The Magnificent Paris

When it comes to Paris, one immediately remembers Hemingway’s words that “Paris is a feast that is always with you”. Even people who haven’t been to Paris always think that the city is the eternal feast. Another expression also occurs: “To see Paris and die”. Both of them show people’s admiration for this city.

A bit of history
Paris chronology began in 53 BC when Julius Caesar built a fortress near Lutecia, the settlement of Parisii tribes. “Lutecia” in the language of the tribes meant “swamp”. Originally the town was located on the island called Cite.
The medieval Paris wasn’t that sumptuous and magnificent. At the end of Middle Ages it numbered only 200,000 citizens. Until the French revolution the city grew rather slowly.
Rapid development of Paris began during the reign of Napoleon. At this time such famous sights as Triumphal Arch and the Invalides appeared.
But even more important for city evolution was the ruling of Napoleon III and the activity of his prefect Haussmann, who has considerably modernized Paris of that time. Big Paris boulevards, which are the basis of the present day city planning, three huge parks and twenty squares were created: that was important not only for the outward appearance of the city: it’s necessary to bear in mind that Paris was also a city of Commune, barricade fighting and social unrest. That’s why the innovations helped the police and army introduce order in the city.
For several centuries Paris was considered to be “the world capital”. In the XXth century the title was disputed by New York. Parisians, nevertheless, don’t want to yield. The city is constantly being modernized, lots of innovations are being introduced.
Anyway, the major part of tourists come to the city to visit the main sights, which were built in the past. Among them are…

Notre-Dame de Paris
“The symbol of Paris”, “real gothic wonder”, “concentrated French history”,” Dome of the domes”…that is all about the Notre-Dame de Paris.
It is situated at Cite, the island in the middle of the Seine. This is the most ancient district of the city. The dome was built between 1163 and 1250 at the place of the old basilica. Anyway the final decoration took place only in 1345. There are bigger domes in France but this one is the most impressive example of the Gothic architecture.
One will need no less than one or two weeks to view the whole dome. The 69-meter high building is really magnificent. It is still functioning, the Great Bell rings only in most solemn occasions.

The Latin Quarter
The banks of the Seine house one of the most famous Paris quarters – the Latin Quarter. It was called that way due to the fact that the students of the Paris University, which is situated here, were taught in Latin. They always lived and made a nuisance of themselves. The young people talked Latin amongst their community so that nobody could understand what they talked about.
This is the best place to live in Paris. Things are cheaper here and people are more hearty. But the most important is that the place preserved the remains of the real “air de Paris”.

There are so many places in Paris that one can hardly mention all of them… Come and see everything with your own eyes!

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