnier, Paris lamp post Paris the City of Light](https://i0.wp.com/www.afrenchcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Paris-lamp-post-Opera-Garnier-marine-lamp-post-scaled.jpg?resize=290%2C435&ssl=1)
![Paris the City of Light Metro station lamp post](https://i0.wp.com/www.afrenchcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1.jpg?resize=290%2C435&ssl=1)
![Paris lamp post Palais de Justice de Paris lamp post](https://i0.wp.com/www.afrenchcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Paris-lamp-post-scaled.jpg?resize=197%2C295&ssl=1)
![Paris Metro Sign with lamp post Paris the City of Light](https://i0.wp.com/www.afrenchcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2.jpg?resize=290%2C435&ssl=1)
![Hanging lamps at Hotel Regina, Paris Paris the City of Light](https://i0.wp.com/www.afrenchcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Paris-lamp-post-Hotel-Regina-scaled.jpg?resize=290%2C435&ssl=1)
![Tuileries Garden, Paris Paris the City of Light](https://i0.wp.com/www.afrenchcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Paris-lamp-post-Tuilieries-Garden-scaled.jpg?resize=290%2C435&ssl=1)
![Hanging lamp at Palais Royal Paris the City of Light](https://i0.wp.com/www.afrenchcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Paris-Lamp-Palais-Royal-scaled.jpg?resize=290%2C435&ssl=1)
Exposition Universelle
The world fairs celebrated the latest achievements of mankind and showcased new developments at each fair. The previous Exposition Universelle in Paris was where Eiffel made headlines with his tower. You can see historical photos of Paris and the Exposition Universelles in our post 20 Amazing Historical Photos of Paris. I hope you've enjoyed my photos taken of some Parisian lamp posts. With over 1,300 photos of stunning lamp posts taken on my travels, I was spoilt for choice. I rather like Paris the City of Light and its lamp posts!
![Lamp post at Cité Metro station, Paris Paris City of Light](https://i0.wp.com/www.afrenchcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Paris-lamp-post-Metro-Cité-filtered-1024-x-695.jpg?resize=910%2C618&ssl=1)
Lamp post near Cité Metro station, Paris