See Also

Paris

native_name = Ville de Paris |common_name = Paris |image_flag = Flag of Paris.svg |image_flag_size = 85px |image_coat_of_arms = Paris coa.png |image_coat_of_arms_size = 120px |flag_legend = City flag |Coat_of_arms_legend = City coat of arms |city_motto = Fluctuat nec mergitur Fluctuat nec mergitur

Fluctuat nec mergitur is a Latin [i] phrase [i] meaning "tossed by the waves, she ... 

|image_map = France_jms.gif |x = 141 |y = 73 |time zone = CET |lat_long = |region = le-de-France |departement = Paris |mayor = Bertrand Delano |party = PS |mandat = since 2001 |subdivisions_entry = Subdivisions

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Timeline

274   Germanic Peoples Germanic peoples

The Germanic peoples are groups of people identified by their use of the Germanic languages [i] that are ... 

 take advantage of the destroyed Roman armies of the Rhine Rhine

The Rhine River is one of the longest and most important river [i]s in Europe [i] at 1,320 kilometres [i] ... 

. They pillage and depopulate large areas of Gaul Gaul

Gaul was the name given, in ancient times, to the region of Western Europe [i] comprising present-day n ... 

, including Paris. The Rhine border is lost for 20 years. Franks Franks

The Franks or the Frankish people were one of several west Germanic federations [i] ... 

 live in the area of present southern Netherlands Netherlands

The Netherlands is the Europe [i]an part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands [i] , which is formed ... 

, northern Belgium Belgium

The Kingdom of Belgium is a country in northwest Europe [i] bordered by the Netherlands [i] ... 

 and Rhineland from now on.

508   Clovis I Clovis I

Clovis I was the first king of the Franks [i] to unite that entire barbarian nation. ... 

 establishes Paris (''Lutetia Lutetia

Lutetia was a town in pre-Roman and Roman [i] Gaul [i]. ... 

'') as his capital

511   Frank Franks

The Franks or the Frankish people were one of several west Germanic federations [i] ... 

ish kingdom split in four after the death of Clovis I Clovis I

Clovis I was the first king of the Franks [i] to unite that entire barbarian nation. ... 

: Childebert I Childebert I

Childebert I was the Frankish [i] king of Paris [i], a Merovingian [i] dynast, one of ... 

 becomes king of Paris; Clotaire I king of Soissons Soissons

Soissons is a town and commune [i] in the Aisne [i] dpartement [i] ... 

; Chlodomer king of Orléans Orléans

Orlans, is a city and commune [i] in north-central France [i], about 130 km south-west ... 

, and Theuderic I king of Reims Reims

Reims is a city of northern France [i], 144 km east-northeast of Paris [i]. ... 

 and Austrasia Austrasia

Austrasia formed the north-eastern portion of the Kingdom of the Merovingian [i] Franks [i], comprising ... 

.

561   Clotaire I dies, and the Frankish Franks

The Franks or the Frankish people were one of several west Germanic federations [i] ... 

 kingdom is divided; Sigebert I Sigebert I

Sigebert I was the king of Austrasia [i] from the death of his father in 561 [i] to his own death. ... 

 becomes king of Austrasia Austrasia

Austrasia formed the north-eastern portion of the Kingdom of the Merovingian [i] Franks [i], comprising ... 

, Chilperic I Chilperic I

Chilperic I was the king of Neustria [i] from 561 [i] to his death. ... 

 becomes king of Neustria Neustria

The territory of Neustria originated in 511 [i], made up of the regions from Aquitaine [i] to the English Channel [i] ... 

, Charibert Charibert I

vingian]] [i]s *History of France [i] ... 

 becomes king of Paris, and Guntram Guntram

Guntram was the king of Burgundy [i] from 561 [i] to 592 [i]. ... 

 becomes king of Burgundy Burgundy

Burgundy is a historic region of France [i], inhabited in turn by Pre-Indo-European [i] people, Celts [i] ... 

.

587   Guntram Guntram

Guntram was the king of Burgundy [i] from 561 [i] to 592 [i]. ... 

, king of Paris, adopts Childebert II.

845   Paris is sacked by Viking Viking

The term Viking commonly denotes the ship-borne explorers, traders, and warriors of the Norsemen [i] who ... 

 raiders, probably under Ragnar Lodbrok Ragnar Lodbrok

Ragnar Lodbrok was a semi-legendary king of Sweden [i] and Denmark [i] who reigned sometime in the eigh ... 

, who collect a huge ransom in exchange for leaving.

987   Hugh Capet, Count of Paris, crowned King of France France

France, officially the French Republic, is a country [i] whose metropolitan territory [i] ... 

1113   Pierre Abélard opens his school in Paris

1115   Hugh of St. Victor joins the Victorines in Paris.

1136   Completion of the Saint Denis Basilica Saint Denis Basilica

The Basilica of Saint Denis is the famous burial site [i] of the French monarchs [i] ... 

 in Paris

   More Events >>



Encyclopedia

native_name = Ville de Paris
|common_name = Paris
|image_flag = Flag of Paris.svg
|image_flag_size = 85px
|image_coat_of_arms = Paris coa.png
|image_coat_of_arms_size = 120px
|flag_legend = City flag
|Coat_of_arms_legend = City coat of arms
|city_motto = Fluctuat nec mergitur Fluctuat nec mergitur

Fluctuat nec mergitur is a Latin [i] phrase [i] meaning "tossed by the waves, she... 



|image_map = France_jms.gif
|x = 141
|y = 73
|time zone = CET
|lat_long =
|region = Île-de-France
|departement = Paris
|mayor = Bertrand Delanoë Bertrand Delanoë

Bertrand Delano is a French [i] politician [i], and has been the mayor [i] of Paris [i]... 


|party = PS
|mandat = since 2001
|subdivisions_entry = Subdivisions
|subdivisions = 20 arrondissements Arrondissements of Paris

The city of Paris [i] is divided into 20 arrondissements municipaux [i]... 


|area = 86.9 km² 
|date-population =2004 estimate
|population = 2,144,700
|population-ranking=1st in France
|date-density = 2004
|density = 24,672/km² as well as London London

London is the capital [i] city of England [i] and of the United Kingdom [i]. ... 

, New York New York

New York is a state [i] in the northeastern [i] United States [i]. ... 

 and Tokyo Tokyo

listen is one of the 47 prefectures [i] of Japan [i] and is the location of its capital [i] ... 

, along with the headquarters of many international organisations such as UNESCO UNESCO

UNESCO is a specialized agency of the United Nations [i] established in 1945. ... 

, the OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is an international organisation [i] of those ... 

, the ICC, or the informal Paris Club.

The city, which is renowned for its defining neo-classical architecture Neoclassical architecture

The neoclassical movement [i] that produced Neoclassical architecture began in the mid-18th century [i] ... 

, hosts many museums and galleries and has an active nightlife. The most recognisable symbol of Paris is the 324 metre Eiffel Tower Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is an iron [i] tower [i] built on the Champ de Mars [i] beside the River Seine [i] ... 

 on the banks of the Seine. Dubbed "the City of Light" since the 19th century 19th century

The 19th century lasted from 1801 [i] through 1900 [i] in the Gregorian calendar [i].
... 

, Paris has a reputation as a "romantic" city. It is the most visited city in the world, with more than 30 million visitors per year.

Name


Paris is pronounced International Phonetic Alphabet

The International Phonetic Alphabet is a system of phonetic notation [i] devised ... 

 as in English English language

English is a widely distributed language that originated in England [i] but is now the primary language ... 

 and as [pa?i] in French French language

French is the third-largest of the Romance languages [i] in terms of number of native speakers, after Spanish [i] ... 

. The city derives its name from the Gallic Gaulish language

Gaulish is the name given to the Celt [i]ic language that was spoken in Gaul [i] before the Vulgar Latin [i] ... 

 Parisii Parisii

The Parisii were a Celt [i]ic Iron Age [i] people that lived on the banks of the river Seine [i] in Gaul [i] ... 

tribe. The city, known as Lutetia Lutetia

Lutetia was a town in pre-Roman and Roman [i] Gaul [i]. ... 

during the Roman Empire Roman Empire

The Roman Empire was a phase of the ancient Roman [i] civilization characterized by an autocratic [i] ... 

, began to adopt its present-day name towards the end of the Roman era. Since the early 20th century, Paris has been known in French slang as Paname , a slang name that has been regaining favor with young people in recent years. Another sobriquet for Paris is 'The City of Light' , owing to its early adoption of street-lighting.

The inhabitants of Paris are known as Parisians or in English English language

English is a widely distributed language that originated in England [i] but is now the primary language ... 

 and as Parisiens in French French language

French is the third-largest of the Romance languages [i] in terms of number of native speakers, after Spanish [i] ... 

. Parisians are sometimes called Parigots in French slang, a term often used pejoratively by people outside the Paris Region, but sometimes considered endearing by Parisians themselves.

See for the name of Paris in various languages other than English and French.

Geography


Topography


Paris is located on a north-bending arc of the river Seine Seine

The Seine is a major river [i] of north-western
... 

 and includes two inhabited islands, the Île Saint-Louis Île Saint-Louis

* Htel Lambert [i]

External links
... 

 and the larger Île de la Cité Île de la Cité

The le de la Cit, one of two island [i]s in the Seine [i] River, is the centre of Paris [i], France [i], ... 

 which is the heart and origin of the city. Paris has several prominent hills, of which the highest is Montmartre Montmartre

Montmartre is a hill in the north of Paris [i], France [i], in the 18th arrondissement [i] ... 

 at 130 metres above sea level.

The City of Paris, excluding the outlying parks of Bois de Boulogne Bois de Boulogne

The Bois de Boulogne is a park located along the western edge of the 16me arrondissement [i] ... 

 and Bois de Vincennes Bois de Vincennes

The Bois de Vincennes is a park in the English landscape manner to the east of Paris [i].... 

, covers an oval measuring 86.928 square kilometres in area. The city's last major annexation of outlying territories in 1860 not only gave it its modern form, but created the twenty clockwise-spiralling arrondissements it still has today. From its 1860 78 km² , these limits changed marginally to 86.9 km² in the 1920's, and in 1929 the Bois de Boulogne Bois de Boulogne

The Bois de Boulogne is a park located along the western edge of the 16me arrondissement [i] ... 

 and Bois de Vincennes Bois de Vincennes

The Bois de Vincennes is a park in the English landscape manner to the east of Paris [i].... 

 forest parks were officially annexed to the city, bringing its area to its present 105.397 square kilometres .

The Paris agglomeration extends from the city limits to an area much greater than Paris itself in an irregular oval with tentacles of urban growth extending along the Seine Seine

The Seine is a major river [i] of north-western
... 

 and Marne river from the city's south-east and east, and along the Seine Seine

The Seine is a major river [i] of north-western
... 

 and Oise rivers to the city's north-west and north. Urban density drops sharply in the land surrounding; a mix of forest and agriculture dotted with a network of relatively evenly dispersed satellite towns, this couronne péri-urbaine , when combined with the Paris agglomeration, completes a Paris aire urbaine that covers an oval 14,518 km² in area, or an area about 138 times that of Paris itself.

Climate

Paris has an Oceanic climate and is affected by the North Atlantic Drift, so the city enjoys a temperate climate that rarely sees extremely high or low temperatures. The average yearly high temperature is about 24 °C Celsius

The Celsius scale is a temperature [i] scale named after the Swedish [i] astronomer Anders Celsius [i] ... 

 , and yearly lows tend to remain around an average of 1 °C . The highest temperature ever, recorded on 28 July 1948, was 40.4 °C , and the lowest was a -23.9 °C temperature reached on 10 December 1879. The Paris region has recently seen temperatures reaching both extremes, with the heat wave of 2003 2003 European heat wave

The summer of 2003 [i] was one of the hottest on record in Europe [i]; this led to a health crisis in certain ... 

 and the cold wave of 2006.

Rainfall can occur at any time of the year, and Paris is known for its sudden showers. The city sees an average yearly precipitation of around 641.6 mm . Snowfall is a rare occurrence, usually appearing in the coldest months of January or February , and almost never accumulates enough to make a covering that will last more than a day.
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Avg high °C 6 7 10 14 18 21 24 24 20 15 9 7 15
Avg low temperature °C 1 1 3 5 9 12 14 14 11 8 4 2 7
Source:

Districts and historical centres



These are a few of Paris' major districts.

  • Champs-Élysées Champs-Élysées

    The Champs-lyses is a broad avenue [i] in Paris [i]. ... 

    is a seventeenth century 17th century

    As a means of recording the passage of time [i], the 17th century was that century [i] which lasted from ... 

     garden-promenade turned avenue connecting the Concorde and Arc de Triomphe. It is one of the many tourist attractions and a major shopping street of Paris. This avenue has been called "la plus belle avenue du monde" .
  • Avenue Montaigne , next to the Champs-Elysées, is home to luxury brand labels such as Chanel Chanel

    The House of Chanel, more commonly known as Chanel, is a Parisian [i] fashion house in France [i] ... 

    , Louis Vuitton Louis Vuitton

    Louis Vuitton designed and manufactured luggage in Paris during the second half of the nineteenth centur... 

     , Dior Christian Dior

    Christian Dior, was an influential French [i] fashion designer [i].

... 

 and Givenchy Givenchy

Givenchy is a line of clothing, accessories, perfume [i]s and cosmetics [i]. ... 

.
  • Place de la Concorde Place de la Concorde

    The Place de la Concorde is one of the major squares in Paris [i], France [i]. ... 

    is at the foot of the Champs-Élysées, built as the "Place Louis XV", site of the infamous guillotine Guillotine

    The guillotine is a device used for carrying out execution [i]s by decapitation [i]. ... 

    . The Egyptian obelisk it holds today can be considered Paris's "oldest monument". On this place, on the two side of the Rue Royale live two identical stone buildings: the eastern houses the French Naval Ministry, the western the luxurious Hôtel de Crillon Hôtel de Crillon

    ... 

    . Nearby Place Vendome Place Vendôme

    Place Vendme is a square in the 1st arrondissement [i] of Paris [i] locate ... 

    is famous for its fashionable and deluxe hotels, such as Hotel Ritz Hôtel Ritz Paris

    ... 

    . Many famous fashion designers have had their salons in the square.
  • Faubourg Saint-Honoré is one of Paris' high-fashion districts, home to labels such as Hermès Hermes

    Hermes , in Greek mythology [i], is the Olympian god [i] of boundaries and of the trave... 

     and Christian Lacroix.
  • L'Opéra Avenue de l'Opéra

    ... 

    is the area around the Opéra Garnier is a home to the capital's densest concentration of both department stores and offices. A few examples are the Printemps Printemps

    Printemps is a French [i] department store [i].

... 

 and Galeries Lafayette Galeries Lafayette

The Galeries Lafayette is a French department store [i] company. ... 

 grands magasins , and the Paris headquarters of financial giants such as Crédit Lyonnais and American Express American Express

American Express is a diversified global financial services [i] company, headquartered in New York City [i]... 

.
  • Montmartre Montmartre

    Montmartre is a hill in the north of Paris [i], France [i], in the 18th arrondissement [i] ... 

    is a historic area on the Butte, home to the Basilica of the Sacré Coeur. Montmartre has always had a history with artists and has many studios and cafés of many great artists in that area.
  • Les Halles Les Halles

    Les Halles is an area of Paris [i], France [i], located in the 1er arrondissement [i] ... 

    was formerly Paris' central meat and produce market, since the late 1970s a major shopping center around an important metro connection station . The past Les Halles was destroyed in 1971 and replaced by the current day Forum des Halles Les Halles

    Les Halles is an area of Paris [i], France [i], located in the 1er arrondissement [i] ... 

    .
  • Le Marais Le Marais

    Le Marais is a district in Paris [i], France [i], traditionally a Jewish [i] and bourgeois [i] area, but ... 

    is a trendy Right Bank district. With large gay Gay

    Gay is an adjective meaning "carefree", "happy", or "bright and showy"; however in modern usage, gay... 

     and Jew Jew

    Jews are followers of Judaism [i] or, more generally, members of the Jewish people , an ethno [i]... 

    ish populations it is a very culturally open place.
  • Place de la Bastille Place de la Bastille

    The Place de la Bastille is a square in Paris [i], where the Bastille [i] prison stood until it was stormed [i] ... 

    being one of the most historic districts, being a location of an essential event of not only Paris, but the whole country of France. Because of its historical value the square is often used for political demonstrations, including the massive anti-CPE demonstration of March 28, 2006.
  • Quartier Latin Latin Quarter (Paris)

    The Latin Quarter of Paris is an area in the 5th arrondissement [i] and parts ... 

    is a twelfth century 12th century

    As a means of recording the passage of time [i], the 12th century was that century [i] which lasted from ... 

     scholastic centre formerly stretching between the Left Bank's Place Maubert and the Sorbonne University of Paris

    The historic University of Paris first appeared in the second half of the 12th century, but was in 1970 ... 

     campus. It is known for its lively atmosphere and many bistros. With various higher education establishments, such as the École Normale Supérieure École Normale Supérieure

    The cole normale suprieure is a French [i] grande cole [i], whose main campus i ... 

    , the École des Mines and the Jussieu university campus Jussieu Campus

    The Jussieu Campus is a higher education campus [i] located in the 5th arrondissement [i] ... 

     make it a major educational center in Paris, which also contributes to its atmosphere.
  • Montparnasse Montparnasse

    [i] of the river [[Seine]... 

    is a historic Left Bank area famous for artists studios, music halls, and café life. The large Montparnasse - Bienvenüe métro Paris Métro

    The Paris Mtro is the underground rapid transit [i] system in Paris [i], France [i]. ... 

    station and the lone Tour Montparnasse Tour Montparnasse

    Tour Montparnasse is an office skyscraper [i] located in Paris [i], France [i], in the area of Montparnasse [i] ... 

     skyscraper Skyscraper

    A skyscraper is a very tall, continuously habitable building [i]. ... 

     are located there.
  • La Défense La Défense

    La Dfense is a major business district [i] of Paris [i], located in the suburbs west of and adjacent to... 

    is a key suburb Paris districts

    Paris [i] has many different districts that are not necessarily reflected in any administrative plan.

... 

 of Paris and is one of the largest business centres in the world, and is a major destination for business tourism. Built at the western end of a westward extension of Paris' historical axis from the Champs-Élysées Champs-Élysées

The Champs-lyses is a broad avenue [i] in Paris [i]. ... 

, La Défense consists mainly of business highrise High-rise

A high-rise is a tall building [i] or structure. ... 

s. Initiated by the French government in 1958, the district hosts currently 3.5 million m² of offices, making of it the largest district in Europe specifically developped for business. The Grande Arche Grande Arche

The Grande Arche de la Fraternit is a monument [i] in the business district of La Dfense [i] to the west... 

  of la Defense, which houses a part of the French Transports Minister's headquarters, ends the central Esplanade around which the district is organized.
  • Plaine Saint-Denis is a formerly derelict manufacturing area which has undergone massive regeneration in the last 10 years. It now hosts the Stade de France Stade de France

    The Stade de France is a football [i] stadium [i] in Saint-Denis [i], France [i], an inner subu ... 

     around which is being built the new business district of LandyFrance, with two RER RER

    The RER is an urban rail [i] network in Paris [i] and its agglomeration.

... 

 stations and possibly some skyscrapers. In the Plaine Saint-Denis are also located most of France's television studio Television studio

A television studio is an installation in which television [i] or video [i] productions take place, eith... 

s as well as some major movie studios.

History

The earliest signs of permanent habitation in the Paris area date from around 4200 BC. Celtic migrants began to settle the area from 250 BC, and the Parisii Parisii

The Parisii were a Celt [i]ic Iron Age [i] people that lived on the banks of the river Seine [i] in Gaul [i] ... 

 tribe of these, known as boatmen and traders, established a settlement near the river Seine Seine

The Seine is a major river [i] of north-western
... 

 from around then.

Westward Roman conquest and the ensuing Gallic War overtook the Paris basin from 52 BC, and by the end of the century Paris' Île de la Cité Île de la Cité

The le de la Cit, one of two island [i]s in the Seine [i] River, is the centre of Paris [i], France [i], ... 

 island and Left Bank Sainte Geneviève Hill had become the Roman town of Lutetia Lutetia

Lutetia was a town in pre-Roman and Roman [i] Gaul [i]. ... 

. Gallo-Roman Gallo-Roman culture

The term Gallo-Roman describes the Romanized culture of Gaul [i] under the rule of the Roman Empire [i], ... 

 Lutèce would expand over the following centuries, becoming a prosperous city with palaces, a forum, baths, temples, theatres and an amphitheatre.

As other Roman cities, early Lutetia was structured as a regular grid , with the cardo Cardo

In ancient Roman [i] city planning [i], a cardo or cardus was a north-south-oriented street in ci... 

 maximus
being the current Rue Saint-Jacques, and the decumani Decumanus Maximus

In Roman city planning [i], a decumanus was an east-west-oriented road in a Roman [i] city, ... 

were parallel to current Bd Saint-Germain and Rue des Ecoles. The "point zero", or groma Groma surveying

... 

of this grid was probably located at the southwest corner of the forum, which corresponds to nos. 172 and 174 of Rue Saint-Jacques: the highest point on the Saint-Geneviève hill.

The collapse of the Roman empire and third-century Germanic invasions sent the city into a period of decline: by 400 AD Lutèce, largely abandoned by its inhabitants, was little more than a garrison town entrenched into its hastily fortified central island. The city would reclaim its original "Paris" appellation towards the end of the Roman Roman Empire

The Roman Empire was a phase of the ancient Roman [i] civilization characterized by an autocratic [i] ... 

 occupation.

Middle ages

Around AD 500, Paris was the capital of the Frankish Franks

The Franks or the Frankish people were one of several west Germanic federations [i] ... 

 king Clovis I Clovis I

Clovis I was the first king of the Franks [i] to unite that entire barbarian nation.... 

, who commissioned the first cathedral Saint-Étienne

Saint-tienne is a city in the central eastern part of France [i], 60 km southwest of Lyon [i]. ... 

 and abbey. On the death of Clovis, the Frankish kingdom was divided, and Paris became the capital of a much smaller sovereign state. By the time of the Carolingian dynasty , Paris was little more than a feudal county stronghold. The Counts of Paris gradually rose to prominence and eventually wielded greater power than the Kings of Francia occidentalis Western Francia

Western Francia was the land under the control of Charles the Bald [i] after the Treaty of Verdun [i] of ... 

. Odo, Count of Paris was elected king in place of the incumbent Charles the Fat Charles the Fat

Charles the Fat was the king of East Franks [i], king of Italy [i], king of France [i] a ... 

, namely for the fame he gained in his defence of Paris during the Viking Viking

The term Viking commonly denotes the ship-borne explorers, traders, and warriors of the Norsemen [i] who ... 

 siege Siege of Paris

The Siege of Paris lasting from September 19 1870 – January 28 1871 brought about French defeat in... 

 of 885-886. Although the Cité island Île de la Cité

The le de la Cit, one of two island [i]s in the Seine [i] River, is the centre of Paris [i], France [i], ... 

 had survived the Viking attacks, most of the unprotected Left Bank city was destroyed; rather than rebuild there, after drying marshlands to the north of the island, Paris began to expand onto the Right Bank. In 987 AD, Hugh Capet, Count of Paris, was elected King of France, founding the Capetian dynasty which would raise Paris to become France's capital.


From 1190, King Philip Augustus enclosed Paris on both banks with a wall that had the Louvre Louvre

The Louvre Museum in Paris [i], France [i], is one of the largest, oldest, most important and famous art galleries [i] ... 

 as its western fortress and in 1200 chartered the University of Paris University of Paris

The historic University of Paris first appeared in the second half of the 12th century, but was in 1970 ... 

 which brought visitors from across Europe Europe

Europe is one of the seven traditional continent [i]s of the Earth [i]. ... 

. It was during this period that the city developed a spatial distribution of activities that exists even today: the central island housed government and ecclesiastical institutions, the left bank became a scholastic centre with the University and college College

College is a term most often used today to denote an educational [i] institution [i]. ... 

s, while the right bank developed as the centre of commerce and trade around the central Les Halles Les Halles

Les Halles is an area of Paris [i], France [i], located in the 1er arrondissement [i] ... 

 marketplace.

Paris lost its position as seat of the French realm while occupied by the English-ally Burgundians Burgundy

Burgundy is a historic region of France [i], inhabited in turn by Pre-Indo-European [i] people, Celts [i]... 

 during the Hundred Years' War Hundred Years' War

The Hundred Years' War was a conflict between England [i] and France [i] ... 

, but regained its title when Charles VII reclaimed the city in 1437; although Paris was capital once again, the Crown preferred to remain in its Loire Valley Loire Valley

Loire Valley is known as the Garden of France and the Cradle of the French Language.... 

 castles. During the French Wars of Religion, Paris was a stronghold of the Catholic party, culminating in the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre St. Bartholomew's Day massacre

The St. Bartholomew's Day massacre was a wave of Catholic [i] mob violence [i] against the Huguenot [i]s... 

 . King Henry IV Henry IV of France

Henry IV , was the first monarch of the Bourbon [i] dynasty in France [i].
... 

 re-established the royal court in Paris in 1594 after he captured the city from the Catholic party. During the Fronde, Parisians rose in rebellion and the royal family fled the city . King Louis XIV Louis XIV of France

Louis XIV ruled as King of France [i] and of Navarre [i] from ... 

 then moved the royal court permanently to Versailles Versailles

Versailles , formerly the de facto capital of the kingdom of France [i], is now a wealthy suburb of ... 

 in 1682. A century later, Paris was the centre stage for the French Revolution French Revolution

The French Revolution was a pivotal period in the history of French, Europe [i]an and Western [i] ... 

, with the Storming of the Bastille Storming of the Bastille

The Storming of the Bastille on July 14 [i], 1789 [i] was an important symbolic development in the French Revolution [i] ... 

 in 1789 and the overthrow of the monarchy in 1792.

Nineteenth century



The Industrial Revolution Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution was the major technological [i], socioeconomic [i] a ... 

, the French Second Empire Second French Empire

The Second French Empire or Second Empire was the imperial Bonapartist [i] regime of Napoleon III [i]... 

, and the Belle Époque brought Paris the greatest development in its history. From the 1840s, rail transport allowed an unprecedented flow of migrants into Paris attracted by employment in the new industries in the suburbs. The city underwent a massive renovation under Napoleon III Napoleon III of France

Napolon III, Emperor of the French was President [i] of France [i] from 1849 [i] to 1852 [i], and then ... 

 and his préfet Préfet

In France [i] and many other French-speaking countries, a prfet is the State's representative in a dpartement [i] ... 

Haussmann Baron Haussmann

Baron Georges-Eugne Haussmann was a French [i] civic planner whose name is associated with the rebuilding of Paris [i] ... 

, who leveled entire districts Haussmann's renovation of Paris

The Haussmann Renovations, or Haussmannization of Paris [i] was a work led under the initiative of Napolon III [i] ... 

 of narrow-winding medieval streets to create the network of wide avenues and neo-classical façades of modern Paris.

Cholera Cholera

Cholera is a water-borne disease [i] caused by the bacterium [i] Vibrio cholerae [i], which is typi... 

 epidemics in 1832 and 1849 affected the population of Paris
Paris recovered rapidly from these events to host the famous Universal Exposition World's Fair

A World's Fair is any of various large exposition [i]s held since the mid-19th century [i]. ... 

s of the late nineteenth century 19th century

The 19th century lasted from 1801 [i] through 1900 [i] in the Gregorian calendar [i].
... 

. The Eiffel Tower Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is an iron [i] tower [i] built on the Champ de Mars [i] beside the River Seine [i] ... 

 was built for the French Revolution centennial 1889 Universal Exposition, as a "temporary" display of architectural engineering prowess but remained the world's tallest building until 1930, and today is the city's best-known landmark. The first line of the Paris Métro Paris Métro

The Paris Mtro is the underground rapid transit [i] system in Paris [i], France [i]. ... 

 opened for the 1900 Universal Exposition and was an attraction in itself for visitors from the world over. Paris's World's Fair years also consolidated its position in the tourist industry and as an attractive setting for international technology and trade shows.

Twentieth century

During World War I World War I

World War I, also known as the First World War, the Great War and "The War to End All War... 

, Paris was at the forefront of the war effort, having been spared a German invasion by the French and British victory at the First Battle of the Marne First Battle of the Marne

The First Battle of the Marne was a World War I [i] battle fought from September 5 [i] to September 12 [i] ... 

 in 1914. In 1918-1919, it was the scene of Allied Allies of World War I

The Allies of World War I are sometimes also referred to as the Entente Powers or The Triple En... 

 victory parades and peace negotiations. In the inter-war period Interwar period

*History of China [i]: Sino-Japanese War [i]
... 

 Paris was famed for its cultural and artistic communities and its nightlife. The city became a melting pot of artists from around the world, from exiled Russian composer Stravinsky Igor Stravinsky

Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky was a Russian [i]-born composer [i].
... 

 and Spanish painters Picasso Pablo Picasso

Pablo Ruz y Picasso was a Spanish [i] painter [i] and sculptor [i]. ... 

 and Dalí Salvador Dalí

Salvador Felip Jacint Dal Domnech, Marquess of Pubol , known popularly as Salvador Dal, was a Catalan [i] ... 

 to American writer Hemingway Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American [i] novelist [i], short-story writer [i] ... 

. In June 1940, five weeks after the start of the German attack on France Timeline of World War II

This is a timeline of events in World War II [i]. ... 

, a partially-evacuated Paris fell to German occupation forces who remained until the city was liberated by the 2nd Armored Division of General Leclerc Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque

Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque, was a French [i] general.
... 

 in late August 1944. Central Paris endured WW II World War II

World War II, or the Second World War, was a worldwide [i] conflict [i] fought betwe ... 

 practically unscathed, as there were no strategic targets for bombers , and also because German General von Choltitz refused to carry out Hitler Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler was Chancellor of Germany [i] from 1933, and Fhrer [i] of Germany [i] from 1934 until h ... 

's order that all Parisian monuments be destroyed before any German retreat.
In the post-war era, Paris experienced its largest development since the end of the Belle Époque in 1914. The suburbs began to expand considerably, with the construction of large social estates known as cités and the beginning of the business district La Défense La Défense

La Dfense is a major business district [i] of Paris [i], located in the suburbs west of and adjacent to... 

. A comprehensive express subway network, the RER RER

The RER is an urban rail [i] network in Paris [i] and its agglomeration.
... 

, was built to complement the Métro and serve the distant suburbs, while a network of freeways was developed in the suburbs, centered on the Périphérique expressway circling around the city.

Since the 1970s, many inner suburbs of Paris have experienced deindustrialization, and the once-thriving cités have gradually become ghettos for immigrants and oases of unemployment. At the same time, the City of Paris and the western and southern suburbs have successfully shifted their economic base from traditional manufacturing to high value-added services and high-tech manufacturing, generating great wealth for their residents whose per capita income is among the highest in Europe. The resulting widening social gap between these two areas has led to periodic unrest since the mid-1980s, such as the 2005 riots 2005 civil unrest in France

The 2005 civil unrest [i] in France [i] of October and November was a series of riot [i]s ... 

 which largely concentrated in the northeastern suburbs.

Demography

Demographics within the Paris Region
'
AreasPopulationArea
Density
1990-1999
growth
City
City of Paris
2,125,246 105 20,240 -1.26%
Suburban Départements
Inner ring
'
4,038,992 657 6,148 +1.27%
Outer ring
'
4,787,773 11,249 426 +5.93%
Ile-de-France
'
10,952,011 12,011 912 +2.73%
Statistical Growth
Urban area Urban area

An urban area is an area with an increased density [i] of human-created structures in comparison to the ... 


'
9,644,507 2,723 3,542 +1.85%
Metro area Metropolitan area

A metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large city and its adjacent zone of inf... 


'
11,174,743 14,518 770 +2.90%

The population of the City of Paris was 2,125,246 at the 1999 census Census

A census is the process of obtaining information about every member of a population [i] . ... 

, lower than the historical peak of 2.9 million in 1921. This decline was because of the relocation of people to the suburbs caused by de-industrialisation, high rent, the gentrification of many inner quarters and the transformation of living space into offices, although not on the scale seen in some Western cities. These tendencies are generally seen as negative for the city; the current city administration is trying to reverse them with some success, as the population estimate of July 2004 shows a population increase for the first time since 1954 reaching a total of 2,144,700 inhabitants.

Density

The City of Paris is the most densely populated area in the Western World Western world

The term Western World or "the West" can have multiple meanings depending on its context.... 

 after the island of Manhattan Manhattan

Manhattan is both the Island of Manhattan and encompasses most of the Borough of Manhattan, one of the five boroughs [i] ... 

 in New York City New York City

[i] in the [[United States]... 

. Excluding the outlying woodland parks of Boulogne Bois de Boulogne

The Bois de Boulogne is a park located along the western edge of the 16me arrondissement [i] ... 

 and Vincennes Bois de Vincennes

The Bois de Vincennes is a park in the English landscape manner to the east of Paris [i].... 

, its density was 24,448 inh. per km² in 1999 official census. Paris has maintained a relatively balanced distribution of apartment residences, office spaces and commercial activities catering to both, although some districts have lost much of their apartment housing to office renovations, partly contributing to the population decline seen since the 1920's.

Paris' most sparsely populated quarters are its western and central office and administration-charged arrondissements. The city is at its densest in its north and east arrondissements; its 11th arrondissement had a density of 40,672/km² in 1999, and some of the same arrondissement's eastern quarters showed densities close to 100,000/km² the same year.

The Paris agglomeration

The City of Paris is much smaller than its urban growth. At present, the city's urban area Urban area

An urban area is an area with an increased density [i] of human-created structures in comparison to the ... 

  fills a ring of Paris' three neighbouring départements - also known as petite couronne - and extends into an "outer ring" of four grande couronne départements beyond. These eight départements together complete the Île-de-France région.

The Paris agglomeration or urban area Urban area

An urban area is an area with an increased density [i] of human-created structures in comparison to the ... 

  covers 2,723 km² , or about 26 times larger than the city of Paris. Beyond this, the couronne peri-urbaine commuter belt region reaches well beyond the limits of the Île-de-France région, and combined with the Paris agglomeration, completes a metropolitan area Metropolitan area

A metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large city and its adjacent zone of inf... 

  covering 14,518 km² , or an area about 138 times that of Paris itself.

The Paris agglomeration has shown a steady rate of growth since the end of the late 16th-century French Wars of Religion, save brief setbacks during the French Revolution French Revolution

The French Revolution was a pivotal period in the history of French, Europe [i]an and Western [i] ... 

 and World War II World War II

World War II, or the Second World War, was a worldwide [i] conflict [i] fought betwe ... 

. Suburban development has accelerated in recent years, as with an estimated total of 11.4 million inhabitants for 2005, the Île-de-France région shows a rate of growth double that of the 1990s .

Immigration


French censuses, by law, ask no questions regarding ethnicity or religion, but do gather information concerning country of birth. From this it is still possible to determine that the Paris metropolitan area is one of the most multi-cultural in Europe: at the 1999 census, 19.4% of its total population was born outside of metropolitan France Metropolitan France

Metropolitan France is the part of France [i] in Europe [i], including Corsica [i], as opposed to the overseas departments [i]... 

. At the same census, 4.2% of the Paris metropolitan area's population were recent immigrants , in their majority from mainland China Mainland China

Mainland China is term which is usually synonymous with the area currently administered by the People's Republic of China [i] ... 

 and Africa Africa

Africa is one of the greatest sized continents of the Earth.... 

.

The first wave of international migration to Paris started as early as in 1820 with the arrivals of German peasants fleeing the agricultural crisis in Germany. Several waves of immigration followed continuously until today : Italians and central European Jews during the 19th century; Russians after the revolution of 1917 Russian Revolution of 1917

The Russian Revolution of 1917 was a series of political events in Russia [i], which, after the eliminat ... 

; colonial citizens during world war I World War I

World War I, also known as the First World War, the Great War and "The War to End All War... 

 and later; Poles between the two world wars; Spaniards, Portuguese and North Africans from the 1950's to the 1970's; North African Jews after the independence of those countries; Africans and Asians since then. The majority of these today are naturalised French without any distinction, in the name of the French Republic principle of equality among its citizens.

Economy


With a 2005 GDP