In which city was the first European Cup final held?

The first European Cup final was held in Paris. Real Madrid defeated Stade de Reims 4–3 at the Parc des Princes on 13 June 1956, winning the inaugural European Champion Clubs’ Cup.

The competition was created after French sports journalist Gabriel Hanot of L’Équipe promoted the idea of a tournament for Europe’s leading club sides. UEFA organized the first edition in 1955–56, with 16 teams entering the competition.

The final was an exciting match. Reims quickly took a 2–0 lead, but Real Madrid recovered through goals from Alfredo Di Stéfano, Héctor Rial and Marquitos. Rial scored the decisive goal in the 79th minute, giving Madrid the first of what would become a record collection of European titles.

A common mix-up is naming Madrid as the location because Real Madrid won the match. The city was Paris, while the venue was the Parc des Princes. Paris also hosted the first final before later European Cup finals moved around the continent.