Paris

Paris is today one of the most crowded cities of Europe with about 12 million people. The city was born on acurve of the river Seine and has become an important economic centrethanks to its geographical position and its territory. Paris played animportant role as a political and cultural centre too.

The first tribes to settle in the placewhere Paris is now were Celtic, but their destiny became moredifficult when they had to face the Roman Emperor Cesare during theGaul campaign. So Lutetia, Paris' ancient name, became a Roman town.The Christianity wave was covering all Europe so it also touched Lutetia that turned its name into Paris as tribute to the old Celticpeople the Parisii that used to live in that land.

In 451 Attila's expansion was stoppedthanks to Geneviève who later became saint and protector ofParis, then the city was taken by the Francs and had its first kingClodoveo I. In this period the city turned from a Roman into a Roman-barbarian style, and later it was victim of heavy threats by the Vikings and Normans. But the new civilization started with the building of theNotre Dame Cathedral in 1021 and then in 1246 with the recognition ofthe independence of the University.

In the century XII and XIII Paris hada strong economic growth with an economic system based on themerchants' corporations. At this point there's not much left of the Roman influence, the architecture is now mainly Gothic. The economicgrowth is soon accompanied with a demographic growth reachingabout 600 000 people at the end of the XVIII century. In this periodthe city is the background of the most important event of itshistory, a revolution originated by the people's strong rebellion sentimentagainst the king. After that Paris faces a several wars including the2 world wars of the last century. After the wars Paris sees anotherkind of revolution, in May 1968 a cultural revolution was led by thestudents of Paris in the Latin quarter.

Today Paris is known as la VilleLumière (the city of lights), it is one of the main tourist destinations of the world. Tourists are attracted by thebeauty of its architecture and its worldwide famous museums: Louvrethat hosts Leonardo's Mona Lisa and the museum d'Orsey.

Between the other destinations it'sworth to remember the Eiffel Tower, the symbol of the city and thewhole France, the Arch of Triumph which stands at the beginning of the boulevard of the Champs-Élysées in themiddle of the square named Place de l'Étoile. Moreimportant destinations are the cathedral Notre Dame and Monmartre: quarter of a great artistic value.

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