Paris in 160 Photos [antikvár]

History of ParisORIGINS300 000 B.C. Man already shapes stones in the valley of the Seine. They create the lirsi goods "made in Paris": chisels and scrapers.250 B.C. Coming from Germania, ihe Celiic tribe of Párisii seules on an island m ihe Seine which gives them protection Irom aggressive neighbours. This is the beginning of Lutece which later became known as the He de la Cité.52 B.C. 8,000 Parisiis join Vercingétorix to fight against Julius Caesar. After the latter's victory, Lutece becomes part of the Roman Empire. A new city expands on the Left Bank where the arena of Lutece and the thermae of the Cluny JWuseum remain today. Due to the use of ships, commerce prospers, and the mariners' vessel is to be found on the coat-of-arms of Paris.258. Despite persecution, Christianity spreads. Saint Denis, the first bishop of861, and in 885 - 886 they lay seige to the town. The Parisians are saved once again, but have to abandon the Left Bank and retreat to the lie.987. Under Hugues Capet, Paris once again becomes the capital and begins to expand out from both banks.1137. To ensure that his subjects are well nourished, Louis VL the Fat, builds Les Halles which will stand at the same location until 1969. The Abbot Suger undertakes the reconstruction of the Saint-Denis Basilica, the first masterpiece of Gothic art.Lutece, is beheaded on the hill of JUontmar-tre. According to legend, Saint Denis, with his head tucked under his arm, made his way to the site where the basilica named after him now stands.307. Lutece is henceforth called Paris.451. Barbarians sweep through France: Attila the Hun, the most dreaded of them all, attacks the He de la Cité. Ten centuries before Joan of Arc, another woman. Saint Genevieve, prays and saves the Parisians.THE MIDDLE AGES508. Clevis, the leader of Gaul, chooses to rule his kingdom from Paris which thus becomes the political capital of the country. 639. King Dagobert is the first king to be m 'he Saint-Denis Basilica. More than fifty of his successors will be buried alongside him.800. Charlemagne turns away from Paris and chooses Rome and Aix-la-Chapelle as the capital cities of his empire.845. New conquerors descend upon the Parisians While Aitila's hordes arrived on sail up the Seine in drakkars. The Vikings return in 856 andSaint-Eustache Church, the Carnavalet mansion and the Fountain of the Innocents.1572. Blood flows like water in the streets of Paris during the Saint-Bartholomew Night Massacre, when thousands of Protestants are slaughtered by Catholics.1578. Henri III lays the first stone of the Pont Neuf. The bridge has kept its name until the present day, and, with time, become the capital's oldest.1163. The He de la Cité, where the palace of the Kings of France stands, lacks a sumptuous cathedral. Maurice de Sully therefore starts work on Notre-Dame which continues until 1330.1190. Worried about protecting the town, Philippe Auguste builds ramparts of stone, flanked by round towers, some remains of which can still be seen.1241. Saint Louis has the Sainte-Chapelle built to be used as a "show case" for the Crown of Thorns and fragments of the real Cross which are sent to him from Constantinople.1257. Robert de Sorbon establishes a college which will be named after him: the Sorbonne.1356. In order to defend a town of 200,000 inhabitants, Charles V completes a second fortified wall, with square towers, which corresponds to the layout of the present-day Grands Boulevards.1436. Charles VII drives the English out of Paris which has suffered much from the Hundred Years' War: homes have been burnt or pillaged and trees cut down to be used as firewood.THE RENAISSANCE AND CLASSICISM1528. François I selects Paris for his residence, and decides to transform the fortress which was the Louvre into a comfortable palace. From Italy, the Renaissance reaches the banks of the Seine and inspires the1594. "Paris is well worth a Mass," said Henri IV while being converted to Catholicism. The town opens its doors and heart to him. Two superb squares are attributed to him: Place Dauphine and Place des Vosges, around which developed the aristocratic district of the Marais.1614.By joining two muddy islets, entrepreneur Christophe Marie creates one of the most famous Parisian sites: l'île Saint Louis.1615.Marie de Médicis requests Salomon de Brosse to build her a palace reminiscent of her birthplace, Florence; this will be the Luxembourg.1629. Richelieu has a residence built forhimself which he passes on to the King in 1642. The Palais-Cardinal thus becomes the Palais-Royal.1638. Anne of Austria dreamt of having a son for twenty one years. When the future Louis XIV finally comes into the world, she celebrates the event by commissioning the Val-de-Grâce Church. 1682. Louis XIV establishes the seat of power at Versailles, which is a cruel humiliation for Paris. However, the suspicion that Ihe Sun-King has had towards Paris since the revolutionary days of the Fronde, does not prevent him from embellishing the city. The greatest works during his reign are the Place des Victoires, Place Vendőme, les Invalides, the Observatory, the triumphal arches at the gates of Saint-Denis and Saint-Martin, and the colonnade of the Louvre. The Marais is still the traditional residential district for the privileged; howev-