Paris is known for being cultural and romantic and dedicated to arts, literature, music, and food. Of course, the famous Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the world’s largest museum, the Louvre.
History
Paris, the Capital of France, is in the north-central part of France. According to Britannica, by 7600 B.C.E., People lived along the Seine River, 233 miles upstream from the mouth of the English Channel, La Manche.
When Paris was under Roman administration in the first century B.C.E. it was designated as the capital of the Parisii tribe and territory. Under the rule of Hugh Capet between 987-996, the Capetian dynasty established Paris’s distinction but also became a political and cultural city that changed the city into a mighty republic.
Paris’s environment has gone through an emotional and intellectual climate with violence in the social and political with the most distinct events in 1358, 1382, 1588, 1648, 1789, 1830, 1848, and 1871.
From the mid-14th to the mid-16th century, the city’s growth was mainly eastward, then expanded westward. Paris has problems as any city with urbanization, immigration, housing, social infrastructure, public utilities, suburban development, zoning, and producing vast urbanization.
Paris today
Since then, Paris has developed beyond the banks of the Seine into the agricultural region known as Paris Basin and is the most important center of commerce and culture.
Paris is one of the world’s most attractive cities with businesses and commerce, entertainment, gastronomy, haute couture, painting, literature, and education. Paris is a site of water and land routes throughout the country with continuing growth.
The Seine defines Paris; its left bank, the Rive Gauche, is the seat of the intellectual life, and the right bank Rive Droite is the heart of the city’s economic vitality. The distinction has faded over the last decades.
In the center of the France region, Paris has an incredible forest of beech and oak called the vitality lines of Paris. The forests help the environment purify the air in heavily populated areas.
The Seine flows downstream, enters Paris from the southeast corner flowing to the east bank into the north bank, and ends in the west bank.
The water level is 30 feet high with borders with some trees and shrubs. The street level is lined with trees with massive stone retaining walls. The city also built a lot of green spaces with lots of trees.
Paris’s annual temperature is in the low 50s and in July upper 60s, and in January, about 30s. The temperature drops below freezing for a month each year, with snowfall about half of those days.
The city has taken measures to decrease air pollution and has a sound water purification system for safe drinking water.
The Seine, the city’s heart, is about ten streets long and five streets wide. It has eight bridges that link to the riverbanks and a ninth that leads to Ill Saint-Louis, a smaller island Southeast. The west bridge in Port Neuf was built from 1578 to 1604 and is the oldest bridge.
Downstream below the bridge is a triangular gravel-pathed park bordered by flowering bushes with benches and ancient trees with a cobbled quay; it’s a favorite place for sunbathers and lovers.
Must see
Notre Dame de Paris
Its construction began in 1163 and continued until 1345 in Gothic style. It is currently being renovated after being damaged by a fire in 2019. Notre Dame is the state’s property as a religious institution operated by the Roman Catholic Church.
The Louvre
Completed in 1852 and is the world’s largest palace. The Louvre Museum holds the most famous treasures, such as the Victory of Samothrace, the Venus de Milo, and the Mona Lisa. Its large collection of works spans 25 centuries. Extensive remodeling has been done throughout the Louvre to increase space and artwork.
Renovation of the Louvre started in the 1980s created a new main entrance and underground reception hall in the vast Napoleon Courtyard, between the two galleries; the giant glass pyramid designed by I.M. Pei to cover the opening.
Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel
It was completed in 1808 as an equestrian display standing in an open space with great views of Paris.
Eiffel Tower, the symbol of Paris
Its work started 1887, towers 300 meters high, equivalent to 1000 feet, built with 2,500,000 rivets, 7,300 tons of Iron, 60 tons of paint, and five lifts.
It took two years and two months to build with 50 engineers and designers, 150 workers in the Levallios-Perret factory, and 150 to 300 workers at the construction site. Take a lift to the top of the Eiffel Tower with specular views.
Saine Chapelle
It is a jewel of 113 stunning collections of stained glass windows built in Gothic style. It was built in 1238 and consecrated in 1248. It was the residence of the Kings of France until the 14th century.
Musee d’Orsay
The museum is near the Seine River, with a collection of famous impressionist art and Western artistic creations from 1948 to 1914.
To get around Paris
Paris is a walking city, but the fastest way is the Paris metro with 133 miles of lines; the Paris regional train is a train system, subway, and Paris Tramway. Or rent a scooter or a bike.