Paris the great saga

Some archeologists found the first signs of Paris habitation on the side of the Seine (Nowadays Bercy), strategic place for maritime transport. From there, the narration brings us to the evolution of the city into a modest roman city: Lutèce. Urbanistic ambitions ended up in the expansion of the left bank, the creation of the Cardo (Nowadays rue Saint-Jacques) and the construction of the forum and the thermal baths. The decline of the Roman Empire allowed Christians to take control of the city. The Saint-Geneviève Church and the Saint-Apôtres monastery are examples of the city’s revival.

Philippe Auguste (heir of Louis XII), one of the first sovereigns who was preoccupied by the city’s urbanization, he’s the one who cobbled some of the main streets. This period is also known to be a great architectural revolution, several monuments were built and became strong symbols of Paris. Philippe Auguste made the Louvre his first residence. In 1163, the first stones of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral were set, meanwhile the king Saint-Louis construct the Sainte-Chapelle in order to store Christ’s relics bought in Constantinople.

This period is one of the most hectic in french history, where Paris has known numerous physical alterations. The Parisians changed the course of history when their uprising led to the storming of the Bastille prison and burning of the city hall in 1789. Some of the great symbols of oppression felt down. The way of life change, the institutions maturated and the city is constantly evolving. The baron Haussmann set in motion numerous construction works to rebuild the Capital. He created broad avenues linked to the main train-stations, uniform building heights where the gas appeared and the completion of the Arc de Triomphe and the Invalides.

Period that leads to the current Paris. A beginning of century that gave birth to the genius of several architects and scientists. Gustave Eiffel just completed his masterpiece, his great tower. Local population is moving around by a new kind of train the Métropolitain. Intellectuals and artists are coming massively in the capital making it their home. From Montparnasse to Saint-Germain-des-Prés through Montmartre, the city of light is at the top of creation, diversity and exchange… Even with the two wars that put a grey area around this period, Paris rose from the ashes. The look focused towards the future, we innovate and build: the center Georges Pompidou, opera Bastille, Louvre’s pyramid, Bercy area and the great arch of La Défense.